23AA - PROJ - FLOWER ST BIKE TRAIL

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Agreement Amendment for Sculpture Design and Installation — Flower Street Bike Trail Gap Closure October 21, 2014 Page 3 The selection committee was comprised of Grace Kook - Anderson, Curator, Laguna Art Museum; Joseph S. Lewis III, Dean and Professor of Art, Claire Trevor School of the Arts, University of California, Irvine; and Mike McGee, Gallery Director of the Begovich Gallery, Director of the Exhibition Design /Museum Studies Program, Associate Professor of Art, California State University, Fullerton, and a new member of the City's Arts and Culture Commission. City Manager David Cavazos and Council Member Vince Sarmiento, who represents Ward 1 where the sculpture will be placed, have also reviewed the committee's recommendation. On August 21, 2014, the proposed sculpture was presented to the City's Arts and Culture Commission and they concurred with the selected public art project. The artist, Mr. Richard Turner, is very well -known and a highly- regarded veteran in the field of public art. The selection committee was extremely confident in the artist's ability to produce a quality monument that will stand the test of time. The design pays tribute to the contributions of the Japanese- American farmers while referencing their Japanese heritage. The work consists of a 7 -foot bronze sculpture of a bunch of celery, treated with a dark patina with green overtones, and an antique millstone atop a concrete plinth paved with handpicked stones. The idea of an oversize bunch of celery (one of the primary mainstays of the Orange County Japanese- American farmers) alludes to the exuberant American tradition of proclaiming our agricultural abundance. The paved stones evoke the paving of a pathway in a traditional Japanese garden, while recalling familiar southern California landscaping styles. The millstone, often used in Japanese gardens, represents the history of food production in both the East and the West. Together, the piece is minimal in style and straightforward in its symbolism. Exhibit 3 shows a picture of the small 3 -D model created for the selection process. STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT Approval of this item allows the City to meet Goal #5 Community Health, Livability, Engagement & Sustainability, Objective #5, Promote a strong arts and culture infrastructure, Strategy C, Promote arts and culture by partnering with artist groups and merchants to hold events celebrating art in public plazas, parks and other City - controlled open space. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act, the recommended action is exempt from further review. Categorical Exemptions Environmental Review No. 2006 -197 was filed for this project. In addition, a Certification of Categorical Exemption and a Statutory Worksheet have been prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act. 23AA -3