Authorize Execution of an Artwork Commission Agreement with Animalis Works, LLC, in an Amount up to $111,130.77 for Fabrication, Delivery, Installation and Contingencies for a Series of Three Sculptures at Northwest Community Park, Located at 8575 Blue Mound Road, 76131, and Find that the Use of Funds for Public Art for this Project Complies with the Voted Purpose of the Bonds (COUNCIL DISTRICT 7)

It is recommended that the City Council:

1. Authorize the execution of an artwork commission agreement with Animalis Works, LLC, in an amount up to $111,130.77 for fabrication, delivery, installation and contingencies for a series of three sculptures at Northwest Community Park; and
    
2. Find that the use of the funds for public art for this project complies with the voted purpose of the bond funds.

When Air Becomes Sky is an engaging series of three (3) permanent “butterfly” sculptures designed by Animalis Works, LLC, (Texas artists Dharmesh Patel and Autumn Ewalt). The artists were inspired by the reemergence of Northwest Community Park as a stopping point along the monarch butterflies’ migration route due to the native milkweed and water in the park.  Calling attention to the phenomenon for migration, each larger-than-life “butterfly” appears to have just landed, allowing viewers to interact with the work while exploring the park. The stainless steel sculptures will include a total of approximately 6,500 embedded crystal prisms which are activated by sunlight throughout the day, casting colorful patterns of light on passersby. This alludes to the fluttering of butterfly wings while also providing viewers a unique experience each time the sculptures are visited.

These sculptures will be dispersed at two (2) locations along park pathways, just to the east and west of the main parking area. The sculptures span from 82” to 93” in height, 84” to 94” in width, and have depths ranging between 48” to 82” to allow passers-by to walk through them.

On February 14, 2019, Animalis Works, LLC, was placed under a final design agreement (City Secretary Contract No. 51921) in the amount of up to $13,113.00.

Fort Worth Art Commission (FWAC) Action: On May 13, 2019, the FWAC approved the Animalis Works, LLC’s, final design and recommended that it be placed under an artwork commission agreement.

The Final Design was presented to the Park & Recreation Advisory Board on May 22, 2019.

Funding for the project has been allocated from the 2014 Bond Program, Proposition 2, and the project was included in the Fort Worth Public Art Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Work Plan adopted by City Council on November 6, 2018, as M&C G-19412.  Based on the project's location and relationship to capital improvements that were bond funded from the same source, staff recommends that City Council find the use of those funds for this project at this location similarly complies wiht the voted purpose of the bonds.

M/WBE OFFICE - The City's overall M/WBE goal for the Fort Worth Public Art Program is 25 percent of total capital project dollars expended on public art annually.

Mayor Pro Tem Dennis Shingleton concurs with the FWAC’s recommendation to commission Animalis Works, LLC, to fabricate, deliver, and install the three butterfly sculptures at Northwest Community Park.