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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRenton Municipal Arts Commission First Annual Report (1967) CITY O F RENTON MAYOR Donald W. Custer CITY COUNCIL Thomas W. Trimm, President Jeanette Dahlquist Charles Delaurenti Avery Garrett Glen C . Gianini Bruce T. Hulse Henry C . Pedersen Vern H. Morris George J. Perry Dan Poli Henry E . Schellert MUNICIPAL ARTS COMMISSION Randall Rockhill, Chairman Jan P . Klippert, Staff LANDSCAPE AND ARCHITECTURE COMMITTEE Roger Richert Gerald Edlund Hazel O ' Harra PERFORMING ARTS AND MUSIC COMMITTEE Randall Rockhill Jerry Zilbert Jim Hawkins PAINTING, SCULPTURE, AND CRAFTS COMMITTEE Robert Lally Norma Cugini Thomas H. Cooke LITERATURE AND GRAPHIC ARTS COMMITTEE Ethel Telban Lee Kirby Marnie Wright October 15, 1967 Honorable D. W. Custer, Mayor Members of the City Council City of Renton Renton, Washington 98055 Gentlemen: The cultural and artistic activities of Renton in recent years, important as they have been, have lived in the shadow of the area' s phenomenal economic growth. The fact that Renton is a place to live, and not just a place in which to make a living, at times became obscured by the dust of continuous expansion. Recent years have, however, brought an awakening of interest and much greater activity in our cultural life . The very existence of a Municipal Arts Commission is one indication of this awareness. With the completion of three years as an advisory group to the Mayor and City Council, we feel it is time for a pause, for a retrospective study of the Commission and its role in Renton. In the cultural and artistic life of Renton where do we stand? What fields need greater emphasis? What has been accomplished? What is the place of the Commission in Renton ' s life? Have we been adequately filling this position? In an attempt to answer some of the above, we have prepared this, our First Annual Report, for your informa- tion as well as ours. It is our hope to create even greater interest in Renton ' s cultural life -- to encourage -- to spur on -- to help create opportunities to make Renton an even better place in which to live. We are still young, we are not yet taking giant strides, yet we are moving forward. Sincerely, RANDALL ROCKHILL, Chairman Municipal Arts Commission THE MUNICIPAL ARTS COMMISSION: . . . 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-relief, or other such sculpture, monuments, fountains, arches, or other structures of permanent or temporary character intended for ornament or commemoration which are to be contracted for or placed on property owned by the City. City of Renton Resolution 1320 "Sky be my depth; Wind, be my width and my height; World, my heart' s span; Loneliness, wings for my fright: " - Leonora Speyer "Generations pass while some trees stand, and old families last not three oaks . " - Sir Thomas Brown THE SETTING Renton was platted more than 90 years ago at the south end of Lake Washington. The alluvial fans of the Cedar and Black Rivers supported farms and the early families of Renton . Lumber and coal mining were early industries later to be replaced by modern industrial giants . Rapid industrialization and expansion of the City at the confluence of rivers and highways , and increased air traffic and manufacturing demands, created a pressing need for an Arts Commission. The Commission thus formed was to act as an advisor to the City government on matters related to the aesthetic climate of the City. THE COMMISSION The twelve man Municipal Arts Commission was formed by Resolution on August 9, 1965. Its membership includes lay representatives from many diverse fields: architecture, art, music, literature, education, and other cultural organizations . The Commission received its charter by resolu- tion and set about the task of organizing itself and establishing policies and procedures. Much 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 considera- tion of long-term projects . Close working relationships have been developed between the Commission and the several City Departments . "A thing of beauty is a joy forever. " - Anonymous IN RETROSPECT From its conception, the Arts Commission has acted as an advisory body to the Mayor and Council. It has, during its existence, noted a number of milestones in the City' s efforts to enhance the artistic, cultural, and visual climate of the City. A few are outlined below: (1) The Commission recommended to the Mayor that a Beautification Committee be established for the purpose of developing a Comprehensive Beautification Plan for the City. This Plan was reviewed and adopted by the Planning Commission and the City Council . Since the adoption of the Plan, the Commission has reviewed the Highway Department ' s plans for landscaping Highway 405 and asked that serious attention be given to the area beneath the Highway in the vicinity of South Third Street and