I.
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Calling of the Meeting to Order - Diane B. Wilsey, President
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A meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco was held on Thursday, October 18, 2001, in the Board Room of the California Palace of the Legion of Honor, Lincoln Park, San Francisco. A quorum was present that being one-third of the number of Trustees in office. The meeting was called to order at 2:45 p.m. by Diane B. Wilsey, President, who stated that the meeting was scheduled to begin with a Sunshine Ordinance training session at 2:30 p.m. with the regular business commencing at 3:00 p.m. Because of this change in meeting time, the meeting was noticed as a special meeting of the Board of Trustees.
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II.
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Calling of the Roll
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The following Trustees were present:
Del M. Anderson
Cheryl H. Bancroft
Alvin H. Baum, Jr.
Alix Phillips Becker
Jamie Bowles
Barbara B. Carleton
Iris S. Chan
Barnaby Conrad III
Dagmar Dolby
Richard P. Essey
Morgan Flagg
Dr. Rupert Garcia
Jacqueline Hoefer
Diane B. Lloyd-Butler, Vice President/Marketing and Communications
Nion McEvoy
J. Alec Merriam, Vice President
Marianne H. Peterson
Vivian Fei Tsen
Lonna Wais
Nancy Willis
Diane B. Wilsey, President
David Winton
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On motion, duly seconded and carried unanimously, the following Trustees were excused:
T. Robert Burke
Marion Moore Cope
Belva Davis, Vice President/Civic Affairs and Audience Development
Richard H. Finn
Harrison S. Fraker, Jr.
Mara Fritz
Richard N. Goldman
Constance Goodyear
Nancy Hamon
George Hecksher
Beverly James
J. Burgess Jamieson
Ann L. Johnson, M.D.
Stephen L. Johnson
Terrence Johnson
William R. Kimball
Nancy McBean
Lorna F. Meyer
Josie Mooney
Robert P. Morrow III, Vice President/Finance
Michael E. O’Neill
Joy Ou
Shelagh Rohlen, Vice President/Annual Support
George B. Saxe
Randolph R. Scott
Carlos Villa
Margaret Wetzel
The following ex-officio Trustees were unable to be present:
Mayor Willie L. Brown, Jr.
Gordon Chin, President, Recreation and Park Commission
Other Trustees in attendance were:
Keith Eickman
Richard W. Goss II
David R. Hoyer
Stephanie MacColl
Gail Merriam
Katharine Doyle Spann
William A. Stimson
Florence Sue Wong
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III.
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Training Session on Chapter 67 of the San Francisco Administrative Code, the Sunshine Ordinance - Dorji Roberts, Deputy City Attorney
President Wilsey noted that Proposition G, which was passed by San Francisco voters in November 1999, amended the Sunshine Ordinance, Chapter 67 of the
San Francisco Administrative Code, and changed laws relating to public records, public meetings, contracts and private entities doing business with the City and County of
San Francisco. The amended language also required all officials, who file statements of economic interest with the San Francisco Ethics Commission, to be trained annually on the Sunshine Ordinance and to file a declaration that they have done so.
Deputy City Attorney Dorji Roberts was introduced. Mr. Roberts stated that as a City department, the Fine Arts Museums is subject to the local ordinance, as well as to the Brown Act, which sets forth State of California public meeting laws. He proceeded to review the "Sunshine Ordinance Training Manual for San Francisco Public Officials," April 2001, which was distributed to Trustees. The following points were emphasized:
1. The purpose and applicability of open meeting laws.
2. A meeting occurs whenever a majority of the members of a policy body come together at the same time and place.
3. A notice and agenda are required 72 hours before meetings.
4. The agenda must include a meaningful description of each item of business, designate proposed actions or items for discussion only, and describe appended documents.
5. Closed sessions are permissible to address certain personnel matters, pending or threatened litigation, and real estate negotiations.
6. Each member of the public must be allowed to speak before or during the discussion of any item on the agenda and on any item within the jurisdiction of the body, even if not on the agenda.
7. All meetings including closed sessions are to be tape recorded; recordings
8. Boards and commissions established by the San Francisco Charter must
9. Passive meetings include social, recreational or ceremonial occasions to which a majority of the body has been invited, meetings of advisory committees created to advise a member of a policy body, or certain committees created by the initiative of a member of a policy body, the Mayor, or a department head.
