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4.15. SR 01-20-2015City of Elk River Request for Action To Item Number Mayor and City Council 4.15 Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by General Business January 20, 2015 Colleen Eddy, Economic Development Specialist Item Description Reviewed by Public Art Installation Finalist Jeremy Barnhart, Deputy Director CODD Reviewed by Cal Portner, City Administrator Action Requested Confirm, by motion, the EDA's decision to award the Public Art Installation Project to Carl Zachmann as recommended by the Judging Panel. Background /Discussion The EDA is expected to make a decision at its January 20, 2015, meeting to accept the judging panel's recommendation and award the Public Art Installation Project to Carl Zachmann for his submission entitled "Whimsical Windmill." The Public Art Installation program was established to promote the Powered by Nature brand via a tangible, artistic media. The judges reviewed 8 projects, interviewed 3 finalists, and unanimously agreed that "Whimsical Windmill" submitted by Carl Zachmann best represented Elk River and its brand. The public art will be located at the library with the backdrop of prairie grasses and wild flowers. Construction is expected to be completed by June 1, 2015, with an unveiling celebration projected for July 4, 2015. Financial Impact The project was budgeted in the 2014 budget for $12, 000. Attachments ■ EDA Packet PV0WIREU BY Template Updated 4/14 [INAMUR "Powered By Nature ": A Public Art Installation Proposal By Carl Zachmann For the City of Elk River, MN General Information Dimensions Width from the tip of the tail to the front of the fan blades 84in For scale the largest blue gear has a 26in diameter Height from the top of the governor to the bottom of the lowest gear 61in (Note that the lowest gear hangs below the top of the pole) Diameter fan blade 42in Height of Pole 9 - 10ft e ° r �� ER �rxu ___-~ [`� C� ` Project Understanding In 1805, when Zebulon Pike named the river for the herds of roaming elk that eventually gave the city of Elk River its name, he set an important precedent for the future caretakers of the land: the town, in its enviable area of rushing rivers and strong trees, should never be separated from the nature from which it sprung. Throughout the years, the accomplishments of the people of Elk River have been a testament to the necessary and healthy connection between nature and progress. In the very beginning, nature powered Elk River and helped it grow. Taking advantage of the area's abundant natural resources, David Fairbault built his trading post, bringing commerce to the area. Others noticed Elk River's unmistakable advantages: Ard Godfrey, recognizing the potential of the river to provide power, built his sawmill. The population grew and agriculture flourished. The hydroelectric darn was built, literally and figuratively powering the early town. The march to modernity and prosperity moved on. As an artist and a scholar, I make work that is informed by the grit and creative energy of American history. Elk River, being the dynamic place that it is, offers an amazing opportunity for me to pay homage to the past while also inspiring the future. By creating a site - specific piece with historical elements and brand - appropriate shapes and colors, I believe I can do justice to the community's wish for a memorable, impactful, and unique addition to the city's public art collection. I want to express through my work the unbroken, almost symbiotic link between the town and its natural surroundings, since that to me is what "powered by nature" means. Unlike many other places, Elk River has not taken unsafe advantage of its natural assets. It has instead treasured them and worked with them, preserving their integrity throughout periods of great growth and advancement. My piece, with its kinetic potential, has the exciting result of being both an intriguing static piece and a dynamic moving statement of progress and motivation. The history and forward- thinking energy of Elk River have greatly inspired me in the planning of this piece. I appreciate the strong historical ties Elk River has to its past, and it is my hope that my piece will serve as a reminder to those who view it to always keep the connection between history, nature, and progress at the forefront of their minds. The saying "Elk River, powered by nature" is not simply an idle reflection on what makes Elk River special. It is a reminder of what has honestly made Elk River the dynamic, exciting community it is today. This is what I believe, and this is what I will convey in my public art piece. Project Approach The overall look and movement of my piece is reminiscent of the windmills used on farms to pump water. I have chosen the spoke patterns, shapes, colors, and