Meeting Information

Full_Commission

MEETING OF THE FULL ARTS COMMISSION
Monday, May 5, 2008
3:00 p.m.
City Hall Room 416

Minutes

President Johnston called the meeting to order at 3:08 p.m.

1. Roll Call
   Commissioners Present
   P.J. Johnston
   Maya Draisin
   René Bihan
   Topher Delaney
   John Kriken
   Jeannene Przyblyski
   Lawrence Rinder
   Sherri Young
   Christina Olague
   
   Commissioners Absent
   Nínive Calegari
   Leonard Hunter
   Alexander Lloyd
   Sherene Melania
   Dede Wilsey
   Pop Zhao
   
   
2. Approval of Minutes
   The following Resolution was moved, seconded, and unanimously adopted:
   
   RESOLUTION NO. 0505-08-098: APPROVAL OF MINUTES ADOPTED
   RESOLVED, that this Commission does hereby approve the Minutes of the Meeting of April 7, 2008.
   
   
   NOTE: ALL ADOPTIONS ARE UNANIMOUS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.
   
   
3. President’s Report
   President Johnston began by announcing that Commissioner Rinder would be taking a position as Director of the Berkeley Art Museum, and moving to the East Bay, and thus was leaving the Commission. President Johnston added that, though this was a great boon for the Museum, it was a great loss for the Commission; he appreciated Commissioner Rinder’s expertise and his thoughtful participation. He thanked the Commissioner for his service.
   
   Commissioner Rinder thanked President Johnston and the Commission, saying that he was grateful to have served and had learned a great deal during his tenure. He explained that his new position was a wonderful opportunity and an enormous challenge. He will be charged with raising $100,000,000 for the Museum’s new building, designed by Toyo Ito. He predicted that the building, Ito’s first in North America, will be a spectacular addition not only to Berkeley, but to the Bay area and the nation.
   
   President Johnston announced that, following the recent appointments of Commissioners Calegari and Delaney, the Mayor has appointed René Bihan, landscape architect and principal with SWA Group. President Johnston explained that SWA celebrated its fiftieth year with a generous donation of money and sweat equity to the grounds of the Bayview Opera House in October, 2007. He added that on May 3, 2008, the Opera House had held another event celebrating its renewal, showing off the new paint job, and that Director of Cultural Affairs Luis Cancel had announced the Opera House’s capital campaign. President Johnston was grateful to SWA as a private business reaching out to help the community.
   
   Commissioner Bihan thanked President Johnston, noting that SWA had been in the Bay area for forty of its fifty years, working on both public and private projects. He was excited about the work with the Opera House and looked forward to his work with the Commission.
   
   Continuing his report, President Johnston noted that this was an exciting and busy time for the Commission. He mentioned the temporary exhibit in the Joseph Alioto Piazza, across from City Hall, of the sculptures by Manolo Valdés, adding that Public Art Program Director Jill Manton and staff, and Commissioner Lloyd, had done great work on securing this installation. He noted that the project had received a lot of good news coverage, and that at the opening celebration, Mr. Cancel had given an insightful and informative presentation on Valdés and his work. The sculptures will remain through August, 2008.
   
   President Johnston announced the installation of the Harvey Milk memorial bust, with a celebration in the City Hall Rotunda on May 22.
   
   He announced that on June 14, the Arts Commission Gallery would hold the first of a series of social and educational events on contemporary art. The series will also serve as a fundraiser showcasing the Gallery. He explained that Gallery Director Meg Shiffler would discuss the series in greater detail at the next full Commission meeting.
   
   President Johnston reported that the celebration of the fortieth anniversary of the Neighborhood Arts Program was a great success, and that Community Arts and Education Program Director Judy Nemzoff and staff did a wonderful job. Displaying a copy of the newsprint program of the series of events, he noted that he had seen it everywhere, and reminded Commissioners that many of the events had been recorded and posted online. He added that there had been a lot of good press coverage, reinforcing the role of the Arts Commission in the artistic life of the city.
   
