June 20, 2012

The meeting commenced at 3:07 p.m.

1. Roll Call

Commissioners Present:
Barbara Sklar, Chair
JD Beltran
Dorka Keehn

Commissioners Absent:
Greg Chew
Jessica Silverman

2. Consent Calendar
Action

1. Motion to approve a modification to the selection process and timeline to include a review by a panel of arts professionals of the applicants to the following new Central Subway public art projects: Chinatown Station – Crosscut Cavern Wall; Moscone Station – Ticketing Hall Wall; Moscone Station – Entry Plaza Sculpture and Union Square Station – Elevator and Deck Glass.

2. Motion to approve the following arts professionals as potential panelists for the Central Subway Public Art Projects Selection Panels: Lucinda Barnes, Chief Curator and Director of Programs and Collections, Berkeley Art Museum; Janet C. Bishop, Curator of Painting and Sculpture, SFMOMA; Abby Chen, Program Director, Chinese Culture Center; Kevin B. Chen, Program Director, Intersection for the Arts; René de Guzman, Senior Curator, Oakland Museum of California; Courtney Fink, Executive Director, Southern Exposure; Gary Garrels, Elise S. Haas Senior Curator of Painting and Sculpture, SFMOMA; Betti-Sue Hertz, Director of Visual Arts, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts; Jens Hoffmann, Director of the Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts at the California College of the Arts; Hou Hanru, Director of Exhibitions and Public Programs, San Francisco Art Institute; Chuck Mobley, Director, Camerawork; Julio César Morales, Adjunct Curator, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts; Ellen Oh, Program Administrator, Institute for Diversity in the Arts, Stanford University; Susan O’Malley, Curator and Print Center Director, San Jose ICA; Renny Pritikin, Director of the Richard Nelson Gallery at UC Davis; Larry Rinder, Director of the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive; Dara Solomon, Curator, Contemporary Jewish Museum; Grace C. Stanislaus, Executive Director, Museum of the African Diaspora; Catherine Wagner, Artist and Professor of Art, Mills College.

3. Motion to approve the following Tnemec paint colors for Nobuho Nagasawa’ s installation at Islais Creek: Cleats, “Moss”; Bell Frame Support: “Weeping Willow”; Ship: “International Orange”; Bell: blackened raw treatment.

Commissioner Sklar called for public comment. There was no public comment.

Motion: Motion to approve Consent Calendar items.
Moved: Keehn/Beltran
The motion was unanimously approved

3. Art on Market Street Poster Series 2012/13
Mary Chou
Action

Project Manager Mary Chou introduced artist Julie Chang to discuss her revised designs for the next series of the Art on Market Street Poster Series 2012/13. Ms. Chang explained that the posters celebrate a variety of artistic disciplines and adapt appropriated imagery from sources throughout San Francisco. Commissioner Beltran asked if Ms. Chang thought that the public would be able to decipher the various local iconography reflected in the details of her designs. Ms. Chang replied that she would be resistant to an explicit explanation, saying that she preferred to allow a sense of discovery. Ms. Chou offered that both the credit line at the bottom of the posters and the Arts Commission website could be ideal places to offer more information about specific imagery found within the poster designs.

Commissioner Sklar called for public comment. There was no public comment.

Motion: Motion to approve the revised designs by Julie Chang for the Art on Market Street Poster Series 2012/13.
Moved: Beltran/Sklar
The motion was unanimously approved

4. Art on Market Street Poster Series 2012/13
Mary Chou
Action

Ms. Chou presented revised designs by Christina Empedocles for the last installment of the Art on Market Street Poster Series 2012/13. The artist was invited to elaborate on her concept for the series. Ms. Empedocles mentioned that because her imagery appropriates work from the film industry she is in the process of acquiring licensing agreements for the posters, and has been working with the City Attorney through the Project Manager on the development of these agreements.

Commissioner Sklar called for public comment. There was no public comment.

Motion: Motion to approve the revised designs by Christina Empedocles for the Art on Market Street Poster Series 2012/13.
Moved: Beltran/Keehn
The motion was unanimously approved

5. Art on Market Street Poster Series 2012/13
Mary Chou
Action

Ms. Chou presented the results of the first selection panel for the Art on Market Street Posters Series 2013/14. The six finalists include Susie Cagle, Amy Faville, Sanaz Mazinani, Robert Minervini, Lordy Rodriguez and Mark Ulriksen. These artists will develop conceptual proposals, from which the selection panel will choose three final artists for the 2013/2014 program.

Commissioner Sklar called for public comment. There was no public comment.

