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Natoma Station Art Work


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#1 Barbara L

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Posted 09 January 2012 - 09:01 AM

This information has been published on the Natoma Station Community Organization Facebook page but I'm hoping a few more folks can be reached here. This short powerpoint has been posted on YouTube to demonstrate the damage that has been done to the art work in the neighborhood over the past few years. YouTube link http://tinyurl.com/6pucjhn
The video can be stopped and started if you'd like to see more detail. The damage to the art work ranges from paint which has been stripped by repeated taping of yard, birthday, etc signs on various pieces to malicious graffiti, paint application, stolen parts and broken mounts for the pieces. This damage now amounts to thousands of dollars. The City Lighting and Landscaping, Arts and Cultural Commission and Code Enforcement are now involved in developing a plan to restore the pieces with the various artists who created them. Preserving and protecting them will be a challenge. Notices have gone out in numerous Natoma Station Newsletters to remind folks to NOT tape signs to the art work and reminding everyone that repairs are paid out of our Lighting and Landscaping fees which are already stretched just for basic maintenance. Fines ranging from $35 to $500 can also be imposed for damaging the art work.
The art pieces in the neighborhood are all done by well-known local artists and many people enjoy it on walks. The pieces also add character to an otherwise typical subdivision. We also realize that there are various tastes in art work, just "not liking" a piece is not an excuse for vandalizing it.
Several folks in the neighborhood have been attempting to keep the art work clean and free from graffiti. More help is needed in notifying police or code enforcement when someone is noticed to be damaging the art work and letting friends/neighbors know that it is not acceptable to use the art work as a bulletin board.
Can the residents of Natoma Station pull together and help to maintain our neighborhood art work?

Edited by Barbara L, 09 January 2012 - 08:25 PM.


#2 4thgenFolsomite

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Posted 09 January 2012 - 09:39 AM

The artwork in that neighborhood was definately one of the things that set it apart from the rest of Folsom. Art in public places is important to protect.
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#3 carl_g

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Posted 01 May 2012 - 03:26 PM

I agree - the art in the area was a big draw for me. In addition to letting friends and neighbors know that the artwork needs to be respected, I wonder if there shouldn't be some sort of maintenance fund as well? Some of the pieces (The big mosaic bunny comes to mind) need some work. Maybe volunteer labor could be used, but someone who knew what they were doing would have to lead and organize...

#4 folsom500

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Posted 02 May 2012 - 01:26 PM

I agree that some work should be done and it does not take getting the original artist to fix or maintain items.

What I am seeing is that while there is some damage done by nimrods- there is also maintenance of many items that has not been done in the 20 years the items have been in place.

For Barbara, the video and even the newsletter sent from the city to say all the issues are vandalism or misguided residents fault is pure hogwash ...

Much of the tiles lost on the Rabbit are due to age and weather NOT kids being bad. Most of the issues with BIGFOOT ( Ozymandias) it pure wear on the fiberglass 'trunkless legs' although the toenails have been vandelized and painted.

And to say the Monkey on Fantages is getting rough treatment from the way it is dressed at times ( which I love) is just more hooey ....

Sure- there are a number of works that have been damaged by kids and others over the years, but NOTHING has been done to keep many works in a good condition by the city.

Without our OK - the City will plant ridiculous non native and frost prone plants and sun plants in shady areas using our landscape funds but not spending any of that money to maintain the artwork...

They have not once tried to spend 5 minutes with a polisher to remove the stenciled items in big foot park as an example.

I plan to get around to all of the art works and provide a better listing of the up close views and what we can do about them -and I will also this summer push the landscaping and lighting of Folsom to do something about it without add to their Budget needs. ( which by the way they are using the artwork to start a campaign to increase our yearly "dues" for the area)

More later...
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#5 carl_g

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Posted 03 May 2012 - 10:07 AM

Very glad to read that last post. I was a bit off-put as well by the suggestion that the wear-and-tear is 100% due to vandalism. Stuff just needs to be maintained if you want it to last forever. Plus if you put a giant bunny in a park, my 5-year old is just going to touch it, plain-and-simple. He's gentle, but still, it's a park, not a museum.

