VISUAL
ARTS COMMITTEE
Wednesday, August 21, 2002
3:00 p.m.
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 70
Notices
Explanatory documents are available for public inspection and
copying at the Arts Commission office, 25 Van Ness Ave, Ste 240,
San Francisco CA 94102 during regular business hours. Tel:
415-252-2594.
Minutes
Commissioners Present
Barbara Stauffacher Solomon, Dugald Stermer, Dede Wilsey;
Absent: Stanlee Gatti, Ralph Guggenheim.
Staff Present
Nina Dunbar, Anna Kvinsland, Debra Lehane, Tonia Macneil, Judy
Moran, Kristen Zaremba.
Note: All votes are unanimous unless recorded
otherwise.
The meeting commenced at 3:15 p.m.
- Consent
Motion to approve sidewalk design and design of two sculptural
bollards by Topher Delaney for Club Quarter San Francisco at 425
Battery Street.
Motion: Motion to move the consent
calendar item.
Moved: Stauffacher
Solomon/Wilsey
- Collections
Civic Art Collection Program Director Debra Lehane announced
that many activities are underway in the newly opened and
renovated Union Square. She said that an organization, by the name
of Red Umbrellas, has been granted approval by Rec & Park to
display a temporary installation of two sculptures by artist Bruce
Chaban in Union Square for the month of September. Ms. Lehane said
that there is no curatorial recommendation for this project. She
also added that she was not pleased with how Red Umbrellas had
handled this particular situation with the Arts Commission. Ms.
Lehane said that adequate time, better coordination with Rec/Park,
and working through the proper channels could have resulted in a
better project. Ms. Lehane plans to draft a set of guidelines for
temporary sculpture installations in Union Square. Of utmost
importance is the siting of the temporary sculpture so that it
does not interfere with the Arts Commission's placement or
maintenance of permanent artwork in the square. Commissioner
Stermer approved of the installation by Mr. Chaban as long as it
was only going to be displayed on a temporary basis.
Next, Ms. Lehane reported that Jim Killeran of the Asian Art
Museum contacted her regarding the transfer of the Dumond murals
and Lentelli sculptures to the Arts Commission. Ms. Lehane said
that even though the Arts Commission was never involved in the
removal or handling of these pieces, the Asian Art Museum is
assuming that we are willing to deal with the maintenance,
storage, restoration and/or relocation of these works. Ms. Lehane
said that the Dumond murals require high positioning on a wall.
Measuring 12 feet high and 47 feet long they are too big for City
Hall and Treasure Island Building One, a possible site, needs
seismic upgrading which has not been scheduled as of yet. Ms.
Lehane said that she feels torn over the decision to accept the
artwork because on the one hand, she believes that the artwork is
part of the City's history and should be preserved and displayed.
But on the other hand, she has not received any information
regarding the condition of the artwork or how storage and
conservation of the artwork will be funded. Ms. Lehane spoke with
Director Rich Newirth about the matter and felt that in the very
least that the Asian should have offered to pay for storage.
Commissioner Wilsey said that Ms. Lehane should not be concerned
about the condition of the artwork. She is certain that because
the work was owned by a museum, and most likely handled by
professional conservators, that the artwork is still in good
condition. Ms. Lehane stated that she was more concerned about the
craftsmanship of the original artwork because that would determine
how well the works had survived the removal. The condition of the
Lentelli sculptures is known to be very weathered from constant
exposure on the west face of the building. Commissioner Stermer
offered that if the Arts Commission does not have the money to
properly maintain, display, or store the artwork, then we should
not accept the work. Commissioner Stermer asked Ms. Lehane that if
the Arts Commission was legally required to accept the work. Ms.
Lehane answered that we were not legally required to accept the
work, but that morally, it may be in our best interest to accept
the artwork. Commissioner Stermer asked that Ms. Lehane return to
the Commission with a list of options and consequences for if we
decide to accept or not accept the work.
Motion: Motion to approve the
temporary installation of two sculptures titled Link and Three
Wishes by Bruce Chaban from Sept. 6 - Sept 30th in Union Square as
part of the Red Umbrella series.
Moved: Stauffacher
Solomon/Wilsey
- Recreation and Park Department Bond Projects
Project Manager Nina Dunbar reported that on August 20th, the
Rec & Park Artist Selection panel selected 33 artists to be
included in a pool to be eligible for a series of upcoming Rec
& Park projects. Ms. Dunbar said it is expected that there
will be approximately 200 new park projects over the next 10
years, ranging from minor renovations to entirely new parks. The
selected artists will remain in the pool and on call for the next
year. At the end of the year, another competition will be held to
add new artists to the pool and update the current pool. Ms.
Dunbar explained that the artist pool selection process saves
postage and time, and gives the community more responsibility in
selecting artists for projects in their neighborhoods.
Next, Ms. Dunbar showed two slides from each artist candidate. She
reminded the Commissioners that inclusion in the artist pool does
not guarantee that an artist will be awarded a commission. She
described the artists in the pool as falling into one of three
categories: tried and true public artists with a history working
for the Arts Commission; artists experimenting with new materials
and primarily know for their gallery installation work; and
artists whose work uses nature as a subject matter or sites for
their work.
