MH’s new cultural center leaves city searching for
art-in-public-places policy
Long a wallflower in the Bay Area cultural scene, Morgan Hill
has come full bloom virtually overnight with the opening this month
of a cultural center, the creation of a non-profit foundation
charged in part with the promotion of the arts and now, this week,
a call for an official public art policy.
MH’s new cultural center leaves city searching for art-in-public-places policy
Long a wallflower in the Bay Area cultural scene, Morgan Hill has come full bloom virtually overnight with the opening this month of a cultural center, the creation of a non-profit foundation charged in part with the promotion of the arts and now, this week, a call for an official public art policy.
“Artists would jump at the chance to have their work included in a public project,” potter and parks and recreation commissioner Wes Rolley said of a city council request Wednesday for a workshop to kick around dozens of issues that a public art policy would cover.
For too long, Rolley said, South Valley artists have been shunted aside, receiving last billing in the announcement of regional open-studio tours.
“If you go back historically,” Rolley said, “there’s been a lot of frustration in South County on two issues. There has been no good venue for art exhibits, and a lot of people think that local art is worthless, that you have to go to Los Gatos or Palo Alto to find good art.”
Local artists could well receive their due with the creation of a public art policy.
“Ideally a public arts policy would be a sounding board for the community,” said Gavilan art instructor R2Row, “to let people know that their voices are being heard.”
At first at least, according to a staff report, a policy governing art in public places would cover permanent works such as murals incorporated into building facades or statuary, mosaics or paintings setting off common areas such as malls, parks or community facilities.
Temporary art shows or traveling art exhibitions would not be addressed, according to Joyce Maskell, manager of the city’s Business Assistance and Housing Services program.
“Like art itself, the perfect public art policy is in the eye of the beholder,” Maskell said.
City planning commissioner Bob Benich, who was instrumental in getting a public art policy incorporated in the new general plan, strongly favors an art commission to guarantee the independence of artistic expression.
“You need a commission that is truly a cross-section of public opinion,” Benich said. “You would have people with a degree in art and others who simply take an interest in art. I don’t see any reason there couldn’t be a representative from the city council because they are paying for it.”
But selection of art for public projects would follow well-delineated guidelines. The commission would call for bids after outlining its requirements, including it’s willing to pay, Benich said.
Commissioners would evaluate responses, then recommend two or three to the city council members.
City council members would have the final say, but would not be in a position to dictate artistic taste, Benich said.
While the treatment of permanent art is needed, a venue for temporary exhibitions can’t be ignored, Rolley told city council members Wednesday.
“I’d like to impress upon you the need for a policy on the use of city space for non-permanent exhibits. I know of six projects that could make use of exhibit space at the cultural center for a year,” Rolley said.
A public art policy has come to the fore in part, Rolley said later, because residents already are offering donations to the $22 million cultural center, which opened Dec. 7 to a weeklong series of inaugural events.
The creation of the Morgan Hill Community Foundation was announced at the black-tie inaugural ball and was the recipient of the proceeds from the $125 a ticket gala. The foundation goal is to support recreation and art programs that benefit greater Morgan Hill.
Rolley said he can envision a number of art projects at the cultural center. Mosaic work was not incorporated as the structure went up, he said, because there was no public art policy in place.
A workshop is only the preliminary step in creating a policy, Maskell said. One critical topic that has to be addressed, she said, is who would ultimately administer the policy – a city employee, an already established city commission or a new independent arts commission.
Chuck Dillman, chairman of the Morgan Hill sister city committee, urged council members to turn the question of a public art policy over to a civic group to implement and fund.
“Minimize the city’s direct involvement,” Dillman said.
Morgan Hill presently doesn’t have even a modest amount of public art. The only public examples of esthetic expression are murals on two downtown buildings.
Among other questions for workshop consideration would be whether art should be encouraged or required in public and private buildings. Maskell said that initial contact with major developers reveals a latent fear of another mandatory fee.
Developers are particularly sensitive because Morgan Hill recently increased the impact fees they pay to cover the cost of the demand for services generated by their projects.
Also to be considered would be standards that art would have to meet, proper location for art projects, what the selection process would be, who would pay for art and how would the price be determined.
Even the age-old question, what is art, is liable to be discussed, Maskell said.
The city’s recently updated general plan recommends a plan to encourage, but not necessarily require, the inclusion of art in public places.
Maskell’s report said some communities require all new or renovated buildings, whether public or private and regardless of size, to have a piece of art. Some allow a contribution to a public art fund in lieu of installing art. In some communities, small projects are exempt from the requirements.
Most communities with public art policies require that developers contribute a percentage of total construction costs for art. The most common levy is one to two percent, although some entities require a contribution of up to five percent.
“While the overall definitions and objectives in a public art policy may be the same for public and private facilities, the means to accomplish objectives will differ,” she said.
“There is too much information here right now to make a decision tonight,” Maskell told council members. “We’re recommending a workshop to explore in detail all the facets of the proposal.”
Maskell also is overseeing the conversion of an early-day church into a playhouse, which is part of the cultural center located at Dunne Avenue and Monterey Road.
