SFAC | Full Commission | April 2002 Minutes

Meeting of the Full Arts Commission

Monday, April 1, 2002

3:00 p.m.

25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 70

San Francisco, CA 94102

Minutes

Vice President Roth called the meeting to order at 3:10 p.m.

ROLL CALL

Commissioners Present
Kirk Anderson
Blanche Brown
Andrew Brother Elk
Rod Freebairn-Smith
Eddie Marshall
William Meyer
Denise Roth
Dugald Stermer
Ethel Pitts Walker
Dede Wilsey

Commissioners Absent
Stanlee Gatti
Andrea Cochran
Ralph Guggenheim
Janice Mirikitani
Barbara Stauffacher Solomon
APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The following Resolution was Moved by Vice President Roth, Seconded, and unanimously Adopted:

RESOLUTION NO. 0401-02-082: APPROVAL OF MINUTES ADOPTED RESOLVED, that this Commission does hereby approve the Minutes of the Regular Monthly Meeting of March 4, 2002.

NOTE: ALL ADOPTIONS ARE UNANIMOUS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.
PRESIDENT'S REPORT
DIRECTOR'S REPORT

Deputy Director Nancy Gonchar announced that Richard Newirth was in St . Petersburg, Russia for a business trip. She also mentioned that she just returned from Boston to study architectural photography and digital applications at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design.

In reference to the budget, Deputy Director Nancy Gonchar stated that the budget deficit has been revised and is now projected at $154 million in FY 2002-03. The budget will be reviewed by the Board of Supervisors over the next two months.
CONSENT CALENDAR

Item 19 was removed from the Consent Calendar and referred back to Visual Arts Committee.

RESOLUTION NO. 0401-02-083: Consent Calendar
ADOPTED: UNANIMOUS
Approval: RESOLVED, that this Commission does hereby adopt the following items on the amended Consent Calendar and their related Resolutions:

Approval of Committee Minutes
1. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-02-084: Motion to approve the Civic Design Committee Meeting Minutes of February 25 and March 18, 2002.
  Explanatory Document: Draft Committee Minutes
2. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-02-085: Motion to approve the Visual Arts Committee Meeting Minutes of March 20, 2002.
  Explanatory Document: Draft Committee Minutes
3. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-02-086: Motion to approve the Performing Arts Committee Meeting Minutes of January 30, 2002.
  Explanatory Document: Draft Committee Minutes
  
  Civic Design Committee Recommendations (03/18/02)
4. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-02-087: Motion to approve the Broadway Streetscape Improvements Project between Montgomery Street and Battery Street, Phase 1.
5. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-02-088: Motion to approve the Third Street Lightrail Platform Finishes/Signage, Phase 3.
6. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-02-089: Motion to approve the Juvenile Hall Replacement Project, Phase 3.
7. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-02-090: Motion to approve the St. Mary's Garage Restrooms, Phase 3.
  
