City and County of San FranciscoSan Francisco Arts Commission

Visual Arts Committee - August 20, 2014 - Meeting Minutes

Visual Arts Committee - August 20, 2014

SAN FRANCISCO ARTS COMMISSION
VISUAL ARTS COMMITTEE
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
3 p.m.
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 70
San Francisco, CA 94102
________________________________________

Minutes
 

1.            Roll Call

Commissioners Present:
President Beltran
Commissioner Chew
Commissioner Sklar
Commissioner Silverman

Commissioners Absent:
Commissioner Keehn, Chair

The meeting commenced at 3:00 p.m. In Commissioner Keehn’s absence, Commissioner Sklar chaired the meeting. Commissioner Silverman arrived at 3:02 p.m.

2.            Consent Calendar
Action

1. Motion to approve a StreetSmARTS mural design, Flowers in Bloom, by Shawn Bullen painted on a mural site located at 1818 Palou Street. The San Francisco Arts Commission will fund the mural’s implementation.

2. Motion to approve a StreetSmARTS mural design, Swirls, by IDC Art House Collaborative painted on a mural site located at 1601 Fillmore Street. The San Francisco Arts Commission will fund the mural’s implementation.

3. Motion to approve a StreetSmARTS mural design, Serenity, by Francisco “Twick” Aquino painted on a mural site located at 544 Geary Street. The San Francisco Arts Commission will fund the mural’s implementation.

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

Motion: Motion to approve consent calendar items.
Moved: Beltran/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved.

THE FOLLOWING ITEM MOVED FROM ITEM FIVE TO ITEM THREE

3.            Broadway Chinatown Streetscape Improvement Project
Marcus Davies
Action

Project Manager Marcus Davies reported that the Broadway Chinatown Streetscape Public Art Selection Panel met and selected artist Michael Arcega and his conceptual proposal Auspicious Clouds to recommend for the Broadway Chinatown Streetscape Public Art Project. Mr. Davies stated that the panel consisted of Commissioner Chew, Martha Ketterer, Project Landscape Architect, Department of Public Works, Justin Hoover, Curator of Exhibitions, Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, Jenifer Wofford, artist, and Roy Chan, Senior Planner, Chinatown Community Development Center. He described the proposal as artist-designed seating that will be sited in unique arrangements at various locations along the Broadway Corridor in Chinatown, from the eastern end of the Robert C. Levy Tunnel to Columbus Avenue. The forms of the seats take inspiration from cloud motifs found in various traditional Chinese art forms. Mr. Davies noted that the artist will work with the design team to make sure the seating will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), and will be ergonomically designed. He also pointed out that the artist will likely scale down his design to best fit the streetscape and will further refine his color palette.

Commissioner Chew commented that all three finalists for this project were strong and the panel was unanimous in their decision to recommend Michael Arcega.

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

Motion: Motion to approve the selected artist Michael Arcega and his artwork proposal for the Broadway Chinatown Streetscape Improvement Project as recommended by the Broadway Chinatown Streetscape Public Art Selection Panel.
Moved: Silverman/Beltran
The motion was unanimously approved.

Motion:  Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a contract with Michael Arcega, as recommended by the Broadway Chinatown Streetscape Public Art Selection Panel, for the design and implementation of an artwork in an amount not to exceed $123,000.
Moved: Beltran/Silverman
The motion was unanimously approved.

4.            Guy Place Mini Park
Jennifer Lovvorn
Action

Senior Project Manager Jennifer Lovvorn reported that the Guy Place Mini Park Public Art Selection Panel met and selected artist Adriane Colburn and her conceptual proposal Geologic Ghost to recommend for the Guy Place Mini Park Public Art Project. Ms. Lovvorn explained that the artist’s proposal takes the form of a fence design that will be fabricated in waterjet cut steel. The forms take inspiration from mapping and the geology of the Rincon Hill neighborhood where the park is sited. Ms. Lovvorn noted that the artist will work with the project team to ensure that her design will be compliant with ADA and the Unified Building Code.