   In light of these recent and visible successes, President Johnston asked the Commissioners to think about the question of the role of the Arts Commission as a leader in the arts for the region and for the nation. Noting that this question had been discussed at the 2007 retreat, and was raised with each candidate interviewed for the Director’s position, President Johnston asserted that the concern was now bearing fruit, with Mr. Cancel’s tireless advocacy for the agency and for the arts. He asked the Commission to consider taking public stands on arts-related issues, including housing, studio and other land-use questions, and to think about whether the agency should produce more work, in addition to funding others’ work.
   
   
4. Director’s Report
   Director of Cultural Affairs Luis R. Cancel noted that one of his high priorities is to achieve greater visibility for the good work being done by the Arts Commission; several programs that have been “in the works” for many months have generated good publicity recently. He echoed President Johnston’s praise for the Neighborhood Arts Festival, adding that the online elements extend its visibility far beyond the Bay Area. In attending several of the events, he observed very positive and energetic responses from the participants.
   
   He reported on the unveiling of the exterior renovations at Bayview Opera House, presided over by the Mayor and Supervisor Sophie Maxwell. As the celebration of this landmark took place, Mr. Cancel also announced the challenge of raising an additional $1,000,000 in private funding over the next 18 months to complete the interior renovations. The City has provided $5,000,000, and now he is appealing to the broader San Francisco community to help finish the work on this center, one of the few serving this area of the city. He thanked Commissioner Delaney, who has already begun to reach out to potential donors and foundation representatives.
   
   Mr. Cancel reported that the Manolo Valdés installation was very successful; both President Johnston and the Mayor were in attendance. The exhibit has drawn a lot of press, including television and radio coverage, as well as the cover of the Chronicle’s Datebook section. He again thanked Ms. Manton, Ms. Nemzoff, and all the staff involved in making these recent events so successful.
   
   Mr. Cancel reported that the Board of Supervisors’ Rules Committee recently held a public hearing on funding patterns. The Arts Commission and Grants for the Arts were asked for testimony. The wider arts community came forward in large numbers, speaking eloquently, with many specific examples, about how arts funding affects San Francisco residents. The Supervisors heard many positive comments about the Arts Commission.
   
   Mr. Cancel asked Cultural Equity Grants Program Director San San Wong to discuss the upcoming Bay Area Arts Town Hall meeting, Monday, June 9, 2008, at Yerba Buena Center. Ms. Wong explained that the event is a public-private community arts discussion; Yerba Buena has donated the space, and some three dozen funders are participating, along with up to 750 artists, arts organization representatives, and policymakers. She explained that the planning group recognizes that artists and the arts are not geographically bound, so participants will be drawn from all the surrounding Bay area counties as well as San Francisco.
   
   Mr. Cancel continued by noting that one of his priorities is to have ongoing dialogue with sister agencies and colleagues in government. He reported that he has been working closely with the Redevelopment Agency on the Mexican Museum and on the International Museum of Women, to maximize the benefits of these projects to the cultural community of San Francisco.
   
   He referred to the draft resolution distributed to Commissioners on the Contemporary Art Museum at the Presidio, explaining that he was still gathering facts, meeting with various agencies and interested parties. He expected to have a final recommendation for the full Commission at its June meeting, noting that while the proposal is controversial, it has great potential.
   
   Commissioner Kriken suggested that it was not the museum but its location that was controversial, and requested maps for the Commission to review. Commissioner Olague added that some of the Planning Commissioners are interested in this project, although there was some question about their jurisdiction, and that she would forward their comments.
   
   Mr. Cancel reminded the Commissioners that the planning retreat was set for Friday, November 21, at the large and very handsome Port of San Francisco Conference Room.
   
   Finally, he announced two upcoming WritersCorps events: the annual literary festival at the Koret Auditorium on Thursday, May 22, 2008, and the fundraiser, “Write Like a Giant” at AT&T Park on June 3.
   
   
   
5. Consent Calendar
   RESOLUTION NO. 0505-08-099:
   Approval: RESOLVED, that this Commission does hereby adopt the following items on the Consent Calendar and their related Resolutions:
   
   Approval of Committee Minutes
   1. RESOLUTION NO. 0505-08-100: Motion to approve the Visual Arts Committee Meeting Minutes of March 31, 2008.
      
