HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-08-003 - Commission Agreement, Paul Roorda, 2007 Artist-In-Residence
Report To:
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Prepared By:
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Date of Report:
Report No.:
Subject:
Community Services Committee
January 7, 2008
Ingrid Pregel, Manager of Cultural Development
Cheryl York, Arts/Culture Co-ordinator Ext. 3381
All
December 19, 2007
CSD-08-003
COMMISSION AGREEMENT, PAUL ROORDA, 2007
ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE
RECOMMENDATION:
That the Community Services Committee endorse the recommendation of the Arts and
Culture Advisory Committee and Public Art Working Group to approve and install the
final commission of the City's 2007 Artist-In-Residence, Paul Roorda, at a City-owned site
yet to be determined; and
That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to sign the Artist-In-Residence - Year 2007
Commission Agreement with Paul Roorda in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor,
such agreement encompassing the terms set out in Report CSD-05-136.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Kitchener's innovative Artist-In-Residence (A. I. R.) Program celebrated its 12th year
with the appointment of Paul Roorda. During his residency, Mr. Roorda organized community
outreach events including a speakers' evening in partnership with the Kitchener Public Library, a
student design contest for downtown King Street and an exhibition of African children's artwork
in partnership with the Children's Museum.
The artist-in-residence program carries a commissioned art work component. These works of
art are acquired by the City for its fine art collection. Many of them have been installed in the
public areas of City Hall.
REPORT:
In their December 2007 meetings, the Public Art Working Group and the Arts and Culture
Advisory Committee both resolved to recommend the City's acquisition of the work titled "Paper
Memory", to be installed in a suitable City-owned location still to be determined.
Concept and theme: This piece is an historical examination of the City of Kitchener, exploring
the way the city continues to change as it grows. It makes reference to the city's Germanic
tradition and to the farming, trades, architecture, and home life of its citizens as well as to the
Report No. CSD-08-003
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white collar work of the past. However, it shows the changing nature of the city due to
immigration and development as well. The design and material of the piece explore the
movement from a singular heritage to a contemporary plurality of heritages; remembering and
the loss of memory; and the deterioration and preservation of historical knowledge.
Desian and Materials: "Paper Memory" is a two-dimensional mixed media work approximately 4
by 5 feet in size. Mr. Roorda uses a technique found in many of his other mixed media works,
involving small square envelopes, tied, mounted in a grid and sealed with beeswax. The
envelopes contain a variety of materials from text fragments, to deteriorating artifacts, to natural
substances. The envelopes are arranged to resemble a quilt, using the nine patch quilting
pattern as the basis for the design. While the top portion of the quilt design appears to be intact,
the patches are mounted in an increasingly random arrangement towards the bottom of the
image to create the illusion of a quilt whose pattern has been rearranged. Materials include:
· Natural and found materials such as wheat, corn, maple keys, pebbles, river mud, crushed
brick, rust from tools, etc.
· Small artifacts such as nails, fabric, quilting needles, buttons, boot labels, etc.
· Text fragments from as early as 1900 such as photos, maps, school records, post cards,
newspaper articles, letters, advertisements, receipts, encyclopaedia pages, sheet music, etc.
· The work is mounted on a thin masonite board and framed behind glass.
Budaet
Materials
Frame with glass
Artist Fee
Total
$ 200
600
4200
$5000
A draft agreement to acquire the work has been reviewed by Legal Services and is subject to
Council's approval.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
The commission is valued at $5,000, to be supported by the Public Art Trust Fund, Account
638045. This account was originally funded by the Lions Club of Kitchener.
COMMUNICATIONS:
The Artist-in-Residence Program supports the resident artist with marketing services to facilitate
direct communication between artist and public, through print, electronic and other appropriate
media.
CONCLUSION:
The City of Kitchener's Artist-in-Residence Program is the only municipal program of its kind in
Canada. One of the enduring and tangible benefits of the program is the artist's final
commissioned art work which becomes part of the City's fine art collection.
Cheryl York, Arts/Culture Co-ordinator
IP