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Meeting Information



Nominating_Committee

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MEETING OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE OF THE ARTS COMMISSION
Monday, November 1, 2004
2:30 p.m.
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 70


Minutes

Commissioner Freebairn-Smith called the meeting to order at 2:45 p.m.

  1. Roll Call
    Commissioners Present

    Andrea Cochran
    Rod Freebairn-Smith
    Janice Mirikitani

  2. Nomination of Officers
    Commissioner Mirikitani nominated P.J. Johnston as President; Commissioner Cochran seconded the motion. After discussion, the motion was passed unanimously.
  3. President’s Report

    As Commissioner Brown was absent on medical leave, there was no President’s report. Commissioner Meyer presided.

  4. Director’s Report

    Director of Cultural Affairs Richard Newirth announced that the new WritersCorps teachers would be introduced. He praised Public Art Program Manager Judy Moran and Community Arts and Education Program Associate Robynn Takayama for hosting a very successful evening presenting information to individual artists on how to take advantage of opportunities offered by the Arts Commission. Staff expects to present more events like this.

    Commission ’04, the Gallery’s fundraiser, was a resounding success, raising some $42,000 gross, well above the $30,000 budgeted, and far above the $13,000 raised last year. Mr. Newirth thanked the Commissioners who participated, and noted that Mayor Newsom, Mayor Brown and Board President Matt Gonzalez all attended.

    Mr. Newirth reported that there are new developments on the horizon for the Gallery at 155-165 Grove Street. He also met with representatives of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) to discuss an exhibition in the fall of 2005 in their gallery with Public Art and Civic Design.

    He distributed a copy of the latest version of the arts legislation proposed by Supervisor Ammiano. Mr. Newirth requested comments on the legislation from the Commissioners as soon as possible.

    Mr. Newirth reported that the Whale Fountain was moved from the Academy of Sciences to the Sheedy Crane yard, without staff approval, and not by appropriately trained and experienced art handlers. He is composing a letter to express the Arts Commission’s specific concerns; this is a delicate piece and now will have to be moved twice instead of once to reach its intended destination at City College.

    Enrique Chagoya donated his painting “Authors of Latin American Roots” to the San Francisco Public Library years after the piece was commissioned but never paid for. San Francisco should be grateful for this artist’s generosity, and proud to have this beautiful piece in the City’s collection.

    Mr. Newirth noted that Commissioner Przyblyski has a piece entitled “Travels with Carlos and Anza” in the current show at Camerawork, “Monument Recall.” Commissioner Przyblyski’s piece comments on sculptures of the Commission’s Civic Art Collection currently in storage.

    Mr. Newirth was recently in Los Angeles for a meeting convened by the California Arts Council (CAC) and Americans for the Arts, with the theme “Coming Together with a United Voice.” Participants sought to develop a united message on public funding for the arts in California.

    Commissioner Draisin is coordinating the Arts Commission’s holiday party at the Gallery on Monday, December 6, immediately following the Commission meeting.

    Mr. Newirth introduced WritersCorps Project Manager Janet Heller, who distributed the program’s tenth anniversary report and introduced the teachers hired for the new school year.

    Ms. Heller expressed her excitement about the coming year and the opportunity to show the Commissioners what WritersCorps does. The program is serving some 570 youth this year, 500 of whom are in public schools, and is working closely with teachers. WritersCorps can bring writing alive for students, particularly important when teachers are under pressure because of “standards.” WritersCorps has launched its newest book with Aunt Lute Press, and has created a relationship with Isabel Allende with the expectation of working with her on future projects. The year-end event was the first benefit event for which there was an admission charge; previous events had been free. Ms. Heller solicited feedback from the Commissioners, and described the Commission as an incubator of ideas. She invited Commissioners to future events and planning meetings as WritersCorps explores its expansion to a national model.

