Agenda Item Wording:
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Consideration of mural application requests from Arts Consortium for two murals - one on the east face of the south-facing façade, and one on the west-facing façade - on the Lofts at Fort Visalia mixed use residential development located at 340 East Oak Avenue (northwest corner of Oak Avenue and Bridge Street).
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Deadline for Action: 8/7/2023
Submitting Department: Community Development
Contact Name and Phone Number:
Brandon Smith, Principal Planner, (559) 713-4636, brandon.smith@visalia.city <mailto:brandon.smith@visalia.city>
Paul Bernal, Community Development Director, (559) 713-4025, paul.bernal@visalia.city <mailto:paul.bernal@visalia.city>
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends, based on the recommendation of the Mural Panel, that the two mural applications for the proposed murals located at 340 East Oak Avenue be approved as shown in Attachments 2 and 6.
Background Discussion:
The City of Visalia received two mural applications on May 31, 2023, from Arts Consortium, representing Self-Help Enterprises who is the property owner of 340 East Oak Avenue, for murals to be painted on two separate facing walls on the under-construction Lofts at Fort Visalia mixed use residential development. It has been the intention of Self-Help Enterprises, since 2019 when entitlements were approved, for the mixed-use building to feature a mural depicting the historical nature of the site. The inclusion of the murals would honor the history of this location as the original site of Fort Visalia, based on various sources, and honor the geographic setting and the cultures of the area’s original inhabitants. The applicant, Arts Consortium, has collaborated with Self-Help Enterprises to hold a call to artists for mural proposals to be submitted for consideration. Ultimately, two mural submissions were selected from local artists. Work on the murals is expected to begin in August 2023, in coordination with the construction work and the completion schedule of each façade. Each mural will be completed within a three week production period.
Mural ‘A’
Mural ‘A’ will be visible from the intersection of Oak Avenue and Bridge Street and will measure 15-feet, 4-inches wide by 21-feet, 10-inches tall. The mural application (see Attachment 1), a rendering of the original mural submitted by the applicant (see Attachment 2), a picture of the mural imposed over the building wall (see Attachment 3), and a photo of the existing wall (see Attachment 4) are attached.
This mural is intended to convey an image of the setting of the area that Visalia was settled upon, with an abstract depiction of Fort Visalia in the lower foreground of the composition. Notable elements of the mural include oak leaves, foothills, Lake Kaweah with rivers and creeks flowing towards the valley, and the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The sun’s rays are influenced by basket weaves from Yokut people that are on display at the Tulare County History Museum. This mural is designed by Michael Vasquez who resides in Fresno and has created artwork for institutions around Fresno. The mural will be completed with professional grade, light fast acrylic paints and will receive an anti-graffiti coating when finished.
Mural ‘B’
Mural ‘B’ will be visible from the intersection of Oak Avenue and Garden Street and will measure 10-feet wide by 32-feet, 4-inches tall. The mural application (see Attachment 5), a rendering of the original mural submitted by the applicant (see Attachment 6), a picture of the mural imposed over the building wall (see Attachment 7), and a photo of the existing wall (see Attachment 8) are attached.
This mural is intended to create a single visual character that ties together references to agriculture, local natural lands, patterns found in the architecture of prominent Visalia buildings, and patterns in the works of the Yokut people that have originally resided in the area. This mural is designed by Eric Rodriguez, who was born and raised in Visalia and has previously produced wall art on storefronts in downtown Visalia and upon public utility boxes and public spaces in southern California. The mural will be completed with professional-grade exterior latex paint and will receive an anti-graffiti coating when finished.
Mural Panel Review
In accordance with the City’s mural guidelines and procedures (see Attachment 10), the Mural Panel, consisting of a representative from the Arts Consortium (Mary Jo Eastes), Arts Visalia (Alison Schlick Miniaci), and a mayoral appointment (Walter Deissler) convened to review the application. (Note: Ampelio Mejia has historically served on the Mural Panel as the Arts Consortium representative, but due to his involvement in the selection process of the proposed murals, Mary Jo Eastes who serves on the board of directors represented the Arts Consortium for this meeting only.) The purpose of the Mural Panel is to assure compliance with local ordinances, the mural guidelines, and to determine whether the artist can produce a quality piece of art. All members of the Mural Panel, together with a representative from Self-Help Enterprises, the artists, and Parks Director Kelli Kincaid, met on July 14, 2023, to discuss the murals.
The Mural Panel was provided with the application materials, the renderings, and work samples from the artists. For both murals, the Mural Panel was favorable to the artwork and had no concerns with the artists’ abilities to prepare a quality mural. The Panel praised the designs, color spectrum, and straight-forward approach of the artwork on both murals, recognizing their similarities while recognizing each conveyed a unique image.
During the meeting, considerable discussion was given toward the stylized patterns found in both murals that were influenced by the local indigenous communities. Both artists were able to cite sources from local tribes that inspired the depiction of the stylized elements. The Mural Panel made a motion for both murals that the submissions were found acceptable for meeting the guidelines, but contingent upon the murals being presented to local tribal representatives and obtaining permission and acknowledgement that the use of the stylized patterns were affirmatively representative of the Yokut people.
Following the meeting, Self-Help Enterprises reached out to representatives from the Tule River Indian Tribe, one of the local communities of the Yokuts. Through email correspondence with a tribe board chairperson, it was confirmed that the visual depictions and patterns utilized in the murals are accurate symbology utilized by the Yokut people, and that there was no concern with the utilization of the symbology. It was further noted by the tribal member that an internet search of “Yokut basket designs” would yield similar patterns and designs used by the people. Self-Help Enterprises also reached out to the Santa Rosa Rancheria Indian Tribe, which is also a local community of the Yokuts, though the tribe was not able to provide comment prior to the Council meeting. Given the response received from the Tule River Tribe, staff followed up again with the Mural Panel, and they provided their consent that the condition in their original motion was satisfactorily met.
Mural Agreement
The City’s mural guidelines requires that the property owner and applicant enter into an agreement that identifies the terms and conditions under which the mural will be applied. A draft of the mural agreement is attached to this report as Attachment 9, should the City Council elect to approve the mural applications.
Fiscal Impact:
No fiscal impact to the City. The applicant and artists are responsible for the installation, maintenance, and removal of the murals.
Prior Council Action: No prior Council action related to mural proposals on this site.
Alternatives: None.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to approve the applications for two murals located on the west façade and the east side of the south façade of the Lofts at Fort Visalia mixed use residential development located at 340 East Oak Avenue as shown in Attachments 2 and 6.
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Environmental Assessment Status:
The mural is considered Categorically Exempt under Section 15311 of the Guidelines for the Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), as amended, due to the project being a placement of minor structure accessory to existing facilities including but not limited to signs.
CEQA Review:
The mural is considered Categorically Exempt under Section 15311 of the Guidelines for the Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), as amended, due to the project being a placement of minor structure accessory to existing facilities including but not limited to signs.
Attachments:
Attachment 1: Mural ‘A’ Application.
Attachment 2: Mural ‘A’ Rendering.
Attachment 3: Elevation of wall with Mural ‘A’.
Attachment 4: Existing elevation at Oak & Bridge.
Attachment 5: Mural ‘B’ Application.
Attachment 6: Mural ‘B’ Rendering.
Attachment 7: Elevation of wall with Mural ‘B’.
Attachment 8: Existing elevation at Oak & Garden.
Attachment 9: Draft Mural Agreement.
Attachment 10: Mural Guidelines.