VISUAL
ARTS COMMITTEE
Wednesday, April 16, 2003
3:00 p.m.
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 70
Notices
Explanatory documents are available for public inspection and
copying at the Arts Commission office, 25 Van Ness Ave, Ste 240,
San Francisco CA 94102 during regular business hours. Tel:
415-252-2594.
Public comment in regard to specific items will be taken before or
during consideration of the item.
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sound-producing electronic devices are prohibited at this meeting.
Please be advised that the Chair may order the removal from the
meeting room of any person(s) responsible for the ringing or use
of a cell phone, pager, or other similar sound producing
electronic devices.
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Governmental Conduct Code sections 2.100 - 2.160) to register and
report lobbying activity. For more information about the Lobbyist
Ordinance, please contact the Ethics Commission at 30 Van Ness,
Suite 3900, San Francisco, CA 94102, telephone (415) 581-2300, fax
(415) 581-2317 and web site:
www.ci.sf.ca.us/ethics.
Minutes
Commissioners Present
Barbara Stauffacher Solomon, Dugald Stermer, Dede Wilsey;
Absent: Stanlee Gatti, Ralph Guggenheim.
Staff Present
Richard Newirth, Director of Cultural Affairs; Nina Dunbar,
Rupert Jenkins, Debra Lehane, Jennifer Lovvorn, Tonia Macneil,
Judy Moran, Kristen Zaremba.
Note: All votes are unanimous unless recorded
otherwise.
The meeting commenced at 3:05 p.m.
- Consent
- Motion to enter into contract with Genevieve Baird of
Baird/Reif Art Conservation for maintenance of the Monuments on
Market Street for an amount not to exceed $25,000.
- Motion to enter into contract with Architectural Resources
Group for the restoration of the Portals of the Past monument
in Golden Gate Park for an amount not to exceed $191,000.
- Motion to approve the design of a bronze plaque to mark the
Russian Hill Cemetery to be given by the United Humanitarian
Mission with support from the Ministry of Culture of the
Russian Federation.
- Motion to approve the following pool of arts professionals
to serve on upcoming panels for new Public Art Projects
commencing in 2003, including, but not limited to: Ocean Avenue
Streetscape Project, Recreation and Parks 2003 Pre-Qualified
Artist Pool, Hamilton Pool and Rec. Center, SOMA Rec. Center:
Regina Almaguer, Public Art Curator/BART Consultant; Mike
Blockstein, Ex-ED, Southern Exposure/Artist; Don Douglass, GSA
Fine Arts Program; Courtney Fink, ED Southern Exposure; Donna
Graves, Public Art Curator; Leslie Holzman, Public Art
Coordinator, City of Oakland; Steve Huss, Public Art Program,
Alameda County; Mark Johnson, Artist/Faculty, SFSU; Chris
Johnson, California College of Arts & Crafts (CCAC);
Leonard Hunter, Artist/Faculty, SFSU; Clara Kim, SFMOMA
Associate Curator, New Langton Board Member; Marina McDougal,
CCAC; Tara McDowell, Assoc. Curator, SFMOMA; Karen Moss, SFAI
Walter McBean Gallery; Anna Nabokov, SFAI; Rachel Osajima,
Artist/Curator, SF Craft and Folk Art Museum; Sabina Ott, SFAI
Graduate Program Director; Mary Rubin, San Jose Public Art
Program; Joe Sam, Artist; Saudi Sanchez, San Jose Public Art
Program; Donna Schumacher, Artist/Architect; Moriah Ulinskas,
Artist/Artists & Education Program Director, Southern
Exposure; John Weber, SFMOMA; Lewis Watts, Artist/Faculty UC
Berkeley.
Motion: Motion to move the
consent calendar items.