Anyhow, count me in for the volunteer maintenance force! I have basic hand and power tools to lend as well, but not a clue how to fix statues.

#6 Steve Heard

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Posted 03 May 2012 - 11:46 AM

Among the questions that should be considered (and answered) when we consider installing public art are, 'how much maintenance is required?', 'who will do that maintenance?', 'how much will it cost to maintain?'

Too often, artworks are installed and then left to deteriorate.

Unfortunately, public art maintenance is low on the priority list when we have budget issues. Police, fire, and roads always come first, as well they should. Still, we don't want our public art to become eyesores.

I think it will take a grass-roots effort by neighbors to realize that it is going to fall on their shoulders to maintain and protect these treasures.

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#7 4thgenFolsomite

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Posted 03 May 2012 - 12:25 PM

Among the questions that should be considered (and answered) when we consider installing public art are, 'how much maintenance is required?', 'who will do that maintenance?', 'how much will it cost to maintain?'

Too often, artworks are installed and then left to deteriorate.

Unfortunately, public art maintenance is low on the priority list when we have budget issues. Police, fire, and roads always come first, as well they should. Still, we don't want our public art to become eyesores.

I think it will take a grass-roots effort by neighbors to realize that it is going to fall on their shoulders to maintain and protect these treasures.


if the art was part of a neighborhood, shouldn't its maintenance be included under the HOA or a lighting and landscaping district?
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#8 folsom500

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Posted 03 May 2012 - 01:03 PM

if the art was part of a neighborhood, shouldn't its maintenance be included under the HOA or a lighting and landscaping district?


We have no HOA in Natoma Station- but we all pay into the Lighting and Landscaping yearly.

Another great  day in the adventure of exploration and sight.

 

 

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-Margaret Mead-


#9 4thgenFolsomite

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Posted 03 May 2012 - 01:05 PM

We have no HOA in Natoma Station- but we all pay into the Lighting and Landscaping yearly.


there you go! the art work is like a fixture, like an entrance sign. should fall under those funds. volunteer help would be great too. any issues with that though?
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#10 folsom500

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Posted 03 May 2012 - 01:12 PM

Among the questions that should be considered (and answered) when we consider installing public art are, 'how much maintenance is required?', 'who will do that maintenance?', 'how much will it cost to maintain?'

Too often, artworks are installed and then left to deteriorate.

Unfortunately, public art maintenance is low on the priority list when we have budget issues. Police, fire, and roads always come first, as well they should. Still, we don't want our public art to become eyesores.

I think it will take a grass-roots effort by neighbors to realize that it is going to fall on their shoulders to maintain and protect these treasures.

While you are likely right about a need for a grass-roots neighborhood effort - the fees we pay into landscaping and lighting should cover some or most of the maintenance...
Two years ago I call out our local advocate as well as L&L for planting nearly 100 'tropical' plants on the city right of ways at a product cost of over $2000 plus whatever it cost for the landscape company to plant them.. These plants have a low temp tolerance of 30 degrees and die off each winter. Since they have been planted we have had two mild winters but they die off just under 30 degrees and if we have any temps in the low 20s which is normal- they will fully dead ! I was told by L&L that these plants 'Trive' in our area... add that to quite a number of smelly society garlic and also Mexican Sage which is a short life plant needing full sun- planted UNDER Redwood trees- and that is only in a small area of NS... AND L&L wants to increase our yearly payment by as much as 100% ...

All those funds would have easily gone to maintain much of the artwork in the hood.

I have been peeved about this for 2 years and guess it is time to take it to the next level...

Another great  day in the adventure of exploration and sight.

