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Uploaded: Saturday, August 11, 2012, 6:56 AM
Updated: Wednesday, August 15, 2012, 6:30 AM
City passes, on public art piece
Committee wants an 'appropriate cultural design.'
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by Dolores Fox Ciardelli
Pleasanton Weekly Staff
Photos
 
| Does anyone doubt that art is subjective?
The School Board unanimously approved artwork comprising eight panels planned for district headquarters property last month but a city advisory committee decided the figures portrayed are not a proper representation of Pleasanton.
"Blending Family," created on aluminum by New Mexico artist Guilloume, is 56 feet long and 6 feet tall. The front, depicting a variety of people, is oil painted and sealed; the plan was for students to create images to be placed on the back of the artwork.
When the piece of art was reviewed by members of Pleasanton's Public Art Selection Committee, known as PASS, its members responded positively but with reservations.
"They all loved it," said Susan Andrade-Wax, director of the Community Services Department. "They saw pictures of it installed in other locations, and photos of the artist doing it. It looks very Southwestern, this is what it conjures up."
For this reason, she said, subcommittee members did not think it was a fit for Pleasanton and asked if it could be changed so the figures looked more diversified and representative of this city.
"Blending Family" was another find by Nancy and Gary Harrington, who have established a public art partnership called Another HAPPY, which stands for Another Harrington Art Partnership Piece for You. They travel the world looking for likely art, then match donations after it is acquired.
"Blending Family" had 33 individual characters the artist created to celebrate his 33rd year as an artist, said Nancy Harrington, and he looks at it as a portrait of his children, aunts, uncles and other family members.
"It was the first time we've gone and talked with the PASS subcommittee and they asked us a few questions," Harrington recalled. "They said they did not feel it was an 'appropriate cultural design.'"
Asking him to alter it was not an option.
"This is his style," Harrington said. "He's from Colombia, his style is three round shapes. It would have been a wonderful piece."
The Harringtons, retired teachers, have made it their mission to erect public art pieces in Pleasanton, where they have lived since 1972. The bronzed veteran in front of the Veterans Memorial Building and the art surrounding the Firehouse Arts Center, including the marquee, have come from them, and its Harrington Art Gallery was named after them.
In December 2010, when the Harringtons were stepping up their efforts, the Civic Arts Commission instituted the selection subcommittee to look at all the ideas for public art, to make the process more efficient. Sometimes dozens of pieces are being considered at a time, said Andrade-Wax.
Subcommittee members include commissioners, the city's visual arts coordinator, a representative from the Pleasanton Downtown Association, the Civic Arts manager, and a city engineer, who weighs in on whether a piece of art might impact traffic flow. A city architect studies anything planned for a park to make sure the site has no drawbacks, such as water harming the art.
"Often the Harringtons give us several pieces to choose from, and the subcommittee decides what they like, what they think fits, and the staff weighs in on possible locations," Andrade-Wax said. "For pieces the staff is leaning toward, those recommendations are given back to the Harringtons."
"Depending on the feedback, they might decide not to bring it forward," she added, saying that many art pieces are stopped due to problems with proposed locations.
Once art is selected, it goes to the Civic Arts Commission, then to the City Council for approval.
"Blending Family" took a different route toward approval, Andrade-Wax explained, going first to the school district since it was planned for its property on Bernal Avenue just past First Street.
"The Harringtons wanted to make sure the school board was interested and was OK with having it on their property," she said.
"They went there and everybody got excited. Then it comes to the PASS committee, who loved the location, loved the concept of children participating, but didn't feel the artwork on the other side was a fit," Andrade-Wax said.
"Blending Family" was going to be funded through a community drive, in keeping with it being a community project completed by children from Pleasanton.
The next piece of public art to be installed through Another HAPPY is "Windsong," a 15-feet-tall colorful depiction of a windsurfer. It will be located in the grassy area just north of the Pleasanton Senior Center building near Sunol Boulevard. The Harringtons discovered the artist, Gregory Hawthorne, while traveling on Highway 1 through Big Sur.
"He gave us a tour not only of the gallery but his home," Nancy Harrington recalled.
On his coffee table was a smaller version of "Windsong."
"It's gorgeous," said Harrington. "We looked at that grassy area, and that expanse of lawn is like the ocean and this 'Windsong' is a surfer."