Ms. Dunbar asked for approval of the panel's recommendation of the
Recreation and Park Department Bond Projects Pre-Qualified Artist
Pool.
Motion: Motion to approve the
selection panel's recommendation of the following artists to serve
for one year term on the Recreation and Park Department Bond
Projects Pre-Qualified Artist Pool. Approved artists will be
eligible for consideration by community panels for upcoming Art
Enrichment commissions associated with new and renovated
Recreation and Park Department facilities, including, but not
limited to Helen Wills Playground, Rochambeau Playground, West
Portal Recreation Center, Eureka Valley Recreation Center, Holly
Park and Hoff Street Playground: Aileen Barr, Ray Beldner, Suzanne
Biaggi, Amy Blackstone, Susan Cervantes, Colette Crutcher, Topher
Delaney, Scott Donahue, Lauren Elder, Sheila Ghidini, Steve
Gillman, Demetry Grudsky, Erika Olsen Hannes, Gonzalo Hidalgo,
John King and Regina Case, Marissa Kunz, Paul Lanier, Yumi Lee,
Jefferson Mack, Alexander MacLeitch team, Betsie Miller-Kusz,
Geoffrey I. Nwogu, Johanna Poethig, Peter Richards, John Rubin,
Vickie Jo Saulls, Bonnie Ora Sherk, Mel Smothers, Vickie Jo
Sowell, Lee Walton, Horace Washington, Ann Weber & team, Yoram
Wolberger.
Moved: Stauffacher
Solomon/Wilsey
- Airport
Because Project Manager Susan Pontious was on vacation, there was
no Project Update report.
Motion: Motion to approve the
following individuals to be added to the juror pool for the
selection of sculpture for Boarding Area C: Madelaine Grynsztein
(Curator for painting and sculpture, SFMOMA), Renny Pritikin
(Chief Curator, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts), Hitoshi Sasaki
(Artist and former Curator for Airport Museums Program at SFO,
Kathy Holland (Independent Curator, Co-author of Airport
Collection assessment), and Lydia Mathews (Art Historian,
California College of Arts and Crafts).
Moved: Stauffacher
Solomon/Wilsey
- Laguna Honda Hospital
Judy Moran reported for Ms. Pontious that a motion is needed
to approve the juror pool for the Laguna Honda Hospital courtyard
sculpture and pool tile design projects. Ms. Moran also asked if
any of the Commissioners would be willing to serve on the panel.
Commissioner Stermer thought that Commissioner Gatti would be the
most appropriate Commission representative. He said that if
Commissioner Gatti was not available to serve on the panel, that
Ms. Pontious should call him as he might be able to do it.
Motion: Motion to approve the
following individuals to be added to the juror pool for Laguna
Honda Hospital projects (courtyard sculpture and pool tile
design): Michele Rowe-Shields (Visual Arts Director, Montalvo),
Lewis deSoto (Artist), Rene Yung (Artist), Don Douglas (Regional
Director of Art Program, General Services Administration), Jud
Fine (Artist), Barbara McCarren (Artist), Carrie Lederer (Curator
of Exhibitions and Program, Bedford Gallery, Dean Lesher Regional
Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek), Rene de Guzman (Curator Yerba
Beuna Center for the Arts), and Winifred Day (Independent
Curator).
Moved: Wilsey/Stauffacher
Solomon
- Moscone Center Expansion Project
Public Art Program Assistant Anna Kvinsland reported for
Director of Public Art Jill Manton, that the long awaited bid from
Hunt Construction came in at around $250,000 over budget. Ms.
Kvinsland said that even with the overbid, Moscone told Ms. Manton
to proceed ahead with the contract for Diller & Scofidio. Ms.
Kvinsland reported that Rick Obie, a contractor recommended by
Multimedia, flew out from Oregon on August 7th to visit the site.
Mr. Obie can fabricate the tracks and armature, but he cannot
install. Union workers must be used for assembling and installing
the track and armature, and any other site work. Ms. Kvinsland
said that because of the overbid, it is extremely unlikely that
Moscone will agree to Diller & Scofidio's request for a better
screen or any additional upgrades.
Ms. Dunbar added that the carved tree sculpture by Shum, Shu,
& Gordon will be installed on October 7, 2002.
- New Business
Project Manager Kristen Zaremba reported that MUNI has tentatively
asked the Arts Commission to manage the design team selection and
design development phase of the new K-Line transit platforms at
the Phelan Loop / City College, pending authorization to proceed
from Muni Director Michael Burns. The Arts Commission would
develop a pool of qualified applicants and work with the community
to select an artist / architect team to develop designs for both
the westbound and eastbound platforms.
- Old Business
- Adjournment
As there was no further business, the meeting was adjourned at
4:10 p.m.
Submitted by Anna Kvinsland, Public Art Program Assistant
Approved by Jill Manton, Director of Public Art, 9/4/02
9/4/02