 

 

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has"
-Margaret Mead-


#11 Andrea V

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Posted 03 May 2012 - 09:26 PM

I love Natoma Station :D
<3

#12 tessieca

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Posted 07 May 2012 - 04:09 PM

500 is correct about the ridiculous use of non-native plants in our city. Those redwoods don't belong here, and they shade out the oaks. This isn't only an issue in NS, but in the city over all. Perhaps they should require some knowledge of local, drought-resistant plants and trees when they bid L&L's.

That won't fix the artwork, though. I understand Barbara's many-year campaign to keep the artwork maintained. If she didn't protect it over the years, it would have truly been in disrepair. (Personally, it's just been amusing that my kids were told they lived in monkey town because of the statutes. I'm not much of an art person.) Dressing of the monkeys is okay as long as adhesives and things that are destructive aren't used.

I'll volunteer too. But just one day.
"Sometimes on purpose and sometimes by accident, teachers' unions have a long history of working against the interests of children in the name of job security for adults. And Democrats in particular have a history of facilitating this obstructionism in exchange for campaign donations and votes." . . .Amanda Ripley re "Waiting for Superman" movie.

#13 Barbara L

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Posted 09 May 2012 - 08:19 PM

Interesting that no one responded to this post for almost 6 months. @ Ken, while some of the damage has been a result of weathering, the greatest damage has been done by unthinking adults or children. I was told by two parents who frequent "bunny park" that teens pick the tiles off; and allowing children to climb on art work, though parents may think it's cute, shows a major lack of respect for public property. Touching a bunny does no harm, climbing on them or picking the tiles off does. Also @ Tessie, the mounts to the monkeys have been broken 3 times, once while stealing them, another time while "decorating"-it is not okay to hang things on them, it only sets a precedent and some folks clearly have no boundaries when it comes to applying paint, tape, etc.
Also, it should be clarified that our Lighting and Landscaping district is responsible for maintaining the art work along with the other basics (lighting, etc.) though it is clear that no long term maintenance plan for art was ever thought of when it was installed and hence, some pieces were not really designed for the space in which they were placed. I have not heard anything about the L&L doubling our fees; we did a survey a bit over a year ago and there was not enough community support for the City to pursue a formal plan for that. I do agree that non-native plants requiring excessive water should not be used. Cutting back on watering will save money.

I have discussed a volunteer effort many times with our L&L manager and City Cultural director and an assessment and plan for repairs will be presented at this months Arts Commission if anyone is interested in attending.

#14 4thgenFolsomite

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Posted 10 May 2012 - 06:20 AM

Interesting that no one responded to this post for almost 6 months. @ Ken, while some of the damage has been a result of weathering, the greatest damage has been done by unthinking adults or children. I was told by two parents who frequent "bunny park" that teens pick the tiles off; and allowing children to climb on art work, though parents may think it's cute, shows a major lack of respect for public property. Touching a bunny does no harm, climbing on them or picking the tiles off does. Also @ Tessie, the mounts to the monkeys have been broken 3 times, once while stealing them, another time while "decorating"-it is not okay to hang things on them, it only sets a precedent and some folks clearly have no boundaries when it comes to applying paint, tape, etc.
Also, it should be clarified that our Lighting and Landscaping district is responsible for maintaining the art work along with the other basics (lighting, etc.) though it is clear that no long term maintenance plan for art was ever thought of when it was installed and hence, some pieces were not really designed for the space in which they were placed. I have not heard anything about the L&L doubling our fees; we did a survey a bit over a year ago and there was not enough community support for the City to pursue a formal plan for that. I do agree that non-native plants requiring excessive water should not be used. Cutting back on watering will save money.

I have discussed a volunteer effort many times with our L&L manager and City Cultural director and an assessment and plan for repairs will be presented at this months Arts Commission if anyone is interested in attending.


I have to say that without dedicated citizens who actually care about these community enhancements, they would just disappear. Good job, Barbara, in defending public art and your neighborhood. I think the volunteer effort would also be a good way to reinforce these are assets to be protected, especially when kids (and adults) see that people care about them. Sets a great example. Wouldn't it be cool if you could get the artists out themselves the day their work is being repaired. Might make a great Telegraph feature.
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