McCoppin Hub design by Seth Boor

PROJECT OVERVIEW:

The Department of Public Works is working on a series of streetscape improvement projects around the Central Freeway/Octavia Boulevard called the South of Market (SOMA) West Improvement Projects. Phase I of the project includes the McCoppin Street Improvements and has generated an art enrichment project for McCoppin Hub, located on McCoppin between Valencia and the freeway off-ramp.

In 2010, the San Francisco Arts Commission conducted an artist selection process for which the artist team Rebar and their proposal “Flutterby” was selected by the SOMA West McCoppin Selection Panel and approved by the Visual Arts Committee on August 18, 2010. The project was then put on hold contingent upon the sale of parcels. In June 2011, the Arts Commission was notified that the project was moving forward with a new design. As the design of the site has changed, Rebar has created a new proposal (below) for the new hub.

PUBLIC ART PROPOSAL:

Handsignals proposal by Rebar

Marking the entrance to the plaza as well as signifying the McCoppin Hub neighborhood, “Handsignals” references the formal qualities of numerous theater marquees and signs prevalent in the Mission District, and repurposes that well-understood vocabulary to “advertise” a new public space. Made of existing and familiar pedestrian traffic signals lettered brightly to mark the emergence of McCoppin Hub, “Handsignals” plays with the edge between art and advertising.  On the other side of the sculpture, “Handsignals” recasts the function of the pedestrian traffic signals using iconic symbols of Mission District culture in a playful and stylized manner. These symbols represent: community, food, Dia de los Muertos/Lucha Libre, bike, sunshine, mustache, handshake.

View Rebar’s proposal here: Handsignals

OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT:

We welcome your feedback on the proposal by answering the questions below and emailing your responses to Mary Chou, Public Art Project Manager, mary.chou@sfgov.org by Wednesday, July 11th at 5:00 p.m. PDT. Your responses will be summarized and shared with the Visual Arts Committee prior to approval.

Please note: Public comments do not constitute a vote.

1. Do you live/work in the SOMA West neighborhood?

2. Do you live/work in San Francisco?

3. What are the strengths (i.e. unique, beautiful, timeless, bold, etc.) of this artwork proposal?

4. What are the weaknesses of this artwork proposal?

5. Will this artwork be enjoyed by people of all ages and backgrounds?

6. How well does this artwork fit in to the McCoppin Hub setting and surrounding neighborhood?

7. Please feel free to share your thoughts on the symbols/signs that Rebar has selected to represent the Mission District.

8. Additional comments.

To download these questions in a Word Document click here.

OVERVIEW OF THE ARTWORK PROPOSAL APPROVAL PROCESS:

As mentioned above, the Arts Commission conducted an artist selection process in 2010. The artist team Rebar and their proposal “Flutterby” was selected by the SOMA West McCoppin Hub Selection Panel and approved by the Visual Arts Committee on August 18, 2010. The project was then put on hold contingent upon the sale of parcels. In June 2011, the Arts Commission was notified that the project was moving forward with a new design. As the design of the site has changed, Rebar has created the new proposal “Handsignals” for the new site. This proposal, as well as public comments, will be presented to the Visual Arts Committee for approval. If the Visual Arts Committee does not approve the “Handsignals” concept, the “FlutterBy” proposal will be the artwork selected for the site.

Approval of the new proposal will be placed on the next Visual Arts Committee meeting agenda for Wednesday, July 18, 2012 (3 pm at 25 Van Ness Avenue, Ste. 70). The meeting date is subject to change. Visual Arts Committee meetings are open to the public. Updates and meeting agendas can be found here.