    She introduced new teachers Chrissy Andrews and Andres Saito; returning teachers Mahru Elahi, Michelle Matz, Kim Nelson, Beto Palomar, Jime Salcedo-Malo, and Chad Sweeney; and teacher-turned-Program Associate Gloria Yamato. Two teachers read poems written by WritersCorps students to the great appreciation of all present; Commissioner Freebairn-Smith praised the program as “a jewel in the crown.”


  5. Consent Calendar
    RESOLUTION NO. 1101-04-216

    Approval: RESOLVED, that this Commission does hereby adopt the following items on the amended Consent Calendar and their related Resolutions; with the exception that Civic Design Review Committee minutes had not been finalized by the time of this meeting:

    Approval of Committee Minutes
    1. RESOLUTION NO. 1101-04-217: Motion to approve the Street Artists Committee Meeting Minutes of October 13, 2004.

    2. RESOLUTION NO. 1101-04-218: Motion to approve the Visual Arts Committee Meeting Minutes of October 20, 2004.


      Street Artists Committee Recommendations (October 13, 2004)
    3. RESOLUTION NO. 1101-04-219: Motion to approve elimination of selection of three (3) additional temporary Lottery Committee members for winter holiday season subject to review after winter holiday season.

    4. RESOLUTION NO. 1101-04-220: Motion to approve selection of additional Lottery helpers for peak selling seasons of winter (the day after Thanksgiving through the first Monday after January 1st) and summer (the Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day).

    5. RESOLUTION NO. 1101-04-221: Motion to approve request for Board of Supervisors to approve an ordinance to amend Section 2402(a) of Article 24 of the San Francisco Police Code by rescinding the requirement for members of the Advisory Committee of Street Artists and Craftsmen Examiners to attend fifty percent (50%) of an Advisory Committee meeting of four (4) or more hours in order to receive compensation.


      Civic Design Review Committee Recommendations (October 18, 2004)
    6. RESOLUTION NO. 1101-04-222: Motion to approve Summit Pump Station Upgrade Phase 1.

    7. RESOLUTION NO. 1101-04-223: Motion to approve West Portal Branch Library Phase 3.

    8. RESOLUTION NO. 1101-04-224: Motion to approve Noe Valley Branch Library Renovation Phase 1 and 2.

    9. RESOLUTION NO. 1101-04-225: Motion to approve Marina Branch Library Renovation Phase 1.

    10. RESOLUTION NO. 1101-04-226: Motion to approve Western Addition Branch Library Renovation Phase 1.


      Visual Arts Committee Recommendations (October 20, 2004)
    11. RESOLUTION NO. 1101-04-227: Motion to increase the contract with Conservation Artisans by $18,000 for a total contract amount not to exceed $33,000 for repair and conservation of the Miguel Hidalgo y Castillo monument and Liberty Bell in Dolores Park.

    12. RESOLUTION NO. 1101-04-228: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into an agreement with Rainbow Waterproofing and Restoration Company to repair the granite base of the Miguel Hidalgo y Castillo monument in Dolores Park for an amount not to exceed $6,000.

    13. RESOLUTION NO. 1101-04-229: Motion to approve the installation of the ceramic tile mural portion of Aileen Barr’s artwork for the West Portal Clubhouse.

    14. RESOLUTION NO. 1101-04-230: Motion to approve the exhibition “Reflecting Buddha: Images by Contemporary Photographers” for the gallery at 401 Van Ness, January 19-29, 2005.

    15. RESOLUTION NO. 1101-04-231: Motion to approve honoraria payments in the amount of $100 to each of the five “Construct 4” finalists for exhibition proposals. Finalists: Charles Gute, Charles Goodman, Desiree Holman, Sarah Cain, and Bari Zipperstein.

    16. RESOLUTION NO. 1101-04-232:  Motion to approve an artist honorarium not to exceed $4,000 to one artist to be named following the “Construct 4” jurying on October 30, 2004. Finalists: Charles Gute, Charles Goodman, Desiree Holman, Sarah Cain, and Bari Zipperstein.