Motion: Motion to approve Susie Cagle, Amy Faville, Sanaz Mazinani, Robert Minervini, Lordy Rodriguez and Mark Ulriksen as finalists for the Art on Market Street Posters Series 2013/14 as recommended by the Art on Market Street Selection Panel.
Moved: Beltran/Keehn
The motion was unanimously approved

6. SFAC Gallery
Meg Shiffler
Action

Gallery Director Meg Shiffler presented background information for the events, artists and curators included in the motion below, noting that over the span of the nine FAX exhibitions hosted by the SFAC Gallery this was the first time that additional public programming was being offered.

Commissioner Sklar called for public comment. There was no public comment.

Motion: Motion to approve curator honorarium payments in the amount of $700 each to the following individuals for the creation of free public programming for the SFAC Gallery’s current exhibition, FAX: Anne Colvin, Kevin Killian, Colter Jacobsen and Adrienne Skye Roberts.
Moved: Beltran/Keehn
The motion was unanimously approved

Ms. Shiffler discussed the work of the artists participating in the upcoming Gallery exhibition, Visible Horizon, stating that each artist will be asked to explore their own ideas of the “horizon line.”

Motion: Motion to approve artist honorarium payments for the production of newly commissioned work for the upcoming SFAC Gallery exhibition, Visible Horizon in the amount of $700 each for the following artists: Andrew Chapman, Chris Duncan and Rhonda Holberton.
Moved: Beltran/Keehn
The motion was unanimously approved

THE FOLLOWING ITEM WAS TABLED

7. Moscone West
Jill Manton
Action

Update on Facsimile maintenance project at Moscone West and request for contract authorization.

Motion: Motion to approve a contract not to exceed $29,000 with Scott Minneman for maintenance work on the Facsimile art project at Moscone West.

8. Public Safety Building
Mary Chou
Action

Ms. Chou presented the revised design by Paul Kos for the Community Plaza at the new Public Safety Building. She explained that the artist is now working on 100% design completion and construction documents and that there are several design revisions to be considered. These include a widening of the landscaping on the plaza’s east side to provide more room for the bollard foundations and the roots of the plaza’s Siberian spruce, and a subsequent shift of the plaza’s Mission Rock entrance further west. Ms. Chou also added that the previously-approved custom cut accent pavers outlining the bell and granite star may be cost-prohibitive, and that Mr. Kos has proposed using either a single-color, off-the-shelf granite paver set orthogonally, or a natural resin pavement treatment called NaturalPave, as alternatives.

Commissioner Sklar commented that the Committee had preferred the patterned pavers. Noting that the project may bridge the purview of both the Visual Arts Committee and Civic Design Review, Mr. DeCaigny recommended that an administrative review take place between the two programs. Ms. Chou agreed and said that she would coordinate this review with Civic Design Review Program Manager Vicky Knoop.

Commissioner Sklar called for public comment. There was no public comment.
Motion: Motion to approve the revised design by Paul Kos for an artwork for the Community Plaza at the new Public Safety Building.
Moved: Beltran/Keehn
The motion was unanimously approved

9. Public Safety Building
Mary Chou
Action

Ms. Chou presented design revisions by Shimon Attie for the Police Memorial at the new Public Safety Building, stating that as a cost-saving measure the artist and architect have proposed replacing the memorial’s steel backdrop with a dark painted gypsum board, which would lower costs by approximately $60,000.

Ms. Chou summarized that the base bid for the Police Memorial will include:
- a skylight with a mullion, and
- a text-only treatment to the back lobby wall with a light soffit.
The add alternates for the Police Memorial will include:
- a skylight with no mullion, and
- a painted gypsum board backdrop with applied text.
Ms. Chou explained that the artist’s preference is first for a skylight with no mullion, and then for a gypsum board backdrop with text.

Commissioner Keehn expressed her preference for a gypsum board backdrop over a skylight with no mullion. Public Art Program Director Susan Pontious stated that these preferences could be discussed among Commissioners after the bids for the project are submitted.

Ms. Chou then concluded by explaining that the requested increased contract amount would allow for a down payment to the artist’s glass manufacturer in order to guarantee the quoted price for the memorial’s glass element.

Commissioner Sklar called for public comment. There was no public comment.

Motion: Motion to approve the revised design by Shimon Attie for a police memorial artwork in the lobby of the new Public Safety Building.
Moved: Beltran/Keehn
The motion was unanimously approved

Motion: Motion to increase Attie Art Projects LLC (aka Scott/Shimon Attie) contract for a police memorial artwork in the lobby of the new Public Safety Building from $192,500 by $150,000 for a total amount of $342,500 for design development and construction documents.
Moved: Keehn/Beltran
The motion was unanimously approved

10. San Francisco International Airport
Susan Pontious
Action

Public Art Program Director Susan Pontious presented the revised program plan and budget for art enrichment for San Francisco International Airport’s Boarding Area E. She noted that artist Amy Ellingson will have the opportunity to create an artwork for the area’s south wall, which spans both pre-security and the secure area beyond. Ms. Pontious also mentioned that the proposed design of Boarding Area E may provide an opportunity for the relocation of Bruce Beasley’s The Hesperides (Accession # 1979.39), currently installed in Boarding Area F.

