Delafield Outdoor Art Committee Meeting

1 | Page DELAFIELD OUTDOOR ART MEETING AGENDA Outdoor Art Committee Members: Mary Daniel, Teresa Spencer, Mark Schaefer, Megan Braatz, Melanie Thorne, Ray Drea, Susie Austin, Maya Deleon September 10, 2026, 9:00AM | Delafield Historical Society | 426 Wells St., Delafield, WI 53018 1. Call to Order Time: 2. Pledge of Allegiance 3. Roll Call 4. Citizens Comments 5. Consent Agenda: Minutes Approval Discussion and possible action to review and approve Minutes from the August 26, 2026, Outdoor Art Committee Meeting minutes taken by Jori Hartwig. 6. New Business Discussion and possible action regarding strategies to increase the scope and visibility of the project, including: A. Review and provide feedback on Phase 2 artist conversation guides . B. Set schedule for discussions with artists. 7. Future Delafield Outdoor Arts Agenda Items Discussion and possible action to identify items for upcoming meeting 8. Next Delafield Outdoor Arts Meeting: TBD: A. Check for quorum before adjournment 9. Adjournment Time: All meetings of the Delafield Promotion & Tourism Commission meeting are public meetings. The meeting of the Commission is a working session for the Commission itself, and, outside the Citizens Comments section, discussion by those in attendance is limited to Commission members, staff and others that may be a party to the matter being discussed. Americans With Disabilities Act Notice: Upon reasonable notice (at least 72 hours in advance) the City will furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services, when necessary, to afford individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate in and to enjoy the benefits of a service, program or activity provided by the City. Notice of Possible Quorum: It is possible that members of and possibly a quorum of members of other governmental bodies of the municipality may attend the above-stated meeting to gather information: no action will be taken by any governmental body at the above-stated meeting other than the governmental body specifically referred to above in this notice. Phase 2 Artist Conversation Guide Visit Delafield Public Art Project Purpose of the Conversation The purpose of these Phase 2 conversations is to help each finalist develop a strong, site- responsive proposal that reflects the goals of Visit Delafield and the broader vision for this public art initiative. These conversations are intended to be collaborative and clarifying. They are not meant to prescribe a final concept, but rather to give each artist useful context before they begin proposal development. Each selected finalist will receive a $1,000 stipend to develop a Phase 2 proposal that includes visual renderings, site integration, materials, budget, and timeline. 1. Opening Remarks Thank you for your interest in this project and for advancing to Phase 2. The committee selected you because we felt your body of work demonstrated the kind of bold, distinctive, and memorable qualities we are seeking for Delafield. We saw strong potential for your work to create civic pride, increase public engagement, and help elevate Delafield’s visibility as a cultural destination. For this project, we are especially interested in public art that does more than enhance a space. We are looking for something that can become a reason people choose to come to Delafield — something visually compelling, memorable, and shareable both during the day and at night. This project is closely aligned with Visit Delafield’s mission to attract visitors and drive overnight stays. We want the finished work to contribute to Delafield’s identity as a destination and to reflect the spirit of our tagline: “It’s in our nature.” Today’s conversation is meant to give you context, share what resonated with the committee, clarify expectations for Phase 2, and answer questions before you begin developing your proposal. 2. Project Vision and Goals This project is intended to: • Generate significant civic pride • Increase public engagement • Elevate Delafield’s visibility as a cultural destination • Support tourism by encouraging visitors and overnight stays • Create a compelling reason for people to intentionally travel to Delafield • Reflect Delafield’s identity, natural setting, and tagline: “It’s in our nature.” • Be distinctive from nearby public art projects • Be visually impactful both during the day and at night • Feel permanent, professional, site-specific, and destination-worthy 3. Why the Artist Was Selected We selected your work because the committee responded to several qualities in your portfolio, including: • Bold visual presence • Strong sense of originality • Potential for daytime and nighttime appeal • Ability to create memorable visitor experiences • Alignment with themes of nature, place, movement, light, landscape, or discovery • A professional and polished quality appropriate for a destination-oriented project • Distinctiveness compared to nearby public art installations Key Messages • Destination Value and Tourism Impact: A critical factor for this project is that the final artwork should have the potential to draw visitors intentionally to Delafield. The committee is not seeking something people simply notice if they are already nearby. The aspiration is to create a work that people may hear about, see photographed, share online, and decide to visit in person. • Alignment with “It’s