    17. RESOLUTION NO. 1101-04-233: Motion to de-accession and explore options for selling “Masquerade in Black” by Jay De Feo with a preference for placing it in a Bay Area museum.

    18. RESOLUTION NO. 1101-04-234: Motion to de-accession “Grapevine” by Zhu Qizhan.

    19. RESOLUTION NO. 1101-04-235: Motion to de-accession “Star of the North” by Micheline Beauchemin.

    20. RESOLUTION NO. 1101-04-236: Motion to loan “Golden Gate Park” by Don Potts to a nonprofit or governmental agency.

    21. RESOLUTION NO. 1101-04-237: Motion to recommend the temporary placement of funds from the sale of Airport art in the Airport Art Endowment Account until such time as a recommended use of the funds is identified for the purchasing or commissioning of additional artwork for the Airport.

    22. RESOLUTION NO. 1101-04-238: Motion to proceed with Gate Room projects for Boarding Area A, Gate Room 3 and Gate Room 5.

    23. RESOLUTION NO. 1101-04-239: Motion to approve project outline for Gate Rooms 3 and 5 which calls for the following: 1. The project budget shall not exceed $278,000 inclusive of both Gate Rooms; 2. The project is open to artists nationally; and 3. Artist selection will be through the Arts Commission annual artist pool.

    24. RESOLUTION NO. 1101-04-240: Motion to approve Terry Hoff’s final images and designs for the season reliefs for three resident floors at Laguna Honda Hospital.

    25. RESOLUTION NO. 1101-04-241: Motion to approve the final three designs for fence panels designed for SoMa Park by Irene Pijoan.

    26. RESOLUTION NO. 1101-04-242: Motion to approve to the selection panel’s recommendation of one of the following four finalists for the Stern Grove Project: Mark Brest van Kempen, Michael Eckerman, Gerald Heffernon, and Peter Richards.

    27. RESOLUTION NO. 1101-04-243: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a contract with Gerald Heffernon for an amount not to exceed $50,000 for design, fabrication, transportation and installation of an artwork for the Stern Grove Project.


  6. Committee Reports
    1. Nominating Committee—Rod Freebairn-Smith
      1. Commissioner Freebairn-Smith reported that the Committee had unanimously nominated P.J. Johnston for the office of President and Blanche Brown for the office of Vice President.

        RESOLUTION NO. 1101-04-244: Motion to elect P.J. Johnston as President and Blanche Brown as Vice President. The motion was passed unanimously.

        Commissioner Johnston thanked Commissioner Brown and the other Commissioners for their support and their vote of confidence in him as President. Recalling a comment at the previous meeting declaring the arts “as important as food,” he described himself as someone who cares deeply about the arts, though he is not particularly adept at them. He expressed his resolve to use his expertise, his “artfulness” in government, politics and public affairs to advance the effectiveness of the Arts Commission.

        Commissioner Johnston presided over the remainder of the meeting.

    2. Executive Committee—Blanche Brown, Chair
      1. There was no meeting of the Executive Committee. Cultural Equity Grants Program Director Jewelle Gomez explained that the Cultural Equity Initiative—Level Two grant is designed to support arts infrastructure for underserved communities. It is the largest Cultural Equity grant, intended to cover a three-year period. Applicants must submit a very detailed budget and long-range plan. The Commissioners received descriptions of all eleven applicants along with the evaluating panel’s exhaustive comments and discussion. Ms. Gomez noted that this is the one grant category in which applicants may speak directly to the panel to present their case. In response to Commissioners’ questions, she explained that although most applicants request the full amount, some request less.

      2. RESOLUTION NO. 1101-04-245: Motion to review and approve three grants totaling $300,000 for Cultural Equity Initiative—Level Two category, awarding $100,000 each to Bindlestiff Studios, Galeria de la Raza and KulArts.