accents for my proposed piece for very specific reasons. A pattern from a vintage coffee grinder, found in general stores just like those that would have been in the early town of Elk River while it was growing, plays nicely with the hardworking patterns drawn from early American agricultural and industrial designs. The governor with its steel balls, used by water mills and steam engines to govern and regulate their speed, gets a new life as artistic accent in my piece. The spherical weights will rise and fall, interacting with the wind as its speeds change. The shape of the curved pole that the whole piece sits atop is taken from the City of Elk River's logo and is representative of the waterpower that built the city and gave it its name. The lines are tipped vertically. The same curve of the pole's lines is echoed in the falling, diminishing size of the vertical gears in the piece. The tail of the piece has a vintage design, inspired by those found on old farm windmills. The gears in my piece are handmade, drafted from patterns found through years of documentation and research. They will be cut from sheets of self - weathering steel using a plasma torch before being layered and welded together in a method that mimics the casting process of period originals. The gears will be painted and then distressed to give them a vintage appearance before being arranged in the final composition. The colors of the piece are important: The large dark blue gears on either side of the piece represent the mighty Mississippi with the train of lighter blue gears representing the Elk River as it flows into the Mississippi. The red gear is representative of the city of Elk River on the banks at the confluence of both rivers. The last two gears located on opposite sides of the sculpture represent the nature that the city was built on, around, through, and with. To one side there is a green cog, symbolizing the forest and lumber that helped build Elk River. To the other side, a rich yellow gear serves as a reminder that the city is not just water and woods, but also on the edge of the prairie that helped the area's agriculture to flourish, causing Elk River to further grow into the modern city it is today. Some more specifics on the piece that will give insight into my methods are as follows: The wind sculpture will be self- furling like those found on old farms, so that the piece will take itself out of strong winds, increasing the longevity of the piece. The piece will use standard replaceable off -the -shelf sealed stainless steel bearings, with all the shafting and bearing sleeves also being constructed from stainless steel to ensure that years from now, any future maintenance will be smooth and easy. A galvanized tail and wind veins will give the piece a vintage appearance, resist corrosion, and contrast with the other colors, textures, and metals in the sculpture. Made from self - weathering steel, the frame and base will take on a rusty vintage appearance but not deteriorate as normal steel would. All painted parts, such as the gears, will be painted with a durable automotive -type paint that is then coated with a UV resistant clear coat to negate any color fading that could occur otherwise. I make my work to last. Location Installation and Future Maintenance proposed Schedule Nov. 6 proposal Submitted Jan. 20 Elk River City Council approves project Feb. 1 -15 Materials (Ordering /purchasing of steel and other parts and materials Includes travel to and from both Minneapolis, MN and Fargo, ND) Feb. 15 - Mar. 31 Construction of artwork (Includes Final drafting, cutting frame, nd assembly) and tail Construction, welding, painting, machining, Construction of base parts Apr. 1 -- Apr. 30 (Fabrication of curved pole, rebar and anchor bolt assembly) Installation of concrete base, anchors, and rebar May 3 (Excavation of soil, concrete forming and pouring, installation of rebar and anchor bolt assembly) May 2 -14 Concrete curing time May 15* Installation of sculpture June 1 Completion Unveiling celebration July 4 *Some extra time has been allotted but the installation of the concrete and the final piece may vary slightly depending on ground conditions and weather. Location After researching Elk River's vast number of parks, I spent an afternoon driving around the community studying all possible locations. After narrowing down the choices and after much consideration of the front flowerbed of the city's library, I selected it for its location, varying wind speeds, and vegetation. The build's clean contemporary lines and the sculpture's design and motion will complement each other. Set against the building and near Orono Lake, the motion and sound of the piece will be enhanced by the varying winds off the lake. The established blue stem prairie grasses growing underneath it will further enhance the piece's motion. l believe this will help connect the piece to Elk River's past: the blowing grass has a very water -like quality as it sways and bends in the breeze. Attention will go to the movement created by the wind as a whole, both through the grasses and through the sculpture itself. Installation and Maintenance The piece is designed to need as little maintenance as possible. It is designed for years of active use, with all wearing parts of the kinetic sculpture being easily replaced years down the road should the need ever arise. 