      
   2. RESOLUTION NO. 0505-08-101: Motion to approve the Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee Meeting Minutes of April 8, 2008.
      
      
   3. RESOLUTION NO. 0505-08-102: Motion to approve the Visual Arts Committee Meeting Minutes of April 16, 2008.
      
      
      Community Arts, Education, and Grants Committee Recommendations (April 8, 2008)
   4. RESOLUTION NO. 0505-08-103: Motion to approve the following individuals as grants application review panelists for Cultural Equity Grants:
      
      Kawika Alfiche, Director, APOP Hawaiian Cultural Center
      Randy Burns, American Indian Community Advocate
      Ken Harper, Founder and Curator, AIDS to Native Eyes (ATNE)
      Celia Herrera Rodríguez, Artist and Educator, U.C. Berkeley and California College of the Arts
      
      
   5. RESOLUTION NO. 0505-08-104: Motion to approve the following panelists to be considered for the Programs in the Community Grants panel pool:
      
      John Calloway, Musician
      Wendy Levy, Director of Creative Programming, Bay Area Video Coalition
      Indra Mungal, Community Programs Manager, Oakland Museum of California
      Raelle Myrick-Hodges, Artistic Director, Brava! for Women in the Arts
      Kirthi Nath, Video Instructor, Bay Area Video Coalition
      Jason Wyman, Youth Development Peer Network
      
      
      Visual Arts Committee Recommendations (April 16, 2008)
   6. RESOLUTION NO. 0505-08-105: Motion to accept into the Civic Art Collection the Abraham Lincoln Brigade National Monument, a gift to the City from the Abraham Lincoln Brigade Association, designed by artists Ann Chamberlain and Walter Hood and located in Justin Herman Plaza.
      
      
   7. RESOLUTION NO. 0505-08-106: Motion to accept into the Civic Art Collection Namoo House (2008), by Joyce Hsu, an anodized aluminum and stainless steel sculptural relief, installed at Gate A-3 of the San Francisco International Airport.
      
      
   8. RESOLUTION NO. 0505-08-107: Motion to accept into the Civic Art Collection Take Off 2006 (2006-2008), by Hung Liu, a work of oil paint and pigmented ink on wood, installed at Gate A-5 of the San Francisco International Airport.
      
      
   9. RESOLUTION NO. 0505-08-108: Motion to approve the six original poster designs, to be reproduced and installed in 24 kiosks on Market Street from June 12 to September 18, 2008, by artist Owen Smith, for the Art on Market Street 2008 Program.
      
      
   10. RESOLUTION NO. 0505-08-109: Motion to approve Bernie Lubell and Ann Chamberlain’s revised proposals for the “H” wall, which will use imagery of the air and earth, and the “A” and “D” walls, which replace the black and white images with color images, at Laguna Honda Hospital.
       
       
   11. RESOLUTION NO. 0505-08-110: Motion to approve Diana Pumpelly Bates’s revised proposal for the Laguna Honda Hospital gates.
       
       
       Civic Design Review Committee Recommendations (April 21, 2008)
       
   12. RESOLUTION NO. 0505-08-111: Motion to approve Phase 3 of the Potrero Hill Health Center Addition with the contingency that Commissioner Delaney will visit the site with Project Manager Tony Leung to review tree removal plans, and that there be a maintenance plan for the existing stucco.
       
       
   13. RESOLUTION NO. 0505-08-112: Motion to approve the Bay Division Pipeline Reliability Upgrade Phase 1.
       
       
   14. RESOLUTION NO. 0505-08-113: Motion to approve the Ortega Branch Library Phase 1.
       
       
       
6. Committee Reports
   1. Executive Committee—P.J. Johnston, Chair
      1. President Johnston reported that the Committee did not meet. He announced the appointment of Commissioner Bihan to the Civic Design Review Committee; Commissioner Delaney to the Street Artists Committee in addition to Civic Design; Commissioner Calegari to the Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee; and Commissioner Lloyd to the Visual Arts Committee to replace Commissioner Rinder.
         
