HomeMy WebLinkAboutRenton Municipal Arts Commission Annual Report (1971) TABLE OF CONTENTS
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO THE MAYOR 1
OF THE CITY OF RENTON
THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL OF RENTON 2
MEMBERS OF THE RENTON MUNICIPAL ARTS 3
COMMISSION
DUTIES OF THE RENTON MUNICIPAL ARTS 4
COMMISSION
HISTORY OF THE RENTON MUNICIPAL ARTS 5
COMMISSION
MAJOR ACTIVITIES AND itICERNS OF THE COMMISSION DURING 1W1 6
SALUTES , TRIBUTES , AND COMMENDATIONS TO
INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS , GROUPS , AND
1-9 THE
CCULTURALTIONS GROWTHHO OFHAVE THE COITYRIBUTED DURING 1971 8
A SPECIAL TRIBUTE 10
ROSTER OF ART WORKS IN THE RENTON MUNICIPAL
BUILDING, RENTON PUBLIC LIBRARY , AND OTHER
LOCATIONS IN THE CITY OF RENTON 11
MAY, 1972
HONORABLE AVERY GARRETT, MAYOR
MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
MUNICIPAL BUILDING
RENTON, WASHINGTON 98055
GENTLEMEN:
THIS ANNUAL REPORT, PRESENTED BY THE RENTON MUNICIPAL
ARTS COMMISSION, COVERS THE YEARS OF 1970 AND 1971 . THIS
IS THE FOURTH REPORT IN THE SEVEN YEARS OF MAC' S EXISTENCE.
THE MUNICIPAL ARTS COMMISSION HAS CONSISTENTLY OVER THE
YEARS ATTEMPTED TO ASSIST THE CITY OF RENTON ALONG THE LINES
OF THE ARTS, SUPPORTING CULTURAL EFFORTS WITHIN THE
COMMUNITY, AND KEEPING A KEEN EYE ON THE APPEARANCE OF OUR
CITY .
IT IS VERY DIFFICULT SOMETIMES TO DEFINE THE REASON FOR
OUR EXISTENCE OR DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT OUR EFFORT IS
OF VALUE . A REPORT OF THIS NATURE, THEREFORE, NOT ONLY
RECAPS OUR INVOLVEMENT OVER A PERIOD OF TIME FOR YOUR REVIEW,
BUT ALSO GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASSESS OUR OWN
ACTIVITIES OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS . WE HOPE OUR EFFORTS
HAVE HELPED MAKE OUR CITY A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK.
WITH IMPROVEMENTS NOW BEING PERFORMED WITHIN OUR CITY AND
WITH CONSIDERATIONS OF THE MANY DIFFERENT PLANS FOR
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE, THE MUNICIPAL ARTS
COMMISSION LOOKS FORWARD TO CONTINUED SERVICE . WE WELCOME
THE OPPORTUNITY FOR INCREASED INVOLVEMENT IN THE CITY'S
ACTIVITIES,. OUR MEMBERSHIP REPRESENTS A GOOD CROSS SECTION
OF THE COMMUNITY, AND WE ARE HERE TO ASSIST YOU.
SINCERELY,
TO mUN 'AL ARTS COMMISSION
(::
R . RI ' T, CHAIRMAN
CA
CITY OF RENTON
THE HONORABLE AVERY GARRETT
MAYOR
JACK LYNCH
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
CITY COUNCIL
KENNETH RRI)CE, PRESIDENT
EARL CLYMER
CHARLES DELAURENTI
WILLIAM GRANT
GEORGE PERRY
HENRY SCHELLERT
RICHARD STREDICKE
2
RENTON MUNICIPAL ARTS COMMISSION
MEMBERS 1971
CHAIRMAN : ROGER R. RICHERT
LANDSCAPE AND ARCHITECTURE COMMITTEE
GERALD EDLUND
MRS . FRANK O'HARRA
ROGER R. RICHERT
LITERATURE AND GRAPHIC ARTS COMMITTEE
MISS ETHEL TELBAN
MRS . JAMES BAKER
MRS . ADOLPH GRUHN
PAINTING, SCULPTURE, AND CRAFTS COMMITTEE
W. R. LALLY
MRS . PEGGY CUMNINS
MRS . ALBERT SHIN OCH
PERFORMING ARTS AND MUSIC COMMITTEE
RANDALL ROCKHILL
MRS . OSCAR ANDERSON
MRS . STANLEY HICKOK
