Take a seat commissioned by the city

Barbara Diamond

Editor’s note: This is the second article in a two-part piece about

public art in the city.

Plop yourself down on a bench in Laguna Beach, and your posterior

might be perched on a piece of art.

There are seven artist-designed benches in town, a couple in

parks, some on street corners and more to come.

“We are looking at 75 more locations,” Arts Commission Chair Les

Thomas said.

Some folks think more might be less.

“If your charter is just pieces of art, it’s hard to chose an

alternative like plants,” former Mayor Neil Fitzpatrick said. “I

don’t want to knock public art, but you don’t have to have to fill

every square inch.”

With its enthusiasm and funding at an all-time high from a variety

of sources, including a generous bed tax allotment, the commission is

not likely to go for a patch of pansies in place of a piece of art.

Artist-designed benches cost $15,000 to $20,000 each, selected

through a competition administered and funded by the Arts Commission

or donations, subject to City Council approval. The annual

competition began in 1998, open to all California artists.

Competition rules stipulate site-specific and functional seating.

Functional?

The gorgeous bench at the bus stop on the corner of Bluebird

Canyon and South Coast Highway rests on a stainless steel cradle that

swirls up to form the backrest. The back is designed to represent the

flowing movement of the sky and to reflect the blue sky above.

Unfortunately, it also reflects the sun, making it a hot seat.

“People just shouldn’t lean against it,” city Arts Coordinator

Sian Poeschl said.

Some of the artist-designed benches don’t have any backs at all,

which presents a different problem. Others, made of concrete or

ceramic don’t really cushion the tush, unlike the traditional benches

in Heisler or Treasure Island parks, on which folks can lean back

while contemplating the views, and maybe catch a rest.

“In addition to aesthetics, the commission should make comfort and

maintenance a prime consideration,” Councilwoman Cheryl Kinsman said.

“And I want preference given to local artists.”

The more controversy surrounding an artist-designed bench, the

better Arts Commission Chair Thomas likes it.

“We have selected a bench to be installed at the bus stop in front

of the Hotel Laguna that some people hate and some people love,”

Thomas said. “That is what art is about.”

That was the same logic that influenced a City Council majority in

1992 to select a controversial fountain to fulfill its

art-in-public-places obligation for the remodel of City Hall and the

Police Department.

“Kinetic Falls,” which cost the city $27,000, never worked

properly and deteriorated, Arts Commission members say. It was

dismantled in September for an analysis of materials and design.

After reviewing the analysis, which estimated $35,000 to $45,000

to repair, reinstall and maintain it, the Arts Commission voted

Monday to recommend permanent removal. The City Council must approve

the removal, as well as the selection of all public art in Laguna

Beach.

Locations and a brief history of all public art, including

benches, will be included in a new Public Arts brochure available

this week in the Recreation Department, 515 Forest Ave.

WHERE TO FIND A SEAT

* 320 N. Coast Highway: Julia Klemek’s “Eucalyptus Bench” in front

of Madison Square Cafe and Garden and kitty cornered from the Laguna

Art Museum was the first bench recommended by the commission. The

four fired ceramic giant eucalyptus pods pay homage to the early

Laguna plein air painters, whose work was dubbed the “Eucalyptus

School of Art.” It was donated by the city and installed in 1998.

* 211 N. Coast Highway: “Support” by Louis Longi was the artist’s

first public art installation. Three hollow figures support the seat,

giving the bench its name. It is on a path leading from Heisler Park

to downtown. It was donated by the Inn at Laguna and installed in

1999.

* Heisler Park at Aster Street: “Rock Pile Carve” was created by

artist George Stone to convey his own experiences surfing near the

group of rocks known at Rock Pile. It is composed of concrete and

stainless steel. It was donated by the Brannon Family and installed

in 2000.

* Heisler Park at Cliff Drive: Laguna Beach artist Jorg Dubin

embossed forms of pre-historic marine life on the three blocks of

concrete that make up the “Trio” bench. It overlooks Divers Cove.

Donated by Triad Financial Corp. Installed in 2000

* Forest Avenue and Glenneyre Street: Carolyn Reynolds combined

concrete and glass to create “Chambered Nautilus.” It was donated by

Mark Porterfield and installed in 2001.

* 551 S. Coast Highway: “A Tranquil Moment” is composed of two

bronze seats at Brown’s Park, the adorable sliver of ocean donated to

the city by the Brown Family. The bench was created by Jason

Kopydlowski. It was donated by the city and installed in 2002.

* 1590 S. Coast Highway: “Blue Sky,” described above, was created

by James Russell. It was donated by First Thursday Art Walk and

installed in 2002.

Three other benches are listed in the Public Arts brochure, one

donated and two funded by the city’s Art In Public Places Program,

which requires developers of commercial buildings with an estimated

construction costs $225,000 or more to include a piece of art equal

to 1% of the valuation or to contribute 1.25% to an in-lieu fund

administered by the Arts Commission.

* Heisler Park at Mytle Street: “Rocky Ledge” was created by Julia

Klemek and Leslie Robbins of fired ceramic. It was donated by the

Shields Family and installed in 1982.

* 2470 S. Coast Highway at Upland: “Villa Bella Grotto” is

composed of cement embedded with bits of broken crockery and glass

collected from residents or picked up on the beach by Leah Vasquez,

who chaired of the Arts Commission when the Art In Public Places

ordinance was created. It fulfilled the Art in Public Places

obligation for the remodel of the Bella Vista building. It was

installed in 1992.

* Treasure Island Park: Gerard Stripling’s created “Repose” to

relate to the rocks jutting out of the ocean below the point on which

the five pieces were installed earlier this year. It fulfilled part

of the city’s Art in Public Places obligation for the construction of

the park.

For more information, visit www.Lagunabeachcity.net or call

497-0722.