Submitted By: Cultural Arts Coordinator, Jamie Antonetti
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Presentation By: Cultural Arts Supervisor, Emily Parkman
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Department: Growth Management
STAFF RECOMMENDATION (Motion Ready):
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Mount Moriah Commemorative Public Art Project Update
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BACKGROUND:
The City of Ocala set aside $40,000 from the new parking garage budget for the Mount Moriah Commemorative public art project. The call to artists was a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Florida-based artists to be considered for a permanent, free-standing exterior artwork commemorating the historic Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church, the first black Baptist church in Ocala/Marion County, and its legacy in the local community.
Applications were reviewed based on past work demonstrating artistic excellence, technical skill, and previous comparable project experience. Staff updated three to four finalists selected to design concepts based on the quality of applicants, for a $500 honorarium, with maximum artwork dimensions of 6’ x 6’ x 8’. The selected artists for concept designs are Jim Benedict, Mark Chew, Alex Kaufman, Beth Ravitz and George Gadson (team). Artists were directed to have the designs vandal and weather resistant with minimal maintenance requirements. Artwork must adhere to the City’s downtown form base code pertaining to public art, ORD.2019-39 Sec. 122-968. Concept designs will be reviewed by community and congregation members. One finalist to be awarded total project.
The art will be located near the corner of SW 3rd Ave. and SW Broadway St. outside the new Ocala parking garage.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS:
Ongoing Public Art commission, staff will continue to provide updates to OMAC. Staff facilitated the open call. Staff will continue working with the community members to honor historic context.