in Our Nature”: The phrase “It’s in our nature” should be understood broadly. It may relate to Delafield’s natural environment, but also to its character, hospitality, sense of discovery, outdoor lifestyle, community pride, and relationship to landscape and water. The committee is not necessarily looking for a literal representation of nature. Interpretations can be abstract, experiential, symbolic, immersive, poetic, or contemporary. • Daytime and Nighttime Impact: The committee was particularly interested in work that could be visually compelling during both the day and evening. Nighttime appeal is important because it can extend the visitor experience and support restaurants, hotels, and evening activity. • Originality and Differentiation: The committee is seeking a work that is unique to Delafield and distinct from nearby projects. The final installation should not feel interchangeable with another community’s public art. • Public Engagement and Civic Pride: While tourism is a key driver, the project should also resonate with local residents. The ideal piece should be embraced by the community while still being ambitious enough to attract outside visitors. Phase 2 Requirement 1. Materials, Fabrication, and Durability Each finalist should include: • Materials and fabrication approach • General understanding of durability, safety, maintenance, and installation feasibility 2. Budget Expectations Each finalist should provide: • Preliminary budget range • Order-of-magnitude estimate • Key budget assumptions • Possible variables that could affect cost Budget Categories • Artist fee • Design development • Engineering • Fabrication • Materials • Lighting • Electrical • Foundation or footings • Transportation • Installation • Equipment rental • Insurance • Permitting • Travel • Documentation • Contingency • Maintenance recommendations 3. Timeline and Implementation Each finalist should provide: • General timeline for fabrication and installation Potential Timeline Milestones • Concept approval • Design development • Engineering review • Fabrication documentation • Material procurement • Fabrication • Site preparation • Electrical or foundation work • Delivery • Installation • Inspection • Dedication or public launch 4. Phase 2 Proposal Deliverables Each finalist should submit: 1. Visual renderings or concept illustrations o Enough visual material to communicate the concept, scale, and visitor experience 2. Site integration and placement rationale o Explanation of how the artwork responds to the selected site 3. Materials and fabrication approach o Proposed materials, fabrication method, durability considerations, and maintenance implications 4. Preliminary budget range o Order-of-magnitude estimate with assumptions and exclusions 5. General timeline o Approximate schedule for fabrication and installation 6. Presentation o Finalists will be asked to present their proposal to the committee Evaluation Considerations for Phase 2 The committee will likely evaluate Phase 2 proposals based on: • Strength and originality of concept • Alignment with “It’s in our nature” • Potential to attract visitors and support overnight stays • Visual impact during both day and night • Site responsiveness • Artistic quality and professionalism • Distinctiveness from nearby public art projects • Feasibility of fabrication, installation, and maintenance • Budget realism • Timeline practicality • Safety, durability, and long-term public suitability • Ability to generate civic pride and public engagement Questions for the Artist General Questions • What do you need to know about Delafield to create your best proposal? • What concerns or constraints should we discuss early? • What kinds of sites or site conditions would best support your work? • How do you want visitors to feel when they encounter the finished piece? • What would make this project meaningful for you as an artist? • What would make this project successful from your perspective? Phase 2 Follow-Up Email Subject: Delafield Public Art Project — Phase 2 Proposal Guidance Dear , Thank you for taking the time to speak with us about the Delafield public art opportunity. We are excited that you are advancing to Phase 2 and look forward to seeing your site-responsive proposal. As discussed, Delafield is seeking a bold, distinctive public artwork that can generate civic pride, increase public engagement, and help elevate Delafield as a cultural destination. A key goal is to create a work that encourages visitors to intentionally come to Delafield and supports overnight stays by contributing to the city’s broader cultural and visitor experience. We encourage you to consider Delafield’s tagline, “It’s in our nature,” in a broad and creative way. The committee is especially interested in work that is visually compelling both during the day and at night, feels specific to Delafield, and is clearly differentiated from nearby public art projects. As a reminder, your Phase 2 proposal should include: 1. Visual renderings or concept illustrations 2. Site integration and placement rationale 3. Materials and fabrication approach 4. Preliminary budget range 5. General timeline for fabrication and installation Finalists may also be asked to present their proposals to the committee. Your Phase 2 stipend is $1,000. Please let us know if you have any questions as you develop your proposal. We look forward to seeing your ideas.