LIBRARY COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA PACKET 08012024

Page 2 of 5 the future. D. The city will acknowledge receipt of the donated artwork without valuation for tax purposes. The donor must find other means of establishing the value of the artwork. (Ord. 1676 § 1, 1996) In addition to what is identified in the Municipal Code, a Public Art Selection Subcommittee (PASS) supports the process of Art in Public Places and commission review, meeting on an as-needed basis to review public art proposals. The subcommittee includes representatives from the Civic Arts Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, and City staff from the Library and Recreation Department and the Public Works Department. Given that the proposed public artwork would be potentially located at the Pleasanton Library, a Library Commissioner was assigned to the PASS meeting during the May Library Commission meeting. PASS convened virtually on June 28, 2024. PASS members present included a Civic Arts Commissioner, Library Commissioner, Parks and Recreation Commissioner, as well as City staff from the Library and Recreation Department and the Public Works Department. PASS discussed the piece and received a presentation by the donor, and discussed the considerations outlined in the municipal code for proposed donations which include artistic merit, location, installation and maintenance. Information about the Piece Pleasanton resident Dorothy Broderson presented information about the Wonderful Wizard of Oz Book Bench at the PASS meeting. She shared that the Town of Danville hosts annual temporary art exhibits, and in the summer of 2023, the city issued a call for artists' proposals for a “Bound for Books” exhibit. This open call invited professional artists and serious art students from the nine Bay Area counties. Each participating artist received a $1,000 stipend. The Book Benches were displayed outdoors from June to September 2023. Following the exhibit, the Town of Danville held an online auction where the public bid on the Book Benches for purchase. Ms. Broderson won the bid for the Wonderful Wizard of Oz Book Bench, at a cost of $3,600. She then contacted staff to inquire about donating the public artwork to the City of Pleasanton. In accordance with the City’s Public Art Program, staff scheduled a PASS meeting in June 2024 to review Ms. Broderson’s proposal and develop a recommendation for commission review. Artistic Merit At the PASS meeting, images of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz Book Bench were presented with information on the artist Kristen Calderon and the literary work that inspired the piece, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” by L. Frank Baum. During the PASS meeting, the quality of the art was discussed. While some PASS representatives appreciated the art and its concept, others expressed concerns about its quality compared to other pieces in the City’s public art collection such as the bronze artworks at the Pleasanton Library. The topic of the City’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) was also raised, with comments on a perceived lack of inclusivity in the book, although others pointed out that the storyline has been adapted many times and that newer adaptations are more relevant to today's culture. Location, Installation and Maintenance PASS discussed four possible locations at the Pleasanton Library for placement of the public Page 53 of 80