Visual_Arts_Committee
2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 VISUAL ARTS COMMITTEE
Thursday, December 6, 2007
3:00 p.m.
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 70
Minutes
Commissioners Present:
Jeannene Przyblyski , Leonard Hunter, Lawrence Rinder
Absent: Dede Wilsey, Pop Zhao,
Staff Present:
Regina Almaguer, Allison Cummings, Nancy Gonchar, Tonia Macneil, Jill Manton, Susan Pontious, Ellen Shershow, Meg Shiffler
Note: All votes are unanimous unless recorded otherwise.
The meeting commenced at 3:06 p.m.
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Consent
There were no consent calendar items.
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Collections
Public Art Project Manager Susan Pontious announced with great pleasure that the Arts Commission has hired Allison Cummings as the new Senior Registrar. Ms. Cummings previously held the position of Assistant Registrar at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, where she managed the accession of over 3500 objects, and coordinated the installation of multimedia artist Matthew Barney’s show Drawing Restraint.
Commissioner Przyblyski stated that this is a wonderful moment for the Arts Commission and for the Collections Program in particular.
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Gallery Report
Gallery Director Meg Shiffler reportedon the upcoming exhibition Reconciling America: Miraculous Encounters with the Mundane, on view January 18–March 10, 2008 at the main Gallery at 401 Van Ness Ave. Ms. Shiffler stated that much of this work is very intimate in nature; it is about filtering information and how we choose to identify ourselves. The exhibition will include the following eleven artists and a radio broadcast.
Filmmaker Lynn Kirby will present a film encompassing interviews she conducted at her son’s elementary school. Dina Danish is an Egyptian artist whose work involves coming to terms with her identity as a foreigner living in the U.S. Brendan Lott has created photo-realistic paintings from found images on myspace.com. Jennifer Durban created a project entitled I Found my Father on Friendster. Richard Haley will show a video in which he throws himself into a body of water, and then appears to sink in time with the setting sun. JD Beltran and her son Sebastian will exhibit photographs that they have taken—she of him, and he of the world. Paul Mullins is exhibiting a new series of drawings depicting his coming of age in the American South. Julia Page has used newspaper clippings of children with their first hunting kill; she has blown these images up and printed them on canvas. Ellen Lake has created a series of documentaries about people obsessively collecting or creating things—like store owners in the Mission who are trying to build the world’s largest rubber band ball. Tucker Nichols will utilize the Grove Street window space to create a new site-specific text piece about eavesdropping. Finally, Zefrey Throwell will broadcast his interview-format radio show, Frank Prattle, from the Gallery. There will be about 24 hours of content created over the course of the exhibition that will be available on our website, both in live streaming format and as an archive.
Motion: Motion to approve the Interim Director of Cultural affairs to provide an artist honorarium of $700 to Tucker Nichols, for the completion of artwork to be installed at SFAC Gallery at 401 Van Ness Ave. and the window installation site at 155 Grove St. for the January 2008 SFAC Gallery exhibition.
Moved: Hunter/Rinder
Motion: Motion to approve the Interim Director of Cultural Affairs to provide an artist honorarium of $500 to Zefrey Throwell for his participation as a co-curator of and for the completion of artwork to be installed in the January 2008 SFAC Gallery exhibition.
Moved: Rinder/Hunter
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Laguna Honda Hospital
Public Art Project Manager Susan Pontious reported on the conceptual design by artist Diana Pumpelly Bates for the entry gates at Laguna Honda Hospital. Ms. Pontious reminded the Commissioners that she last reported on these gates at the November 7, 2007, Visual Arts Committee meeting. Since that time, she has met with staff at Laguna Honda Hospital to confirm that the gates must be the full height of the designated opening. Hospital staff confirmed this, stating that, in addition, the gate needs to roll or fold up in order to allow fire trucks to access the hospital, as the area is not large enough to accommodate a swinging gate. Ms. Bates has worked very efficiently to ensure that the design of the gate meets the necessary code, while maintaining an aesthetically pleasing design. The gate will be constructed of waterjet-cut stainless steel panels, and may include additional lighting.
Motion: Motion to approve the Interim Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into an agreement with Diana Pumpelly Bates for $100,000 to design and fabricate sixteen waterjet-cut stainless steel panels for the entry gate to Laguna Honda Hospital.
Moved: Hunter/Rinder
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McLaren Park
Public Art Project Manager Regina Almaguer reported on the selection of artwork for McLaren Park. The McLaren Park panel met on Friday, November 30, to review proposals by the three finalists, Mark Brest van Kempen, Gloria Bornstein and the artist team of Susan Schwartzenberg and Peter Richards. The panel unanimously selected the artist team of Susan Schwartzenberg and Peter Richards.
Ms. Schwartzenberg and Mr. Richards propose to create a ‘Philosophers Walk’ which will traverse the 318-acre park. The walk will include 90 granite markers, and five benches at multiple locations. Each granite marker will be inscribed with text and images that reference the history of the park and its animal habitats. Conceptually, the proposal is based on other philosophers’ walks in Asia, and encourages viewers to experience the park in a quiet and meditative way.
Commissioner Przyblyski stated that she served on the McLaren Park panel, and that the selection process was thorough and well thought out. The panel, which included two members of the group Friends of McLaren Park, appreciated the site-specific aspect of Ms. Schwartzenberg’s and Mr. Richards’s work. Public Art Program Director Jill Manton stated that Ms. Almaguer had done an exemplary job, particularly in regards to community outreach and input.