  Visual Arts Committee Recommendations (03/20/02)
8. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-02-091: Motion to approve six original poster designs for 24 posters by artist J.R.R. Blevins for exhibition in 24 kiosks on Market Street from May 17 to August 15, 2002, for the Market Street Art in Transit Kiosk Poster Program 2002.
9. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-02-092: Motion to approve an Artist Selection Panel pool for the Library Bond Art Enrichment Program, to include Enrique Chagoya, Ann Chamberlain, Saudy Sanchez, JoeSam, Leah Levy, Ana Novakov, and Beau Takajara, to select an artist pool for six new and renovated library branches.
10. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-02-093: Motion to approve the 2002 Bayview Hunters Point Youth Art Mural Project coordinated by Heidi Hardin and Betsy Miller Kusz.
11. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-02-094: Motion to authorize the placement of funds from the following PUC art enrichment projects on reserve for future use at PUC sites mutually approved by the Arts Commission and PUC: Lane Street Pump Station, Crocker Amazon Pump Station, Potrero Heights Chlorine Station Project, Baden Pump Station, Hetch Hetchy Water Treatment Project, Harry Tracy Water Treatment Plant Residuals Thickening, Calaveras Potassium Permanganate Facility.
12. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-02-095: Motion to approve the design concept of the art project at India Basin Shoreline Park by lead artists Moriah Ulinskas and Santiago Giraldo-Tobon, funded by the Goldman Fund, with recommended changes by curatorial staff, and pending approval by Recreation and Park Department.
13. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-02-096: Motion to approve the mural design by Jason Gilmore at 4527 Mission Street, funded by Neighborhood Beautification and Rebuilding Together.
14. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-02-097: Motion to approve the mural design by Mel Simmons at 1205 Mendell Street, funded by Neighborhood Beautification and Rebuilding Together.
15. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-02-098: Motion to approve the mural design by Peter Collins at 555 Thompkins Avenue, funded by Neighborhood Beautification and Rebuilding Together.
16. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-02-099: Motion to approve tree grate designs by Jenne Giles and Peaceful Streets for the Church Street Transit Center at 1 Church Street, funded by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Bridge Housing.
17. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-02-100: Motion to allow the DeYoung Museum to remove and store and/or display three statues/monuments, Lion, Sundial, and The Pool of Enchantment, from Golden Gate Park during construction of their new building with the condition that all works will be re-installed in the Park and that all sites are to be approved by the Arts Commission.
18. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-02-101: Motion to approve the loan of three works by Lucien Labaudt titled Radio, 1934, Spirit and Reality, 1934, and The Accordian Player, 1935 to the exhibition On-Ramps: Transitional Moments in California Art, June 1-September 1, 2002 at the Pasadena Museum of California Art.
19. Motion to approve the design concept for the Emperor Norton Memorial for Telegraph Hill on Kearny Street at the top of the Macchiarini steps.
20. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-02-102: Motion to approve the Grove Street Windows installation by Lo-Profile, Laure Cuvillier, and Eefje Theeuws for May 26 - July 7, 2002.
21. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-02-103: Motion to approve the Grove Street Windows installation by Kim Turos for July 14 - August 25, 2002.
22. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-02-104: Motion to approve the following jurors for the 2002 Murphy and Cadogan Award show, sponsored by the SF Foundation. (Note: approval of jurors would also approve their choices of award recipients for exhibition at the SFAC Gallery July-August 2002.):
  Rev. Timothy Taylor - artist, curator
  Stephanie Syjuco - artist
  Clara Kim - curator
23. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-02-105: Motion to approve the following jurors for the 2002 Construct installation award show. (Note: approval of jurors would also approve their choices of award recipients for exhibition at the SFAC Gallery October - November 2002):
  Julie Deamer - curator
  Paul Kos - artist, educator
24. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-02-106: Motion to authorize the change of LED manufacturer from Mitsubishi to Multimedia Inc.
25. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-02-107: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with Multimedia Inc. for an amount not to exceed $700,000.
26. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-02-108: Motion to approve the conceptual design by Paul Kos for the lobby of 525 Golden Gate.
27. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-02-109: Motion to approve Ned Kahn's new project proposal for 525 Golden Gate.
28. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-02-110 Motion to approve a total of $41,000 to be contributed towards Sunol mural restoration cost ($11,000 from Castlewood Pump Station and $30,000 from Sunol Temple Restoration Cost).
29. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-02-111: Motion to approve the design change for a seat wall terminus to the north pathway in "Split Mound" by Jud Fine and Barbara McCarren.
30. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-02-112: Motion to approve the purchase of "Tiger 2" at $85,000 and "Cougar III" at $65,000 by Gwyn Murrill for the zoo.
Committee Reports
1. Civic Design Committee--Stanlee Gatti, Chair
  1. Report from Chair of Civic Design Committee regarding activities of the Committee and the Program.
    
    Commissioner Freebairn-Smith announced that he had received calls from community members who were concerned about a DPW plan for temporary substitute lighting in Union Square. The Commissioner said that, in the past, many temporary installations had become long-term or permanent. He asked if there was anything the Arts Commission could do to ensure that the proposed substitute lighting in Union Square would indeed be temporary.
    
    Ms. Gonchar said that staff was looking into the issue.
2. Visual Arts Committee -- Ralph Guggenheim, Chair
  1. Report from Chair of Visual Arts Committee regarding activities of the Committee and the Program.
  2. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-02-113: Motion to approve $500 honoraria each plus travel expenses to Julie Deamer and Paul Kos for Construct 2 juror services.
  3. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-02-114: Motion to approve reimbursement payments not to exceed a total of $4,000 overall to Construct 2 artists for exhibition materials expenses.
  4. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-02-115: Motion to approve the Grove Street Windows installation by Marina Vendrell for September 1- October 13, 2002.
  5. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-02-116: Motion to approve modifying the agreement with Cliff Garten to include the design of an artwork for the new "link" building glass curtain wall at Laguna Honda Hospital with a working budget of $100,000.
3. Executive Committee -- Stanlee Gatti, Chair
  1. Report from Chair of Executive Committee regarding activities of the Committee and the Program.
  2. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-02-117: Motion to approve a CEG panelist, Jill Togawa, artistic director of Purple Moon Dance Project.
4. Street Artists Committee --Dugald Stermer, Chair
  1. Report from Chair of Street Artists Committee regarding activities of the Committee and the Program.
  2. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-02-118: Motion to request by former certificate-holder for priority issuance of certificate with waiver of re-screening of wares: Bascia Lassus, John Embrey, Jose da Silva, Mohamed Ahmed.
5. Community Arts & Education --Denise Roth, Chair
  1. Report from Chair of Community Arts & Education Committee regarding activities of the Committee and the Program.
    
