Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation is to pay artist design and advisory fees to Queen E. Brooks for her replacement African Portal design proposal. On March 10, 2014, Council approved legislation submitted by the Recreation and Parks Department to replace the existing Kwanzaa Playground, including the installation of new paths and fence, and artwork improvements. One of the artworks slated for improvement was African Portal, by artist Queen E. Brooks. African Portal is a wooden gateway carved and painted with Adinkra symbols that is located at the Bryden Road entrance to the park. Extensive damage caused by wood rot was discovered in the upper beam and joints of the artwork when it was dismantled. The artist was consulted and agreed with the recommendation that the artwork was beyond repair.
Upon the request of the City’s Public Art Program and the Recreation and Parks Department, Brooks created a design proposal for a replacement African Portal to be constructed out of steel. The artist and park committee had already been interested in reinterpreting and replacing the existing African Portal with a more durable material. The artist’s design for the replacement African Portal was unanimously approved by the Columbus Art Commission on June 26, 2014. The replacement will be constructed under the existing Recreation and Parks construction contract using funds previously allocated for contingency and improvements to the existing African Portal.
Due to timing and the discovery of more extensive damage to the existing African Portal, the Art Commission and Council schedules, and the opportunity to immediately start fabricating the new artwork under the Recreation and Parks Department’s exiting contract for Park improvements, fabrication of the Portal has begun prior to the artist receiving her fee for design and advisory services. This legislation is filed as emergency to expedite the Professional Services contract with the artist in connection with this wor...
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