Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Art topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves City Shop mural and police‑department sculpture; artists named
Summary
The council approved a mural by Taylor Shaw for the City Shop wall and a police‑department sculpture by Ken McCall (with MAC‑recommended edits). The projects are funded from the city's 1% public‑art allocation and are expected to be installed by late 2026 and April 2027 respectively.
The Moscow City Council on July 6 approved two public‑art projects recommended by the Moscow Arts Commission and staff: a mural for the City Shop by artist Taylor Shaw and a sculpture at the Moscow Police Department by Ken McCall.
Megan Cherry, who presented both projects, said the City Shop mural project began in 2024 and that community input produced a theme reflecting the Palouse landscape and the city’s public‑works equipment. The Arts Commission recommended Taylor Shaw’s design, “Forged in Moscow,” and staff recommended approving a professional‑services agreement with the artist. Councilors praised the design’s bright colorway and its celebration of city operations; the council approved the recommendation by voice vote.
On the police‑department sculpture, Cherry said the piece is intended as a broadly representative work reflecting the tradition of public‑safety service and will include community input on wording to be incorporated around the badge shape. The Arts Commission and staff recommended “Eternal Watch” by Ken McCall and suggested a few edits (notably scale/position of the wings and a 14‑foot minimum height so the piece reads at the building’s composition). Council debated whether to approve the design without the MAC edits; an initial motion to approve without the MAC edits failed, and the council then approved the design with the MAC‑recommended edits and the professional services agreement (the final vote was unanimous).
Cherry said the mural is expected to be installed by the end of September and will receive anti‑graffiti protection; the sculpture’s timeline aims for installation in April 2027, in time for the site’s 20th‑anniversary commemoration. Councilors noted the art fund balance (the city’s 1% public‑art allocation) and said the public‑art policy supports these projects; staff noted the 2026 adopted arts fund balance of approximately $130,000 in the packet.
Both projects will proceed to contract negotiation and final mayoral approval of the finalized designs after staff and artists incorporate the limited edits approved by council.
