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DERBY SQUARE TEMP. PUBLIC ART INSTALLATION- 2015 Derby Square Temp. Public Art Installation -2015 Salem Redevelopment SRA ® Authority Salem Redevelopment Authority Decision April 8, 2015 Derby Square / Artists' Row: Discussion and vote on proposed temporary public art installation concept SRA Decision At its meeting on April 8, 2015, the SRA voted unanimously to approve the proposed temporary public art installation concept at Derby Square and along Artists' Row. Proposal Enclosed is a detailed proposal from artist Liz LaManche via the Salem Public Art Commission. On March 17, 2015 the Commission approved this proposal and because it will be located within Derby Square and along Artists' Row, it also requires the approval of the Salem Redevelopment Authority. The enclosed proposal includes a coverletter from the Public Art Commission, and a detailed proposal from the artist that includes photos and information. The proposed art would be installed on or about June 5th (the beginning of the Salem Arts Festival), and remain in place fort three months. Staff Comment Please bear in mind that the Board should consider this project as a concept, in terms of where it will be placed and how it will be seen. f �4'IINE V '_ Salem Public Art Commission 120 Washington Street,Salem, MA 01970 (978) 619-5681 Fax (978) 740-0404 March 31, 2015 Robert Mitnik Chairperson Salem Redevelopment Authority 120 Washington Street Salem, MA 01970 Dear Mr. Mitnik, The Public Art Commission's 2015 Work Plan includes a public art installation, in collaboration with the Salem Main Streets Program, to kick-off during the Salem Arts Festival to be held June 5-7 in the Derby Square/Front Street area. This fall a Call for Request for Qualifications was sent out for Artists and Designers which were reviewed by an Artist Selection Panel including Kylie Sullivan of Salem Main Streets Program, Lillian Hsu and Claudia Paraschiv, Public Art Commissioners and Matt Kirchman of Object Idea. The installation will remain in place for 3 months. Based on the recommendations from the Artist Selection Panel the Public Art Commission approved the proposal "Salem's Connected World" by Liz LaManche. Ms. LaManche used collections in the Peabody Essex Museum as inspiration for her designs. She also created "Connected by the Sea" an installation at the Boston Harbor Shipyard and Marina so she and her team have experience in executing this project. The Public Art Commission and I will work closely with Ms. LaManche throughout this project. Ms. LaManche's team will maintain the installation through August at which point it is anticipated that it will be removed through power washing. We are pleased to be able to bring this exciting work of art to Salem! Sincerely, Deborah Greel Public Art Planner Salem's Connected World Installation Proposal for Salem Arts Festival 2015 TEI i f AO ♦. T!! in ;7t yy z1! Y� "If l ^ 1111 a t le A. • L 1 J qq'i a.■ _ ;AJC �[ ,�— i�S ,� ,y� J - w� The City of Salem has a very rich history as a seaport, one of the most significant in the Northeastern US. There the ships of our merchant a marine fleet, (like the Tiietadshi/ nf _ Salem whose replica is now w docked off of Derby Street), and the members of the East India Marine Society who ultimately founded the Peabody Essex Museum, brought back to Salem "a diverse collection of objects from the northwest coast of America, Asia, Africa, Oceania, i India and elsewhere."' Salem was settled by fishermen and later grew to be deeply \ connected to the rest of the world through a thriving commercial trade, which helped mai to drive the economy and prosperity of the whole region n (along with whaling, fishing, farming, and later manuftctumil-,. The Peabody Essca \1nSelml has long been one of my favorites: it creates an impressive educational journey using cultural artifacts and trade goods to introduce the places and peoples we were connected to by trade. In "Connected by Sea," (http://docktattoo.corn my installation at the Boston Harbor Shipyard and Marina, I was making this same point about the city of Boston: Despite a mostly white i in their case Revolutionary) canonical history, the Boston of our past also had a deep connection to other world cultures through seafaring and trade. It was important to me to create a more inclusive \icw of our history, emphasizing the experience and contributions of people often ignored in our mainstream tourist stories. In that piece, now part of the Ilarbor Walk at HarborArts, I staiued tattoo-themed designs into the surface of the main pier, k\ox en together into a thousand-loot-long -,ler\c," honoring the different cultures that contributed to making us who we are today. "The ccnnectiug theme of tattoo art worked well because it was There) historically a sailor's art form, which American and British sailors actually learned from their \isits to Polynesia. It resonated with the shipyard workers who still labor on that site, and the visitors and marina residents who may have sailed to the same far-flung places. 1 http://www.pem.org/about/museum_history I would like to propose a companion piece for the centre of Salem, a temporary installation of a painted or stained walking path on the paved surfaces throughout the central Old Town Hall pedestrian area, highlighting motifs from the various cultures connected to Salem by trade history or immigration, using design elements from either tattooing or trade goods, especially those in the Museum's collection locally. Sonic of the motifs that would be most evocative, I think, would include: Native Americans, the first nations to inhabit this •_s land, and also often crew on the whaling fleets. The museum has a great collection. of source material, and I have also done a lot of research on local tribes and their art lustor\. Next. New England Sailors,hest evoked thruu0h the language of traditional fc sailor tattoos. which also has a lot of resonance in current popular art and tattooing. International cultures of note would of course include Oceania, India, China, and .