10. Each City department must disclose on its website the amount and source of gifts to the department and state if the contributor has any financial interest in the City.
11. The role of the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force and penalties for violating public meeting laws.
Mr. Roberts concluded his remarks by encouraging the Trustees to contact the Office of the City Attorney at 554-4700 with any questions regarding the Sunshine Ordinance. Trustees were reminded to complete the Sunshine Ordinance declaration statement distributed at the meeting, and return it to Judy Gough, Executive Secretary, for filing with the Ethics Commission. Deputy City Attorney Roberts was thanked for his presentation.
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Report of the President - Diane B. Wilsey
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A. Consideration and Possible Action to Approve the Minutes of the September 20, 2001 Meeting of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees
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There being no discussion among the Trustees or members of the public, the minutes of the September 20, 2001 meeting of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees, having been mailed in advance to all Trustees, were unanimously approved.
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B. Consideration and Possible Action to Adopt a Resolution Honoring Nan
Tucker McEvoy for Her Generosity and Leadership in Support of the
New de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park and Naming the McEvoy Wing of 19th Century American Art in the New de Young Museum
President Wilsey noted that a luncheon honoring Trustee Nan Tucker McEvoy for her generosity and leadership in support of the New de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park preceded today’s Board meeting. In recognition of Mrs. McEvoy’s extraordinary contributions, it is proposed that the McEvoy Wing of 19th Century American Art in the New de Young Museum be named in her honor. President Wilsey introduced the following resolution honoring Mrs. McEvoy:
WHEREAS, Nan Tucker McEvoy has a distinguished history of support for social and cultural organizations on a local and national level; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. McEvoy, the granddaughter of M. H. de Young and a native of the San Francisco Bay Area, began her career as a journalist and later became Chairman of the Board of the San Francisco Chronicle Publishing Company; and
WHEREAS, Her many achievements include being one of the first members of the Peace Corps in 1961, eventually co-managing its office in Africa with responsibility for all volunteer programs and ending as special Assistant to the Director, R. Sargent Shriver; appointment to the United States Delegation to UNESCO in 1964 by President Lyndon Johnson; a year later, opening the Washington, D.C., office of John Rockefeller III’s foundation, The Population Council, followed by co-founding and serving as Deputy Director of Preterm, Inc., the first free-standing nonprofit tax exempt abortion service in
Washington, D.C.; and being named "Woman of the Year" by the Washingtonian magazine in 1973; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. McEvoy’s dedication to the arts is demonstrated by her appointments to the American Art Forum in Washington, D.C., the Smithsonian Institution and the Smithsonian American Art Museum, serving as Chairman of the Board of Trustees
from 1982 to 1985; the San Francisco Symphony Board of Governors; and the Board of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums in San Francisco; and
WHEREAS, At the Fine Arts Museums, she joined in funding the acquisition
of Petunias by Georgia O’Keeffe in 1990, a gift from the M. H. de Young Family;
Working Proof 3 for #18 from the book, 41 Etchings Drypoints by Richard Diebenkorn, part of the Crown Point Press archive in 1991, and If All the World Were Paper and All the Water Sink by Jess in 1994, and generously donated the painting, Yellow Lampshade, by Elmer Bischoff in 1992 in memory of her mother, Phyllis de Young Tucker, and;
River and Farms, 1996, oil on canvas, and Cow Ridge, 1968, pastel on illustration board, to the exhibition organized by the Fine Arts Museums, Wayne Thiebaud: A Paintings Retrospective, which she also sponsored in part and which recently returned to
San Francisco following successful venues at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, the Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C., and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City; and
WHEREAS, She remains deeply committed to continuing the legacy of her grandfather, M. H. de Young, who founded the M. H. de Young Memorial Museum in 1895, through her already received, major gift and the pledge of her son, Trustee Nion T. McEvoy, which constitute a combined $10 million gift in support of the New de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park; and
WHEREAS, The Fine Arts Museums has depended upon her leadership and guidance as Honorary Chair of the New de Young Museum Capital Campaign and as a member of the Architect Selection Committee, the New de Young Building Committee, and the Acquisitions Committee; now, therefore, be it,
RESOLVED, That in recognition of her extraordinary generosity and leadership in support of the New de Young Museum, the Board of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums of
San Francisco in accordance with the Museums’ donor recognition policy does hereby name the McEvoy Wing of 19th Century American Art of the New de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park in honor of Nan Tucker McEvoy; and, be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Board of Trustees expresses its lasting gratitude to Nan Tucker McEvoy for her significant efforts in building the New de Young Museum, which will enhance the quality of life in San Francisco and the cultural opportunities presented to the citizens of San Francisco and the Bay Area for generations to come.