1 recommend that someone inspect the piece once a year to ascertain that the piece and the bearings are in good working order. The bearings are designed for years of use in industrial sites and in wet locations, at higher rpm's than the wind can even produce through the piece. Still, it is possible that years down the road, some bearings may need to be replaced. I made this process easy by using standard sized replaceable off -the -shelf sealed stainless steel bearings that run on stainless steel shafts inside stainless steel sleeves, to ensure easy and smooth bearing replacement if necessary, The whole piece will be bolted to a cement anchor point in the middle of the flowerbed. Additional Information Carl J. Zachmann, Kinetic Machine Artist Cell: (701) 261 -9542 941 N. Rosemary, Fergus Falls, MN 56537 cjzachmann @gmail.com I carizachmann.com Education Masters of Science in Historical Archaeology Illinois State University Normal, IL December 2010 Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology Minnesota State University Moorhead Moorhead, MN December 2006 • Emphasis in Archaeology • Minor in Art Employment Professional Full -time Artist Nationwide May 2011 —Present Assistant/Apprentice to Jeffrey Zachmann Fergus Falls, MN 2011 Awards Featured Artist Cottonwood Art Festival Richardson, TX May 2014 Madison Museum of Contemporary Art Fair on the Square Madison, WI Jul 2013 Art (MMoCA) Invitational Award Third Place in Sculpture 49`h Annual Coconut Gave Festival Coconut Grove, FL Feb 2012 One -of -a -Kind challenge Winner Exploring TOSCA Quarterly Minneapolis, MN Winter 2012 Award of Excellence Art Splash Sioux City, IA Aug 2011 Artwork Mesabi Range Community and Technical College Eveleth, MN Apr 2014 Selected pieces at the Kaddatz Gallery Fergus Falls, MN Nov 2012 — Present Cherry Creek Mobile Art Gallery Denver Metro Area Acquired July 2012 Commissioned artwork for the Fort Worth Children's Hospital Fort Worth, TX 2012 People's State Bank Goodland, ICS July 2012, Mar 2014 Mercury Werks Corporate Office Dallas, TX Mar 2012 State Wide Roofing Islip, NY Mar 2012 Numerous pieces in private collections around the world May 2011 —Present Exhibitions /Shows American Craft Council, St. Paul St. Paul, MN Apr 10 -13, 2014 Cottonwood Art Festival, Featured Artist Richardson, TX Oct. 2011, May 2013, May 2014, Oct 2014 Old Town Art Fair Chicago, IL Every June 2012 — Present Cherry Creek Arts Festival Denver, CO 4,h of July weekend, 2012, 2014 MMoCA, Art Fair on the Square Madison, WI Mid. Jul, 2013 — Present Scottsdale Arts Festival Scottsdale, AZ Every Mar, 2012 — Present Bayou City Arts Festival Houston, TX Oct 2011 & 2013 Coconut Grove Arts Festival Coconut Grove, FL Feb 2012 & 2013 Naples National Art Festival Naples, FL Feb 2012 & 2013 State Street Area Art Fair Ann Arbor, MI July 2012 & 2013 Main Street Arts Festival Fort Worth, TX Apr 2013 Art in the Pearl Portland, OR Sep 2013 Total Estimated Project Costs a. Public art piece materials: $2,700 Weathering steel (7ga, 10ga, 12ga), galvanized 18ga steel, bearings, miscellaneous steel and parts b. Transportation costs: $700 Mileage (from Fergus Falls, MN) Minneapolis for materials 355mi Fargo for materials 120mi Three trips to Elk River for instillation 925mi 1,400mi at $0.50 per mi c. Installation costs, time and materials: $500 Concrete, rebar, anchor bolts f. Future maintenance costs: Replacement bearings as needed $25ea.* e. Any other costs or charges deemed relevant by the artist: Artist Compensation for Time and Talent $8,000 $12,000* *Total project cost does not include cost of possible future maintenance* Report to EDA and City Counsel On behalf of the jury panel, I'd like to thank you for giving us the opportunity to engage in this exciting project. All of these artists proved skillful and experienced, and shared a keen desire to provide a beautiful sculpture for people of Elk River. So the jurying process, while inspiring, was not easy. We could envision all three pieces in place were conditions amenable to doing so. Our decision, though, was unanimous, and we are ready to make a recommendation to you. The first artist we met with was Gita Ghei, a sculptor with a considerable number of pieces installed in Minneapolis, including a Capitol Mall sculpture and another