Meeting_Body
SYSTEM SAFETY, SECURITY AND OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
OCTOBER 15, 2015
Subject/Action
SUBJECT: METRO STATIONS’ PUBLIC ART CONDITION ASSESSMENT
ACTION: RECEIVE AND FILE
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
RECEIVE AND FILE this assessment report on the condition of Public Art at Metro’s stations, in response to the July 2015 System Safety, Security and Operations Committee request from Director Dupont-Walker.
Issue
ISSUE
At the July 16, 2015 System Safety, Security and Operations Committee meeting, Board member Dupont-Walker requested that staff provide information on the artworks in the Metro system including: (1) the art installation name; (2) artist; (3) year installed; (4) when last cleaned and/or maintained; and (5) if the artwork is functioning as intended. This report responds to the request.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
The Metro Art Program commissions artists to incorporate original artworks into the transit environment. Outreach and community engagement are a hallmark of the program and artworks are created specifically for their transit related locations to connect people, sites and neighborhoods.
Currently, 152 artworks by a diverse range of artists have been integrated into the Metro system since 1991. New stations and approximately 15 artworks will be added to the system in the coming years with the opening of Expo Phase 2 and the Gold Line Foothill Extension. Artworks will be also be added with the construction of the Crenshaw/LAX, Regional Connector and Purple Line Extension projects. An artwork may consist of one or multiple components with works fabricated in a wide range of materials and finishes.
Some artworks are now approaching their 25th year and, like other assets in our transit system, are subjected to the wear and tear of time and use. Our marine environment and significant ultraviolet (UV) sun quotient also have a negative effect. More recently, system alterations and refurbishments have resulted in the unanticipated relocation, alteration or even removal of some artworks.
Given their materials and locations, most artworks are cleaned as part of the regular station cleaning scheduled by Metro Operations. Some artworks require specialized cleaning and care by Metro Art staff and/or specialized contractors. Due to the unique and highly specialized nature of the work; all artwork repairs, maintenance and conservation are coordinated and managed by Metro Art staff. Metro Operations and Metro Art staff work closely on all artwork cleaning and maintenance issues.
Durable materials and finishes, as well as artwork locations, are key aspects to ensure artworks are functioning as intended. To safeguard their aesthetic integrity and longevity as cultural and community assets, staff continue to apply lessons learned (materials, finishes and locations) and best practice considerations to all artwork commissions and refurbishments.
Artwork Condition
Staff considered an artwork to be functioning as intended if it meets the artist’s original aesthetic design as originally contracted and approved by Metro. As reflected in Attachment A, which contains the requested information on artwork conditions by line, station, and artist, the majority of the artworks appear to be functioning as intended. Attachment B contains similar information, however, it identifies the 19 artworks that are not functioning as intended. Repairs on three of these are underway as part of Union Station improvement projects. Of the remaining 16 artworks that need to be addressed, six require electrical upgrades, three are the result of vandalism, three are related to broader overall Green Line marine environment corrosion issues, and four are Blue Line artworks that were removed in whole or partially as a result of the Metro Blue Line Refurbishment project.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Staff will continue to inspect artworks, update databases, work cross-departmentally and apply lessons learned to new corridor construction. Staff will request funding to address artworks not functioning as intended in future budget years. Where possible, artwork refurbishments as well as impacts to artworks as a result of station improvement projects will be included in the overall capital life of project budget for those projects.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Metro Artworks Functioning As Intended
Attachment B - Metro Artworks Not Functioning As Intended
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Maya Emsden, Deputy Executive Officer, (213) 922-2720
Renee Berlin, Managing Executive Officer, (213) 922-3035
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Martha Welborne, FAIA, Chief Planning Officer, (213) 922-7267
James T. Gallagher, Chief Operations Officer, (213) 922-4424