A motion was made and seconded. There was no discussion among Trustees. There was no public testimony. The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to adopt the above resolution as Board Resolution 1387. Trustee Nan Tucker McEvoy was recognized with a heartfelt round of applause.
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C. Consideration and Possible Action to Adopt a Resolution to Approve the Report of the Acquisitions Committee of The Fine Arts Museums Foundation of October 1, 2001; Including Accepting the Works of Art Acquired through Purchase, Donation, and Bequest as Gifts from
The Fine Arts Museums Foundation; Approving the Resolution Waiving Second Step Deaccessioning for Works of Art Inadvertently Omitted from Deaccessioning Material Presented at the June 1, 2001 Acquisitions Committee Meeting; Approving the Resolution to Sell Works of Art on Loan to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco in Accordance with the California Abandoned Property Statute; and Approving the Works of Art Recommended for First Step Deaccessioning - J. Alec Merriam, Chair and Vice President
Prior to presenting the October 1, 2001 report of the Acquisitions Committee, Chair
Merriam expressed appreciation to certain Trustees for funding the following acquisitions:
a) Lady Elizabeth Bingham, 1810, a marble sculpture by Joseph Nollekens; b) Evening
Dress, 1922, by Madeleine Vionnet; and c) a major painting by Edward Ruscha,
A Particular Kind of Heaven, 1983, on display in Gallery 10 at the Legion of Honor. The
works by Nollekens and Vionnet were recommended for purchase by the Acquisitions
Committee at its meeting on June 1, 2001. The Acquisitions Committee voted by mail
ballot in late June 2001 to recommend the purchase of the Ruscha painting. The Board of
Trustees acknowledged the generosity of the three Trustees with a heartfelt round of
applause.
1. Purchases - Acceptance of Gifts of Works of Art from The Fine Arts
Chair Merriam reported that the Acquisitions Committee at its meeting on October 1, 2001 recommended the purchase of a pair of English tapestries, Flora and Pomona, by Sir Edward Burne-Jones, William Morris, and John Henry Dearle. The Acquisitions Committee authorized the Director of Museums to make a specific offer to the dealer. The successful negotiations resulted in the acquisition of Flora and Pomona listed as Item 1 on page 1 of Appendix I of these minutes.
Thirteen prints and drawings, listed as Items 2 through 14 on pages 1 and 2 of Appendix II of these minutes were also recommended by the Acquisitions Committee for purchase.
A motion was made and seconded to approve and accept these purchases listed as Items 1 through 14 on pages 1 and 2 of Appendix I of these minutes as gifts to the Museums offered by The Fine Arts Museums Foundation. There was no discussion among
Trustees. There was no public testimony. The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve and accept these purchases.
2. Gifts Offered to the Museums
Chair Merriam particularly noted the following gifts: a) Africa, Oceania and the Americas: Male Figure, 19/20th century, from Central Nias, Indonesia; b) American Art:
Rainbow by Milton Avery; To the Island by Jennifer Bartlett; Wendy, Chin on Hand by George Segal; and Untitled by Jay DeFeo; c) Prints and Drawings: Field #2 by Michal Rovner; and numerous works by Wilfred Satty; and d) Textiles: an additional partial interest in Great Wing by Mark Adams. A motion was made and seconded to approve and accept the gifts offered to the Museums. There was no discussion among Trustees. There was no public testimony. The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve and accept with sincere thanks to all donors the gifts listed in Appendix I, pages 3 through 8.
3. Bequests Offered to the Museums
A motion was made and seconded to approve and accept, or to decline, the works of art bequeathed to the Museums listed on page 9 of Appendix I of these minutes. There was no discussion among Trustees. There was no public testimony. The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve and accept the works of art bequeathed to the Museums.
