Agenda Information Sheet
DEPARTMENT: Parks and Recreation
CM/ ACM: John C. Cabrales, Jr.
AGENDA DATE: September 16, 2014
SUBJECT
Title
Consider approval of the Public Art Committee's recommendation to purchase three color lithographs by artist Billy Hassell as public art for the City of Denton. The lithographs, which will a total of $5,700, is pursuant to the City of Denton Public Art policy approved by Ordinance 2006-105, and funded with Hotel/Motel Occupancy Tax (HOT) revenues previously authorized and encumbered for expenditure of such purposes; and declaring an effective date. The Public Art Committee recommends approval (5-0).
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BACKGROUND
On April 18, 2006, City Council established and appointed a Public Art Committee that serves in an advisory capacity to the City Council. The Public Art Committee, established by separate ordinance, makes recommendations on the:
· Commissioning, placing, and installing of public art
· Implementation of funding mechanism(s) for public art
· Effective and efficient management of public art
· Ongoing maintenance of public art
· Accessioning, deaccessioning and resiting of public art
A lithograph is the printing process whereby no etching is required. The artist uses a set of greasy crayons or pencils to draw a mirrored image of the original artwork onto a smooth stone tablet. A sheet of paper is then placed over the entire plate to produce a rendering. The inked stone or metal plate and the paper are placed in a press and light pressure is used to transfer some of the ink to create a lithograph copy.
Artist Billy Hassell has been making nature inspired paintings and lithographs for more than 25 years. His colorful and expressive artwork frequently feature birds and indigenous plants, and animals of Texas, and have been exhibited nationwide, which includes the permanent collections of the Houston Museum of Art, the Menil Collection, the Fort Worth Modern, the Dallas Museum of Art and numerous other public and private collections. A traveling survey exhibition of his work was organized by the Art Museum of South Texas in Corpus Christi and toured the state for two years. His work has been featured in solo exhibitions at the Grace Museum in Abilene and the Tyler Museum of Art in Tyler, Texas. Articles on his work have appeared in ArtNews, Southwest Art, Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine, D Magazine and 360 West. He has been commissioned to produce color etchings and color lithographs for The Nature Conservancy of Texas and Audubon Texas and has completed public art projects for the DFW Airport (stained glass floor medallion) and the City of Fort Worth (mosaic mural for Fire Station # 34).
The three artworks being recommended are:
The TRINITY RIVER II is a 30" x 22" framed image featuring alligator gar, sunfish, catfish, bass, a green frog and a red-eared slider. The primary theme of the print is water.
The DOGWOOD CANYON is an 18" x 24" framed image and features the flora and fauna of a unique ecosystem.
The BOBWHITE QUAIL is an 18" x 24" framed image and features a small covey of quail in their natural habitat, a bird once common throughout north Texas.
All three of the color lithographs are hand-inked, hand-printed, and included in a limited edition of 30 printed on a Takach Press by master printer Peter Webb in Austin, Texas.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the Public Art Committee's recommendation to purchase three of artist Billy Hassell's color lithographs as public art for the City of Denton.
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (Council, Boards, Commissions)
Public Art Committee recommended approval on August 7, 2014, with a vote of 5-0.
FISCAL INFORMATION
All three artworks from the Billy Hassell Studio total a cost of $5,700. The framed Trinity River II costs $2,100; the framed Dogwood Canyon costs $1,800; and the framed Bobwhite Quail costs $1,800, and would be funded from 2013-14 HOT Funds.
EXHIBITS
1. Public Art Committee Meeting Minutes of August 7, 2014
2. Illustration of the lithographs
Respectfully submitted:
Emerson Vorel
Director
Submitted by:
Janie McLeod
Community Events Coordinator