I.

Calling of the Meeting to Order - Diane B. Wilsey, President

A meeting of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco was held on Thursday, December 13, 2007, in the Piazzoni Murals Room, de Young Museum, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.  A quorum being present, the meeting was called to order at 3:25 p.m. by Diane B. Wilsey, President. 

President Wilsey presided; Mrs. Gough acted as Secretary.

II.

Calling of the Roll

Present:

Kermit H. Boston
Iris S. Chan
Marion M. Cope, Vice President for Annual Support
Penny Coulter
Kathryn Lasater
Monica Maduro, Vice President for Marketing and Audience Development
Robert P. Morrow III
Carl Pascarella
Marianne H. Peterson
Michael H. Podell
Jeanne Robertson
Diane B. Wilsey, President

Excused:

Louise H. Renne
Trevor D. Traina
Lonna Wais

Other Trustees in Attendance:

George Hecksher, Vice President for Collections
Lorna F. Meyer
Paul Violich, Vice President for Finance

III.

Report of the President – Diane B. Wilsey

A. Consideration and Possible Action to Approve the Minutes of the October 11, 2007 Meeting of the Board of Trustees

There being no discussion among the Trustees or members of the public, the minutes of the October 11, 2007 meeting of the Board of Trustees, having been mailed in advance to all Trustees, were unanimously approved.

B. Consideration and Possible Action to Approve the Report of the November 14, 2007 Meeting of the Acquisitions Committee of the Fine Arts Museums Foundation - George Hecksher, Vice President for Collections, and Chair of the Acquisitions Committee

Chair Hecksher provided the report of the November 14, 2007 meeting of the Acquisitions Committee of the Fine Arts Museums Foundation.

He began by recalling that a working session of the Acquisitions Committee was held on March 15, 2007, which represented the first step in the process to establish permanent collection priorities.  It was agreed at that meeting that the next step would involve curatorial presentations, including a summary of each collection emphasizing strengths and weaknesses; identification of major works of art (“wish listâ€) to be acquired through purchase or gift, taking into consideration the cost of artworks acquired through purchase; and a description of deaccessioning plans.  Two curatorial presentations preceded the November 14^th Acquisitions Committee meeting:  Prints, Drawings, Photography, and Contemporary Graphic Art, Karin Breuer, Acting Curator, Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts; and Contemporary Art, Daniell Cornell, Director of Contemporary Art Projects.  Deaccessioning will be the focus of the next meeting on February 6, 2008 and may include a visit to the Museums’ art storage facility.

1. Gifts Offered to the Museums

Africa, Oceania and the Americas

32 Pueblo Pots – Chair Hecksher introduced Curatorial Assistant Sarah Bailey Hogarty who described this significant gift as representing an important addition to the Museums’ Native American art collection. One important 19^th century pot was on display at the meeting.  These 32 works of Pueblo pottery (ranging from 19^th century to contemporary) provide a strong foundation on which to continue to grow the Native American pottery collection in both scope and quality.  Approximately 200 additional pieces of Pueblo pottery from this collection are promised to the Museums.

Chair Hecksher briefly reported on the following additional gifts:

Door panel, 19^th to early 20^th century, Gabon, Tsogho (Mitsogho) people; Face Mask, early 20^th century, Gabon, Tsogho (Mitsogho) people; Chair, 20^th century, Ethiopia, Shoa (also spelled Shewa) province.  These unique carved wood works are extremely rare and represent a valuable addition to the Museum’s African collection both in object type and tribal attribution.

Prints and Drawings

A significant gift of a Gelatin silver print by Ruth Bernhard (American, 1905-2006), In the Box, Horizontal, 1962 (printed in 1992).

Eight artworks by Pierre-Joseph Redouté (French, 1759–1840):

Six watercolors on vellum for Les Liliacées, 1802–1816: Iris tuberosa, plate 48, Sisyrinchium bermudiana, plate 149, Bulbocodium vernum, plate 197, Scilla patula, plate 225, Convallaria majalis (Lily of the Valley), plate 227, Sisyrinchium palmifolium, plate 353, Watercolors on vellum: 13 ¼ x 18 ¾ in., each.

Two handcolored stipple engravings from Les Roses, 1817:  Rosa Rapa and Rosa Reclinata flore sub multiplici.

This major gift of artworks by history’s most famous botanical artist was made in honor of a Trustee and will be presented at the January 24, 2008 Board Meeting.

