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Report regarding a resolution approving a Public Art Agreement with J Muzacz in the amount of $168,000 to design, fabricate, and install three mosaic art components at the New Park at Linden Avenue and Pine Avenue. (Erin O’Brien, Business Program Manager)
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RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution approving a Public Art Agreement with J Muzacz in the amount of $168,000 to design, fabricate, and install three mosaic art components at the New Park at Linden Avenue and Pine Avenue.
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BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
Starting in the spring of 2024, the City engaged the community in a series of visioning events to help shape the design of a new park and plaza in the Old Town neighborhood at 616 and 700 Linden Avenue. Through these visioning workshops, community members provided feedback to help inform a design that would convert the existing space into a new vibrant gathering and recreation area. During this process, three art opportunities emerged as community priorities: interactive art, murals, and entry/identity art. The design team incorporated the community’s input by including three separate art components, each distinct but coordinated in a mosaic design:
• Mosaic columns at the plaza
• Pavement mosaic inlays at the plaza
• Mosaic climbable playground sculpture
A request for qualifications (RFQ) for artists was issued in June 2025 to identify qualified professionals experienced in large-scale, durable, and site-responsive public art. The call was both invitational, reaching artists listed on the City’s Public Artist Inventory, and publicly posted on CAFE (CallForEntry.org), a national online portal for public art opportunities.
The opportunity was promoted through the City’s website, newsletter, and social media channels, resulting in 34 artist submissions from across the Bay Area and beyond at the closing of the RFQ in July 2025. The project’s Public Art Consultant and City staff vetted and recommended a manageable 15 applicants to proceed with a thorough review and rating. The Public Art Subcommittee, made up of four Cultural Arts Commissioners appointed by the City Council, carefully reviewed all submissions and shortlisted five finalists based on the following criteria:
• Artistic Excellence and Originality (35 points)
• Relevant Experience (20 points)
• Technical Capability (15 points)
• Community Engagement Approach (15 points)
• Professionalism and Collaboration (10 points)
• Local/Regional Connection (5 points)
The five finalists met with City staff, MIG (the multidisciplinary landscape architecture firm designing the new park) planning and design team, and the project manager to review design plans for the New Park at Linden Avenue and Pine Avenue, and learn details about the project. Four of the shortlisted artists submitted their concept proposals at the requested deadline, qualifying only four of the five artists/artist teams. The fifth artist did not submit their entry by the deadline. Following industry best practices as supported in the adopted Public Art Master Plan, each qualified finalist received a stipend of $1,000 to develop three concept proposals for the site, ensuring thoughtful, cohesive, and comprehensive approaches to mosaic art components for the design of the new park.
The four finalists who developed qualifying concepts were:
• Alexandra Proba
• Colette Crutcher and Aileen Barr
• J Muzacz
• WowHaus
Each artist/artist group submitted a unique concept addressing all three art opportunities (four mosaic columns, pavement mosaic inlays, and a mosaic clad playground sculpture) demonstrating how the design approach could create a cohesive artistic vision across the site. The finalists presented their concept to the Public Art Subcommittee who then evaluated the four concept proposals while keeping in mind the criteria of artistic quality and originality, integration with the park’s design and user experience, material durability and long-term maintenance, experience with public art projects of similar scope, and reflection of South San Francisco’s identity and community values.
The Public Art Subcommittee reviewed all concepts and completed an online ranking poll assigning one first choice (four points), one second choice (three points), one third choice (two points), and one fourth choice (1 point) based on the above outlined criteria and the strength of each artist’s body of work presented. The following outcome was the result of the weighted poll:
• J Muzacz (15.0 points)
• Alexandra Proba (11.0 points)
• WowHaus (8.0 points)
• Colette Crutcher and Aileen Barr (7.0 points)
Community engagement played an integral role in the artist selection process. To ensure community input was received, the City hosted a bilingual pop-up event on Saturday, October 4, 2025 at the site of the future park, where all four artists/artist groups presented their concepts in person and engaged directly with residents to discuss their inspirations, materials, and design intentions.
