Public Arts Commission advances East Palm Canyon Bridge design, eyes buildings for citywide mural program

The Palm Springs Public Arts Commission took action on multiple fronts during its most recent meeting, including endorsing a cultural design for the East Palm Canyon Bridge, disclosing a public art fee shortfall, re-electing its leadership and advancing a citywide mural program.

Commissioners unanimously voted last week to concur with a basket-weave-inspired barrier design for the East Palm Canyon Bridge near Southridge Drive — part of a widening project that has been in development for about 20 years. A city engineer told commissioners the bridge will largely remain in place but will be widened, mostly on the south side, while maintaining four lanes of travel and adding a bike lane, sidewalk and wider median.

The design traces back to around 2018, when an initial equestrian-themed concept was rejected by the tribal council in favor of the basket-weave pattern presented to commissioners. Engineering staff said the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Tribal Council and the tribe’s historic preservation office were consulted, but the general public had not seen the design before the meeting.

Commissioners compared the design to that found on the bridge over Tahquitz Creek on South Belardo Road. That structure is named after former tribal chair Richard M. Milanovich.

Director of Community and Economic Development Jay Virata, who serves as arts and cultural affairs staff liaison, reported a shortfall in public art fee revenue for the past fiscal year. The city had anticipated about $159,000 in fees but received roughly $97,000, a shortage of about $62,000, Virata said. He said the projected public art budget for the new fiscal year is about $160,000, with roughly $88,000 already encumbered for prior commitments.

Chair Gary Armstrong reported to commissioners on an analysis he compiled in response to a request from a city councilmember about local artist representation in the city’s collection. Over the past 10 years, he said, the city added works by 33 artists or artist teams, 20 of them local, meaning about 60.6% of artists added during that period are local.

Over the past five years, of 26 artworks and installations added, 16 were by local artists, or about 61.5%. Armstrong noted the analysis excludes murals not commissioned through the commission’s process and does not include more than 100 additional artworks that predate the 10-year review period.

Commissioners also discussed compiling a list of roughly 10 city-owned, non-historic buildings — including parking garages and possibly the train station — as candidate sites for community-funded murals. Armstrong said the commission is working with the city attorney and the planning department to simplify the public meeting requirement currently mandated for every mural, regardless of whether the commission is funding it.

Separately, commissioners discussed relocating a multi-piece sculpture removed from Palm Springs International Airport at the airport’s request. The piece — titled “A Tale of Survival in the Face of Crushing Inertia” was considered for placement in a community center, the convention center or City Council Chambers, though commissioners did not reach a final decision and said they would continue evaluating locations.

The commission also voted to form an ad hoc committee tasked with recommending which existing public art pieces should be reassigned to a “commemorative collection,” a process that included discussion of a historical bust of President John F. Kennedy and a wartime aviation memorial bearing names of service members.

Commissioners Lauri Kibby, Natásia Gascón, and Will Dean were named to the committee. Armstrong said three non-voting community advisers — Tracy Conrad, Tom Dolle and Jade Thomas Nelson — have agreed to assist the committee.

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