Lakewood Arts Commission discusses artist recommendation, signal-box updates and youth showcase planning

The Lakewood Arts Commission met virtually and discussed multiple public-art initiatives, including a recommended artist for a concrete wall wrap and plans to present that recommendation to City Council at a Sept. 14 study session.

"The question was, can we spend the money on that?" Roxanne said during the meeting, noting that "if it's under $10,000, you all can spend the money on whatever you believe you want to recommend forward," referring to the spending authority provided in this year's budget. Roxanne led the discussion about whether commissioners wanted to move forward with the single proposed wrap or seek additional options.

Commission members reviewed images of the artist's previous work and raised practical concerns. One member cautioned that decorative wraps can be vulnerable to vandalism; others said the scope would depend on whether the work is a wrap or a three-dimensional sculpture and whether council would fund a larger sculpture in a future budget.

The Commission agreed the next steps include reaching out to the recommended artist to confirm interest and budget, and—if the artist participates—presenting the recommendation during the joint study session with City Council on Sept. 14 to ask council to consider allocating funds in the 2027–28 budget.

Members also received an update on the signal-box wrap program and student contributions. Staff reported final image files have been sent to the print shop for ongoing box wraps and that Pierce College student artwork will be included after the print shop adjusted image sizes. "They're sending me all the finals," a staff member said, describing the production workflow.

Commissioners discussed an earlier plan for a Weller Road box that was moved to a different location and may be less visible; members asked staff to confirm alternate placements and the number of boxes available for future rounds. Commissioners noted the program's continuation depends in part on whether the city includes roughly $25,000 in next-year budgets to keep the project moving.

The group spent substantial time on rotating art shows and a proposal from the MLK committee to combine a Martin Luther King Jr. celebration with a 'Beloved Community' youth showcase. Under that proposal, the city's youth councils and the school district would encourage student submissions, with some selected performing acts included on the main event stage and a dedicated youth gallery area during the first-quarter rotating show.

Commissioners asked how the initiative would be funded. Nikki and others pressed whether the effort would reduce sponsorship to the Lakewood Multicultural Coalition or rely on lodging-tax allocations. Roxanne responded that the proposal has not been advanced and that decisions about LTAC (lodging-tax advisory committee) recommendations and city-manager budget proposals will determine funding availability. "That really hasn't been advanced," Roxanne said of council funding decisions; the Commission agreed it would need a backup plan if lodging-tax support is not approved.

On schedule items, the Commission noted the MP Auto art show runs July 20 at City Hall, Fiesta de la Familia is Sept. 26, and the rotating calendar includes a Pierce College employee show later in the year. Members set a retreat for Nov. 6 (location and agenda TBD) and scheduled the next regular meeting for Aug. 3 at 5 p.m.

The meeting closed with farewell remarks to a departing member. When asked if this was her last meeting, Nikki replied, "It is," and commissioners offered thanks for her service.

The Commission took one formal action during the session: a motion to approve the May meeting minutes was made, seconded and declared passed by the Chair; no roll-call tally was provided.

Next steps recorded by the Commission include inviting the recommended artist to discuss a proposal and preparing a draft agenda and packet for the Sept. 14 joint study session with City Council.