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City Council Staff Report
January 28, 2021 NEW BUSINESS
APPROVAL OF ART PLACEMENT "ALTANVIRO AND LOPER" BY
CHRISTOPHER MYERS AT SIX LOCATIONS WITHIN THE TAHQUITZ
CANYON WAY MEDIAN BETWEEN SUNRISE WAY AND EL CIELO
ROAD AS PART OF THE 2021 DESERT X EXHIBITION
David H. Ready, City Manager
Marcus L. Fuller, Assistant City Manager
At the December 16, 2020, Public Arts Commission meeting the Commission
recommended that the City Council approve the placement of art at six locations within
the Tahquitz Canyon Way median between Sunrise Way and El Cielo Road, and
recommended the City Council approve an expenditure of $30,000 in Public Art Funds
for installation of the art on a temporary basis through the Desert X exhibition. This item
will provide the City Council's formal approval of the Commission's request.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Approve the temporary placement of public art "Altanviro and Loper'' by the artist
Christopher Myers at six locations within the Tahquitz Canyon Way median between
Sunrise Way and El Cielo Road;
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute a License Agreement with Desert X and/or
Christopher Myers, in a legal form acceptable by the City Attorney, for temporary
placement of public art "Altanviro and Loper'' by the artist Christopher Myers at six
locations within the Tahquitz Canyon Way median between Sunrise Way and El
Cielo Road; and
3. Authorize an expenditure of $30,000 from Public Art Funds for installation of the
public art.
BACKGROUND:
The Desert X 2021 exhibition was originally planned throughout the Coachella Valley
from February 6 through April 11, 2021, however, it has since been delayed until later
this year when it is safer for the public to view the exhibits. In Palm Springs there are
four exhibits planned that include two exhibits on private property, one exhibit utilizing
billboards located along Gene Autry Trail, and one exhibit proposed on public property
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City Council Staff Report
January 28, 2021 -Page 2
Approval of Desert X Exhibition
Tahquitz Canyon Way Median
located within the Tahquitz Canyon Way median between Sunrise Way and El Cielo
Road. A presentation on the Desert X 2021 exhibit proposed on public property on the
Tahquitz Canyon Way median is provided as Attachment 1.
At the December 16, 2020, Public Arts Commission meeting the Commission
recommended that the City Council approve the placement of art at six locations within
the Tahquitz Canyon Way median between Sunrise Way and El Cielo Road, and
recommended the City Council approve an expenditure of $30,000 in Public Art Funds
for installation of the art on a temporary basis through the Desert X exhibition.
STAFF ANALYSIS:
As shown in the Desert X 2021 presentation, the public art proposed for installation on
Tahquitz Canyon Way will be installed on six concrete pads previously constructed
within the median for public art. Two public art locations are on either side of Saturmino
Drive as shown in Figures 1 and 2.
Figure 1
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City Council Staff Report
January 28, 2021 -Page 3
Approval of Desert X Exhibition
Tahquitz Canyon Way Median
Figure 2
Two public art locations are between Sunset Way and Farrell Drive as shown in Figures
3 and 4.
Figure 3
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City Council Staff Report
January 28, 2021 -Page 4
Approval of Desert X Exhibition
Tahquitz Canyon Way Median
Figure 4
One public art location is just west of Louella Road as shown in Figure 5.
Figure 5
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City Council Staff Report
January 28, 2021 -Page 5
Approval of Desert X Exhibition
Tahquitz Canyon Way Median
One public art location is just west of Civic Drive as shown in Figure 6.
Figure 6
Christopher Myers, an artist selected by Desert X to exhibit public art this year is
proposing to install public art entitled "Altanviro and Loper'' described as:
On six stations along Tahquitz Canyon stand sculptures with draping banners that tell
the story of two ranchers-one Mexican and one African-American-whose personal
adversities and love for raising horses lead them to creating a welcoming commune in
the place that would eventually become Palm Springs. While the story is fictional it
speaks broadly to the truths that exist in the slippage between history and mythology.
Altanviro stands in for the thousands of Mexican migrants who've come to call the
Coachella Valley home and Loper reminds us that long ago many who fled bondage in
search of freedom traveled South, perhaps even through this desert, on their way to
free townships along Mexico's northern border. This story of acceptance, although
never perfect, echoes amongst many communities who have found a welcoming home
in this place.
