TO:
Honorable Mayor Powell and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Mark Danaj, City Manager
FROM:
Mark Leyman, Parks and Recreation Director
Martin Betz, Cultural Arts Manager
SUBJECT:Title
Request by the Cultural Arts Commission to Restore the Harold Roach Sculpture, "Untitled" 1982 and allocate up to $3,500 from the Public Art Trust Fund (Parks and Recreation Director Leyman).
APPROVE
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Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
The Cultural Arts Commission recommends that the City Council approve the restoration of the Harold Roach Sculpture "Untitled" 1982, and allocate up to $3,500 from the Public Art Trust Fund.
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FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
If the Council approves the restoration, up to $3,500 will be allocated from the Public Art Trust Fund.
BACKGROUND:
In 1982 Mr. Roach donated one of his more significant sculptures (Untitled, 1982) to the City of Manhattan Beach. It was originally installed in front of the Police Station. Mr. Roach, now deceased, was assisted at some point in his life by the Manhattan Beach Fire Department ambulance rescue service, inspiring him to donate art pieces to the City of Los Angeles and various other South Bay cities. The City of Manhattan Beach received one, and over time the piece has been placed at different locations in the City, and has been painted a few different colors. Its current resting place is in front of the Post Office on Fifteenth Street and Valley Blvd. Most recently Leadership Manhattan Beach moved the piece to better position it in their garden project. The piece is in disrepair, the paint is peeling off, there are sharp edges, and the bolts attaching it to the concrete base are rusted and falling off.
DISCUSSION:
At the June 8, 2014 meeting, The Cultural Arts Commission asked staff to conduct background research on the artist and secure bids to restore the sculpture. As this job requires a specialized skill, bids were received from vendors specializing in the restoration of outdoor sculptures in salt water climates. Bids received ranged from $3,485 to $6,000. The bids cover the removal of the existing paint to the raw metal surface and the application of a Coval molecular bonding Nano Coating to protect against the elements and deter rusting.
After extensive research into the background of Harold Roach, a family member was located. Patricia Roach, daughter of Harold Roach indicated that the artist would have wished that the piece be restored to its original unpainted aluminum and sealed and preserved. She also corroborated the history of the donation and it relationship to the Manhattan Beach Fire Department.
CONCLUSION:
The Cultural Arts Commission recommends that the City Council approve the restoration of the Harold Roach Sculpture "Untitled" 1982, and allocate up to $3,500 from the Public Art Trust Fund.