Public art committee raises conservation assessment and Jewel Box maintenance concerns

During the collection-management portion of the meeting, staff reported that the committee had allocated $12,000 toward a conservation assessment of the entire collection and that Ron Hardy had been contracted and started work on interior assessments, with completion and priorities expected by May.

The committee then turned to the Jewel Box, which staff said had been repaired twice in the year after repeated defacement. Because the Jewel Box sits at a transit hub, staff said Metro (the regional transit agency) must be involved before the committee recommends relocating the artwork or modifying the bus shelter footprint. "We haven't had the meeting with Metro yet," staff said, adding that Metro is aware of the committee's interest and that the committee should request guidance on long-term plans for the intersection before proposing an artwork relocation.

Chair said the Jewel Box's maintenance had taken up almost all of the committee's collections maintenance contingency last year and cited a figure of about $5,000. Chair said they intended to call attention to that line in the annual report and, if appropriate, escalate the expense to city council. Committee members asked staff to attend the Metro meeting and to invite a committee representative once a meeting date is set.

Members also discussed the unique foundations and installation requirements for some bus-shelter art and agreed staff should gather technical drawings and talk further with artists when the Metro plan is clearer. Staff committed to following up with Metro and to provide drawings and cost information to the committee.