Public Art…ODOT

In Oregon, 1% of the cost of a new building (or of a renovation), must be spent on art work for the building.  This has been a terrific vehicle for presenting the work of major Oregon artists to the public, and for building a nice collection of work owned by the state.  The process is overseen by the Oregon Arts Commission, and usually a panel is convened to choose the work for the building, including the architect, an “art professional,” and a representative of the agency that will inhabit the building.  In Salem this year work has been ongoing to renovate the Transportation Building, located on the Mall near the capitol…

and there have been fences and signs and trucks…

and the east side of the building has been reconfigured slightly to include a new public entrance which will eventually feature sculpture as well as benches and a sunny plaza…

R has been the “art professional” on the 1% panel for the ODOT building, and he agreed to take some photos of the site tour and meeting with three of the artists who will be making 2D work for the building.  They met at the site and were “fitted up” with hard hats and vests…here is painter George Johanson, ready to go…

In the building lobby Oregon Arts Commission Visual Arts Coordinator Meagan Atiyeh (back to camera) begins the tour…

…and first they look at the place on the marble wall were George Johnson’s painting will go…(artist Michael Brophy on left, Meagan Atiyeh on right…)

George Johanson, left, Lisa Martinez (the ODOT representative) in the center, Atiyeh on right in front of the flanking marble wall which will hold the Mark R. Smith painting…

and then on to the conference room where Michael Brophy’s series of gouaches of Oregon sites and sights will hang, not unlike some of these on a card for a recent show….

then just time for a quick photo op (Mark Smith captures George Johanson and Lisa Martinez)

before the committee meets…(architect Stuart Colby just visible on left, Meagan Atiyeh, Michael Brophy with back to camera, Mark Smith, Lisa Martinez, and George Johanson just visible on right)

and George presents his drawing for the painting he will deliver…

It will be fun to tour the building when the work is all in place, later in the year…