Art and Public Places committee approves $20,000 for temporary public artworks tied to Museum exhibit

The Art and Public Places Committee voted unanimously April 6 to award $20,000 from the city’s Public Art Fund to two temporary public-art projects that will coincide with the Museum of Sonoma County’s Christo and Jean-Claude exhibition.

Meredith (staff), presenting the proposals, told the committee that staff “recommends the award of $20,000 from the Public Art Fund, which will be 10,000 to artist Martin Zuniga and 10,000 to Michael McGinnis for the design, fabrication, and installation of temporary public artworks to display in the summer fall 2026.” The museum’s exhibit runs June 27–Nov. 8, staff said.

The two projects include Zuniga’s La Sequenta Monarca, a collaborative installation featuring 50 monarch butterflies (one at the museum and the remainder woven through Howarth Park trails) intended to engage Latino youth and community organizations, and a curated series of temporary sculptures by Santa Rosa Junior College sculpture students, led by Michael McGinnis, to be sited at parks and civic locations including possible displays near the museum and Courthouse Square.

Committee members pressed staff on financial and logistical details. Staff said the $10,000 awards are meant to help with materials and that additional fundraising and sponsorships will be needed: the presenter noted the monarchs are “about cost of about 2,000 to 2,500 each,” and that staff will seek sponsorships and bring signage and marketing assistance back in the next year’s work plan.

Two committee members disclosed personal relationships with the artists under consideration. One member said, “Full disclosure, Martin is a friend,” and another said, “full disclosure for me, I am friends with Michael McGinnis,” but both stated they had no current financial interest.

A motion to award $10,000 to each artist was moved, seconded and — after brief discussion about site review, engineering and fundraising needs — taken to a roll call vote. Chair Nathanson, Vice Chair Kiefer, Committee Members Puentes, Peters and Trejo Vasquez each recorded “Aye”; the motion passed unanimously.

Staff will return to the commission with additional project details, design and site maps for parks and civic locations, and any permit or maintenance agreements required for installation and deinstallation. The awards will fund design, fabrication support and limited installation costs; further fundraising and sponsorships were expected to cover the projects’ full production and post-run storage needs.

The committee did not specify final installation dates; staff said exact install and de-install dates will be set after approvals and site coordination with Parks and Public Works.