Consultant sought to draw up plans for public art in Glendale
Zach Brown, of Highland Park, shows off his artwork on a utility box at Ramsdell and Honolulu avenues as part of the city of Glendale’s Beyond the Box program on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014. The city is now looking to hire a consultant to put together a public art master plan to includes projects like the Beyond the Box program.
The city is looking to hire a consultant to help put together a public art master plan aimed at bringing new artwork to public spaces citywide.
The plan could be adopted as early as this year and would be backed by the $4.5-million Urban Art Fund, which has been financed by developer fees since 2010.
While Downtown Glendale may seem like an obvious spot for new public art, Arts and Culture Commissioner Shant Sahakian said the goals are broader.
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“I think, from South Glendale to the La Crescenta area and Montrose communities, should be a part of the discussion,” he said. “We should be looking at opportunities across the board.”
The consultant would work with commissioners, city staffers and local residents to determine what should go in the public art master plan, said city spokesman Tom Lorenz.
In October, mural restorer Isabel Rojas-Williams spoke at the Brand Library and said Glendale only has a handful of murals compared to mural-rich Boyle Heights and south Los Angeles.
One of the most recent public art projects in Glendale was Beyond the Box, which entailed artists painting dozens of utility boxes.
Sahakian said the new master plan should be a mix of taking advantage of existing opportunities like the utility boxes, in addition to new installations.
He would like to see interactive technology displays. For example, a large keyboard could be placed on the ground and, when a child steps on it, a color would project on a nearby wall.
Councilwoman Paula Devine said she’s a fan of the Beyond the Box program, but would also like to see more murals, or tile work, especially on retaining walls along the San Fernando Corridor.
“I’m hoping we can do something that welcomes people to Glendale,” Devine said.
Another goal of the master plan was to give local artists more room to showcase their talents, she said.
“Not only does [public art] brighten up the city, but it invites local artists to get their work out there so people can see it and appreciate it,” Devine said.
The city is accepting master plan consultant applications through March 30.
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Arin Mikailian, arin.mikailian@latimes.com
Twitter: @ArinMikailian