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

Motion: Motion to approve the selected artist Adriane Colburn and her proposal for Guy Place Mini Park as recommended by the Guy Place Mini Park Public Art Project Selection Panel.
Moved: Beltran/Silverman
The motion was unanimously approved.

Motion: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with Adriane Colburn for an amount not to exceed $16,000 for design of artwork imagery for integration into the fence panels at Guy Place Mini Park.
Moved: Beltran/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved.

5.            Public Plaza at Clementina and 4th Streets
Jennifer Lovvorn
Action

Ms. Lovvorn presented the Design Deliverable phase requirements for Roxy Paine’s artwork Node, for the public plaza at Clementina and 4th streets. Ms. Lovvorn stated that the artist made minor modifications to the lower 80” of the artwork so that it complies with ADA design standards.  The revised design was reviewed and approved as compliant by the City’s ADA coordinator. Ms. Lovvorn presented the artist’s proposed location and orientation of the sculpture within the plaza. She noted that the project team was pleased with the proposed location and how the artwork will function as a wayfinding element for the nearby station.

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

Motion: Motion to approve the design development phase renderings of the sculpture, Node, by Roxy Paine for the public plaza at Clementina and Fourth streets.
Moved: Beltran/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved.

6.            SOMA West: McCoppin Hub
Mary Chou
Action

Project Manager Mary Chou presented the artist team MoreLab’s artwork Handsignals, as installed at SOMA West McCoppin Hub at the intersection of McCoppin and Valencia streets. Ms. Chou described the artwork as comprised of a series of pedestrian signs. On the side facing the Mission District, the signs flash imagery representative of Mission District culture.  On the side facing Market Street, the signs spell out the word “McCoppin,” marking the location of the hub. The installation was completed in July 2014.

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

Motion: Motion to approve MoreLab’s artwork Handsignals, as installed at SOMA West McCoppin Hub at the intersection of McCoppin and Valencia streets.
Moved: Beltran/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved.

THE FOLLOWING ITEM WAS TABLED

7.            General Hospital Acute Care Building: Emergency Department
Zoë Taleporos
Action

Presentation of the final design mock-up showing background elements for a mosaic artwork by Jetro Martinez for the General Hospital Acute Care Building: Emergency Department.

Motion: Motion to approve the mock-up showing the background elements for a mosaic artwork by Jetro Martinez for the General Hospital Acute Care Building: Emergency Department.

8.            Unity Plaza Historic Photography Project
Justine Topfer
Action

Project Manager Justine Topfer presented artwork renderings by the artist team Wowhaus for a public art project at Unity Plaza. Ms. Topfer explained that Wowhaus is developing a montage of historic photographs from the community that will be printed on porcelain enamel tiles and installed at the staircase at Unity Plaza. She noted that the artist team is currently working with community members and other stakeholders to select the photographs. Ms. Topfer added that the stair risers will contain sections of images that when seen from afar will comprise a whole through a lenticular effect.  She noted that the artwork will be accompanied by a didactic panel that will contain information about the artwork and selected photographs.

Program Director Susan Pontious suggested that Ms. Topfer explore ceramic tile instead of porcelain enamel for this artwork as it is proven to be a more durable material outdoors. Ms. Topfer said that the finalized material would be presented during the Design Development Phase.

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

Motion: Motion to approve the Conceptual Design Phase deliverables (artwork renderings) by Wowhaus for the Unity Plaza Historic Photography Project.
Moved: Beltran/Silverman
The motion was unanimously approved.

