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On the way to getting a permit approved, questions answered by a department heads, or perhaps to speak with the city manager, be sure to take in the beauty of art on display at City Hall.
Plans are in the works for the City of South Pasadena, in partnership with the South Pasadena Arts Council (SPARC), to open up an arts gallery in the main entryway of the building in the 1400 block of Mission Street.
The council on Wednesday night unanimously gave final approval to the City’s first public arts initiative.
The scope of work calls for establishing a 5-member Public Arts Commission, and declaring South Pasadena a “Creative and Innovative City.”
The gallery will be open 5 days a week, include four indoor exhibits per year, an outdoor exhibit and art for sale.
“We as a city were asking, ‘What can we do to encourage more public art?’” asked John Pope, South Pasadena’s public information officer. “One of the ideas that came forward was a rotating exhibit right here at City Hall.”
The downtown waiting area near the finance and planning departments will soon be filled with pieces of artwork. SPARC will be responsible for choosing the artists and bringing in the paintings for display.
In January, a sculpture will be placed on rotating basis in the City Hall courtyard.
The City Council gave preliminary approval for the Civic Center Art Gallery on Oct. 3. SPARC officials say local artists will be featured.
“We think people are really going to like it,” noted Pope.
