Title
Recommendation to Approve 1925 Everett Street as the New Location for the Dan Fontes Mural and the Egret as the New Design for the Mural; and
Adoption of Resolution Amending the Public Art Fund Budget to Appropriate up to $1,500 for the Dan Fontes Mural. (Community Development 256)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In 2018, City Council approved a grant for a mural by Dan Fontes at 1512 Webster Street. After the property owners decided that they no longer wished to proceed with the project, the Public Art Commission (PAC) identified a new location at 1925 Everett Street, and new site-specific design for the mural. Staff recommends City Council approve the new location and design, and allocate an additional $1,500 to original $12,500 grant by to cover redesign costs.
BACKGROUND
In June of 2018, the PAC recommended a grant of $12,500 to artist Dan Fontes for the creation of the Astro Mural, and in September of 2018, the City Council approved the grant along with other physical art grants. The planned artwork consisted of a mural of the 1971 Gottlieb game entitled "Astro," depicting a vibrant large-scale pinball back glass. In the grant application, the artist proposed that the mural be located on the back of 1512 Webster Street (a privately owned building housing the Pacific Pinball Museum) facing the Webster Street public parking lot (see Exhibit 1 for the full proposal). In November of 2019, the property owners notified City staff that they no longer wished to proceed with the mural project.
Over the next nine (9) months, staff worked with the artist and the Public Art Commission to identify a new location for the artwork, including the exploration of locations in the West Alameda Business District, in City of Alameda (City) parks, and in the Downtown Alameda Business District. In August of 2020, the PAC recommended 1925 Everett Street as the new location for the mural. The mural would be located on the b...
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