         
         
   2. Civic Design Committee—Jeannene Przyblyski, Interim Chair
      1. As Commissioner Przyblyski had been unable to attend the Committee’s meeting, Commissioner Delaney made the report. She reported that the Committee reviewed the Potrero Hill Health Center, approving it with the contingency that she would visit the site and review the impact of the tree removal plan on a nearby stand of eucalyptus. The Committee discussed the landscape and how it might attract monarch butterflies and other beneficial insects.
         
         The Committee reviewed several branch libraries. On Visitacion Valley, the Committee commented on the scale and the façade, and requested a more modern response to the classic examples shown by the architect.
         
         On the Ortega branch, the Committee thought the presentation was beautiful, and the response to the site very modern.
         
         In reviewing the Anza branch project, an addition to a Mission-style library, the Committee thought the structure should be more transparent and more modern. The architects enthusiastically accepted this suggestion and requested a letter of support to their superiors.
         
         Finally, the Committee reviewed the Parkside branch, where the architects proposed simplifying the landscape in response to budget concerns. The Committee requested materials boards for the next review.
         
         Commissioner Przyblyski presented the following motion:
         
         
      2. RESOLUTION NO. 0505-08-114: Motion to approve Phase 2 of the Bay Division Pipeline Reliability Upgrade.
         
         
   3. Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee—Maya Draisin, Chair
      1. Vice President Draisin reported that there was a large response to the Native American Arts and Cultural Traditions grants. She invited Ms. Wong to discuss the program. Ms. Wong explained that there had been a great deal of interest from other funders, including national funders, as well. She said that she looks at grants as an investment in the arts and in the artists. She described her research to develop cultural competence, and noted that this historically underserved community requires a great deal of technical assistance. Ms. Wong reported that the policy discussions held after the panel reviews identified the concerns of third- and fourth-generation urban Native Americans as a priority, since some 60-70% now live in urban areas. Hybridization, identity exploration and aesthetics are among those concerns.
         
         Ms. Wong reported that she is also working with the Mayor’s Office on a feasibility study for an American Indian community and cultural center, which would take a holistic approach including arts, social services and cultural resources. An artist survey is part of this effort, and will be useful for other funders as well. Ms. Wong is also consulting with the Ford Foundation on funding for Native artists.
         
         Ms. Wong briefly reviewed a number of statistics about the applicants and applications, noting that only four of the twenty-six applicants had previoiusly applied to Community Arts and Education, and none to Cultural Equity Grants. She showed slides, video clips and a publication as work samples from a few of the applicants, as a way to display their variety.
         
         Vice President Draisin thanked her for the presentation, noting that this initiative, created in response to a crisis, had opened up an incredible opportunity and begun a valuable discussion. She called for public comment from the four grant recipients in attendance.
         
         Luna Maia thanked the Commission, saying that she was honored to have been selected. She described her project, which focuses on reclaiming her Yaqui heritage, and drew the distinction between an oral and a written tradition. She expects to present her work at Femina Potens in June, 2009.
         
         Ras and Shadi spoke about their project, SNAG Magazine, which they began in 2001. They will use the grant to take it farther, doing interactive workshops with young people to show them how to become working artists, focusing on sustainability and entrepreneurship. They thanked CEG staff and the Commission.
         
         Jeremy Arviso thanked the Commission and CEG staff, noting that this was his first grant. He explained that he had moved to San Francisco in 2002, and that his project would allow him to return to the Navajo reservation and study with his grandmother, master rug weaver Daisy Ho. He plans to document the landscape where he grew up, and to bring some of his urban street culture and hip-hop to the reservation. He will bring the art of weaving back to the city, with an exhibit featuring the installation of a loom with a rug in progress in March, 2009.
         
         Vice President Draisin thanked the artists and presented the following motions.
         
         
      2. RESOLUTION NO. 0505-08-115: Motion to approve Roberto Ordenana to be considered for the Programs in the Community Grants panel pool.
         