Chair Hecksher expressed sincere appreciation to all donors.  The gifts offered to the Museums by the Fine Arts Museums Foundation are listed on page 1 of Appendix I of these minutes.

2. Purchases

Chair Hecksher reported that the Acquisitions Committee at its November 14^th meeting recommended 1 American artwork and 3 works on paper to the Board of Trustees for approval as follows and as listed on page 2 of Appendix I of these minutes:

American Art

Black Moon, 1959, a sculpture of wood, black paint and nails by Louise Nevelson (American, 1899-1988).  Chair Hecksher introduced Timothy Anglin Burgard, Ednah Root Curator of American Art, who described this totemic sculpture and noted that it is presently on view as part of the exhibition The Sculpture of Louise Nevelson: Constructing a Legend, at the de Young Museum through January 13, 2008.

Prints and Drawings

Karin Breuer, Acting Curator in Charge of the Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts, then presented the following works which were all on display at the meeting:

The Flight into Egypt: altered from Hercules Seghers, ca. 1653 by Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn (Dutch, 1606–1669), altered from Hercules Seghers (Netherlandish, ca. 1590–1638).  It was noted that this print would be an important addition to the Museums’ collection of Rembrandt’s Flight into Egypt prints.

Faune devoilant une Femme from La Suite Vollard, 1936 (published 1939) by Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881–1973), aquatint and etching on laid Montval paper with watermark “Picasso.† The 100 remarkable etchings that make up the Vollard Suite are generally regarded as the finest of Picasso’s achievements in printmaking.

Untitled, 1993, Donald Judd (American, 1928–1994) – Four woodcuts printed in black, orange, yellow and ultramarine blue on Japanese paper with an oil paint stripe on the glass of each galvanized iron frame.  Donald Judd was one of the foremost American post-war artists and a major figure in the Minimalist art movement.

It was particularly noted that the Phyllis C. Wattis Endowment Fund for Major Accessions funded the purchase of the Picasso and Judd artworks.

3. Funded Purchases

Two works on paper reported for the record are listed on page 3 of Appendix I of these minutes.

Chair Hecksher introduced the following resolution:

RESOLVED, That the Board of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco does hereby approve the November 14, 2007 report of the Acquisitions Committee of the Fine Arts Museums Foundation, including approving the works of art acquired through purchase and donation as gifts to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco from the Fine Arts Museums Foundation.

On motion, duly 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 1633.

C. Approval of a Resolution Authorizing the Director to Accept 2007 Year End Gifts of Art – George Hecksher, Vice President for Collections, and Chair of the Acquisitions Committee

Chair Hecksher introduced the following resolution:

RESOLVED, That the Boards of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and the Fine Arts Museums Foundation, upon the recommendation of the Chair of the Acquisitions Committee, do hereby authorize the Director (or his designee) to accept gifts of art offered to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco  and the Fine Arts Museums Foundation from November 14, 2007 (last Acquisitions Committee meeting) through December 31, 2007, if in his (or his designee’s) judgment, he deems it acceptable; and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Director shall report to the Boards of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and the Fine Arts Museums Foundation at their next meetings, the gifts of art accepted during this period.

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 1634.

 IV.

Report of the Director of Museums – John E. Buchanan, Jr.

A. Consideration and Possible Action to Approve Loan Requests

Mr. Buchanan presented the following loan requests:

1. From: Harwood Museum of Art, University of New Mexico, Taos, New Mexico

For: Diebenkorn in New Mexico 1950-1952
Harwood Museum of Art, University of New Mexico, Taos, NM:
6/2/07-9/9-07
San Jose Museum of Art, San Jose, CA:  10/15/07-1/15/08
Grey Art Gallery, New York University, New York, NY:  1/24/08-4/25/08
Phillips Collection, Washington, DC:  6/21/08-9/7/08

Richard Diebenkorn (American, 1922-1993)
Miller 22, 1951
Oil on canvas, 45 x 57 in.
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Bequest of Josephine Morris
2003.25.1

The first two venues were previously approved by the Board of Trustees on January 25, 2007; the third venue was approved by the Executive Committee on September 13, 2007.  The loan was resubmitted to the Executive Committee for approval at its December 13, 2007 meeting due to the addition of the fourth venue, Phillips Collection, Washington, DC.

Stipulations: The painting must be accompanied by a FAMSF courier from San Francisco to Taos, New Mexico, and from Washington, DC to San Francisco, and must be part of a couriered shipment between venues.  All related expenses will be paid by the requesting organization.

