OCAPublicArtNwslttrMasthead

San Jose Public Art 
  The Online Newsletter of the City of San Jos Public Art Program 
March 2010 Volume 3, Issue 3
In This Issue
Tom Otterness' Another World at Happy Hollow
Public Art Committee: Next Meeting March 16, 2010
Community Study Session - draft Cultural Vision Plan
Community Workshop - Diridon Station Area Plan
City Hall - Current Exhibits
For Artists: A Zero1 Call For Artists - Open Through March 22
Explore Public Art
San Jose Public Art - Online Archive
Quick Links
Join Our List
Join Our Mailing List
Tom Otterness' Another World Unveils At The Grand Reopning Of Happy Hollow Park and Zoo
 
The City of San Jose Public Art Program and Happy Hollow Park and Zoo are pleased to present internationally-known artist Tom Otterness' "Another World".
 

hhpz golbal image 028

 
The artwork consists of seventeen bronze pieces each reflecting the artist's interpretation of an element of the Park or Zoo. One of the goals for the artwork is to draw visitors in at the beginning of the HHPZ experience. The artist says: "For me, the sculptures serve to launch an experience, not to mimic anything inside HHPZ; it's a fairy tale-animals drive cars and money is food."
Some characteristic motifs seen in other Otterness works are found in "Another World"-the manipulation of human and animal scale, depictions of coins and bills, clothing on animals-to add humorous and thought-provoking aspects to the artwork. These motifs allow the artist and the viewer to explore the relationship between humans and the rest of the animal kingdom.
HappyHollow019
 
Happy Hollow Park & Zoo presents a unique opportunity for these considerations as stewards of Zoo programs that help sustain living species, while simultaneously housing a Park that embraces the fairy tale aspects of animals. Through these motifs, visitors can find both the humor of a Keystone Cop-like escape from Guinea Pig Island, or consider the very real relationship of how humans have, by necessity, become the thin line between some animals and their extinction - and what that responsibility entails.
 
The artist was captivated from the beginning by the unique nature of Happy Hollow:
One of the great aspects of Happy Hollow is that it reminds me of a fairy tale. The obvious community involvement in Happy Hollow after all these years gives a hand-built sensibility and an incredibly unique aura. I love the idea of a place that has a zoo of animals that are scaled to children, and a park that has oversized elements from fairy tales. It was this that I was inspired by; I let these fairy tales influence my work. I hope visitors will be able to take a break from their world and escape to "Another World."
The sculpture also serves as memory-keeper for those who visited Happy Hollow in its first 46 years as some elements captured in the artwork were relegated to history with the refurbishment of the park.
HappyHollow3bears
 
Happy Hollow re-opens to the public on March 20, 2010 (see details below) following an 18 month, $70 million bond-funded renovation.
 
Tom Otterness, a native of Wichita, Kansas, has lived in New York City for nearly 40 years. He has developed public art projects throughout the U.S. and Europe, with many of the projects focusing on locations that engage children as well as adults. His public commissions can be found in parks, playgrounds, courthouses, and he has even designed a balloon for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.  He has exhibited in museums including the Whitney Museum, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh. More of his work may be seen at  www.tomotterness.net    
 
The Happy Hollow Park and Zoo Grand Re-Opening is Saturday, March 20, 2010. The official ribbon-cutting ceremony is at 9:30; the park will be open at 10:00 a.m. Happy Hollow Park & Zoo is located in Kelley Park on the corner of Senter and Story Roads. The main address is1300 Senter Road, San Jose, CA 95112.
 
Images: details of Another World
.
Public Art Committee
The Public Art Committee will hold its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at 5:30 P.M. The following report, discussion and action items are on the agenda:  
 

UPDATE  

   1. REPORT: Alum Rock Cultural History Corridor Master Plan. (District 5)

 

DISCUSSION & ACTION ITEMS

1. CONCEPT DESIGN AND SCHEMATIC DESIGN REVIEW

a.)   Approve the concept and schematic proposal by Robert Dawson for the ESD photographic residency.

b.)   Amend Robert Dawson's residency contract to extend the time frame to May, 2010 and add $10,000 for exhibit and book design mockups and photographic prints to be displayed at the Plant.(Citywide)


2. SCHEMATIC DESIGN REVIEW

a.)   Approve the schematic design proposal for the San Fernando Corridor - Diridon Green public art project by artist Charles Lee (BIOS).(District 3)


3. DESIGN DEVELOPMENT REVIEW

a.)   Approve the artist Vicki Scuri's design enhancements for the Blossom Hill pedestrian bridge to be constructed by Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) and owned by the City of San Jose. (District 2)

OTHER BUSINESS

   
1. REPORT: Two Year Public Art Conservation and Maitenance Plan (Citywide)
 
The full agenda packet may be viewed at www.sanjoseculture.org
 
Public Art Committee meetings are open to the public. The meeting is in City Hall, 200 E. Santa Clara Street, Meeting Room W-119 in the Council Wing.
 