    3. Civic Design Review Committee—William Meyer, Chair
      1. Commissioner Meyer presented the following motion.

        RESOLUTION NO. 1101-04-246: Motion to approve Summit Pump Station Upgrade Phase 2.


    4. Community Arts and Education Committee—Blanche Brown, Chair
      1. Community Arts and Education Program Director Judy Nemzoff observed that her supporting memo was largely self-explanatory, and that the following motions were straightforward. The motion regarding the agreement with Intersection for the Arts is in support of an NEA grant to WritersCorps to support the dissemination of the program; staff is working with a consultant on this. The final motion addresses the distribution of funds to Cultural Centers. Their budgets each year are based on estimates. For 2003-2004, there were additional Hotel Tax funds available to distribute to the Cultural Centers, for use on programming and facility needs. In response to a question about the previous month’s discussion on funding for Cultural Equity Grants, Mr. Newirth clarified that this distribution is pursuant to a separate agreement with the Cultural Centers.

      2. RESOLUTION NO. 1101-04-247: Motion to approve a six-month internship in Arts Education with an honorarium not to exceed $6,000 with funding from the Youth Arts Fund.

      3. RESOLUTION NO. 1101-04-248: Motion to transfer up to $35,000 from the Arts Education NEA grant and Youth Arts Fund to the San Francisco Foundation Community Initiatives Fund (fiscal sponsor for AEFC) to support the FY 2004-2005 Arts Education Funders Collaborative projects.

      4. RESOLUTION NO. 1101-04-249: Motion to approve a grant of $2,500 to the Every Child Can Learn Foundation for FY 2004-2005 for the annual Youth Arts Festival from CAC ($1,500) and Youth Arts Fund ($1,000).

      5. RESOLUTION NO. 1101-04-250: Motion for the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a grant agreement with Intersection for the Arts for $77,000 to support planning and project dissemination for WritersCorps ($51,786), and to support and produce the ongoing partnership with WritersCorps events ($25,214) from NEA ($48,000), DCYF ($14,300), and Youth Arts Funds ($14,700).

      6. RESOLUTION NO. 1101-04-251: Motion to increase the FY 2004-2005 Cultural Center grant agreements from increases in the FY 2003-2004 Hotel Tax Fund allocation:

        African American Arts and Culture Complex increase of $81,444 (not to exceed grant of $388,498)
        Bayview Opera House increase of $55,289 (not to exceed grant of $290,114)
        Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts increase of $92,792 (not to exceed grant of $488,198)
        SomArts increase of $155,391 (not to exceed grant of $814,905)

    5. Street Artists Committee—Dugald Stermer, Chair
      1. There was no report from the Committee. In response to a question about the second motion below, Program Director Howard Lazar explained that street artists are sometimes suggested for “priority issuance of certificate with waiver of re-screening” because they are artists who had previously gone through the approval process, had received a certificate, and had then let that certificate lapse for some reason. He recommends this priority issuance because this is the same artist doing the same craft as already licensed.

      2. RESOLUTION NO. 1101-04-252: Motion to approve honorarium payment of $250 to Mario Hernandez for assisting Program Director in painting permanent and winter holiday spaces on the Downtown sidewalks.

      3. RESOLUTION NO. 1101-04-253: Motion to approve former certificate-holder for priority issuance of certificate with waiver of re-screening: Rebecca Wolford.

    6. Visual Arts Committee—Dugald Stermer, Chair
      1. There was no report from the Visual Arts Committee.

  7. Discussion: Arts Commission Identity
    A discussion was held regarding the identity and mission of the Arts Commission, facilitated by consultant Nancy Feinstein, and continued from the October 2004 meeting.

  8. Reports and Announcements
    There were no other reports or announcements.

  9. Public Comment
    There was no public comment on any item of this agenda unless so noted.

  10. Adjournment
    There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m.

    Approved by Richard Newirth, Director of Cultural Affairs


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