LIAISON MEMBERS : DEL BENNETT
PUBLIC WORKS ADMINISTRATOR
MISS CHERYL HENRY
SECRETARY
3
DUTIES OF THE MUNICIPAL ARTS COMMISSION
MEETS REGULARLY ON THE THIRD TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH
AT 8 : 30 A.M. IN THE MAYOR ' S CONFERENCE ROOM IN THE
RENTON MUNICIPAL BUILDING;
ACTS IN AN ADVISORY CAPACITY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF
THE CITY OF RENTON IN CONNECTION WITH THE ARTISTIC
AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY;
PREPARES SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF
WORKS OF ART;
SUBMITS RECOMMENDATIONS AS TO BUILDINGS, BRIDGES,
VIADUCTS, ELEVATED WAYS, GATES, FENCES, LAMP
STANDARDS, OR OTHER MUNICIPALLY-OWNED STRUCTURES OR
FACILITIES ERECTED ON OR TO BE ERECTED UPON LAND
BELONGING TO THE CITY;
PREPARES AND MAINTAINS A ROSTER OF SITES AND
STRUCTURES OF HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE IN THE CITY;
RECOMMENDS MEASURES FOR THE PRESERVATION OF
HISTORIC STRUCTURES;
PROVIDES VOLUNTARY ADVICE TO PRIVATE PROPERTY
OWNERS RELATED TO BEAUTIFICATION OF SUCH PROPERTY;
REVIEWS WORKS OF ART, SUCH AS PAINTINGS, MURAL
DECORATIONS, STAINED GLASS, STATUES, BAS-RELIEFS,
OR OTHER SUCH SCULPTURE, MONUMENTS, FOUNTAINS,
ARCHES, OR OTHER STRUCTURES OF PERMANENT OR
TEMPORARY CHARACTER INTENDED FOR ORNAMENT OR COM-
MEMORATION WHICH ARE TO BE CONTRACTED FOR OR PLACED
ON PROPERTY OWNED BY THE CITY .
CITY OF RENTON
RESOLUTION 1320
4
HISTORY OF THE RENTON MUNICIPAL ARTS COMMISSION
THE TWELVE-MEMBER MUNICIPAL ARTS COMMISSION WAS
FORMED BY RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL ON AUGUST 9,
1965 . ITS MEMBERSHIP INCLUDES LAY REPRESENTATIVES
FROM MANY DIVERSE FIELDS : ART, ARCHITECTURE, MUSIC,
LITERATURE, EDUCATION, AND OTHER CULTURAL ORGANIZA-
TIONS .
MANY OF THE COMMISSION'S EFFORTS HAVE BEEN TO STUDY
AND REVIEW PUBLIC PROJECTS AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS
RELATED TO THOSE PROJECTS . OTHER EFFORTS HAVE BEEN
DEVOTED TO CONSIDERATION OF LONG-TERM PROJECTS .
CLOSE WORKING RELATIONSHIPS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED
BETWEEN THE COMMISSION AND THE SEVERAL CITY DEPART-
MENTS .
PAST MUNICIPAL ARTS COMMISSION CHAIRMEN
DAVID JOHNSTON AUGUST, 1965 - MARCH, 1967
RANDALL ROCKHILL APRIL, 1967 - SEPTEMBER, 1968
WILLIAM R. LALLY OCTOBER, 1968 - SEPTEMBER, 1970
5
1971 MUNICIPAL ARTS COMMISSION
ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS
HEARD REPORTS ON :
THE WASHINGTON STATE CULTURAL ENRICHMENT PROGRAM
GRANT WHICH MADE POSSIBLE TWO EVENTS IN THE LOCAL
PUBLIC SCHOOLS--MORRIE ALEXANDER, A NATIVE INDIAN
WOODCARVER, AND FRED BARRYSMITH, A NEGRO SCULPTOR .
REPORTED BY RANDALL ROCKHILL .
KING COUNTY ARTS COMMISSION AND WASHINGTON STATE
ART COMMISSION MEETINGS AS ATTENDED BY MRS . ADOLPH
GRUHN .
THE COMPILATION AND DISTRIBUTION BY THE LITERATURE
AND GRAPHIC ARTS COMMITTEE OF OVER 8, 000 FLIERS
ENTITLED 50 THINGS TO DO IN RENTON THIS SUMMER
( 1971) LISTING ALL OF THE CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL
EVENTS AVAILABLE TO THE LOCAL CITIZENS IN THE AREA.
