Almost every week this is the "What's on the city council's plate this week" review. I don't cover everything, so if you want the full rundown, read the packet and agenda yourself.

Usually I stick with the things that interest me when I do a city council packet rundown. But, this time I picked something out that I thought would be more interesting to all of you guys: Art at the new city hall.

Not my cup of tea, but here we go.

One percent of capital projects in Olympia are usually held back for some sort of public art project. Not going to be any different in the new city hall down at the old Safeway store. From the staff report:

All of the public art projects undertaken in the City start with a recommendation from the Arts Commission. Their deliberations involve weighing the balance of projects with guidance from the Parks, Arts & Recreation Plan. For City Hall, their recommendation is twofold:

1. Set aside $50,000 for direct purchase of local art for the interior of the building.

2. The balance of the funds would be used to commission an artist, through a national search, to respond to the architecture and the recommendation of the Citizen’s Advisory Committee, to create work for the exterior of City Hall, visible from 4th Avenue. Categories of representation on the Advisory Committee include: downtown business owner; art faculty at one of the local institutions of higher learning; a state administrator; at-large community member; local artist.

And...

From the inception of the City Hall project, the Commission has felt that the predominant public art component should be an exterior work of art:

• An outside artwork could be appreciated by a majority of citizens, as a small percentage actually steps inside City Hall. The work should be easily read as “art” since viewers may be engaged by car or on bike and may only see the work in brief glimpses.

• Some of the most beloved pieces currently in the collection are stand alone sculptures, and it was felt that the artwork associated with City Hall should be well loved, and frequently portrayed as an icon representing the City.

• Integrating artwork within the building has the potential to cause delays and increased expenses in a process that is now fast-tracked.

• Because Olympia is the seat of the State Capitol, the artwork outside City Hall should have a sense of importance. In addition, the projected budget further warrants a national search for an artist.

Work for the interior of the building would have a process of its own, with a citizen’s advisory panel and an independent curator identifying important pieces for the building by artists of renown who have called Olympia home at some point in their lives, education or careers. City Council would have final approval of the recommended purchases, and work would be installed in time for the opening of the building.

So, an outside work of art? Does that sound cool? What do you think?

What kind of outside pierce of art can they get for $50k? And, if they're looking for an icon of the city, what sort of icon symbolizes Olympia?