    Commissioner Roth announced that the program for holding some Committee meetings at the cultural centers had been temporarily suspended and that meetings for the rest of the year would be held at 25 Van Ness. The plan is to resume scheduling some of the meetings at the cultural centers next year. An advance schedule will be drawn up to build attendance.
  2. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-02-119: Motion to approve the following organizations as recipients of the Arts Education Organizational Grant 2002 for the noted amounts:
    
    California Poets in the Schools $5,000
    Leap…Imagination in Learning $5,000
    San Francisco Arts Education Project $5,000
    Loco Bloco $5,000
    Performing Arts Workshop $5,000
    Young Audiences of the Bay Area $5,000
    Abada Capoeira $5,000
    Streetside Stories $5,000
    Architectural Foundation of San Francisco $3,500
    Randall Museum $3,500
    The New Conservatory Theater $3,000
  3. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-02-120: Motion to approve a $10,000 grant to the San Francisco Foundation Community Initiatives Funds, the fiscal sponsor for the Arts Education Funders Collaborative, for arts education activities serving SFUSD public schools. Funds will come from CAC arts education support.
  4. RESOLUTION NO. 0401-02-121: Motion to amend Resolution # 0107-02-024 that reads:"Motion to enter into contract with Side By Side Studios to provide design and art direction for the 2002 WritersCorps anthology in an amount not to exceed $6500 from the Youth Arts Fund" as follows:
    "Motion to enter into contract with Mark Ong to provide design and art direction for the 2002 WritersCorps anthology in an amount not to exceed $6000 from the Youth Arts Fund"
Reports and Announcements

Commissioner Freebairn-Smith commented on the design concept for the Emperor Norton Memorial (Consent Calendar item 19, which was removed from the Calendar and referred back to the Visual Arts Committee). He said that the project was a totem representing Emperor Norton and his two dogs. It would be created from a model designed by the late neighborhood artist Peter Macchiarini and installed at the top of the Kearny Street steps at Vallejo Street. The Commissioner said that years of community effort had gone into improving the surface of that block, and that the Emperor Norton project had generated renewed community interest in the site. When the project had been presented to neighborhood people the previous year at different meetings, audience reaction had seemed split between enthusiasm for the concept and objections to the size, height and placement of the work. There had been concerns about the siting and its impact on a children's play space that had resulted from years of community effort.

In public comment, Marvin Kasoff said that he had feared that approval of the Emperor Norton project would be given by the Commission without hearing input from local neighbors. He suggested that the Commission had been led to believe that the project was unopposed, and said that there was in fact considerable opposition. The opposition was not to a Peter Macchiarini memorial or to the concept of Emperor Norton, but rather to the size of the project and its impacts on a visual and safe open space that had been created for children's play purposes. Community members had been given the impression that modifications they had suggested would be taken into account in the final proposal for the project. However, the final design did not include those possibilities or mitigate the project's impact on the site. Mr. Kasoff also commented on current community interest in the possibility of a larger-scale urban design project that would include the Greenwich, Vallejo, and Filbert steps as well as the Kearny Street steps. There was also interest in incorporating the Emperor Norton piece into that larger project. Meetings were pending, and approximately 75 people were expected to attend. Mr. Kasoff said that he hoped to have something more definitive to present after the next neighborhood meeting.

Commissioner Freebairn-Smith suggested that the Civic Design Committee should look into the Emperor Norton project because of its site sensitivity.

Commissioner Roth said that since the item had come from the Visual Arts Committee, she was obliged to refer it back to that Committee. It was subsequently agreed that a joint meeting of the Civic Design and Visual Arts Committees would be scheduled.

Commissioner Freebairn-Smith added that the neighborhood's district Supervisor, Aaron Peskin, was aware of the issue and interested in seeing the development of a project that would work for the whole neighborhood. He also said that DPW had plans for rebuilding five blocks of Kearny Street, including the block at Vallejo street, and that consequently funds for that site would be available.
Public Comment
Adjournment

There being no further business, the Meeting adjourned at 4:35 p.m.

Approved by Richard Newirth, Director of Cultural affairs

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