Inadvertently Omitted from Deaccessioning Material Presented at the
June 1, 2001Acquisitions Committee Meeting
Chair Merriam advised that works of art proposed for first step deaccessioning were inadvertently omitted from the deaccessioning material distributed at the June 1, 2001 Acquisitions Committee meeting and subsequent meeting of the Board of Trustees on June 14, 2001. A motion was made and seconded to approve the resolution waiving second step deaccessioning for works of art inadvertently omitted from the deaccessioning material presented at the June 14, 2001 Board of Trustees Meeting. There was no discussion among Trustees. There was no public testimony. The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve the deaccessioning of the list of works of art referenced in the resolution on page 10 of Appendix I of these minutes with the understanding that second step deaccessioning is waived in accordance with previous resolutions adopted by the Boards of Trustees of
The Fine Arts Museums Foundation and the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.
5. Resolution to Sell Works of Art on Loan to the Fine Arts Museums of
Upon the recommendation of the Acquisitions Committee, a motion was made and seconded to approve the resolution for the sale of works of art on loan to the Fine Arts Museums in accordance with the California Abandoned Property Statute. There was no
discussion among Trustees. There was no public testimony. The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve the resolution on page 11 of Appendix I of these minutes.
A motion to approve first step deaccessioning was made and seconded for the works of art listed on page 12 of Appendix I of these minutes as follows: a) American Paintings and Decorative Art, 1 page; and b) European Decorative Art, 1 page. As required by the Museums’ policy, these works of art will be considered for second step deaccessioning in six months.
7. Purchases Reported for the Record Only
These objects are listed on pages 13 through 14 of Appendix I of these minutes.
Chair Merriam presented the following resolution:
RESOLVED, That the Board of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums of
San Francisco does hereby approve the appended October 1, 2001 Report of the Acquisitions Committee of The Fine Arts Museums Foundation including the works of art acquired through purchase, donation, and bequest as gifts from The Fine Arts Museums Foundation; the resolution waiving second step deaccessioning for works of art inadvertently omitted from deaccessioning material presented at the June 1, 2001 Acquisitions Committee meeting; the resolution to sell works of art on loan to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco in accordance with the California Abandoned Property Statute; and the works of art recommended for first step deaccessioning.
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C. Report on Recent Developments Regarding the Plans to Build a New de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park
1. Report on the Findings of the Board of Supervisors Resulting from the August 20, 2001 Public Hearing (Appeal Before the Board of Supervisors of the City and County of San Francisco Regarding the Decision of the Planning Commission by Its Motion No. 16039 Dated December 7, 2000, Certifying the Final Environmental Impact Report, Case File No. 199.455E for the Proposed de Young Museum Project):
President Wilsey reported on the August 20, 2001 public hearing / appeal before the Board of Supervisors regarding the December 7, 2000 decision of the City Planning Commission certifying the final environmental impact report (FEIR) for the proposed
de Young Museum Project. Speakers testified for and against the Planning Commission decision to certify the FEIR for the de Young Museum Project. President Wilsey particularly acknowledged Supervisor Gavin Newsom for his support of the New de Young Museum Project throughout the course of the hearing. President Wilsey advised that the Board of Supervisors found the FEIR to be accurate, adequate and complete except for the sections relating to the height of the Tower and to some aspects of the analysis of the impact on historic resources. She read the findings of the Board of Supervisors resulting from the August 20, 2001 public hearing as follows:
"The Board of Supervisors finds that the Final Environmental Impact Report for the proposed New M. H. de Young Museum Project is not adequate, accurate and objective in all portions, that its conclusions are not correct in all portions, and that the findings contained in the Planning Commission’s certification are not correct in all portions. The Board of Supervisors directs the Planning Commission and Planning Department, in specific, and consistent with the findings of the Board of Supervisors, to revise the FEIR to include corrections and related environmental analysis, as may be appropriate under CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act), on the following issues: (1) errors and discrepancies in the shadow impacts analysis relative to the height of the Tower; (2) errors and discrepancies in the visual impacts analysis relative to the height of the Tower; (3) updating and correcting the Project description relative to the height of the Tower and to other information now available regarding the proposed Project design; and (4) broadening and correcting the description and related impacts analysis of the Project environmental setting relative to existing and potentially qualified historic resources, currently addressed in the FEIR pages C&R 80 - C&R 82."
