Politics & Government

And the Rockville Police Department Public Art Commission Goes to …

Which work of art would you like to see adorn the façade of the police department's new annex building on Montgomery Avenue? The City of Rockville wants to know.

Rockville residents have until Friday to help the city determine which work of art will adorn the Rockville City Police Department’s new annex.

The city is considering four public art proposals for the north wall of the building on Montgomery Avenue. 

The nomination committee comprised of representatives from the Cultural Arts Commission and Historic District Commission, police department and others, selected four finalists: 

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The Rockville Tree | The Team of Roberto Delgado and Yamilette Duarte of Los Angeles
The 50-foot by 25-foot ceramic tile mural “will contain imagery of people in scenes of service and safety in Rockville; Rockville's commitment to environment and sustainability and graphics and words reinforcing public service and safety,” according to a description on the city’s website.

Untilted | David Hess of Phoenix, MD
The 7-foot by 10-foot, stainless steel sculpture incorporates the outline of the Rockville police badge and “creates a visual framework in which the Rockville citizens are represented as a thriving community.” 

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Shields | Charlotte Lees of Solon, Ohio
According to the city’s website, the aluminum and stainless steel mural incorporates traditional images with contemporary design “that that represent the police department's commitment to their community.” The work is comprised of four, 6-foot discs, one 5-foot disc and a 20-foot by 30-foot banner with the cutout words.

A Home for All Seasons: Shelter, Growth and Transformation | Joy Wulke of Stony Creek, CT
A mural of stainless steel inlays of Dichrolam glass depict the native maple and dove as symbols of public service, safety, growth protection and transformation.

Public comments, with recommendations from the the Artist Nomination Committee and the Cultural Arts Commission, will help guide the Mayor and Council’s decision Jan. 6, when it is expected to determine who will get the public art commission.

The budget for this project is $75,000, a city spokesperson said.

Funding will come from the city’s "Incorporation of Works of Art in Public Architecture" ordinance, which requires 1 percent of the public construction project costs be set aside for works of art.  

The finalists’ proposals (shown in the photos above) are in display in the City Hall atrium. Residents can offer feedback at the city’s website, RockvilleMD.gov. For more information on the art selection process, please contact Betty Wisda at 240-314-8681 or bwisda@rockvillemd.gov.

Timeline 

2012
At a total cost of about $9 million, Rockville renovated the historic former U.S. Post Office at Washington Street and Montgomery Avenue and built a 14,538-square-foot annex immediately behind it. The police station has been operating from the site since September 2012. 

April
Last April, the City of Rockville Department of Recreation and Parks and the Rockville Cultural Arts Commission began a search for an artist to create a work of art on the façade of the annex building.  

September
The finalists presented their art proposals to the Artist Nomination Committee on Sept. 9. The Cultural Arts Commission received the art proposals on Sept. 18.

October
The Maryland Historic Trust approved the City's request to install artwork on the northeast facade of the new police station on Oct. 7.

November
The Historic District Commission voted for the certificate of approval for a public art installation on the north wall of the new Police Station on Nov. 21.


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