Moved: Wilsey/Solomon
- Gallery
Gallery Director Rupert Jenkins announced the upcoming City Hall
exhibitions that open on Wednesday, May 7 with an artists'
reception at 5:30 PM. The exhibitions will be on view through July
6. They are: "Something in Common," photographs by contemporary
Chinese photographers, "War and Peace: An Afghan Journey,"
photographs by Pia Torelli, " Teen Posters: Safe Jobs for Youth!,"
"Where We Are Now: Teens in the Workplace," photographs by Rebecca
Letz, and "Let Children Be Children: Lewis Wickes Hine's Crusade
Against Child Labor." Three of these exhibitions coincide with the
celebration of May as California's "Safe Jobs for Youth Month" and
have been sponsored by the California Department of Industrial
Relations, Commission on Health and Safety and Workers'
Compensation among other funders. Mr. Jenkins requested that one
of the Commissioners speak at the reception and added that he will
follow up with them by email. Commissioner Stermer stated that he
greatly admires the work of Lewis Hine.
- Collections
Civic Art Collections Director Debra Lehane began her report by
stating that the Arts Commission Civic Art Collection has recently
been offered several gifts. To review these offers, Ms. Lehane
organized a subcommittee which is made up of the following staff:
Nancy Gonchar, Rupert Jenkins, Debra Lehane, Judy Moran, and Susan
Pontious. Ms. Lehane stated that Earth Island Institute, who
wishes to give the sculpture "Spaceship Earth," has already
received support for this gift from the Board of Supervisors. The
sculpture was commissioned by Powerbar founders Brian and Jennifer
Maxwell in honor of the environmentalist David Brower. Ms. Lehane
stated that the subcommittee felt that the sculpture is
ostentatious and aesthetically awkward. Upon viewing the proposal
for the sculpture, Commissioner Stermer stated that the piece does
not do honor to the environment nor to David Brower, and he added
that there is no aesthetic relationship between the figure and the
globe.
Ms. Lehane continued her report by stating that the
subcommittee also reviewed a proposed gift to the Civic Art
Collection entitled "Peace Angel." Ms. Lehane explained that the
artist would like to place "Peace Angels" around the world. The
artist's concept is to make these figurative angel sculptures from
donated weapons and to place them in specific locations in various
cities that are affected by gun violence. Ms. Lehane reported that
the city prefers unique works of art and therefore the
subcommittee generally recommends declining gifts that are part of
a series. Ms. Lehane added that the subcommittee felt that the
sculpture is aesthetically crude and doesn't convey nor inspire
peace.
Motion: Motion to accept the
recommendation of the staff committee to decline the gift of Peace
Angel.
Moved: Solomon/Wilsey
Motion: Motion to accept the
recommendation of the staff committee to decline the gift of a
memorial to David Brower titled Spaceship Earth.
Moved: Wilsey/Solomon
Temporary Art Installation for Union Square: "Talking Chair"
Proposal by Donna Schumacher
Ms. Lehane reported that a temporary art installation entitled
"Talking Chair" by Donna Schumacher, which received funding from
the Arts Commission's Cultural Equity Grants, has been proposed
for approval by the Visual Arts Committee. "Talking Chair" would
be installed in September 2003 and remain in Union Square through
January 2004. Ms. Lehane added that she will be meeting with Union
Square officials in order to create a policy for temporary
installations at Union Square. Ms. Lehane explained that the
artist proposed to mount a speaker on top of a pole that is
pointed to a bench near the grass area. Due to the special design
of the speaker, the soundtrack which consists of interviews with
sales clerks from neighboring stores would only be heard by the
person seated on the bench. The artist's concept is that the
artwork would connect the people who work in Union Square with the
shoppers. Commissioner Stermer stated that he finds the proposal
appalling in that it assumes that all visitors to Union Square are
shoppers. Commissioner Stermer added that he would prefer the
sound of birds or surf. Commissioner Wilsey stated that the sound
of the interviews would be cacophonous and that as a visitor to
the Square, she prefers peace and quiet. Commissioner Solomon
stated that the piece would be amusing if the sales clerks were
able to say what they actually thought. Ms. Lehane pointed out
that visitors to the Square had a choice to sit and listen to the
piece or not. Because Ms. Lehane did not have the opportunity to
hear the sound track and does not know what the content would be,
she suggested that the artist be invited to present her proposal
and bring a sample of the sound track. Commissioner Stermer stated
that the artist is welcome to present her project to the
Committee, but her proposal must be changed in response to the
Commissioners' suggestions.
