VISUAL
ARTS COMMITTEE
Wednesday, January 15, 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.
The ringing of and use of cell phones, pagers and similar
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.
Minutes
Commissioners Present
Stanlee Gatti, Ralph Guggenheim, Barbara Stauffacher Solomon,
Dugald Stermer; Absent: Dede Wilsey.
Staff Present
Richard Newirth, Director of Cultural Affairs; Nina Dunbar,
Natasha Garcia-Lomas, Rupert Jenkins, Debra Lehane, Jennifer
Lovvorn, Tonia Macneil, Jill Manton, Judy Moran.
Note: All votes are unanimous unless recorded
otherwise.
The meeting commenced at 3:05 p.m.
- Consent
- Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to
enter into contract with Robert F. Bailey, Structural Engineer
for construction drawings for the rehabilitation of the Portals
of the Past Monument in Golden Gate Park for an amount not to
exceed $20,000.
- Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to
enter into contract with John Griswold of Griswold and
Associations for the conservation of the bronze elements on the
James A. Garfield Monument in Golden Gate Park for an amount
not to exceed $30,000.
Motion: Motion to move the
consent calendar items.
Moved: Stermer/Gatti
- Gallery
Gallery Director Rupert Jenkins began his report by requesting
that the Committee revisit the tabled exhibition proposal from the
December 2002 Visual Arts Committee meeting. Commissioner Stermer
stated that although he was initially reluctant to approve
"Exhibition Game," he has since decided to change his vote to move
in favor of this proposed exhibition. He added that since meeting
with Mr. Jenkins to discuss the gallery's programming, he
recognizes that - while the quality might be debatable - it is
appropriate for the gallery to exhibit new and challenging works
by young, local artists who are still experimenting with ideas and
technique. Mr. Jenkins stated the importance of clarifying the
role that the Commissioners play with regard to programming
especially in light of the fact that the gallery is currently
forming an Exhibitions Committee. Mr. Jenkins welcomed the
Commissioners to attend the Exhibition Committee meetings and
added that with this new committee the gallery will be working on
programming further ahead of time. He stated that this will allow
sufficient time for the Commissioners to be apprised of proposals
for upcoming guest curated exhibitions well in advance.
Commissioner Gatti stated that he would like to know more about
the guest curators when proposals are presented. Mr. Jenkins
stated that he intends to provide this information thus allowing
the Commissioners to assess the curators based on their
professional experience. Commissioner Stermer concluded the
discussion by voicing his support of the gallery's role to present
risky work.
Motion: Motion to approve the
following artists for gallery exhibitions March - May 2003: Paul
Mullins, Karina Skvirsky, Lee Walton, Tim Kelley, and Jona Frank,
curated by Leah Modigliani.
Moved: Stermer/Solomon
- Collections
Civic Art Collections Director Debra Lehane reported that she
and Commissioner Solomon recently met with representatives of the
Hayes Valley Neighborhood Parks Group and their architect to
discuss the design for the Koshland Park Peace Wall. Ms. Lehane
noted that the group had taken many of the Commissioners'
recommendations into consideration when reworking the design for
the wall. Ms. Lehane reported that while the new design is still
somewhat linear, it is not as static as the original proposed
layout. Commissioner Solomon stated that she was very impressed by
the community's tiles that the lead artist, Justine Tatarsky, had
selected and recommended to the group that the tile work of Ms.
Tatarsky be integrated into the design along with the community's
tiles instead of being laid out in separate areas. Ms. Lehane
reported that the Hayes Valley Neighborhood Parks Group may be
ready to present the new design at the Visual Arts Committee
meeting in February.
Ms. Lehane also reported on the status of a number of projects: 1.
The next restoration project will be the "Portals of the Past," a
doorway near Lloyd's Lake in Golden Gate Park installed in 1909.
The funding to date which will cover the structural engineering
fee of "Portals of the Past" is $36,000 from the State of
California and the Recreation and Parks Department has committed
$100,000 from Proposition J Funds. 2. Ms. Lehane is working with
the Golden Gate Park Concourse Authority concerning the monuments
that surround the music concourse area. The construction of the
underground parking area will require that some works be relocated
and some protected in place. In the coming months, the VAC will be
provided more information on the project and which monuments will
require approvals from the Arts Commission. 3. Ms. Lehane hopes to
resolve the site for the Anza/Carlos project. Director of Cultural
Affairs Richard Newirth will be meeting with the new Board of
Supervisors President Matt Gonzalez on January 24th. At that time
he intends to discuss the project status with the Supervisor.
- Minnie and Lovie Ward Recreation Center
Project Manager Tonia Macneil reported on the status of the
artwork proposal for the Minnie and Lovie Ward Recreation Center.
Ms. Macneil stated that the artist team and architects have met to
consider alternatives to the current placement of the art. Ms.