         
      3. RESOLUTION NO. 0505-08-116: Motion to approve $116,226 to the following organizations and individual artists for the Native American Arts and Cultural Traditions Grants Program and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into grant agreements with the following:
         
         Alliance for Native Arts, $6,000
         America Meredith, $6,490
         Association Mayab, $6,000
         Danza Xitlalli de San Francisco, $6,000
         Edwardo Madril, $4,365
         Galeria de la Raza, $12,000
         Jeremy Arviso, $6,431
         Jeremy Goodfeather, $6,490
         John-Carlos Perea, $6,490
         La Pocha Nostra, $6,000
         Luna Maia, $6,490
         Maximilian Wolf Valerio, $6,490
         Na Lei Hulu I Ka Wekiu, $6,000
         Niki Lee, $6,490
         Reid Gomez, $6,490
         Seventh Native American Generation $12,000
         The Cultural Conservancy, $6,000
         
         President Johnston thanked Ms. Wong, Cultural Equity Grants Program Associate Ebony McKinney, and the rest of the CEG staff. He thought it was worthwhile to take the time to help the Commission understand more about the actions on which they were voting. He agreed with Vice President Draisin that this was a good thing that had come out of a difficult situation, and appreciated the speed and excellence with which staff had addressed it.
         
         
         
   4. Street Artists Committee—Alexander Lloyd, Chair
      1. In the absence of Commissioner Lloyd, President Johnston advised that he had received a report about the Committee’s last meeting, which was hastily adjourned after a scuffle broke out.
         
         President Johnston presented the following motions.
         
         
      2. RESOLUTION NO. 0505-08-117: Motion to approve requests by former certificate-holders for priority issuance of certificate with waiver of re-screening of wares: Santiago Alonzo, Astrid Shiskin, Shu-Zhen Dong, Laura Waterman, Bruce Tamberelli, David Moses, Janice Patten.
         
         
      3. RESOLUTION NO. 0505-08-118: Motion to approve request by applicant for waiver of 15-day policy in obtaining certificate: Tiffany Schmidtke.
         
         
   5. Visual Arts Committee—Jeannene Przyblyski, Chair
      1. Commissioner Przyblyski first noted that the Commission had just approved in its Consent Calendar the Abraham Lincoln Memorial, designed by artist Ann Chamberlain. Commissioner Przyblyski recounted how Ms. Chamberlain had relentlessly pursued this project because she believed passionately that the veterans needed to be memorialized, and she feared that they would not live to see the memorial. Commissioner Przyblyski noted the sad irony that although some of the veterans were there at the memorial’s dedication, Ms. Chamberlain was not; she passed away in April. Commissioner Przyblyski remembered her as a very dear friend and colleague.
         
         Commissioner Przyblyski reported that the Manolo Valdés sculpture exhibition is an example of how successful a temporary project can be, and how nimble the Commission must be to respond to such opportunities. She added that the Commission continues to seek ways to do this sustainably.
         
         Finally, noting that she is sad to see Commissioner Rinder’s departure, Commissioner Przyblyski said that this is an exciting time to be on the Committee, as it enters the pre-planning phase on such significant projects as Central Subway, the Airport and General Hospital. She reported that the Committee has big ambitions for these projects, and hopes to reach out to some of the best artists, both locally and nationally.
         
         
         
7. Public Comment
   President Johnston called for general public comment. Ms. Pat Lloyd spoke, explaining that she was a long-time street artist, beginning in 1978. She alleged that she has a copyright on a design which is now being sold without her permission by her ex-husband and his girlfriend. She said that she has sent a cease-and-desist letter, and has spoken with Street Artist Program Director Howard Lazar. She reported that he explained, on advice of the City Attorney’s office, that the program can’t address the originality of a design in its decision to license an artist. She asserted that the artist merely has to create the object before the screening panel in order to be licensed. She argued that her federal copyright ought to somehow be protected in this process.
   
   President Johnston thanked her for her comment, and advised that the Street Artists Committee meeting was the appropriate place to discuss the issue. Ms. Lloyd said she would attend the Committee’s meeting.
   
   There was no further public comment.
   
   
8. New Business
   There was no further new business.
   
   
9. Reports and Announcements
   Mr. Cancel reminded Commissioners to see the first-rate exhibit on the ground floor of City Hall, After the Revolution: Contemporary Photography from Tehran and California.
   
   
10. Adjournment
    There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:35 p.m.
    
    

5/16/08 spr