COSTS FOR PRINTING WERE SHARED BY ALLIED ARTS OF
RENTON AND THE CITY OF RENTON .
RESULTS OF A JOINT MEETING OF THE CITY ' S PERSONNEL
AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE, RICHARD STREDICKE,
CHAIRMAN, AND THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF THE RENTON
HISTORICAL SOCIETY ON THE POSSIBLE SITES AVAILABLE
FOR A LOCAL HISTORICAL MUSEUM.
THE PROBLEMS INVOLVED IN THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE CITY ' S
SIGN CODE AS PRESENTED TO THE COMMISSION BY JAMES
HANSON OF THE CITY BUILDING DEPARTMENT . TWO-THIRDS
TO THREE-FOURTHS OF THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS SIGNS ARE
IN VIOLATION OF THE CODE . THE EXISTING MARQUEES ALSO
PRESENT A PROBLEM.
A REPORT ON THE INTERNATIONAL SIGN CODE BY W . R. LALLY,
CHAIRMAN, PAINTING, SCULPTURE , AND CRAFTS COMMITTEE .
THE UPDATING OF THE CITY BEAUTIFICATION PLAN BY THE
LANDSCAPE AND ARCHITECTURE COMMITTEE .
THE COMPLETION OF THE STATE HIGHWAY LANDSCAPING
PROJECT AT THE FOOT OF SOUTH THIRD STREET AND MILL
AVENUE SOUTH .
6
MADE RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING :
THE ACCIDENTAL REMOVAL OF MEMORIAL TREES ON THE SITE
OF THE OLD RENTON HOSPITAL DURING THE CONSTRUCTION
OF A NEW COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISE . A LETTER TO THE
MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL BROUGHT ASSURANCE THAT
THE MATTER HAD BEEN REFERRED TO THE APPROPRIATE
COMMITTEE AND THE HOPE WAS EXPRESSED THAT SUCH AN
EVENT WOULD NOT RE-OCCUR.
THE NEED FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE PLANTINGS IN THE
AREA ON SOUTH SECOND STREET IN FRONT OF RENTON HIGH
SCHOOL.
THE INCLUSION OF A BUDGET ALLOCATION IN THE CITY ' S
BUDGET FOR EXPENSES INCURRED BY THE MUNICIPAL ARTS
COMMISSION . AN ALLOCATION HAS BEEN PROVIDED IN THE
1972 BUDGET .
LENDING SUPPORT TO THE PARK BOARD IN ITS EFFORTS TO
MAKE CARCO THEATRE A COMMUNITY-WIDE PERFORMING AND
FINE ARTS FACILITY .
THE REINSTATEMENT OF THE FINE ARTS (MUSIC, ART, DRAMA,
AND LIBRARIES) IN THE LOCAL SCHOOL PROGRAMS AS PART
OF THE LOCAL LEVY . THIS WAS DONE BY LETTER ADDRESSED
TO SUPERINTENDENT SHELBY BEWLEY .
THE NEED FOR THE LOCAL PUBLIC LIBRARY TO SERVE AS A
REPOSITORY FOR PUBLIC DOCUMENTS SUCH AS PUBLISHED
BY THE CITY OF RENTON . THE STAFF OF THE RENTON
PUBLIC LIBRARY HAS AGREED TO MAKE THIS SERVICE
AVAILABLE TO THE LOCAL CITIZENRY .
A LETTER FROM A LOCAL CITIZEN REGARDING THE NEED FOR
THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE APPEARANCE OF THE LARGE
STRUCTURE ADJACENT TO THE NEW LAKE WASHINGTON PARK .
THE COMMISSION DETERMINED IT HAD NO JURISDICTION OVER
PRIVATE PROPERTY .
A LETTER FROM A LOCAL CITIZEN RECOMMENDING THE
IMPROVEMENT OF CEDAR RIVER BY THE PROVISION OF A
TRAIL SYSTEM AND THE PLACEMENT OF BOULDERS IN THE
RIVER BED .
THE SUPPORT OF THE DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENT PROJECT AS
REPORTED TO THE MUNICIPAL ARTS COMMISSION BY DEL
BENNETT, PUBLIC WORKS ADMINISTRATOR .
7
SALUTES AND TRIBUTES TO :
CHARLES PIGOTT FOR HIS GENEROUS GIFT THAT INITIATED
THE CARCO THEATRE .
THE CITY OF RENTON FOR ITS CONTRIBUTION THAT MADE
POSSIBLE THE COMPLETION OF THE CARCO THEATRE .