Mill Avenue South. In keeping with the Comprehensive Beautification Plan, the Arts Commission has encouraged street plantings, underground wiring, and the tasteful land- scaping of all public buildings . Recommendation: That highway and street planting programs be developed and implemented on a long-term, programmed basis . (2) Highlighting City-owned buildings is the new Renton Library. The Commission reviewed the plans for the building and has studied other Civic Center construction. Landscaping plans for the Center, the new City Hall, Cedar River Bank improvements, Liberty Park construc- tion, and the Grandstand have all been before the Commission for its review and recommendation. Recommendation: That all public building be landscaped to serve as a model for other public and private buildings . "Music is well said to be the speech of angels . " - Carlyle Retrospect (continued) (3) The performing arts have gained increased support, in part, through the efforts of the Arts Commission . By supporting and encouraging Allied Arts, the Historical Society, the Friends of the Library and others, the arts in Renton have come into their own. Increased participa- tion in the arts has been noted through art festivals, band concerts, library programs, and through other groups and individuals of the community. Recommendation: That the City encourage the arts through providing display areas for the arts in the Library, new City Hall, Cedar River Park multi-purpose building, adequate auditorium, and other areas that are appro- priate for the performing and graphic arts . (4) The environment of the City is a composite reflection of the concern its residential, business and governmental leaders have for the City. The Commission is working with community leaders in efforts to improve the visual environment. Success for these programs does not lie solely with one group but with the continued, concerted efforts of all concerned. Recommendation: That residents, the business community, and City government develop, promote and encourage programs to effect underground utility lines, control air pollution, effect sign and billboard controls and initiate programs for residen- tial and commercial beautification; and to give appropriate recognition to those firms and individuals who have provided for such improvements. "Wisdom is the abstract of the past, But beauty is the promise of the future. " - Oliver Wendell Holmes COMMENDATIONS Concern for the arts is a community effort. Through the years, many groups and individuals have contributed to the arts . In this First Annual Report, the Municipal Arts Commission wishes to especially commend: The mall design and plantings of the RENTON SHOPPING CENTER, accented by sculpture and the Tsutakawa fountain; The gift by ALLIED ARTS OF RENTON of the bronze screens by Marvin Herard in the new Renton Public Library; The KING COUNTY COMMISSIONERS for the annual summer plays presented by the Seattle Repertory Theater; The members of the MUSICIANS UNION and the Renton PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT for providing summer band concerts in the Park; The Renton P .T .A. COORDINATING COUNCIL for the circulating art prints displayed in Renton Schools ; The opportunity provided Renton students to see theater productions and concerts at the SEATTLE OPERA HOUSE and REPERTORY THEATER; The COMMUNITY for its continued support of the SEATTLE SYMPHONY Family Concerts ; The RENTON LITTLE THEATER, the FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY, and the Renton CREATIVE ARTS FESTIVAL for adding to the cultural activities of the City; The Renton BUSINESS COMMUNITY for their efforts toward establishment of an aviation museum, and for the improvement of Downtown Renton; The Renton HISTORICAL SOCIETY which, in its short existence, has gathered and organized a collection of over 500 photographs of early day Renton; and Mrs. MORDA SLAUSON for her continu- ing efforts in recording early day history of the greater Renton area. "What is lovely never dies, But passes into other loveliness, Stardust, or seatham, Flower or winged air. " - T . B. Aldrich DONATIONS TO THE CIVIC ARTS Contributions to the City ' s arts have increased substantially during the past few years . Construction of the Library in the Civic Center complex acted as the catalytic agent and focal point for contributions to the City. A permanent record of the many generous gifts is kept in the Library. Donors to the arts have expressed their interest in the new City Hall . Contributions have been received for landscaping, a fountain for the grounds, and the public in general has expressed increased interest in the visual character of the City. The Municipal Arts Commission is exploring the feasibility of establishing a Civic Arts Fund which will act as a depositary for gifts to the City, hold gifts in trust, and encourage other donations by the citizens of the City.