at the Walker Sculpture Garden. She envisioned a sundial for the Rivers Edge Commons at sidewalk level, not knowing that there was a fountain embedded in the very spot she chose to place her piece. She was open to suggestion, both in terms of placement and concept, but since the piece was designed specifically for the river's edge, it would not fit so well at other locations. Because Rivers Edge Commons is being considered for renovation, the panel decided not to recommend this project at this time. Perhaps as renovations plans are finalized, such a piece might be considered for inclusion. The team of Dan Wolbert, Myrna Orensten, Matt Eckholm, and Todd Fink appeared before us next. Their piece includes a child and adult figure under a canopy at the edge of an abstract rendering of a flowing river. Although the panel liked the concept, unfortunately we had three reasons to dismiss this project. First, were budget issues. They included no budget in their proposals and when asked about details, gave us assurances that they could complete the project but offered no specific pricing details. Furthermore they depended on heavy volunteer contributions of labor and required ongoing City maintenance for watering and mowing landscape components. Next, were site matters. They chose the northeast corner of Highway 10 and Main Street. It would have worked there quite well as an impressive welcome to the community —the installation measured 30 by 50 feet. However, due to the Department of Transportation plans for that spot, the sculpture would have to be removed relatively soon. Finally, because we liked the concept of the proposal, we tried to determine an alternative site for it, but could not identify an appropriate place. We determined, therefore, that we could not recommend it to you. We ultimately chose the work by Carl Zachmann. Of the finalists, Carl's proposal for outside the library was the most thorough in budget and timelines. He has a very good understanding of his materials with which he has had much prior experience and showed that the work would be done with the up most craftsmanship. He proposes a kinetic sculpture placed near the library entrance. He provided a video of one of his installations elsewhere. While it is on a smaller scale than his design for us, it gave us a graphic understanding of how this proposal will work. (show the video ?) Zachman, an professional artist with a Masters of Science in Historical Archaeology, researched Elk River's earliest days and the pieces and colors chosen allude to them. His design is nearly maintenance free, requiring only a semi - annual check to determine all is well, and assured us all parts are standard, can be gotten from him immediately, and can be switched out in less than 30 minutes should a need arise. He believes the piece will not require maintenance for a very long time, however. It can sustain winds of 40 miles per hour and is as sturdy as farm windmills on open prairies. The colors are applied using industrial paints and sealants and are expected to last for decades. Unpainted components are made of self- weathering steel that will take on a surface rusty vintage but will not deteriorate any further. No greasing or oiling of gears is needed. The panel suggested that a sign which explainied the historical references might be appropriate to help viewers more fully appreciate the piece, and he agreed. He assured us that the lowest component will be out of reach of children and the pole is specifically designed to deter would -be climbers. The curved design of the pole itself is actually taken from the City of Elk River's logo. His budget is reasonable, the piece itself is appealing and fun, no aesthetic or safety concerns need attention, and the site is conducive to a large number of community members enjoying it. As for the degree to which Zachmann, considered the brand "powered by nature," his own words probably say it best. "The history and forward - thinking energy of Elk River have greatly inspired me in the planning of this piece. I appreciate the strong historical ties Elk River has to its past, and it is my hope that my piece will serve as a reminder to those who view it to always keep the connection between history, nature, and progress at the forefront of their minds. The saying "Elk River, powered by nature" is not simply an idle reflection on what makes Elk River special. It is a reminder of what has honestly made Elk River the dynamic, exciting community it is today. This is what I believe, and this is what I will convey in my public art piece." We felt that his whimsical windmill idea was well thought out and well designed. We felt that the other two proposals needed more thought and planning to make them successful. The panel, therefore, unanimously recommends accepting Carl Zachman's proposal.