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I.
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Calling of the Meeting to Order – Diane B. Wilsey, President
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A meeting of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco was held on Thursday, March 10, 2005, in the 6th Floor Conference Room of the Administrative Offices at 233 Post Street, San Francisco. A quorum being present, the meeting was called to order at 12:20 p.m. by Diane B. Wilsey, President.
President Wilsey presided; Mrs. Gough acted as Secretary.
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II.
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Calling of the Roll
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III.
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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 January 13, 2005 Meeting of the Board of Trustees
There being no discussion among the Trustees or members of the public, the minutes of the January 13, 2005 meeting 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 Approve the Report of the Acquisitions Committee of February 16, 2005 Including Approving a New de Young Museum Commission by Edward Ruscha, Accepting the Works of Art Acquired through Purchase, Donation, and Bequest as Gifts to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco from The Fine Arts Museums Foundation; Approving Two Artworks Purchased by the Fine Arts Museums Foundation for Loan to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco; and Approving a Resolution to Accession Two Works of Art and Sell Nine Works of Art on Loan to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco in Accordance with the California Abandoned Property Statute – George Hecksher, Chair, Acquisitions Committee of The Fine Arts Museums Foundation
1. New de Young Museum Commission by Edward Ruscha
Chair Hecksher advised of the proposal submitted by Edward Ruscha for a commissioned work of art for the New de Young Museum. Mr. Parker, who was instrumental to the submission of the Ruscha proposal, provided the following report. In October 2001, the Museums purchased A Particular Kind of Heaven, 1983, by Edward Ruscha. The proposed commission for the New de Young would add two new paintings, 90 x 136 ½ in. each, as pendants to A Particular Kind of Heaven, creating an important California landscape painting. The recently conserved Piazzoni murals, which also depict a western landscape, have been installed in the FAMily Room across Wilsey Court from the proposed location of the Ruscha commission. The commission will occupy the 67-foot entry wall to the 20th-century American Art galleries on the north side of Wilsey Court. It represents a Foundation purchase for loan to the Fine Arts Museums. On motion, duly seconded, the Executive Committee voted unanimously to approve Untitled (2 Pendants to A Particular Kind of Heaven, 1983), 2005, by Edward Ruscha, listed as Item 3 on page 1 of Appendix I of these minutes, purchased by The Fine Arts Museums Foundation for loan to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.
Chair Hecksher advised that the Ruscha commission and additional acquisitions recommended by the Acquisitions Committee at its meeting on February 16, 2005 will be on view and presented at the April 14, 2005 Board of Trustees meeting.
2. Purchases
The Acquisitions Committee recommended the purchase of the following Works of art: a) Ancestral Screen (Duein Fubara), 1890 - 1920, southeastern Nigeria, which represents a Foundation purchase for loan to the Fine Arts Museums; b) Koran Islamic writing tablet, West Africa, purchased with funds honoring two Trustees; c) Volute-krater by the Baltimore Painter, ca. 330-320, Greek; and d) Textile fragment, 15th – 16th century, Ming Dynasty, purchased through the generosity of a Trustee.
A motion was made and seconded to accept and approve these purchases. There was no discussion among Trustees. There was no public testimony. The Executive Committee voted unanimously to accept and approve the purchases listed as Item 1, a purchase of The Fine arts Museums Foundation for loan to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, and Items 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 on page 1 of Appendix I of these minutes as gifts of art from The Fine Arts Museums Foundation.
3. Gifts Offered to the Museums
Chair Hecksher particularly noted Untitled (Vertical Flanking Diptych – Blue), 1966-69, by Jo Baer, generously donated by a Trustee. A motion was made and seconded to accept and approve the gifts offered to the Museums. There was no discussion among Trustees. There was no public testimony. The Executive Committee voted unanimously to accept and approve the gifts offered to the Museums by The Fine Arts Museums Foundation listed on pages 2 through 4 of Appendix I of these minutes.
4. Bequest of Two Works of Art Offered to the Museums
On motion, duly seconded, the Executive Committee voted unanimously to accept and approve the Tiffany Table Lamp and Unknown (Portrait of a Woman), 20th century, by Eugene Speicher, generously bequeathed to the Museums by an Honorary Trustee, and listed on page 5 of Appendix I of these minutes.
5. Resolution to Accession Two Works of Art and Sell Nine Works of Art on Loan to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco in Accordance with the California Abandoned Property Statute
Upon the recommendation of the Acquisitions Committee, a motion was made and seconded to approve the resolution to accession two works of art on loan and sell nine 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 6 of Appendix I of these minutes.