Mr. Parker advised that at the August 20, 2001 appeal hearing, the Board of Supervisors remanded the FEIR for the New de Young Museum Project to the Planning Department to make corrections to the sections pertaining to the height of the Tower and some aspects of the analysis of the impacts on historical resources. The revisions to the pertinent sections of the FEIR have been completed with the revised Tower presented at a new height of 144 feet. Mr. Parker discussed diagrams illustrating the impact of the height reduction on the profile of the Tower. He noted that the heights of each of the Tower floors were lowered in order to achieve the reduction of 16 feet. The original square footage of the Tower remains unchanged.
At Mr. Parker’s request, Deborah Frieden, Director of the New de Young Project, described seismic considerations resulting in the revised Tower design. She recalled the value engineering effort undertaken by the New de Young Building Committee earlier this year in an attempt to bring the project back on budget. At that time, the structure of the Tower was identified for further review as a means of achieving additional cost savings. A simplification of the structure evolved into the new, seismically advantageous Tower design proposed at this time. This review process also disclosed a Tower calculation error in the certified FEIR, which was made by a consultant retained by the Project’s environmental consultant. Images of the new Tower design were distributed. Ms. Frieden pointed out that as the Tower rises, each floor has a slightly greater floor plate with the twist of the Tower more relaxed. The revisions to the Tower design were well received by the New de Young Building Committee at its meeting on September 10, 2001 and represent a significant cost savings. Pierre de Meuron and members of the architecture team from Herzog & de Meuron Architekten AG were also present at the September 10th New de Young Building Committee meeting. Mr. Parker expressed enthusiasm for the enhanced sculptural quality of the New de Young design, and encouraged Trustees to view the revised model in Legion Gallery 12.
It is anticipated that the revised FEIR sections will be reviewed by the San Francisco Planning Commission in December with a subsequent public hearing before the Board of Supervisors scheduled in mid-January 2002. The Board of Trustees will be kept apprised of developments.
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E. Consideration and Possible Action to Accept the Resignation of Michael
E. O’Neill from the Board of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums of
San Francisco
President Wilsey read a letter of resignation from Trustee Michael E. O’Neill, who has relocated to Honolulu, Hawaii to assume the position of Chairman and CEO of the Bank of Hawaii. A motion was made and seconded. There was no discussion among Trustees. There was no public comment. The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to accept with regret the resignation of Michael E. O’Neill from the Board of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.
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F. Report on the Cancellation of the November 8, 2001 Executive Committee Meeting
President Wilsey reported that the November 8, 2001 meeting of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees has been canceled.
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V.
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Director’s Report - Harry S. Parker III
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A. Consideration and Possible Action to Approve Loan Requests
Mr. Parker reported that he recently attended a conference of European and American museum directors in New York City. In view of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C., the conference attendees strongly supported sustaining present and future loan commitments among museums, which is an essential component to museum programming.
Mr. Parker presented the following loan requests:
1. From: Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles
For: Willem de Kooning: Tracing the Figure
Museum of Contemporary Art: February 10 - May 5, 2002
Willem de Kooning (American, 1904-1997)
Untitled (Two Figures), circa 1947
Oil, watercolor, charcoal, and graphite
57.2 x 55.9 cm
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Museum Purchase,
Gift of Mrs. Paul L. Wattis
Stipulations: The painting will be accompanied by a FAMSF courier to and from Los Angeles. All related expenses will be paid by the requesting organization.
*****
2. To: Tate, Millbank, London, England
A motion was made and seconded. There was no discussion among Trustees or members of the public. The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve the above loans subject to the conditions stated.
