Animals star in BI public art picks

By Steven Powell • June 25, 2022 1:30 am

The five public art projects selected for Something New V have been made and will be shown to the City Council Tuesday.

Arts & Humanities Bainbridge and the Public Art Committee received 28 submissions.

Sculptures will be installed in July. Two locations are in Waterfront Park, with another at City Hall, one at the South Madison Overlook and the other at Winslow Way and Erickson Avenue.

Viking Ship by Steve Jensen of Seattle symbolizes a journey in many cultures.

Otter Moon by Pat McVay of Whidbey Island is carved from a single block of salvaged cedar.

Lucky the dog by Mark Brody of Portland asks viewers to reflect on what you have and appreciate it.

The Trident by MacRae Wylde of Hood River, OR, is painted steel of Poseidon’s spear, giving homage to the power of water and the connection to the sea.

Crow by Matt Babcock of Seattle captures a crow picking something on the pavement with power coated aluminum.

A proposed freestanding piece at a City Hall tree would be a Prehistoric Dragonfly by Leon White of Seattle made of aluminum, glass and solar.

There also will be a presentation on the Lodging Tax Awards. The plan is to spend $350,000 on the awards. Nonprofits that encourage tourism are eligible, especially is they increase overnight stays and bring in economic activity.

The council also expects to extend the bonus density ordinance 18 months. Measure greenhouse gas emissions associated with the Sustainable Transportation Plan. And take a look at the Housing Action Plan.

The duration of this project is approximately one year beginning in Spring 2022 and extending to June 2023. This project is supported by Washington State Department of Commerce grant funding (House Bill 1923).

A Housing Action Plan should identify concrete actions to take to address housing needs, diversify housing options and increase affordable housing opportunities.

The main tasks:

-An analysis of housing conditions and regulatory influences to help understand the housing market and housing needs of today and for the next two decades.

-Community engagement that will inclusively involve and educate BI communities and stakeholders on housing challenges and decisions.

-Guidance and clear actionable strategies to address housing needs.

The City Council received a recommendation from the Affordable Housing Ad Hoc Committee this spring. The council directed the city manager to prepare a consulting scope of work for a Housing Action Plan and to prepare a cost estimate for a housing needs assessment and housing inventory.

The council has selected a firm, ecoNorthwest, and the city has received a $100,000 state grant. The city later approved a budget amendment of $57,000 to pay the rest of the cost.