The following motion was continued:
Motion: Motion to approve the
concept for the temporary art installation for Union Square titled
Talking Chair for Union Square for Summer 2003 subject to
technical review and approval by the appropriate agencies.
Update on relocation of Juan Bautista de Anza and King Carlos III
sculptures.
Ms. Lehane reported that she has not yet met with a representative
from the Recreation and Parks Department, but she is trying to
locate an alternate site for the relocation of the Juan Bautista
de Anza and King Carlos III sculptures. Ms. Lehane added that she
will bring a new proposed location to the meeting next month.
The following motion was continued:
Motion: Possible motion to approve
alternate location for monuments.
- Visitacion Valley Club House - Final Design
Project Manager Nina Dunbar reported on the status of the
Visitacion Valley Club House project. She explained that artist
Victor Zaballa had originally provided poorly drawn plans of his
final designs for the building's main entrance security gate and
adjoining park entrance gate. The work was approved by the
Committee in concept with the understanding that final shop
drawings would be presented for approval prior to fabrication.
Commissioner Solomon stated that the new drawings were much
better. Ms. Dunbar also presented a material sample for the gate
which was sandblasted metal with cut-out patterns. She explained
that the client likes the metal sandblasted rather than painted
with a bright color. Commissioner Solomon agreed that the metal
should not be painted. Ms. Dunbar stated that the gate could be
painted a taupe-gray to match the unpainted sample, but it could
not be left unpainted due to maintenance concerns.
Motion: Motion to approve Victor
Zaballa's final designs for the Visitacion Valley Clubhouse.
Moved: Wilsey/Solomon
- Union Square Project Completion
Project Manager Nina Dunbar reported on the completion and
dedication of "Union Square Colonnade" by R.M. Fischer. Ms. Dunbar
began her presentation of slides of the individual pieces by
stating that the sculptures were successfully installed. Ms.
Dunbar added that the two lamps which were collecting water have
been repaired. Ms. Dunbar reported that the reception for the
artwork that was held at Ferragamo was a great success and was
attended by Mayor Brown. She added that both Mayor Brown and
Commissioner Gatti were greatly impressed by the project.
Motion: Motion to accept into the
Civic Art Collection four light sculptures by R.M. Fischer titled
Union Square Colonnade, 1999-2002, aluminum, stainless
steel, granite, commissioned by the San Francisco Arts Commission
for the Union Square Improvement Project.
Moved: Wilsey/Solomon
- Octavia Boulevard Streetscape Project
Public Art Program Assistant Jennifer Lovvorn presented the
proposal for the Octavia Boulevard Streetscape Project by artist
Wang Po-Shu, as recommended by the Octavia Boulevard Artist
Selection Panel. Ms. Lovvorn explained that this revised proposal
called for the placement of human-scaled "observatory" scopes to
be place on the pedestrian median at twelve to sixteen sites along
the new Boulevard. The observatories have two standard designs:
one for standing adults and one for wheelchair accessibility and
children. The observatories contain kaleidoscopic lenses that
refract the view of the passing cars. Ms. Lovvorn stated that the
selection panel was concerned that the observatories be designed
such that the lenses would not be vulnerable to vandalism. Ms.
Lovvorn added that the selection panel was very impressed with the
artist's concept of a socially interactive artwork that involves
the pedestrians in viewing the traffic and involves the motorists
in noticing that they are being observed.
Motion: Motion to approve the
Selection Panel's recommendation of the proposal by Wang Po Shu
for the Octavia Blvd. public art project.
Moved: Wilsey/Solomon
Motion: Motion to authorize the
Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with Wang Po
Shu for the design development of his proposal for the Octavia
Blvd. public art project for a total amount not to exceed
$7,500.