Macneil reported that the architects still oppose the idea of
integrating the artwork into the design of the building. She added
that the artists have been flexible and open to the process of
working with both the community and the architects. Ms. Macneil
stated that the artist team, the community representatives and
architects will meet at the end of January. Ms. Macneil explained
that due to the holidays the modified design will not be ready to
present by the 60 day deadline.
- Laguna Honda Hospital
In Program Manager Susan Pontious's absence, Program Manager
Judy Moran presented the final designs for the artwork proposal by
artist Merle Axelrad Serlin for Link Lobby at Laguna Honda
Hospital. Ms. Moran displayed the three watercolor illustrations
upon which the artist's fabric collages will be based. These
proposed designs feature various Northern California landscapes
and are entitled Bay Area Foothills, Cliffs at Land's End, and
Marin Headlands. Ms. Moran explained that the artist sews together
tiny slivers of fabric to construct her images which appear very
painterly and exquisite. Ms. Moran added that the final pieces
would be rather large in scale and would be displayed behind
Plexiglas for protection.
Motion: Motion to approve Merle
Axelrad Serlin final designs for three fabric collages.
Moved: Gatti/Stermer
Motion: Motion to authorize the
Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into an agreement with the
artist for an amount not to exceed $47,000 for fabrication and
transportation of three fabric collages, entitled Bay Area
Foothills, Cliffs at Land's End, and Marin Headlands for
installation at Laguna Honda Hospital.
Moved: Stermer/Solomon
- Moscone Center Expansion Project
Public Art Program Director Jill Manton reported on the status of
the Diller + Scofidio artwork for the Moscone Center Expansion
Project. Ms. Manton stated that fabrication of the armature and
track, which is being done at Olson Metals, is 60% complete and
the expected date of installation is mid-February. She added that
the LED screen is to be tested at the Multi-Media shop in Rancho
Cordova and the expected date of installation is mid-March. Ms.
Manton also reminded the Commissioners that Pol-X West was not
able to install the armature and track as originally budgeted
because the firm accepted a more lucrative contract. The Moscone
General Contractor Hunt Construction did not want to assume the
liability of installing the track and armature if they were not
fabricating it. Ultimately, the fabrication and installation were
given to Hunt's subcontractor. At this juncture, the art project
lost control of its budget as a result of the higher cost estimate
given by Hunt. She added that, although Moscone could have stopped
the project due to the additional costs, they have on the contrary
been supportive and have rescued the project. Ms. Manton also
reported that Diller + Scofidio continue to work on ideas for the
LED text for the interior of the building. She explained that
Diller + Scofidio are interested in creating a kinetic word
sculpture which would extract random words from an ongoing source
of news data. Commissioner Guggenheim remarked that he found the
idea of using streaming data very interesting. Ms. Manton added
that Diller + Scofidio have been working with New York-based
artist Ben Rubin from Ear Studios on this project and have
recently given him a larger role in the creation of the text. With
Ben Rubin, Diller + Scofidio would like to approach Google to
inquire whether Google would provide a data-stream of text for the
LED panels. Diller + Scofidio also plan to apply for a $15,000 -
$30,000 research grant from Google to support this aspect of the
project which may need to be submitted through the Arts
Commission. Director of Cultural Affairs Richard Newirth inquired
what Diller + Scofidio would use if Google does not support the
project. Ms. Manton stated that the artists would use the
scrolling text that they had designed as part of the original
proposal. Ms. Manton concluded her report by noting that
Metropolis Magazine is interested in writing about the Diller +
Scofidio project.
- New Business
- Old Business
As an item of old business, Project Manager Nina Dunbar gave
an update on the Union Square project. Ms. Dunbar reported that
granite for the sculpture bases has been delivered to San
Francisco and that one area of one of the granite sections has
some naturally occurring discoloration. Ms. Dunbar and other
members of the Union Square construction team reviewed the
discoloration at the site and determined that it was not
significant enough to reject the entire piece. Ms. Dunbar also
reported that the replacement electrical junction boxes for the
sculptures arrived yesterday, but the fabricator sent only three
instead of the needed four. The sculptures are scheduled for
installation in early March due to previously planned activities
in the Square scheduled for February.
As an additional item of old business, Public Art Program
Director Jill Manton reported that the attorney for the Academy of
Sciences has verified that there are art enrichment funds for
their upcoming renovation work. Ms. Manton added that she will be
meeting with their representatives at the end of the month and
will report on the details in the next Visual Arts Committee
meeting.
Ms. Manton also announced that she had recently been elected
to the council of the Public Art Network and would be attending a
planning meeting in Washington, D.C. to prepare for the upcoming
annual conference.
- Adjournment
As there was no further business, the meeting was adjourned at
3:44 p.m.
Submitted by Jennifer Lovvorn, Public Art Program
Assistant
Approved by Richard Newirth, Director of Cultural Affairs,
1/24/03
1/24/03