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B. Consideration and Possible Action to Adopt a Resolution Recommended by the Executive Committee at its September 20, 2001 Meeting to
Mr. Parker presented the following resolution recommended to the Board of Trustees by the Executive Committee at its September 20, 2001 meeting:
WHEREAS, In 1980, H. McCoy Jones presented a diverse and comprehensive collection of extraordinary tribal rugs to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, which constitutes the core collection of tribal rugs in the Museums’ holdings; and
WHEREAS, Since her husband’s death in March 1987, Caroline McCoy-Jones has further expanded the Jones Collection through many gifts of textile art, increasing the range and depth of the collection; and
WHEREAS, The Museums have benefited significantly from the active involvement and guidance of Caroline McCoy-Jones in the growth of the Jones Collection; and
WHEREAS, The will of H. McCoy Jones provided for future acquisitions, educational activities, exhibitions, curation, conservation, research and publication of textiles in the Jones Collection; and
WHEREAS, At its September 20, 2001 meeting, the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco adopted a resolution recommending that the Board of Trustees at its meeting on October 18, 2001 name the Department of Textiles the Caroline and H. McCoy Jones Department of Textile Arts in recognition of the extraordinary generosity of Caroline and H. McCoy Jones to the Textiles collection; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, Upon the recommendation of the Executive Committee, the Board of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco does hereby name the Department of Textiles the Caroline and H. McCoy Jones Department of Textile Arts in recognition of the
extraordinary generosity of Caroline and H. McCoy Jones to the Textiles collection; and, be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Board of Trustees does hereby extend its lasting gratitude to Caroline and H. McCoy Jones for their generosity in textiles collection development during their lifetimes and for the future growth and enhancement of the Jones Collection.
A motion was made and seconded. There was no discussion among Trustees. There was no public testimony. The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to adopt the above resolution as Board Resolution 1389. Caroline and H. McCoy Jones were acknowledged with a round of applause.
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C. Consideration and Possible Action to Adopt a Resolution Acknowledging Funding Expended by the Corporation of The Fine Arts Museums During the Period April 1 through June 30, 2001
Mr. Parker advised that the City’s Sunshine Ordinance requires the Fine Arts Museums to disclose the amount and source of all gifts received. He presented the following resolution, which acknowledges funding expended by the Corporation of The Fine Arts Museums for the period April 1 through June 30, 2001:
WHEREAS, The Corporation of The Fine Arts Museums is a 501(c)(3)
not-for-profit corporation that exists to support the activities of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and to serve as the developer of the New de Young Museum, and has a partial reimbursement contract with the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums of
San Francisco does hereby acknowledge with gratitude funding in the amount of $4,458,843 expended by the Corporation of The Fine Arts Museums for operations and $5,754,196 for the New de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park during the period April 1 through June 30, 2001.
A motion was made and seconded. There was no discussion among Trustees. There was no public testimony. The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to adopt the above resolution as Board Resolution 1390.
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D. Consideration and Possible Action to Adopt a Resolution Acknowledging Bequests Received by the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco for the Period
April 1 through June 30, 2001
In accordance with the City’s Sunshine Ordinance, bequests received by the Fine Arts Museums must also be disclosed. Mr. Parker introduced the following resolution, acknowledging bequests received by the Museums for the period April 1 through June 30, 2001:
RESOLVED, That the Board of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums of
San Francisco does hereby acknowledge with gratitude the following bequests received during the period April 1 through June 30, 2001:
The Elizabeth Rementer Estate - $10,000
The Katharine Hanrahan Living Trust - $5,600
A motion was made and seconded. There was no discussion among Trustees. There was no public testimony. The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to adopt the above resolution as Board Resolution 1391.
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E. Report on the Impact of the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks in
New York City and Washington, D.C., on the Fine Arts Museums of
San Francisco
Mr. Parker discussed the impact of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in
New York City and Washington, D.C., on the Fine Arts Museums. He reported that the Museums’ response was immediate. In keeping with the City’s decision to close all facilities on Tuesday, September 11th, the Legion of Honor was closed to the public and all Fine Arts Museums’ employees were sent home. On September 13th, Mr. Parker and Steve Dykes, Deputy Director of Administration and Finance, visited each of the Museums’ sites to meet with staff and assess security measures at each location.