THE ROTARY CLUB OF RENTON FOR ITS GIFT OF A PIANO
AND PART OF THE LANDSCAPING AT THE CARCO THEATRE .
THE RENTON LITTLE THEATER FOR CONTINUING TO BRING
LIVE THEATER TO THE RENTON AREA.
KING COUNTY ARTS COMMISSION FOR THE VARIED PROGRAMS
AND ACTIVITIES OF THE PAST YEAR AND OF DIRECT
BENEFIT TO THE RENTON AREA.
RENTON ANNUAL ART SHOW AND ITS CHAIRMAN , MRS . GORDON
CLARK.
THE PEOPLE OF RENTON WHO ANNUALLY PURCHASE GOLD
TICKETS TO SUPPORT THE FAMILY CONCERT BY THE SEATTLE
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.
THE ALLIED ARTS OF RENTON AND ITS CHAIRMAN, MRS .
CLARK PETERSEN FOR THE ART DISPLAY AT THE RENTON
PUBLIC LIBRARY .
THE RENTON PUBLIC LIBRRARY STAFF FOR ITS DISPLAYS,
PROGRAMS, AND SPECIAL EVENTS SUCH AS THE SUCCESSFUL
LOCAL AUTHORS DAY .
THE CITY OF RENTON FOR THE INSTALLATION OF THE
ATTRACTIVE RETAINING WALL ON MAIN AVENUE SOUTH
BETWEEN SOUTH FOURTH AND Si ;'H STREETS .
THE RENTON SCHOOL BOARD FOR ITS FORESIGHT IN
INCLUDING AN EXCELLENT 995-SEAT AUDITORIUM AT
LINDBER6H HIGH SCHOOL .
DURY FOX AND THE ART TEACHERS OF THE RENTON SCHOOL
DISTRICT FOR THE ANNUAL STUDENT ART SHOW.
THE RENTON MUSICIANS UNION FOR ITS BAND CONCERTS IN
THE PARK AND ITS CONTRIBUTIONS TO iviAN ,.'7THER MUSICAL
EVENTS IN THE RENTON AREA.
THE HARASSED MOTHERS WHO ACT AS CHAPERONES ON THE
BUSES THAT TRANSPORT CHILDREN TO THE SEATTLE JUNIOR
PROGRAMS .
THE CITY OF RENTON FOR ITS OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF
A REPORT TO THE CITIZENS OF RENTON .
8
SALUTES AND TRIBUTES (coNT'D, )
THE ALLIED ARTS OF RENTON AND THE CITY OF RENTON FOR
SHARING THE EXPENSES OF PRINTING THE ANNUAL FLIER
COMPILED BY THE LITERATURE AND GRAPHIC ARTS COMMITTEE
OF THE MUNICIPAL ARTS COMMISSION, SUMMER EVENTS IN
RENTON.
TOM COOKE, FORMER MEMBER OF THE PAINTING, SCULPTURE,
AND CRAFTS COMMITTEE FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE
MUNICIPAL ARTS COMMISSION .
MRS , SYBIL BROWN, FORMER SECRETARY TO THE MUNICIPAL
ARTS COMMISSION.
9
A SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO A MEMBER OF THE
MUNICIPAL ARTS COMMISSION
MR. RANDALL ROCKHILL
AS RENTON ' S REPRESENTATIVE ON THE WASHINGTON STATE
CULTURAL ENRICHMENT PROGRAM, MR. ROCKHILL HAS WORKED
TIRELESSLY TO BRING COUNTLESS CULTURAL PROGRAMS TO
THE SCHOOL CHILDREN OF THE RENTON DISTRICT . IN THE
YEAR 1971 ALONE THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS WERE PRESENTED :
FEBRUARY 1, 308 ELEMENTARY CHILDREN SAW A
PLAY ENTITLED GABRIEL' S GHOST AT
RENTON HIGH AUDITORIUM
1, 303 FIFTH GRADERS TRAVELED TO
THE OPERA HOUSE TO SEE SHOW, A
MUSICAL PROGRAM BY THE SEATTLE
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
MARCH 214 THIRD GRADERS WENT TO THE
SEATTLE PLAYHOUSE TO SEE PAPER
BAG PLAYERS , AN OUTSTANDING
GROUP FROM NEW YORK
MAY 1, 008 JUNIOR HIGH STUDENTS SAW
THE OPERA PENELOPE AT THE OPERA
HOUSE
OCTOBER 500 RENTON STUDENTS WENT TO THE
PLAYHOUSE TO SEE RING AROUND THE
MOON DONE BY THE SEATTLE REP .