Commissioner Sklar called for public comment. There was no public comment.

Motion: Motion to approve revised program plan and budget for Boarding Area E.
Moved: Beltran/Keehn
The motion was unanimously approved

11. Masquerade in Black by Jay DeFeo
Susan Pontious
Action

Ms. Pontious began by revisiting the former plan to deaccession Masquerade in Black by Jay DeFeo from the Civic Art Collection due to the lack of display opportunities for the large painting. In light of recent developments at the Airport that may allow for the artwork’s display, as well as an increase in the painting’s value, Ms. Pontious recommended that the painting remain a part of the Arts Commission’s collection. Senior Registrar Allison Cummings noted that although a motion was previously passed by the Visual Arts Committee recommending the deaccession of the painting, the process was never completed and the previous motion could be readily rescinded. Director of Cultural Affairs Tom DeCaigny mentioned the importance of being attentive to the needs of the collection during the agency’s upcoming capital planning process, adding that it remains an asset that merits thoughtful consideration towards its care and preservation.

Commissioner Sklar called for public comment. There was no public comment.

Motion: Motion to rescind Resolution #1101-04-233 to approve the deaccessioning of Masquerade in Black (Accession #1980.6) by Jay DeFeo.
Moved: Beltarn/Keehn
The motion was unanimously approved

12. 17th and Folsom Park
Marcus Davies
Action

Project Manager Marcus Davies reported on the results of the 17th and Folsom Park Public Art Selection Panel, stating that Carmen Lomas Garza was selected as the project artist. He noted that because the park project was community generated he worked to assemble a selection pool of artists living and working in neighborhoods immediately adjacent to the project location.

Commissioner Sklar called for public comment. There was no public comment.

Motion: Motion to approve artist Carmen Lomas Garza as recommended by the 17th and Folsom Park Public Art Selection Panel for an artwork at 17th and Folsom Park.
Moved: Beltran/Keehn
The motion was unanimously approved

THE FOLLOWING MOTION WAS REVISED

Motion: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a contract with Carmen Lomas Garza for the design of an artwork for 17th and Folsom Park in an amount not to exceed $22,480.
Moved: Beltran/Keehn
The motion was unanimously approved

THE FOLLOWING MOTION WAS CANCELLED

Motion: Motion to approve artist alternate Adriane Colburn as recommended by the Artist Selection Panel for an artwork at 17th and Folsom Park in the event that Carmen Lomas Garza is unable to accept the commission.

THE FOLLOWING MOTION WAS CANCELLED

Motion: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a contract with Adriane Colburn for design of an artwork for 17th and Folsom Park in an amount not to exceed $25,200 in the event that Carmen Lomas Garza is unable to accept the commission.

13. 525 Golden Gate
Susan Pontious
Information

Ms. Pontious reported on the completion of the two commissions by artist Ned Kahn for the new Public Utilities Commission headquarters at 525 Golden Gate Avenue. She presented several photographs of the installation process for Firefly, the exterior artwork, and Rain Portal in the building’s lobby. She concluded by screening a short video clip of Firefly as seen at night.

14. Public Comment
Discussion

(This item is to allow members of the public to comment generally on matters within the Visual Arts Committee’s purview as well as to suggest new agenda items for the Visual Arts Committee’s consideration at a future meeting.)

No public comment

15. New Business and Announcements
Discussion

(This item is to allow the Commissioners and Arts Commission staff to introduce new agenda items for consideration at a future meeting, to report on recent arts activities and to make announcements.)

Ms. Pontious announced that the 2012 Public Art Network Year in Review recognized the following projects commissioned by the San Francisco Arts Commission for the San Francisco International Airport’s Terminal Two: Walter Kitundu’s San Francisco Bay Area Bird Encounters and Norie Sato’s Air Over Under.

Commissioner Sklar requested that a standing resolution be developed allowing certain items such as approval of small changes to projects and contract benchmarks to be included on the consent calendar. Ms. Pontious mentioned that there is an established precedent for including such items on the consent calendar, particularly when they do not merit meeting time to discuss them. She agreed to meet with Mr. DeCaigny to further discuss the matter.

Ms. Cummings concluded the meeting by thanking intern Sarah Kimmerle for her work with the Civic Art Collection.

16. Adjournment
Action

The meeting adjourned at 4:36 pm.
MD 6/26/12
JDC 11/06/12 - adopted minutes posted
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Notices

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