At Mr. Parker’s request, Sherin Kyte, Legion Administrator, discussed security and check-in procedures instituted at the Legion of Honor. She noted that the Museums’ emergency plans were reviewed and found to be comprehensive. Following minor revisions, the amended Emergency Handbook and Security Operating Procedures Handbook, where were circulated at the meeting, were distributed to the Museums’ staff. A sign has been posted at the front entrance of the Legion of Honor advising visitors that their belongings will be searched and suggesting that belongings be left in their cars. Guards are searching visitors’ packages, backpacks, briefcases, etc., and the public lockers in the coatroom have been removed. On the weekends, an employee has been assigned to staff the coatroom, an assignment previously covered by volunteers. Procedures for screening incoming and outgoing packages are followed in keeping with long-standing practice. Latex gloves and information regarding mail handling have been distributed to the staff.
Calvin Malone was then introduced by Mr. Parker. Mr. Malone provided a summary report of his appended study, "Collection Protection Under War Emergency 1941," completed at the request of the Director of Museums. The study documents steps proposed or taken in response to the state of war between the Untied States and Germany, Italy and Japan to protect the collections of the California Palace of the Legion of Honor and the M. H. de Young Memorial Museum. Mr. Malone concluded his remarks and was thanked for his research efforts with a round of applause.
Mr. Parker commented that works of art in the permanent collection, not presently on view or on loan, are stored at either the Legion or the Interim de Young. The inventory of stored objects has been reviewed, and the location of some works of art has changed.
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F. Update on the City Budget
Mr. Parker expressed concern regarding the local impact of the September 11,
2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon
in Washington, D.C. The tourism industry in San Francisco, which had previously experienced a decline in activity due to the general economic slow down, may now face a further decline before a protracted period of recovery occurs. This situation will affect the Hotel Tax proceeds, which pays for the Museums’ City budget. A mid-year budget correction is anticipated; the extent of the reduction in City funding for the Museums is not yet known but is expected to be significant. The Board of Trustees will be kept informed of developments.
The following pertinent articles were distributed at the meeting: 1) "Museums Struggle to Recoup," from the October 8, 2001 edition of The New York Times;
2) "Museums Confront an Altered Landscape," from the October 11, 2001 edition of
The Wall Street Journal; and 3) "S.F. Faces $100 Million Shortfall," which appeared in the October 11, 2001 edition of the San Francisco Chronicle.
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G. Current and Future Exhibits
At Mr. Parker’s request, Ann Karlstrom, Director of Publications and Graphic Design, provided a report on publishing activity at the Fine Arts Museums in the past five years. The latest catalogue of more than 300 pages, Artists’ Books in the Modern Era 1870-2000: The Reva and David Logan Collection of Illustrated Books, was designed by Jack Stauffacher and is being distributed in Europe by Thames and Hudson, Ltd., London. The catalogue features the exhibition of the same name, which opened at the Legion on October 6 and runs through January 6, 2002.
Ms. Karlstrom emphasized that publishing costs can be significant and noted that the Museums have been fortunate to have received an endowment from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to fund scholarly publications. The most recent examples are:
1) Artists’ Books in the Modern Era 1870-2000: The Reva and David Logan Collection of Illustrated Books; 2) An American Focus: The Anderson Graphic Arts Collection; 3) The Art of Craft: Contemporary Works from the Saxe Collection; and 4) Between the Black Desert and the Red: Turkman Carpets from The Wiedersperg Collection.
It was pointed out that several of the Museums’ publications have received design awards from the American Association of Museums: The Art Lover’s Cookbook: A Feast for the Eye, honorable mention in 1999; The Art of Craft: Contemporary Works from the
Saxe Collection in 2000; and in 2001, An American Focus: The Anderson Graphic Arts Collection, which also received an award for excellence from the New York Book Show.
Normally, 3,500 to 5,000 copies of an exhibition catalogue are published. Occasionally, however, a catalogue will greatly exceed this average. To date, 25,000 copies of the catalogue, Wayne Thiebaud: A Paintings Retrospective, have been published. In closing, Ms. Karlstrom reported that publishing activity has netted a notable profit for the Museums particularly in the past three years.
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H. Other Informational Items
Mr. Parker reported that Vas Prabhu, Director of Education, has accepted the Deputy Director of Interpretation and Public Programs position at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts. She left the Fine Arts Museums at the end of September. Sheila Pressley has assumed the role of Acting Director of Education.
Lee Miller, Curator of European Decorative Art, retired as of June 30, 2001. She is presently working on a consulting basis to organize a European decorative arts catalogue for the Fine Arts Museums.
