AUTHORIZATION TO ACCEPT AN OUTDOOR SCULPTURE AS GIFT TO THE CITY OF GLENDALE
Staff Contact: Erik Strunk, Director, Community Services
Purpose and Recommended Action
This is a request for City Council to authorize the acceptance of an outdoor sculpture, a private gift to the City of Glendale by Mr. and Mrs. Richard Whitney.
Background
In 1983, City Council established an ordinance designed to facilitate the inclusion of works of art in public areas. The ordinance directs one percent of the total cost of eligible Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) to be deposited into the Municipal Arts Fund. The general policy states, "The creation of works of art for public places should be encouraged. A policy is therefore established to direct the inclusion of works of art in city facilities."
Earlier this year, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Whitney, contacted the City to express their desire to donate an outdoor sculpture to the City of Glendale in honor of Mr. Whitney's grandparents, who settled in the West Valley in the early 1900s. According to Mr. Whitney,
"Maude and Clarence Whitney arrived in the Valley in 1910 from Michigan to exchange dry farming for irrigation farming. They, along with eight children, settled at Northern Avenue and Lateral Nineteen. All the children graduated from Glendale Union High School and most remained in Glendale where they were owners of various businesses until they retired or passed away. Unfortunately, no Whitney family members are now living in Glendale and most would be pleasantly surprised at its growth and prominence as a fine place to live, work and play."
Since the inception of the Arts Ordinance, the city has commissioned/acquired over 30 major works of public art, concurrent with development of capital projects throughout the city. In fact, the sculpture "Ascendant" commissioned in 2002 for $53,000 and installed at the Glendale Municipal Airport is by the same artist, Michael Anderson, who created the proposed gift sculp...
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