DECEMBER 1 , 370 ELEMENTARY CHILDREN SAW THE
PLAY AN ABSURD MUSICAL REVIEW AT
LINDBERGH HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM
MR . ROCKHILL ARRANGED FOR MORRIE ALEXANDER, A WOOD
CARVER FROM LUMMI INDIAN RESERVATION, TO VISIT
EVERY FOURTH GRADE IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO SHOW
HIS WORK AND DISCUSS HIS ART, AND FRED BARRYSMITH,
A SCULPTOR WHO DISCUSSED HIS WORK IN THE MIDDLE AND
HIGH SCHOOLS . ABOUT 800 STUDENTS TOOK PART IN THESE
WORKSHOPS .
10
ART WORKS AND GIFTS TO THE CITY OF RENTON
AS OF NOVEMBER 1969
RENTON MUNICIPAL BUILDING
BRONZE SCULPTURE - BRONZE OWL BY G. ALAN WRIGHT
PRESENTED BY ROTARY "CAPER" NOVEMBER 1968
LOBBY
PAINTING - ILWACO BY JESS CAUTHORN, AWS
1969 ROTARY PURCHASE AWARD
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
PAINTING - UNTITLED BY GORDON E . MOORE (COLLAGE)
1969 ROTARY PURCHASE AWARD
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
PAINTING - PORTRAIT OF A MASTER BY ROB HOLLY
1969 ROTARY PURCHASE AWARD
MAYOR' S CONFERENCE ROOM
PAINTING - UNTITLED COLLAGE BY NELL MOONEY
1968 ALLIED ARTS OF RENTON PURCHASE AWARD
MAYOR' S OFFICE
PAINTING - ETERNAL BY MARICA JARTUN
1968 ALLIED ARTS OF RENTON PURCHASE AWARD
MAYOR' S OFFICE
PAINTING - UNTITLED BY KENNETH CALLAHAN
1969 ALLIED ARTS OF RENTON AND KENNETH CALLAHAN
MAYOR' S OFFICE
PAINTING - WILLAFA BAY BY LOIS J . BRADSHAW
1969 ROTARY PURCHASE AWARD
MAYOR ' S OFFICE
(ALL OF THE ABOVE AWARD WINNERS WERE PURCHASED AT
THE RENTON ANNUAL ART SHOW . )
11
ART WORKS AND GIFTS TO THE CITY OF RENTON
AS OF NOVEMBER 1969
RENTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
PAINTING - WINDOW SILL STILL LIFE BY LARRY HEALD
1964 ROTARY PURCHASE AWARD
PAINTING - PLAY BY CHARLOTTE LEDINGHAM MIRICK
1965 ROTARY PURCHASE AWARD
PAINTING - RIVER RELIC BY NORMAN E . JACKY
1966 ROTARY PURCHASE AWARD
PAINTING - OLYMPIC COAST BY BETTY GILES
1966 ROTARY PURCHASE AWARD
PAINTING - HOW TO PAYE A CAKE FROM SCRATCH BY PEGGY
BRUN1 ON -+
1966 ROTARY PURCHASE AWARD
PAINTING - FOR SEASONING TREES BY MARCY WALSH
1967 ROTARY PURCHASE AWARD
PAINTING - GROWING HILL BY GLEN ALPS
1964 ALLIED ARTS PURCHASE AWARD
PAINTING - rL'f ING M. H:Nr RY RICHARD DUNLAP
1967 ALLIED ARTS PURCHASE AWARD
PAINTING - D-3 ROGER SHIMOMURA
1967 PUGET SOUND GROUP, NORTHWEST PAINTERS PURCHAS .
AWARD
BRONZE SCREEN - BY MARVIN HERRARD
1966 PRESENTATION OF ALLIED ARTS OF RENTON
CHILDREN' S MOBILE - BY MRS . LYLE JENKS
12
ART WORKS AND GIFTS TO THE CITY OF RENTON
AS OF NOVEMBER 1969
OUTDOOR FOUNTAIN DESIGNED BY GLEN HUNT
DONATED BY WILLIAMS AND SWANSON AND THE CITY OF
RENTON
CHIEF SEATTLE BRONZE FOUNTAIN
JAMES FITZGERALD MURALS AT THE HIGHLANDS COMMUNITY
CENTER
MURALS AT THE RENTON POST OFFICE
13