6. Purchases Reported for the Record
These objects are listed on pages 7and 8 of Appendix I of these minutes.
Chair Hecksher introduced the following resolution:
RESOLVED, That the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco does hereby approve the appended February 16, 2005 report of the Acquisitions Committee of The Fine Arts Museums Foundation, including approving a New de Young Museum Commission by Edward Ruscha, accepting the works of art acquired through purchase, donation, and bequest as gifts to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco from The Fine Arts Museums Foundation; approving two artworks purchased by the Fine Arts Museums Foundation for loan to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco; and approving a resolution to accession two works of art and sell nine works of art on loan to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco in accordance with the California Abandoned Property Statute.
On motion, duly seconded, there was no discussion among the Trustees. There was no public testimony. The Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to adopt the above resolution as Board Resolution 1549.
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C. Consideration and Possible Action to Adopt a Resolution Honoring David and Sandra Hoyer for Their Generosity in Support of the New de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park and Naming the David and Sandra Hoyer Temporary Exhibition Storage in the New de Young Museum
President Wilsey acknowledged with gratitude the generosity of many donors in support of the New de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park. The building of the New de Young Museum will soon be substantially complete. In accordance with the Museums’ donor recognition policy, it is important at this time to recognize donors who have made significant gifts to the New de Young Museum and to name certain spaces in the Museum in their honor.
President Wilsey presented the following resolution:
WHEREAS, The building of the New de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park is the highest institutional priority of the Board of Trustees; and
WHEREAS, The Museums have called upon individuals, deeply committed to philanthropy and the public good, to achieve the ambitious Capital Campaign goal to fund the New de Young Museum through private sources; and
WHEREAS, David and Sandra Hoyer generously provided funds for temporary exhibition storage in the New de Young Museum; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Trustees, in accordance with the Museums’ donor recognition policy, does hereby name the David and Sandra Hoyer Temporary Exhibition Storage of the New de Young Museum in honor of David and Sandra Hoyer; and, be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Board of Trustees expresses its lasting gratitude to David and Sandra Hoyer for their extraordinary generosity in support of the New de Young Museum, which will enhance the cultural opportunities presented to the citizens of San Francisco and the Bay Area for generations to come.
On motion, duly seconded, there was no discussion among the Trustees. There was no public testimony. The Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to adopt the above resolution as Board Resolution 1550.
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D. Consideration and Possible Action to Adopt a Resolution Honoring The Martin Family for Their Generosity in Support of the New de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park and Naming The Martin Family Gallery in the New de Young Museum
President Wilsey presented the following resolution:
WHEREAS, The building of the New de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park is the highest institutional priority of the Board of Trustees; and
WHEREAS, The Museums have called upon individuals, deeply committed to philanthropy and the public good, to achieve the ambitious Capital Campaign goal to fund the New de Young Museum through private sources; and
WHEREAS, The Martin Family has generously provided funds for a gallery in the New de Young Museum; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Trustees, in accordance with the Museums’ donor recognition policy, does hereby name The Martin Family Gallery of the New de Young Museum in honor of The Martin Family; and, be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Board of Trustees expresses its lasting gratitude to The Martin Family for its extraordinary generosity in support of the New de Young Museum, which will enhance the cultural opportunities presented to the citizens of San Francisco and the Bay Area for generations to come.
On motion, duly seconded, there was no discussion among the Trustees. There was no public testimony. The Executive Committee voted unanimously to adopt the above resolution as Board Resolution 1551.
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E. Consideration and Possible Action to Adopt a Resolution Honoring Margaret and Harry Wetzel for Their Generosity in Support of the New de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park and Naming the Margaret and Harry Wetzel Textile Wet Room in the New de Young Museum
President Wilsey presented the following resolution:
WHEREAS, The building of the New de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park is the highest institutional priority of the Board of Trustees; and
WHEREAS, The Museums have called upon individuals, deeply committed to philanthropy and the public good, to achieve the ambitious Capital Campaign goal to fund the New de Young Museum through private sources; and
WHEREAS, Margaret and Harry Wetzel have generously provided funds for the textile wet room in the New de Young Museum; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Trustees, in accordance with the Museums’ donor recognition policy, does hereby name the Margaret and Harry Wetzel Textile Wet Room of the New de Young Museum in honor of Margaret and Harry Wetzel; and, be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Board of Trustees expresses its lasting gratitude to Margaret and Harry Wetzel for their extraordinary generosity in support of the New de Young Museum, which will enhance the cultural opportunities presented to the citizens of San Francisco and the Bay Area for generations to come.
On motion, duly seconded, there was no discussion among the Trustees. There was no public testimony. The Executive Committee voted unanimously to adopt the above resolution as Board Resolution 1552.