9.            San Francisco International Airport: Terminal 3
Justine Topfer
Action

Ms. Topfer presented an overview of the selected artist, Louisiana Bendolph for the San Francisco International Airport, Terminal 3 public art opportunity. She stated that in March 2014, the Arts Commission issued a Memorandum of Understanding with the artist’s representing organization, Paulson Bott Press, for the conceptual design of the artwork. Ms. Topfer clarified that moving into the Design Development phase, the artist will receive a license to reproduce her imagery while Paulson Bott Press will manage the project contract. The contract will cover the cost of fabricating the artwork in ceramic tile.

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

THE FOLLLOWING MOTION WAS REVISED

Motion: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with Paulson Bott Press for an amount not to exceed $74,000 for fabrication of the approved design by Louisiana Bendolph for an artwork at San Francisco International Airport, Terminal 3.
Moved: Beltran/Silverman
The motion was unanimously approved.

Motion: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a licensing agreement with Louisiana Bendolph for an amount not to exceed $4,000 for an artwork at San Francisco International Airport, Terminal 3.
Moved: Beltran/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved.

10.          Glen Canyon Park
Justine Topfer
Action

Ms. Topfer reported that on August 4, 2014 the finalists for the Glen Canyon Park Public Art Project presented their artwork proposals to the Artist Selection Panel. After careful review and extensive deliberation, the panel voted to not recommend any of the artwork proposals for implementation. Ms. Topfer explained that each of the three finalists had been given feedback about the feasibility and maintainability of their proposals by Arts Commission staff. Despite all artists being of high caliber, all three proposals were problematic in various ways. Ms. Topfer presented a revised Project Outline for the Glen Canyon Park Public Art Project that calls for a sculpture to be placed in the landscaped area by the Glen Park Recreation Center. She noted that a shortlist of artists will be selected from the 2013/14 Prequalified Artist Pool and by invitation. That shortlist will be evaluated by the same panel composition who will select three to five finalists to make new proposals for the site. She noted that the restrictions on scale and location will be structured and communicated to the artists as they develop their proposals.

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

Motion: Motion to approve the panel’s recommendation to not select any of the finalists’ proposals for the Glen Canyon Park Recreation Center Public Art Project as per Section 4.9, Recourse, of the Policies and Guidelines for the Civic Art Collection of the City and County of San Francisco.
Moved: Beltran/Silverman
The motion was unanimously approved.

Motion: Motion to approve the revised project outline for the Glen Canyon Park Public Art Project.
Moved: Beltran/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved.

11.          Temporary Art at Civic Center
Susan Pontious
Discussion

Ms. Pontious presented the draft guidelines for approving temporary public projects organized and funded outside of the Arts Commission. At the September 17, 2014 Committee meeting, Commissioner Silverman raised the issue that there were no guidelines for evaluating the proposals for artwork to be placed at Civic Center. In response, Ms. Pontious developed initial guidelines taking criteria for permanent artworks being commissioned for the Civic Art Collection , adjusting them for this particular context. She noted that since Civic Center reflects the values and quality of the City as a whole, artwork placed there should be a reflection of those values. Ms. Pontious stated that the draft will be voted on at the next Committee meeting. 

President Beltran commented that once approved, the guidelines should be sent to various City departments that may want to place art at Civic Center so they are aware of how the proposals will be evaluated.

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

12.          Public Comment
Discussion

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

13.          New Business, Old Business, and Announcements
Discussion

President Beltran announced that two artists who had received public art commissions through the Arts Commission had recently complimented the work of the public art staff.

14.          Adjournment
Action

The meeting adjourned at 3:45 p.m.

ZT 9/3/14

Translated written materials and interpretation services are available to you at no cost.
For assistance, please notify Zoë Taleporos, zoe.taleporos@sfgov.org, 415-252-3215.

我們將為閣下提供免費的書面翻譯資料和口譯服務。
如需協助,Zoë Taleporos, zoe.taleporos@sfgov.org, 415-252-3215.
 

Materiales traducidos y servicios de interpretación están disponibles para usted de manera gratuita.
Para asistencia, notifique a Zoë Taleporos, zoe.taleporos@sfgov.org, 415-252-3215