Georgica Green Ventures presented a proposal to the Municipal Arts Commission to satisfy a public art obligation tied to the developer’s Garden Street project, describing five interior window-box displays that the developer would fill by engaging local artists.

Crystal, who identified herself as vice president of design for Georgica Green Ventures, told the commission the recently completed High Garden project includes five ground-floor windows the developer wants to activate as part of its art betterment requirement. “We moved people in, and as part of the planning approval process, we have a public art obligation,” Crystal said. She described window boxes set a few inches off the floor so snow removal would not damage artworks and said the developer planned to engage ArtsWestchester to run a solicitation and artist-selection process.

Commissioners pressed for clarification on process, scope and ownership. Crystal said ArtsWestchester would solicit local artists and that proposals could range from temporary pieces to permanent installations depending on the artists’ chosen media. “If we have a lot of artists that say, we only want to give you artwork if it’s permanent, or we only want to do temporary because the medium is only appropriate for temporary…that will have to be worked out,” she said. Crystal added that the developer expects to return to the commission with shortlisted proposals, renderings and budget details once artists are selected.

Commissioners asked whether the artworks would be mounted on the inside of the glazing (they would) and whether the developer intended a rotating program or permanent installations. Crystal said the developer prefers permanent installations for operational reasons but is open to approaches recommended by selected artists. Commissioners noted previous projects had conditions such as specified display durations and local-artist preferences; they advised the developer to present specific proposals and budget details for final approval.

Ending

Commissioners agreed that the developer may proceed with an RFP and artist outreach but should return with specific artist proposals, renderings and budget details for formal approval of the artworks.