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F. Consideration and Possible Action to Accept the Offer of the Corporation of The Fine Arts Museums to Identify and Retain a Professional Search Firm to Assist in the Recruitment, Screening, and Review of Potential Candidates for the Director of Museums Position Consistent with the Fine Arts Museums’ Position Description and Qualifications and to Present Final Candidate(s) to the FAMSF Board of Trustees for Review and Approval
President Wilsey reluctantly and regretfully addressed the retirement of Harry S. Parker III, Director of Museums, at the end of 2005 after the opening of the New de Young in Golden Gate Park on October 15, 2005. President Wilsey advised that she and Mr. Parker will travel to New York City next week to meet with the press regarding the opening of the New de Young. While in New York City, she plans to interview two executive search firms.
The Corporation of The Fine Arts Museums (COFAM) has offered to retain a professional search firm to assist in the recruitment, screening, and review of potential candidates for the Director of Museums position, consistent with the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (FAMSF) position description and qualifications. The final candidate(s) will be presented to the FAMSF Board of Trustees for review and approval.
On motion, duly seconded, there was no discussion among the Trustees. There was no public testimony. The Executive Committee voted unanimously to accept COFAM’s offer to retain a professional search firm to assist in the recruitment, screening, and review of potential candidates for the Director of Museums position, consistent with the FAMSF position description and qualifications, and with the understanding that the final candidate(s) will be presented to the FAMSF Board of Trustees for review and approval.
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G. Report on the Golden Gate Park Concourse Authority Underground Parking Facility
Judge James Warren of the San Francisco Superior Court has set a May 15, 2005 hearing date regarding the two new petitions filed by Save the Park and Pinky Kushner, et.al., challenging the dedicated access route to the south entrance to the garage. This entrance will provide access to the south garage pod in front of the California Academy of Sciences. Garage construction continues, and every effort is being made to complete the north pod of the underground garage prior to the opening of the de Young on October 15, 2005.
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IV.
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Director’s Report - Harry S. Parker III
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A. Consideration and Possible Action to Approve a Loan Request
Mr. Parker presented the following loan request:
From:California State University Sacramento
Sacramento, CA
For:Bay Area Figuration
California State University Sacramento, School of the Arts, University Library Gallery: 3/7/05 – 5/31/05
David Park (American, 1911 – 1960)
Couple, 1959
Oil on canvas, 26 x 48 (66 x 121.9 cm)
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Partial Gift of the Morgan Flagg Family Foundation
1995.21.6
Stipulations:The painting will be accompanied by a FAMSF courier to Sacramento and return to San Francisco. All related expenses will be paid by the requesting organization.
A motion was made and seconded to approve the loan request noted above. There was no discussion among Trustees. There was no public testimony. The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve the loan subject to the conditions stated.
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B. Report on the Access Agreement with the Prentice and Paul Sack Photographic Trust
Mr. Parker reported that the Acquisitions Committee has discussed at length the Sack collection, an important photography collection consisting of over 2,000 American and European photographs dating from the 1850’s to present. Paul Sack approached the Fine Arts Museums over a year ago indicating his interest in gifting his collection equally to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (FAMSF) and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA). FAMSF in accepting the gift would have been obligated to dedicating 30 linear feet of exhibition space to the collection in the New de Young photography gallery and to designate the space as the Prentice and Paul Sack Collection. However, a subsequent draft agreement allowed FAMSF to access the Sack collection but did not extend ownership of the collection to FAMSF.
The Acquisitions Committee expressed strong reservation regarding this draft access agreement and the associated naming and other exhibition conditions proposed on a permanent basis. The Committee concurred that negotiation of an access agreement with less restrictive and appropriate recognition of the Sack collection should be considered, and Mr. Parker was authorized to pursue discussions with Mr. Sack and other collectors.
Mr. Parker stated that discussions with Mr. Sack following the Acquisitions Committee meeting were productive. A revised access (loan) agreement was drafted, which stated that a) FAMSF shall have full, absolute, and complete access to all the photographs owned by the Prentice and Paul Sack Photographic Trust; b) FAMSF will allocate exhibition space within the de Young photography gallery to accommodate works from the Prentice and Paul Sack Photograph Trust when an exhibition can reasonably draw upon the Sack Collection resources; c) reference to 30 linear feet of dedicated exhibition space was eliminated from the draft agreement; and d) consensus was reached regarding the text of the “chat panel”, which will accompany exhibitions from the Sack Photographic Trust:
The Executive Committee expressed support for the Museums’ access to the Prentice and Paul Sack Photographic Trust and for the joint effort between FAMSF and SFMOMA to maximize the public benefit of the Sack Photographic Trust. Trustee Hecksher, Chair of the Acquisitions Committee, noted that the Acquisitions Committee was pleased with the outcome negotiated by Mr. Parker.