Mr. Parker introduced Renée Dreyfus, Curator for Ancient Art, who received her Ph.D. degree in ancient art and archeology from the University of California at Berkeley this summer. The Board of Trustees congratulated Curator Dreyfus with a round of applause.
The 2001-2001 Education Program Brochure and an exhibition brochure,
Ruth Asawa: Completing the Circle, Council of 100 Distinguished Women Artists for 2001, were distributed to Trustees.
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VI.
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Public Comment
Members of the public may address the Board of Trustees on items not on the agenda that are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Fine Arts Museums of
San Francisco. Speakers may address the Board for up to three minutes; the President or the Board of Trustees may limit the total comment to thirty minutes. There was no public comment.
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VII.
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Meeting Schedule, Future Events and Current and Future Exhibits
A. Executive Committee Meetings
Date Time Location
November 8, 2001 noon 6th Floor, 233 Post Street Canceled
December 13, 2001 noon 6th Floor, 233 Post Street
February 14, 2002 noon 6th Floor, 233 Post Street
March 14, 2002 noon 6th Floor, 233 Post Street
May 9, 2002 noon 6th Floor, 233 Post Street
September 12, 2002 noon 6th Floor, 233 Post Street
November 14, 2002 noon 6th Floor, 233 Post Street
December 12, 2002 noon 6th Floor, 233 Post Street
B. Board of Trustees Meetings
January 10, 20021 3 p.m. Board Room, Legion of Honor
April 11, 2002 3 p.m. Board Room, Legion of Honor
October 10, 2002 3 p.m. Board Room, Legion of Honor
C. Future Events
Date Event
December 12, 2001 An Elegant Evening in the Court of Honor
January 31, 2002 Opening of Dreaming with Open Eyes: The Vera, Silvia, and Arturo Schwarz Collection of Dada and Surrealist Art in the Israel Museum, Jerusalem
February 6, 2002 Opening of Selected Masterworks: The Marcia and John Friede Collection of New Guinea Art
March 11-15, 2002 Bouquets to Art
May 16-19, 2002 New de Young Museum Groundbreaking Events
June 6, 2002 Opening of Michael Sweerts 1624-1664
D. Current and Future Exhibitions (*Exhibitions organized by FAMSF)
Title Date Museum/Gallery
In Focus: Photographically Illustrated 09/15/01-01/06/02 Legion L
Books 1857-1930 from The Reva and
David Logan Collection of Illustrated
Books*
The Artist Book in the Modern Era, 1870- 10/06/01-01/06/02 Legion A-F &
2000 / The Reva and David Logan Rosekrans
Collection of Illustrated Books*
Title Date Museum/Gallery
Tapestry Rotation 10/27/01-04/00/02 Legion 2/3
Recent Acquisitions of Contemporary 10/27/01-02/24/02 Legion 1
California Works on Paper*
Richard Diebenkorn: Clubs and Spades* 01/19/02-04/28/02 Legion A
Logan Book Gallery 01/26/02-05/19/02 Legion L
Selected Masterworks: The Marcia 02/02/02-05/05/02 Legion 6
and John Friede Collection of
New Guinea Art*
Dreaming with Open Eyes: Dada and 02/02/02-04/28/02 Legion B-F
Surrealist Art from the Vera, Silvia,
and Arturo Schwarz Collection
in the Israel Museum, Jerusalem
Bouquets to Art 03/12/02-03/15/02 Legion All
Recent Acquisitions of Contemporary 03/09/02-06/23/02 Legion 1
Works on Paper*
Logan Book Gallery 05/25/02-09/15/02 Legion L
Michael Sweerts 1624-1664* 06/08/02-08/25/02 Legion 6
Eternal Egypt: Masterworks of Ancient 08/10/02-11/03/02 Legion A-F,
Art from The British Museum Rosekrans, 10
Joseph Goldyne* 10/12/02-01/26/03 Legion 1
Hard Edge: Abstract Prints from Albers 11/23/02-03/16/03 Legion A
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VIII.
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Adjournment - Diane B. Wilsey, President
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Judy Gough
Executive Secretary
Note: These minutes set forth all actions taken up by the Board of Trustees on matters stated, but not necessarily in the order in which the matters were considered.
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