06 - Laserfiche WebLink

BACKGROUND The Pleasanton Downtown Association (PDA) has developed a Murals Program, designed to promote the placement of professionally painted murals on various exterior building walls throughout the Downtown area. A PDA Murals Committee has been meeting for the last several years to develop a selection process for artists, identification of potential sites, and development of funding strategies for the projects. The Committee, over time, has included members of the PDA, the community, and owners of several Downtown art galleries. Mr. Gene Finch, owner of the building located at 649 Main Street (corner of Main and St. Mary streets), has offered the vacant wall that runs parallel to St. Mary Street as the site for PDA's first mural effort, and has also offered to help fund the project. The PDA published a call to artists, reviewed qualifications and references, and invited several finalists to submit specific proposals for the 649 Main Street location. The Murals Committee, after conducting interviews and reviewing the proposals, selected artist Gary Winter and his project Celebrate this Beautiful Valley. A color rendering of the proposal is attached. Mr. Winter is an artist and designer who has painted several large scale murals, including a 10' x 12' piece for Valley Community Bank in Livermore, and a 12' x 25' mural for Country Club Shopping Center in San Ramon. His metal and wood sculpture of the Presidential Seal is on permanent display at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. Mr. Winter is also well known for his extensive collection of miniature reproductions of historical buildings in Pleasanton. He has submitted a summary of his work and experience, which is also attached. DISCUSSION Request for Council Support and Public Input While this is a privately sponsored and funded effort on the part of the PDA and the property owner, it is recognized that this initial project will be sited at a very public and prominent location in the heart of the City's Downtown. Mr. Winter, Mr. Finch, and representatives of the PDA and its Murals Committee presented the proposal to the Civic Arts Commission at its meeting on March 5, 2007. Responses by members of the Commission were overwhelmingly positive, and the Commission voted unanimously to lend its support to the project. A large size rendering of the mural was placed at the entrance to 200 Old Bernal Avenue for two (2) weeks in March. Visitors to City Hall were requested to provide their comments regarding the mural. Two citizens submitted highly favorable responses supporting the project; no negative responses were received. Page 2 of 4