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Tustin Art Commission selects Noble Winds “Big Bend” bench, directs staff to scout sites and use city artist pool
Summary
The Tustin City Art Commission voted to purchase a Noble Winds “Big Bend” functional bench, asked staff to scout high‑visibility sites (Sculpture Walk/Legacy area, dog‑park/retail edge, and train station) and to issue an RFQ to the city artist database for the painting commission.
The Tustin City Art Commission voted to select the Noble Winds "Big Bend" bench model for its next functional-art installation and directed staff to scout specific locations — including the Tustin Legacy Sculpture Walk area, near the dog park/retail edge, and the train station — and to begin artist selection through the city’s existing artist database via an RFQ.
Alyssa, a city arts staff member, presented three bench models the commission could afford and highlighted differences in available painting surface: "The Sequoia has a large amount of surface area for painting as does the Big Bend," she said, noting artist costs and freight increase the project’s budget range. Staff estimated artist painting work at about $5,000 per bench and warned freight, handling and graffiti coating will increase total costs.
Director Clanton told the commission the benches are provided primed and recommended they be painted (not wrapped): "The recommendation is that these are painted, not in a wrap," he said, adding that painted finishes will be more expensive because an artist must paint the surface and it then receives a protective graffiti coating.
Commissioners debated siting tradeoffs: several favored the Sculpture Walk legacy area because of anticipated foot traffic and synergy with the upcoming sculpture-walk project, while others suggested Peppertree Park (high visibility during concerts), Alley Grove or City Hall campus sites. Staff repeatedly recommended in-person site visits and photographic documentation before final placement and noted a vendor lead time of about six to eight months.
A motion to select the Big Bend bench, have staff scout the listed locations, and to use the city artist database/RFQ for artist selection was introduced and approved by voice vote.
What happens next: staff will return to the commission with specific photographed site options and a draft RFQ. The commission directed staff to prioritize visibility and functional siting (places people will sit and interact with the bench) when presenting location options.