*****

2. From: Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan

For: Vermeer and the Delft Style
Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Japan:  8/2/08-12/14/08

Pieter de Hooch (Dutch, 1629-1684)
Woman with Children in an Interior, ca. 1658-1660
Oil on canvas, 67.9 x 55.6 cm (26 ¾ x 21 7/8 in.)
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Gift of the Samuel H. Kress Foundation
61.44.37

Stipulations: The painting must be accompanied by a FAMSF courier to and from Tokyo.  All related expenses will be paid by the requesting organization.

*****

3. From: Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany

For: Envisioning Darwin
Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt, Germany:  2/5/09-5/3/09

Frederic Edwin Church (American, 1826-1900)
Rainy Season in the Tropics, 1866
Oil on canvas, 56 ¼ x 84 ¼ (142.9 x 214 cm)
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Museum purchase, Mildred Anna Williams Collection
1970.9

Stipulations: The painting must be accompanied by a FAMSF courier to and from Frankfurt.  All related expenses will be paid by the requesting organization.

*****

4. From: Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, MA

For: Arthur Dove and Georgia O’Keeffe:  An Enduring Friendship
Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, MA:  6/7/09-9/7/09
Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, Santa Fe, New Mexico:  10/2/09-1/10/10

Arthur Dove (American, 1880-1946)
Sea Gull Motive (Sea Thunder or The Wave), 1928
Oil on wood panel, 26 ¼ x 20 ½ (66.7 x 52.1 cm)
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Museum purchase, Richard B. Gump Trust Fund, Museum Society Auxiliary, Museum Acquisition Fund, Peter and Kirsten Bedford, Mrs. George Hopper Fitch, Art Trust Fund, and by exchange of Foundation objects
1990.19
Stipulations: The painting must be accompanied by a FAMSF courier to Williamstown and return to San Francisco from Santa Fe, and must be part of a couriered shipment between venues.  All related expenses will be paid by the requesting organization.

*****

A motion was made and seconded to approve the four loan requests noted above.  There was no discussion among Trustees.  There was no public testimony.  The Executive Committee voted unanimously to approve the loans subject to the conditions stated.

B. Report on the October 31, 2007 Favorable Ruling of Superior Court Judge John Dearman to Modify the Terms of the Achenbach Trust Agreement in Furtherance of the Trust Purposes

Mr. Buchanan introduced Deputy City Attorney Adine Varah who reported that October 31, 2007 marked a momentous ruling by Superior Court Judge John Dearman to grant the Fine Arts Museums’ petition to modify the terms of the Achenbach Trust.

More than fifty-five years ago, Moore S. Achenbach and Hazel J. Achenbach donated an extraordinary gift of 50,000 works on paper to the City (Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco).  For the past five years, efforts have been steadfast to modify the terms of the Achenbach Trust, which would allow the Museums to more fully meet the intent of the Trust for the public good.  The final Court Order confirms the Museums’ exclusive authority over Achenbach collection management decisions and fund expenditures and gives the Museums greater flexibility to acquire, replace, and upgrade works on paper in order to help ensure the historical diversity, depth and quality of the acclaimed Achenbach collection.  This historic decision allows the Museum’s full authority to more effectively fulfill its stewardship responsibilities for the Achenbach Collection of Graphic Arts and to further the Trust purpose for the benefit of the public.

Mr. Buchanan emphasized the significance of this decision and expressed profound gratitude to Ms. Varah for her tireless efforts and exceptional representation of the Museums in this matter over the past five years.

C. Other Informational Items

Mr. Buchanan invited Trustees to visit the exhibition For Tent and Trade:  Masterpieces of Turkmen Weaving which opens December 15, 2007 at the de Young Museum and runs through September 7, 2008.  He expressed appreciation for the generosity of a Trustee in helping to make this special exhibition possible.

V.

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.

VI.

Meeting Schedule, Future Events and Current and Future Exhibits

A. 2008 Board of Trustees Meetings

B. 2008 Executive Committee Meetings

C. Future Events

D. Current and Future Exhibitions (*Exhibitions organized by FAMSF)[2]

Legion of Honor - Major Special Exhibitions

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
de Young Museum -  Major Special Exhibitions

 VII.

Adjournment – Diane B. Wilsey, President

There being no further business, President Wilsey adjourned the meeting at 3:50 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Judy Gough
Executive Secretary

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.