Another piece in the works is a bronze by Angela Mia De La Vega called "Joyful Empowerment," which depicts a young girl on top of the world with her hands extended. Including the pedestal, it will stand about 70 inches tall, Harrington said, but its location is undecided.
Bob and Marilyn Athenour are partnering to procure "Joyful Empowerment" but the Harringtons are still looking for partners to help with the recently installed "Comet" at the Firehouse Arts Center and "Windsong."
To learn more, go to [http//www.harringtonartpartnership.org www.harringtonartpartnership.org or call 846-9757.
View public art
Pleasanton's more than 40 publicly and privately owned pieces of public art can be viewed online at [http//www.publicartarchive.org/Pleasanton www.publicartarchive.org/Pleasanton.
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Posted by resident, a resident of the Downtown neighborhood, on Aug 12, 2012 at 9:59 am I agree with the city on this one. Much so-called art does not look like anything that I would care to see on a regular basis. This one included.
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Posted by Daniel Bradford, a member of the Foothill High School community, on Aug 12, 2012 at 12:30 pm I'm very much in favor of using art to transform our public spaces. The right artwork can completely alter people's perception of the interior or exterior of a building.
As for whether or not this art is appropriate, I won't set myself up as a judge of that, but I don't think popular opinion is necessarily a guide to the value of public art. I do remember that there was a lot of controversy regarding the murals that the famous Mexican artist Diego Rivera painted in various places around the United States in the 1930s. One of these was Man at the Crossroads, painted at Rockefeller Plaza; the Rockefellers objected to the piece and had it almost immediately destroyed! Fortunately, other murals of Diego Rivera--including the one at City College of San Francisco--had more enlightened patrons. The wildly popular Vietnam Memorial--aka the Wall--faced fierce opposition when it was first proposed, because most people wanted a traditional memorial (statues and a plaque). It just goes to show how public opinion can change over time.
I do have a question: How much money did the Board authorize for this mural? I can't imagine the artist works for free. I hate to say it, but perhaps a public mural shouldn't be the top priority for a district strapped by state budget cuts and the lack of a local parcel tax. If the art was paid for by a state or federal arts grant, or via private donations, that would be a different matter altogether.
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Posted by Pleasanton Native, a resident of the Parkside neighborhood, on Aug 12, 2012 at 5:44 pm Public art? What? P-town is Pleasanton, not Paris or ... Peroo or Porshugal for gosh sakes!
At least let's have some diversity ... like we have in this city! Were there any Germins in the mural? Any Austrlians? Any English? Any Swedes? Didn't think so. P-town has worked hard to be very open to diversity. As demographics show, for example, are low single-digit rate of African Americans demonstrate theirs a remarkable position regarding racial diversity.
And besides, unless it's a mural of Ronald Reagen, I wouldn't support it anyway.
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Posted by Pleasanton squatter, a resident of another community, on Aug 12, 2012 at 6:20 pm Public art that represents the vision of the people who are paying for 'art' with their tax dollars? Sure, why should the owners of this art have any say in the content?
If you need 'diverse' art, try s.f or berserkely. It's only a 30 minute ride in your Pious.
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Posted by Just wonderin', a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Aug 12, 2012 at 6:45 pm Whose paying for all this art. Are we in 'fat city'. Everything's funded, and no parcel taxes, etc. etc. etc. ?? Is everything on our horizon clear for at least a doz years with no increases?
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Posted by Peter Malloy, a resident of the Bonde Ranch neighborhood, on Aug 12, 2012 at 9:39 pm I'm sure with all the money the City has saved by no longer paying the public employees pensions should cover the cost of the "Public Art." Well Done.
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Posted by Dave, a resident of the Birdland neighborhood, on Aug 13, 2012 at 9:47 am Blending Family" was going to be funded through a community drive, in keeping with it being a community project completed by children from Pleasanton.
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Posted by resident, a resident of the Downtown neighborhood, on Aug 13, 2012 at 10:03 am A community drive??? Are you KIDDING me??? How many times can you people keep coming back to the community to fund things that have nothing to to with education?
If you want to do a community drive try doing it for school supplies, actual classroom learning or something worthwhile. Do not even think about asking me for money (parcel tax anyone?) for anything when you are dumb enough to think something like that needs to be put to a community drive for funds.
