Submitted By
Bill McKenna, Village Engineer/Assistant Public Works Director
Reviewed By
Erin E. Baynes, Assistant to the Village Manager
Agenda Item Title
Title
A Motion to Concur with the Recommendation of the Oak Park Area Arts Council to Enter an Independent Contractor Agreement with Ray King Studio, Ltd. for a Flame Beacon Art Installation at the Southeast Corner of South Boulevard and Oak Park Avenue and Direct Staff to Prepare the Necessary Agreement
End
Overview
Overview
The Village issued a call for artists for art installations as part of the proposed Oak Park Avenue Streetscape project including art installations under the viaduct and an art installation at the southeast corner of South Boulevard and Oak Park Avenue. The Oak Park Area Arts Council interviewed the finalists for both art installations and recommends approving an agreement with Ray King Studio for the fabrication, installation, and purchasing of the Flame Beacon illuminated vertical sculpture for the South Boulevard and Oak Park Avenue intersection. Pending Village Board concurrence, staff will prepare an agreement for Village Board approval at an upcoming meeting in an amount of approximately $150,000.
End
Recommendation
Recommendation
Adopt the Motion.
Background
The Engineering Division issued a call for artists for art installations as part of the proposed Oak Park Avenue Streetscape project for an art installation under the viaduct and an art installation at the southeast corner of Oak Park Avenue and South Boulevard. This agenda item is for the sculptural installation at the corner of South Boulevard and Oak Park Ave.
The conceptual design of the Oak Park Avenue Streetscape project approved by the Village Board in 2023 included a space for a vertical sculptural element at the southeast corner of Oak Park and South Blvd. This vertical sculpture would serve as a beacon, capturing the attention of the thousands of commuters passing by on the CTA and Metra trains and the pedestrians and drivers in the area. This sculpture, along with an adjacent art installation under the viaduct, will improve the pedestrian experience, bring visitors to the area, create a strong visual entryway into the Village, and improve the business district.
The Village received 42 responses to the call for artists for the sculpture. An internal review team comprised of Village staff, staff from the landscape architecture and engineering firms designing the project, and a representative from the Oak Park Art League reviewed the initial responses. Three artists were selected from the initial 42 applicants to further develop conceptual designs for the proposed art installation. Alongside Camille Wilson White, Executive Director of the Oak Park Area Arts Council, the internal selection team reviewed these submittals and interviewed two artists. Both of these artists were asked to present their designs to the Oak Park Area Arts Council (OPAAC) for a final recommendation to the Village Board. At their May 29, 2024 meeting, the Oak Park Area Arts Council concurred with the internal selection team’s recommendation and recommended the Village Board enter into a contract with Ray King Studio for the fabrication and purchasing of the Flame Beacon illuminated sculpture.
Ray King has exhibited art since the mid-70s and has major installations across the country and abroad. Additional information about the artist and his portfolio can be found on his website at https://www.rayking.nu/biography. According to the artist, he strives to create wondrous, welcoming works of art to enhance public spaces. He uses the phenomena of light as an art medium, creating dynamic interactions that refract light into color. His art reflects his interest in geometry, science, technology, light, and color to create luminous, interactive sculptures that welcome the public, animate the environment, and uplift the spirits of viewers -- to make the mundane magical. In conceiving the sculpture for this location, he was inspired by the concept of an Obelisk (Greek for “pointed instrument”) representing rebirth, eternity, and immortality, an apt metaphor for this revitalized downtown. He was drawn to two different modern interpretations of the Obelisk form. Each concept clad is in sun-responsive, color-shifting dichroic glass.
The Flame Beacon sculpture is an approximately 16-foot-tall sculpture made of stainless steel and dichroic laminated safety glass. The dichroic glass will interact with sunlight and change colors depending on the viewing angle and angle of the sun. According to the artist, the concept is a twisting geometric beacon of interlocking dodecahedrons that expands outward, then narrow up toward a point. This elegant geometric structure appears almost like a singular rising flame from afar. While up close, one can see the intricate structure and interlocking geometry within the beacon. The dichroic glass with interior LED illumination will create a nighttime experience capturing the attention of the passersby and passengers on the trains. Renderings showing the proposed sculpture and dichroic glass examples are attached, as well as images of existing artwork by Ray King which has similarities with the proposed Flame Beacon. A video of the presentation provided to the OPAAC is available at the following link (examples of the dichroic glass around 5:20): https://vimeo.com/950492521.
The cost for the fabrication, installation, and purchase of the Flame Beacon is $150,000. A breakdown of the costs is included in the artist’s proposal. Ray King Studio will be responsible for the fabrication and installation of the art. The Village’s streetscape contractor will install the underground foundations and electrical infrastructure at the location as part of the streetscape project. The $14.7 million project budget approved by the Village Board at the December 4, 2023 meeting includes funds for the art installations of both the sculpture and viaduct installation. The sculpture will be fabricated and installed in 2025. The proposed FY25 Budget will include $150,000 in funds for the Flame Beacon.
Fiscal Impact
The proposed FY25 Budget will include the $150,000 needed for this art installation as part of the Oak Park Avenue Streetscape Project’s cost in the Capital Improvement Fund, Public Works - Engineering, Capital Improvements, Streetscaping account no. 3095-43780-101-570959.
DEI Impact
N/A
Alternatives
The Board cam delay action to gain additional information.
Previous Board Action
At the Village Board meeting on December 4, 2023, the Village Board approved the conceptual design, scope, and a $14.7 million budget of the Oak Park Avenue Streetscape and Utility Projects.
At the Village Board meeting on December 4, 2023, the Village Board approved a Professional Services Agreement with Terra Engineering, Ltd. for the Design of the Oak Park Avenue Streetscape and Utility Projects, in an amount not to exceed $998,577.
At the Village Board meeting on October 23, 2023, the Village Board had a presentation and discussion of the Oak Park Avenue Streetscape Project and the Oak Park Avenue Streetscape Steering Committee’s Recommended Conceptual Design and Alternatives.
At the Village Board meeting on September 5, 2023, the Village Board approved a Second Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Terra Engineering, Ltd. for the Design of the Oak Park Avenue Resurfacing, Utility, and Streetscape Projects to change the not to exceed amount from $1,010,958 to $1,214,548.
At the Village Board meeting on March 6, 2023, the Village Board approved a Resolution Creating a Steering Committee for the Oak Park Avenue Streetscape Project and a Motion to Approve the Appointment of Members to the Steering Committee.
At the Village Board meeting on November 21, 2022, the Village Board approved an Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Terra Engineering, Ltd. for the Design of the Oak Park Avenue Resurfacing, Utility, and Streetscape Projects to change the not to exceed amount from $775,037 to $1,010,958.
At the Village Board meeting on September 16, 2019, the Village Board approved a Professional Services Agreement with Terra Engineering, Ltd. for the design of the Oak Park Avenue Resurfacing, Utility, and Streetscape Projects, in an amount not to exceed $775,037.
At the September 9, 2019, special meeting, the Village Board had a presentation and discussion on the design and construction of the Oak Park Avenue Resurfacing, Utility, and Streetscaping Projects.
Citizen Advisory Commission Action
N/A
Anticipated Future Actions/Commitments
Staff will present an agreement with Ray King Studio at an upcoming Village Board meeting for approval.
Staff will present future construction contracts and engineering service agreements for the construction and construction management of the streetscape and utility projects.
Intergovernmental Cooperation Opportunities
N/A