The Public Art Committee, a sub-committee of the Arts Commission, is advisory to the Commission and to San Jose City Council. The Public Art Committee monitors and provides oversight in the planning, artist selection, development and design review of public art projects throughout the City. 
Cultural Vision Plan - Arts Commission Seeks Input on Draft Plan at Community Study Session 
Date: Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Time: 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.  
Location: Roosevelt Community Center - Community Room
901 East Santa Clara Street at S.19th Street, San Jose
 
The Arts Commission invites public participation in a Community Study Session for discussion and input on the draft Cultural Vision Plan.
 
The Cultural+Planning Group consultants David Plettner and Victoria Saunders have completed work on the draft Cultural Vision Plan. At this study session they will present the key elements of the draft Cultural Vision Plan.
 
Arts Commissioners Walter Soellner, Jessica Zenk and Lisa Gonzales, all members of the Cultural Vision Plan Local Plan Advancement Team, and Arts Commissioner Charles Lauer, a member of the Envision 2040 General Plan Task Force, will invite discussion and input. 
 

Community input has been invaluable in the development of the Cultural Vision Plan. To date there have been hundreds of people involved in the development of the draft Cultural Vision Plan. Community participation in this Study Session is important to finalizing the Cultural Vision Plan.

Please RSVP to [email protected] or by calling 408.277.5144 ext. 31
 

Parking:

Roosevelt Community Center is just .9 mile east of City Hall, at S. 19th Street. Free Parking is provided at in the lot at the rear of the Roosevelt Community Center; the parking lot entrance is on S. 21st. Street.
Diridon Station Area Plan Community Workshop
Date: Saturday, March 27, 2010
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12 noon
Location: City Hall 200 East Santa Clara Street, San Jose
Council Wing, Rooms W-118, 119, 120  
 

The City of San Jose, in coordination with the San Jose Redevelopment Agency, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, and other local and regional transportation agencies, are continuing to develop a plan for a �-mile radius around Diridon Station (approximately 500 acres of land).

On Saturday, March 27, 2010, community members are invited to join the planning team from the City of San Jose for a Diridon Station Area Plan Alternative Analysis Workshop. The second in a series of community workshops for the Station Area Plan, participants will be involved in hands-on activities to identify preferred land use and station options for the Diridon Station Area Plan.

The Diridon Station Area Plan will provide a vision and guidance for this unique destination with a broad mix of transit-supportive uses. In addition, the Plan anticipates pedestrian, bicycle, open space, and street connections from the greater downtown and surrounding neighborhoods.

Parking:

Free Parking is provided at the Fourth and San Fernando Street Parking Garage. The Parking below City Hall will be closed.

Transit Information:

The workshop location is served by the VTA Light Rail and Bus Lines 22, 23, 63, 64, 72, 73, 81, 522, and Dash. For detailed information go to: http://

www.vta.org 

Further Information:

For further information on the Diridon Station Area Plan, go to http://www.sanjoseca.gov/planning/diridon/. Or contact Michael Brilliot in the City of San Jose Planning Division at [email protected] or by phone at 408-535-7831. 

City Hall - Current Exhibits

Current listings as of newsletter distribution   

The following exhibits are presented by the City Hall Exhibition Program, a project of the San Jose Public Art Program. All exhibits are free and open to the public. 
 
NEW EXHIBITS
 
The Big Idea: Art on a Grand Scale

 
Location:  City Hall Wing Galleria 


 
BenBigArtPainting

 
BenBigArtPaintingThe Big Idea: Art on a Grand Scale
showcases the diverse and extraordinary talent of eleven local artists, all of whom create art works in large-scale format. Scale in art is about much more than size. Rather, it is a tool employed by artists to convey complex and often subtle concepts.  In This exhibit, large two-dimensional works on paper and canvas mingle with sculpture that explores weight and mass through the use of unexpected mediums. The Big Idea: Art on a Grand Scale will be on view through August 2010.   
 
Images (above):   
1. Top: The Decision Makers, Ben Alexy.
2. Bottom: Woman With Boa, Ted Fullwood.
 