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Posted by Claudette , a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Aug 13, 2012 at 11:44 am As an artist, I understand that "Art is Subjective." It's all about personal opinion and that's the way it should be. Most artists paint for themselves and hope that others will enjoy or be curious enough to take a look at it for more than just a quick second. My personal take on the "Blending Family" is not a positive one. All of the people depicted are cloaked and with their heads down, giving a feeling of sadness to me... Not what I would want in a children's location or anywhere in public viewing. I'm sure it wasn't the artists intention to create a sad impression, but there you have it, it makes me feel sad looking at it.
"Community Drive".... I agree that I would prefer my money go towards School Supplies and Basic Needs of the community. Personally I feel our Small Community has enough Public Paid art going on at this time of economic challenges. Now on the other hand, if our Private sector that has money to invest, wants to spend their money on Public Art, be my guest ~ But the art selected to be viewed by the public day in and day out needs to be Representative of the Community and be a Positive influence for the majority, which can be challenging as "Art is Subjective." ;)
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Posted by Beth, a resident of the Mohr Park neighborhood, on Aug 13, 2012 at 12:20 pm 1. Art is subjective - and I personally like both the pieces shown in the article. I do think that "Blended Family" would be better in some place like the library, civic center, etc. rather than school district. For those unaware, there is a large Hispanic/Latino population in Pleasanton.
2. The "Community Drive" would have asked for funding from individuals and organizations interested in ART, not those who are interested in funding public school programs. A very different segment of Pleasanton's population. They live in this community too.
3. If you are interested in helping the schools with money going directly to programs and students look at donating to your local school's Parent Teacher Association (PTA) or Parent Faculty Club (PFC) or at Foothill Athletic and Academic Boosters. The other group that collects monies to donate district wide is PPIE (Pleasanton Partnerships in Education).
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Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore, on Aug 13, 2012 at 4:27 pm Info re: New Mexico artist Guilloume - Web Link
I don't like the mural and would not want to be forced to view it.
As for the sculpture...sheeeeeeeesh...
I appreciate that the money was made available but not those "works of art".
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Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore, on Aug 13, 2012 at 5:03 pm I find the mural unimaginative. I read it frontally, from left to right. The human forms appear like hunched over flat blobs of Latino peasants, perhaps there is an implication of volume but because of the manner in which the body forms are painted, at a distance they appear uninterestingly flat. The directional thrust of the curved lines on the hats implies volume, roundness but I also don't find it convincing. I don't have any objections to the lack of facial features other than the partially shaped apple heads which are the same boring color, dark on the edge and a lighter plane to suggest a face.
The sculpture is an eyesore. I would say that both works are indeed out of sight and hopefully, will be place out of sight.
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Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore, on Aug 13, 2012 at 6:30 pm I agree that it's a wonderful idea for children to be involved in making art. Children making art is not the same as children and adults being put in the position of having to view bad art.
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Posted by Mike, a resident of the Highland Oaks neighborhood, on Aug 13, 2012 at 7:03 pm I thought the school district was hurting for money. Looks like a low threshold of pain.
Mike
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Posted by lmntree, a resident of the California Somerset neighborhood, on Aug 13, 2012 at 10:04 pm There are so many great students who are artists, shouldn't the school district be celebrating art of the students which would also be free?
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Posted by Pleasanton Native, a resident of the Parkside neighborhood, on Aug 14, 2012 at 6:58 am Art is way overrated. How about putting the space up for bids from corporations who could put there corporate ads there. Mickee Dee's golden arches have influenced far more people then Van-Go.
Vote Romney/Ryan for a better vision of America!
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Posted by pleasanton squatter, a resident of another community, on Aug 14, 2012 at 8:59 am Or, 'native, we could go back to a time when public floggings were conducted in the town square. Not exactly artistic, but I think you'd find it entertaining, nonetheless. I'm sure there's several posters on the PW that would be happy to have you volunteer.
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Posted by Pepper, a resident of the Old Towne neighborhood, on Aug 14, 2012 at 12:14 pm Am I missing something here?
What is the purpose of a school board?
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Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore, on Aug 14, 2012 at 3:18 pm Children make murals. There is a Rockridge BART mural made of tiles that were made by children. With the proper guidance, children can do anything!
Take a peek: Web Link
The mural is huge.
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