In addition, a community poll in both English and Spanish was featured both at the event and online through the City’s website, with promotion across the City’s social media channels, newsletters, and on flyers at the on-site kiosks and throughout City buildings. Residents were invited to view all concepts and select their preferred artist, ensuring that public sentiment and feedback were meaningfully incorporated into the evaluation process. The poll resulted in over 130 completed surveys, which closed on October 24, 2025. The community voted to prioritize the following artists for the project:
• J Muzacz (63 responses, 48%)
• WowHaus (26 responses, 20%)
• Alexandra Proba (22 responses, 17%)
• Colette Crutcher and Aileen Barr (20 responses, 15%)
The Cultural Arts Commission’s Public Art Subcommittee, the public art consultant, and City staff met on October 27, 2025 to review the poll results, public feedback and prepare a recommendation to move forward. Based on the combined results from the Public Art Subcommittee poll and community feedback, the highest-ranked proposal was “Punto de Encuentro” (Meeting Point) by artist J Muzacz.
J Muzacz creates energetic mosaics and vibrant murals using an inclusive, hands-on approach that engages people of all ages and abilities. Inspired by cultural diversity, humanitarian leaders, and the natural world, Muzacz brings reverence and storytelling to every project, thus creating site-specific artworks that reflect local history, foster individual empowerment, and spark collective celebration. Muzacz performed extensive research of South San Francisco and the Old Town Community to help inform his concept proposal. In addition, Muzacz has since spent several days visiting South San Francisco and immersing himself into the community and culture.
Originally from Houston, Texas and a graduate of the University of Texas, Muzacz spent more than a decade living and working abroad, producing artworks across Japan, New Zealand, and beyond. Now based in Austin, Texas, he dedicates his practice to community building through teaching, mentoring, and creating spaces where artists and residents can collaborate and uplift one another.
Muzacz’s concept for the New Park at Linden Avenue and Pine Avenue, titled “Punto de Encuentro” draws inspiration from cultural craft traditions, regional identity, and themes of gathering.
• Plaza Mosaic: Vibrant patterns referencing serape blankets and traditional Mexican oilcloth, known as mantel de hule, unite in the courtyard plaza through the mosaic columns and pavement mosaic inlays. The unity of these proposed elements creates a dynamic, colorful stage for performances, markets, and community gatherings on the plaza.
• Alebrije Play Sculpture: A mythical creature form featuring geometric spirals that symbolize the life cycle in Zapoteca symbology. Radial patterns suggest scales, while the serape motif reappears in the creature’s tail, linking the sculpture to the plaza columns across the park.
Together, Muzacz’s designs create a joyful, cohesive identity for the park, which celebrate South San Francisco’s cultural diversity, creative energy, and inclusive spirit. As plans progress, one element City staff will coordinate with Muzacz is for a proposed community build day (more details can be found in Attachment 3: J Muzacz Concept Design Proposal for the New Park at Linden Avenue and Pine Avenue). The community build day will allow residents to feel a sense of ownership and pride for the artwork as they participate in a workshop to assemble portions of the mosaic. In addition, staff will also work with Muzacz to incorporate feedback received from the Public Art Subcommittee and community members to help make the design feel more inclusive to the community’s culturally diverse background.
The Cultural Arts Commission approved the selection of artist J Muzacz and his proposed three mosaic art components at the New Park at Linden Avenue and Pine Avenue at their regular Cultural Arts Commission meeting on Tuesday, November 25, 2025. The recommendation was approved by a vote of seven ayes, zero nays, and two absent. The amount of Muzacz’s contract at $168,000 requires City Council approval, as prescribed in the City’s purchasing procedures.
FISCAL IMPACT
Public art is already budgeted into the New Park at Linden Avenue and Pine Avenue project. No additional funding is needed to cover a contract award with J Muzacz in the amount of $168,000. This funding was received from developer IQHQ specifically earmarked for art within 0.5 miles from its development project at 580 Dubuque Avenue in South San Francisco.
RELATIONSHIP TO STRATEGIC PLAN
Acceptance of this recommendation will contribute to the major focus area of addressing quality of life, delivering services and amenities that address community needs.
CONCLUSION
Following this transparent, inclusive, and highly competitive selection process, the Cultural Arts Commission and City staff recommend the selection of J Muzacz to design, fabricate, and install the three mosaic art components at the New Park at Linden Avenue and Pine Avenue. His cohesive, vibrant concept and community centered approach embody the vision of this new public space, transforming it into a welcoming and inspiring destination that reflects the people and stories of South San Francisco.