Moved: Solomon/Wilsey
- Recreation and Park Department Bond Projects
Project Manager Tonia Macneil presented the new proposed
guidelines for the selection of artwork for the Recreation and
Park Department Bond Projects. Ms. Macneil explained that these
new guidelines are based on the agency's Art Enrichment
Guidelines, but would establish substantially streamlined
processes for projects with a project budget under $50,000 and
would also somewhat streamline the administrative processes for
larger budget projects. Ms. Macneil added that this document will
not only provide consistency and clarity for Project Managers, but
will also be a useful tool for the staff to explain the Public Art
Program processes to community members. Commissioner Stermer
agreed that the new guidelines will help the Public Art Program
staff immensely.
Explanatory Document: Proposed
Guidelines for the Selection of Artwork for the Recreation and
Park Department Bond Projects
Motion: Motion to approve the
guidelines for Selection of Artwork for the Recreation and Park
Department Bond Projects.
Moved: Solomon/Wilsey
- Proposed Change to the Art Enrichment Guidelines
Project Manager Tonia Macneil, acting on behalf of Project Manager
Susan Pontious, who was not able to attend the meeting, presented
proposed changes to the Art Enrichment Guidelines. Ms. Macneil
explained that the Public Art Program has begun a program
assessment for the purposes of making our program operate more
effectively, both in terms of trying to reduce our administrative
burden and improve the final artistic product. Ms. Macneil
reviewed the proposed changes which are as follows: to clearly
define how "Project Budget" is determined, to change the threshold
amount for limited competitions to $50,000, to use the term
"Project Budget" instead of "Art Budget," and to streamline the
selection process for projects with project budgets under
$50,000.
Explanatory Document: Art
Enrichment Guidelines with proposed changes
Motion: Motion to approve the
proposed change to the Art Enrichment Guidelines.
Moved: Solomon/Wilsey
- New Business
As an item of new business, Director of Cultural Affairs
Richard Newirth announced that the next event as part of
"Sculpture in the City" will be on May 8th at the San Francisco
Zoo from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM. This event will include a
dedication of two art projects: "Cougar III" and "Tiger II" by
Gwynn Murrill and "Split Mound" by Barbara McCarren and Jud Fine.
Mr. Newirth encouraged the Commissioners to submit names to be
added to the announcement mailing list.
As an additional item of new business, Project Manager Tonia
Macneil introduced John Stafford, the Executive Manager of the
Queensland Public Art Agency. She explained that he received a
Churchill Fellowship to travel to the United States to observe
various Public Art agencies across the country. Ms. Macneil added
that he made a presentation to the Arts Commission Public Art
staff of the work of his agency that included a very impressive
program to foster the work of indigenous artists and younger
artists. Staff was also impressed by a number of public/private
and interagency projects managed by the agency, as well as the
strong commitment to marketing.
As an additional item of new business, Commissioner Stermer
requested to go on record with a statement about the recent
looting of museums in Iraq. He stated that the looting is
devastating and added that the entire culture is being destroyed
while the United States military forces are standing by.
- Old Business
As an item of old business, Project Manager Nina Dunbar
reported on the status of the Fillmore Bridge project. Ms. Dunbar
stated that the installation of the artwork is scheduled to begin
on Monday, April 21 and will continue for two weeks. She noted
that two presentations on the work's progress had been made
recently to the Redevelopment Commission. Ms. Dunbar presented
slides of the etched glass panes and explained that the work
included 180 pieces of glass with more than 240 individually
etched words. Given the complexity of the work, human error was a
factor in some of the fabrication delays. The primary cause of
delay during the installation would be weather.
- Adjournment
As there was no further business, the meeting was adjourned at
4:20 p.m.
Submitted by Jennifer Lovvorn, Public Art Program
Assistant
Approved by Richard Newirth, Director of Cultural Affairs,
4/29/03
4/29/03