Public Art Commission revises annual report; accepts donated mural series for City Hall lobby

At the Dec. 18 meeting the Public Art Commission reviewed edits to its annual report and discussed a donation of a three‑part mural series from the University of Michigan Prison Creative Arts Project. Staff reported materials have been ordered and that installation of the mural series in the City Hall lobby is expected within 2–3 months, to be paid from bicentennial funds.

Commissioners asked for clearer language in the report to describe the artist’s collaboration with University of Michigan students. The transcript identifies the artist as "Dario Ratheo" (transcript spelling retained here); commissioners asked staff to confirm and to rewrite the paragraph to make the sequence clear (artist created the work in conjunction with the University project; the university then donated it to the city). Staff said they would review the paragraph and circulate a revised draft.

The commission also discussed officer elections and the January meeting schedule. Commissioners agreed to target an early‑January planning meeting (proposed dates included Jan. 8 or Jan. 15) to finalize the annual report and hold officer elections. Staff will circulate attachments, a scheduling poll and any revised report language prior to the January meeting.

What’s next: staff will circulate an edited annual report and a poll on meeting dates; the commission expects to finalize the report and conduct officer elections at a full January meeting.