A representation of the public art is shown in Figure 7 on the following page. The public
art includes a 6-feet tall horse with an adjacent banner positioned and fixed between
two 10-feet tall poles. The location of the public art and the manner of its installation has
been reviewed by Staff and deemed acceptable.
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City Council Staff Report
January 28, 2021 -Page 6
Approval of Desert X Exhibition
Tahquitz Canyon Way Median
12 "
78"
Sx8x1 "
60"
30"
60"
60 "
120"
72"
Figure 7
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City Council Staff Report
January 28, 2021 -Page 7
Approval of Desert X Exhibition
Tahquitz Canyon Way Median
The banner depicted in Figure 7 is better represented by a multi-colored graphic
provided in Figure 8. This is the banner that will be installed with the horse sculpture.
Figure 8
The artist will be selecting a contractor to fabricate the poles for the banners, and the
foundations for the installation of the poles and horse onto the existing concrete pads.
The estimated cost for the installation is $25,000. The Public Arts Commission
recommended the City Council authorize an expenditure of up to $30,000 in addition to
any required City review fees for the installation.
The public art would be placed temporarily for the Desert X 2021 exhibition that was
originally planned from February through April, with a potential extension of time subject
to City review and approval. The Desert X 2021 exhibition is currently delayed due to
the COVID-19 pandemic, but this action would authorize the installation of this
temporary art to the extent the Desert X 2021 exhibition is scheduled later this year.
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City Council Staff Report
January 28, 2021 -Page 8
Approval of Desert X Exhibition
Tahquitz Canyon Way Median
Approval of this item will require the City Manager to execute a License Agreement for
placement of the art on public property, in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.
Additionally, a contract services agreement between the City and the artist, or the
contractor selected by the artist, in a form acceptable to the City Attorney will be
required to facilitate the City's expenditure of Public Art Funds for the installation of the
art.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
Section 21084 of the California Public Resources Code requires Guidelines for
Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"). The Guidelines
are required to include a list of classes of projects which have been determined not to
have a significant effect on the environment and which are exempt from the provisions
of CEQA. In response to that mandate, the Secretary for Resources identified classes of
projects that do not have a significant effect on the environment and are declared to be
categorically exempt from the requirement for the preparation of environmental
documents. In accordance with Section 15301 "Existing Facilities," Class 1 (c) projects
consist of "Existing highways and streets, sidewalks, gutters, bicycle and pedestrian
trails, and similar facilities," and approval of this item is considered categorically exempt
from CEQA.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Fiscal Year 2020/2021 budget included $499,590 in the Public Art Fund (Fund
150), a separate Fund established for acquisition and maintenance of public art in
accordance with Chapter 3.37 of the Palm Springs Municipal Code. Sufficient funding is
available in the Public Arts Account #150-4408-43200.
SUBMITTED:
Marcus L. Fuller, MPA, P.E., P.L.S.
Assistant City Manager
Attachments:
1. Desert X 2021 Exhibit
David H. Ready, Esq., P
City Manager
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ATTACHMENT 1
9
Artist Project
Christopher Myers
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Artist's Website
Christopher Myers
Born 1974 I New York, NY
Christopher Myers is a multidisciplinary artist whose projects
manifest in visual art, theatre, and literature. Through a practice
deeply rooted in collaboration, Myers mines the intimate dimensions
of the global, creating works that unveil relationships between distinct
peoples and places.
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Christopher Myers I Altanviro and Loper
On six stations along Tahquitz Canyon stand sculptures with draping banners that tell the
story of two ranchers-one Mexican and one African-American-whose personal adversities
and love for raising horses lead them to creating a welcoming commune in the place that
would eventually become Palm Springs. While the story is fictional it speaks broadly to the
truths that exist in the slippage between history and mythology. Altanviro stands in for the
thousands of Mexican migrants who've come to call the Coachella Valley home and Loper
reminds us that long ago many who fled bondage in search of freedom traveled South,
perhaps even through this desert, on their way to free townships along Mexico's northern
border. This story of acceptance, although never perfect, echoes amongst many
communities who have found a welcoming home in this place.
12
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0 m
13
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Artwork Installation Specs:
Column height: -10 foot
Column size: 4" round tube with 3/16" wall
Base plate per leg: 4"x8"x1"
The flag height: -4 foot tall
Four 5/8" bolts per plate epoxied to the concrete
Placed 6" from the center of the bolt to the edge of
the concrete, so the center of the pole will be
-10"-12" from the edge of the concrete
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