 
 
Earthbound
 
Location: City Windows Gallery, the storefront exhibit space on 4th Street
 

BenBigArtPainting

Image (above):   Redbird, Stan Welsh, ceramic on plywood, 2008. 
 
Eleven area ceramics artists bend, twist and enhance their medium of choice in provocative ways in Earthbound. Bound to the elements  - earth, air, fire and water - each of these artists manipulates the medium to form their own expressions.  The intrinsic nature of clay lends itself to the expression of the human condition.  The personal and universal intertwine to weave narratives of history and present-day social and political circumstances.  Each has a tale to tell.  Each has a story.  But all have chosen to work with the elements.
 
The artists included represent but a portion of the exciting work being created in the greater Bay Area by artists working in ceramics.  They include Tessie Barrera-Scharaga, Kimberly Cook, Don Fritz, Ted Fullwood, Diane Levinson, Gustavo Martinez, Max Rain, Shelby B. Smith, Gabe Toci, Monica Van den Dool and Stan Welsh. Earthbound will be on view through May 15, 2010.  
 
 
 
CONTINUING EXHIBITS
 
Hidden Heritages: Six African American Families, San Jose 1860­-1920
 
Location: City Hall Tower, Santa Clara St. Lobby

Six of San Jose's pioneer black families are brought to life in portraits pieced together from historical facts and public records, family recollections, artifacts, old photographs and artist renderings, each telling the story of a unique community from a different perspective and providing a poignant glimpse into San Jose's past during a pivotal period in history. Hidden Heritages will be on view through May 31, 2010.   

Face2Face: Highlights from the Student Art Collection at the Santa Clara County Office of Education  
 
Location: City Hall Tower, 18th Floor Mayor and Council Office Lobby Gallery  
 
Featuring artwork created by children in conjunction with the Young Artists Showcase, sponsored by the San Jose Water Company.  Face2Face will be on view through June 30, 2010. 
 
For Artists:  Call for Artists - 01SJ Accepting Submittals for Multiple Projects
  Open Call - Deadline March 22
 

01SJ BIENNIAL- San Jose's Festival of arts, technology and more

 

The 3rd 01SJ Biennial will take place September 16-19, 2010 in San Jose, CA. The 2010 01SJ Biennial encapsulates the theme Build Your Own World, where the future is not about what's next; it's about what we can build to ensure that what's next matters. How can we, as resourceful, innovative, and knowledgeable local and global citizens build and participate in a desirable future in the face of global climate change, economic meltdown, political instability, and cultural divisiveness?

 

The 01SJ Biennial is an increasingly recognized international event and a premiere multidisciplinary arts festival in North America. As such, 01SJ represents a unique opportunity to present the groundbreaking work of local and international artists and to provide access to innovative, world-class art for a broad and diverse audience.

 

For details, go to http://zero1.org/01sj/opencalls

Explore Public Art in Downtown San Jose 

Create your own walking tour!

Here are two ways you can enjoy public art in Downtown San Jose.
 
DOWNTOWN PUBLIC ART MAP - Updated 2009 Edition Now Available!
The San Jose Public Art Program's  colorful, informative map of public art projects in downtown San Jose has recently been updated. The 2009 Downtown Public Art Map is a fun and easy way to see public in downtown San Jose.
 
Use it to create your own walking tour and include opportunities to stop and enjoy other features in the district including museums, galleries and restaurants.  
 
 
RECOLECCIONES: THE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. LIBRARY PUBLIC ART COLLECTION
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library includes an award-winning collection of more than 34 site-specific public artworks in locations throughout the library. Finding them is a process of exploration, discovery and is filled with surprises! A free colorful detailed brochure is available from the San Jose Public Art Program that will help you appreciate this extraordinary collection.  
 
You can request a free copy of the 2009 Downtown Public Art Map or the Recolecciones - Library Art Collection brochure. Please e-mail your request to  [email protected], and include your mailing address.
 
You can also access a printable pdf version of the Downtown Public Art Map on the Public Art webpage of the Office of Cultural Affairs website at
San Jose Downtown Public Art Map.
SAN JOSE PUBLIC ART - e-Newsletter Archive 
Visit the Online Archive to view past issues! 
  
Current and past issues of San Jose Public Art can be viewed on the Public Art pages of the Office of Cultural Affairs website.
 
Go to www.sanjoseculture.org
 
More to come in SAN JOSE PUBLIC ART!
 
 
 
 
San Jos� Public Art is the way to keep connected and informed. Please stay with us for future editions.

We welcome your comments, ideas and suggestions. You can e-mail us at [email protected].
 
Please forward this to people you know who might like to keep informed about public art in San Jos.