� Japan, these having a lot of source material S: and synergy at the Museum, among others. Visitors could walk the pathways throughout the central area around the Old Town Hall, following a progression of' motifs or simply discovering one after w another. A pamphlet or signage could explain the origin and significance of each. Site-specific Installation This installation would be created in response to the appearance and traffic patterns of the actual space, making every effort to create a natural flow through the space, with discoveries in the major plazas and thoroughfares, connected by smaller design elements that encourage flow and exploration. I anticipate about 12 larger design elements that would provide a focus, located at more or less regular intervals throughout the area. Durability and maintenance hlatei ials are negotiable and we can perform some experiments to see what is the best balance of price to durahilit-. Possibilities are: latex paint, spray paint, cement stain, epoxy paint. llurabihty to some extent clrpends on traffic. The installation can be monitored at monthly intervals and touched up if needed. If the installation lasts beyond the intended 3 months of summer, the city will be able to either let the designs fade naturally, or remove them by pressure washing. Quality I now have spent considerable time doing this type of work, both for "Connected by Sea" and also in commercial applications such as the Starbucks at Fan Pier. I have a good understanding of materials and methods, good hands-on painting abilities in this medium, and a trained crew that is willing to join me for other projects. 'rhe thoughtfulness in design and choice of motifs and their meanings, will be informed by the great atnount of time I've already spent researching these topics. Audience This project is aimed at anyone who walks through the area... the introduction of ornament into the build environment is always welcome, at whatever level one chooses to see and interpret it. Having signage that will add layers of meaning and background to the piece will be welcome for tourists, students, people interested by the cultural or tattoo art appeal of the motifs, and anyone who wants to explore the area at greater depth, Time Frame for Installation The initial project's research took place over the course of a year, and installation took about 5-6 months, for 19 designs plus connecting elements. knowing what I know now,I expect that with rrty team and the projection and stencil systems I've devised, I could plan a new installation of 12 designs in a couple of weeks, and execute them over the course of a mtonth. Accompanying write-ups would be produced for you to employ as signage and/or online educational materials as needed. Liz LaMarche 35 Kidder Ave. Somerville, NIA 02144 +1.508.847.7538 hzm@earthsign.com http://Eartligi.gii.com CALL TO ARTISTS AND DESIGNERS - Request for Qualifications (RFQ) Temporary public art installation in Salem, Massachusetts, Summer 2015 $4,200 budget Submission Deadline: February 13, 2015 The City of Salem and the Salem Main Streets Program seek qualifications from artists and designers interested in creating a three-month site-responsive public art installation in the heart of downtown Salem during the summer of 2015. The public art project will be a prominent feature in the kick-off of the Salem Arts Festival, an annual three-day celebration of all the arts that will begin June 5, 2015. Artists and designers working in any media, including light, are encouraged to submit qualifications. Salem is a growing, culturally diverse city with a rich literary, architectural, maritime, and immigrant history, including its role in the 17f century Salem Witch Trials. In the 191h century, it was one of the most important seaports in the country. Today it is lively destination that draws people from around the world. The site for the Salem Arts Festival public art project is the area surrounding Old Town Hall from Essex Street on the north side to New Derby Street on the south side It includes a section of the Essex Street pedestrian mall, all of Derby Square, and Artists Row. Except for Front Street at the lower end, the site is a pedestrian- only zone. Retail shops, restaurants, businesses, and residences are located throughout the area. The architecture includes historic colonial buildings as well as newer structures. In addition, various landscape and hardscape features could be integrated with the public art project, such as bollards, steps, lamp posts, brickwork, and trees. Notable topography from the bottom of the plaza at Front Street to the top of the hill at Essex Street creates a dramatic space around Old Town Hall. The Salem Arts Festival public art project is an opportunity to create a unique experience for the thousands of visitors and residents who enjoy downtown Salem in the summer. In addition to the Salem Arts Festival, several other festivals,as well as a weekly farmers' market on Derby Square Plaza, mark the season and draw crowds to the City. From this RFQ, three to five finalists will be invited to submit concept proposals. Each finalist or finalist team will be paid a $150 stipend. One proposal will be selected for installation. The selection committee is particularly interested in artists or designers who show promise of creating a project that: - responds to the physical, historical, and/or social attributes of the site - reflects high level of quality in design and fabrication - offers the potential for community interaction - unifies the series of public spaces within the overall site - is durable and easily maintainable for three months in exterior conditions The budget for the Salem Arts Festival public art project is $4,200. 00 Timeline: Feb. 13 Submissions Due Feb. 17 Finalists notified to begin work on concept proposals Mar. 3-6 Finalists present concept proposals to subcommittee Mar. 18 Final Selection announced Mid-March to end of May Project development June 5 Installation must be completed How To Submit: Submissions should be emailed to Deborah Greel, Public Art Planner, City of Salem, dgreel@salem.com. If you do not receive a confirmation email within 24 hours, please re-send or call Deborah at 978-619-5681. For more information, please contact Deborah Greel: dgreel@salem.com Visit www.saIemartsfestival.com for more information about the Salem Arts Festival.