PROJECT UPDATE
Tom Fortin, Chief of Main
Artwork Honoring Dr. Maya Angelou
San Francisco Library, Main Branch
Library Commission Meeting
Thursday, December 19, 2019

 Project Goals
▪ In October 2018, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed a
resolution entitled “Affirming San Francisco’s Commitment to 30%
Female Representation in the Public Realm by the year 2020.”
▪ The artwork will honor Dr. Maya Angelou with a three-dimensional
sculptural figurative representation of the artist.

▪ By honoring one of the most important literary artists and activists of
our time, the artwork will be an ever-present role model and
inspiration to girls and young women.
▪ Recognizing and honoring Dr. Angelou’s contribution is a means of
expressing the value the City places on the contributions and
achievements of all women.
▪ While most of the sculptures in the City’s collection that honor
individuals recognize white men, the sculpture of Dr. Angelou will
redress this gender imbalance by not only honoring a woman, but a
woman of color.

 Artist Selection Process; Schedule
• Jan. 2020:
– Post Revised RFQ

• Feb.-March 2020:
– Application deadline
– Pre-Qualification Panel

• March, 2020:
– Review Panel 1 to select
– Finalists; Finalist approval by
VAC

• May, 2020:
– Public display of proposals
– Review Panel 2 recommends
selected proposal to SFAC

• June, 2020:
– SFAC Visual Arts Committee
must approve panel
recommendation

• July, 2020:
– Full Arts Commission
approves proposal and
contract by Resolution.

 Requested Action
The Library Commission should appoint an individual, who may be
a member of the Library Commission, to serve on the Arts
Commission’s review committee for the artist who will create the
sculpture honoring Dr. Maya Angelou at the San Francisco Main
Library.