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C. City Budget
The FY 2005-06 City budget request will include more than 50 additional guard and maintenance positions required to open the de Young on October 15, 2005. This significant increase in operating expense of approximately $5 million will require the understanding and support of the Mayor and Board of Supervisors to allocate the additional funding necessary to open the New de Young during a difficult economic period for the City.
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D. Current and Future Exhibits
Melissa Leventon, former Curator of Textiles and Curator of the Artwear: Fashion and Anti-Fashion, will discuss this exhibition at the April 14, 2005 Board of Trustees Meeting. The exhibit runs from May 14 to October 30, 2005 at the Legion of Honor.
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V.
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Public Comment
Members of the public may address the Executive Committee on items that are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. Speakers may address the Executive Committee for up to three minutes; the President or the Executive Committee may limit the total comment to thirty minutes. There was no public comment.
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VI.
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Meeting Schedule, Future Events and Current and Future Exhibits
A. 2005 Board of Trustees Meetings
Date/Time/Location
Thursday, April 14/3 p.m./Board Room, Legion of Honor
Thursday, June 2/2 p.m./Board Room, Legion of Honor
Thursday, October 20/3 p.m./FAMily Room, de Young Museum
B .2005 Executive Committee Meetings
Date/Time/Location
Thursday, May 12/noon/233 Post Street, SF
Thursday, September 15/noon/FAMily Room, de Young Museum
Thursday, December 15/noon/FAMily Room, de Young Museum
C. Future Events
Date/Event
April 14, 2005/Fifteenth Annual Donors’ Reception and Lecture by Artist Andy Goldsworthy, An Evening with Andy Goldsworthy
April 15 – 20, 2005/Museum Associates Trip to Minneapolis and Milwaukee Including the Opening of the Expanded Walker Art Center Designed by Herzog & de Meuron Architekten AG
May 12, 2005/Opening of Artwear: Fashion and Anti-Fashion*
October 15, 2005/Opening of the New de Young Museum and Daughter of Re: Hatshepsut King of Egypt
December 14, 2005/Elegant Evening in the Court of Honor
D. Current and Future Exhibitions (*Exhibitions organized by FAMSF)
Title;Date;Gallery
Textile Rotation – Waistcoats I*;11/06/04-05/01/05;3/9/9c/hallcase
Windows Facing East*;01/29/05-05/01/05;F
Logan Book Rotation*;02/12/05-05/22/05;Logan
Textile Rotation – Waistcoats II*;05/08/05-11/06/05;3/9/9c/hall case
Artwear: Fashion and Anti-Fashion*;05/14/05-10/30/05;A-F/Rosekrans
Logan Book Rotation*;05/28/05-09/25/05;Logan
Logan Book Rotation*;10/01/05-02/05/06;Logan
Daughter of Re: Hatshepsut King of Egypt*;10/15/05-02/05/06;de Y, A-D
Permanent Collection Textile Highlights*;10/15/05-04/16/06;de Y Textile
Catharine Wagner*;10/15/05-02/12/06;de Y Connections
Photography Gallery Rotation*;10/15/05-02/12/06;de Y Photography
Jasper Johns: 45 Years of Master Prints*;10/15/05-02/12/06;deY Anderson
Elder Arts 2005*;10/19/05-11/09/05;de Y Media Rm/Hall
R. Crumb and Art History*;11/19/05-02/19/06;A-F/Rosekrans
Logan Book Rotation*;02/11/06-06/11/06;Logan
John Bankston*;02/25/06-06/25/06;deY Connections
Photography Gallery Rotation*;02/25/06-06/25/06;de Y Photography
Anderson Gallery Rotation*;02/25/06-06/25/06;de Y Anderson
After the Ruins, 1906 and 2006: Rephotographing the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire*;03/04/06-06/04/06;B-E/Rosekrans
Old Master Drawings from the Goldyne Collection*;03/04/06-06/04/06;Legion, A-C
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VII.
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Adjournment in Memory of Alice Fischer, Museum Membership Coordinator of the Museum Society, from 1971 - 1995 - Diane B. Wilsey, President
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:55 p.m. in memory of Alice Fischer, Museum Membership Coordinator of the Museum Society from 1971 to 1995.
Respectfully submitted,
Judy Gough
Executive Secretary
Note: These minutes set forth all actions taken up by the Executive Committee on matters stated, but not necessarily in the order in which the matters were considered.
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