The artist Christian Moeller has created numerous public-art pieces, including this installation in Pasadena
A few weeks ago, the San Jose City Council approved preliminary plans to build a huge mural at the airport. As reported by the Mercury News, a 76,000-square-foot mural, designed by German artist Christian Moeller, will be installed on one of the walls of the new rental car garage currently under construction at the airport.
The project will cost $1.1 million, stand over 60 feet tall, and stretch as long as 1,200 feet!
“The piece’s preliminary concept…involves a high-resolution bitmap photograph that depicts waving human hands, gesturing welcome, farewell, hello and goodbye.”
It seems to me, that this ambitious project could end up really great, and a source of pride for San Jose, or…the finished product could be really, really stupid, and a permanent source of embarrassment for the city. (My prediction: This project will make the Quetzalcoatl statue look like a Black Pearl!).
Finally, why didn’t a local artist get the contract? Why didn’t the city sponsor a design contest for San Jose area colleges and high school seniors? The city government could have selected five finalists, and then had the citizens of San Jose vote online to select a winner.
Pete,
You asked, “Finally, why didn’t a local artist get the contract? Why didn’t the city sponsor a design contest for San Jose area colleges and high school seniors? The city government could have selected five finalists, and then had the citizens of San Jose vote online to select a winner.”
That is an excellent question. Why didn’t they use someone local. We have some incredibily skilled artists here!
How about a picture of Ron Gonzales in the men’s room ?
The airport gets business because of its proximity to industry. If we put it in Hollister, everyone starts flying in through other airports.
#4
So what if other airports are used. People coming to San Jose are coming here because they have something to do in San Jose. They are NOT coming here because there is an airport in San Jose.
The business generated by the airport itself is in the trivial category. Especially when you consider the 1000 acres could be much more productive if used in an intelligent manner. As an airport, most the land is fallow and unproductive, in addition to greatly lowering the quality of life in San Jose.
The airport is one business we are better off without. Let someone else deal with all the negative fallout that results from an airport.
The questions are excellent, but what was the process in the selection of the artist and the piece?
How transperant was the process, and was this done by the City Council, or the city council and the airport commission together?
None of this is clear, and what is the process for public art being selected by the aiport and what council members or commissioners are involved?
#6- James,
Very good questions. I’m not exactly sure but from what I’ve seen by watching Council Meetings on TV, I think all art projects go through the Office of Cultural Affairs. Public outreach would be done by the Office of Cultural Affairs, and through the Council Office whose district the art would be placed in, and also the Mayor’s Office. (The Mayor’s Office would be involved in this case since the airport is a citywide facility.) Once the process of taking in bids, narrowing down who qualifies, and public outreach is done, the project goes before the Mayor and Council for approval. The artist has already been chosen by the time it reaches the Mayor and Council. If approved the artist will then submit a drawing and description of his/her vision of what the artwork would look like, and an estimate of the cost of the project. That will return to the Mayor and Council for discussion and approval or denial of the project, after another round of public input. Public input of the artwork must be sought prior to the Council voting on it. Usually the Mayor and Council will go with the needs of the public, but not always!
Why are we wasting money on this airport? Put it in Hollister, and use the 1000 acres in a manner that improves San Jose, and Santa Clara County.