Motion: Motion to approve the Interim Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into an agreement with the artist team of Peter Richards and Susan Schwartzenberg for an amount not to exceed $142,000 to design, fabricate and install a public art project at McLaren Park.
Moved: Rinder/Hunter
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Moscone Recreation Center
Public Art Program Director Jill Mantonstated that with the move of artist Brian Goggin’s piece from the Moscone Recreation Center to the lawn to the north of Larsen Park Sava Pool, the Moscone Recreation Center is open to a new public art project. The Recreation and Parks Department has offered to provide additional funding to accommodate the Goggin sculpture at Larsen Park Sava Pool as well as another artwork for the Moscone Recreation Center. Ms. Manton suggested that, rather than begin a lengthy search for a new artist, the Commission could turn to artist Kent Roberts, who was one of the three finalists originally selected for this site. Mr. Roberts is amenable to meeting with the Recreation and Parks staff, as well as members of the community, before creating a specific proposal for the Recreation Center.
Motion: Motion to authorize the Interim Director of Cultural Affairs to invite one of the Moscone Recreation Center finalists, artist Kent Roberts, to develop a new proposal for the Moscone Recreation Center, and to award him an honorarium in the amount of $1,000 for the submission of a proposal board.
Moved: Rinder/Hunter
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Sunnyside Playground
Project Manager Tonia Macneil presented newly completed artwork by Deborah Kennedy at Sunnyside Playground.Located near Monterey Boulevard, the playground is built on a steep grade. The playground steps up the hill past playing fields and a children’s playground, ending above a small clubhouse. Ms. Kennedy began with a modest budget of $23,000, which was eventually increased to $30,000. She designed six fence panels, three for the fence overlooking the children’s area and three for the ramp leading to the clubhouse. The panels are constructed of waterjet-cut stainless steel in patterns reminiscent of the “coronal loops” caused by fountains of plasma, many thousands of miles high, shooting off the surface of the sun. Titled Solar Sight, the bright and colorful design evokes the playground’s name and counteracts its foggy landscape. At the recent playground rededication, community members expressed appreciation for the artist’s concept and its execution.
Motion: Motion to approve the completion and installation of Solar Sight, six painted steel fence panels for Sunnyside Playground.
Moved: Hunter/Rinder
Motion: Motion to accept into the Civic Art Collection Solar Sight, six painted stainless steel fence panels by artist Deborah Kennedy, permanently installed above the children’s playground and at the courtyard ramp at Sunnyside Playground.
Moved: Rinder/Hunter
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Temporary Projects in Natural Settings
Project Manager Regina Almaguer presented an updated report on artist John Melvin’s proposal for a temporary public art installation at Lake Merced. Mr. Melvin’s proposal includes the installation of 3,400 helium-filled balloons suspended approximately nine feet above the lake’s surface. The artwork is to be on view for a period of approximately three days.
Mr. Melvin has spent the last few months engaged in extensive research on the materials, budget and installation processes required for this project. He has met with numerous organizations and individuals to ensure that the project can be successfully installed without impact on, or danger to, the lake’s environment and natural habitats. Contacts include the Audubon Society, the Natural Programs Area of the Recreation and Parks Department, the Lake Merced Task Force and the Engineering Department at San Francisco State University. All have given Mr. Melvin advice and information that will help make the project a success.
Mr. Melvin’s revised proposal is essentially the same, with a few key differences. First, the balloons will be filled with air, rather than helium. This has substantially reduced the size of his budget. Second, the balloons will be attached to the trees around the lake with a nylon cord, much like a laundry line, virtually eliminating the risk of balloons floating away. Additionally, all balloons will be accounted for so that in the unlikely case that one does escape, it can be retrieved. Finally, the exhibition will keep to its original timeline of three to four days, but Mr. Melvin is researching radio broadcast and video documentation possibilities. Consequently, Mr. Melvin has managed to reduce his budget from $50,000 to $25,000.
The Commissioners responded favorably to this revised proposal, stating that Mr. Melvin should research seasonal fog patterns to ascertain the best time of the year to install this project. Due to the short duration of this installation, the Commissioners also stated that extensive marketing and public relations would be necessary to ensure the success of this project.
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Academy of Sciences
Public Art Program Director Jill Manton presented the current status of artist Maya Lin’s two proposed projects at the Academy of Science, which include the suspended wire landscape sculpture and the “Missing” video sculpture. Ms. Lin had originally wanted to utilize funds from her private foundation to supplement the Arts Commission funding, but has been advised that this is not possible. As this means she will need to re-assess the project budget, Ms. Lin has developed four different options for the “Missing” video sculpture. All of the options are approximately eleven feet by three-and-a-half feet in size, and feature LED screens with varying degrees of resolution, metal panels and integration of text.
Option A: This would allow for 4 mm LED displays on the top and all four sides, covered with a 5/8” tempered laminated glass. It would include bronze flush panels on the two short ends and a bronze steel plinth support base.
Option B: This would allow for 4 mm LED displays on the four long sides only, but like option A, would be covered with a 5/8” tempered laminated glass, bronze flush panels and a bronze steel plinth support base.
Option C: This would allow for a 1.7 mm LED display on the top surface only, with metal panels around the four remaining sides. One side panel will be removable to allow easy access to the video equipment
Option D: This proposes to have a 1.7 mm LED display on the top surface, with 4 mm LED displays on the two long sides. The two short sides would be covered in metal, and would be removable to allow for easy access to the video equipment.
Ms. Manton and the Commissioners discussed all four options at length, both in terms of their technical feasibility and the conceptual notion of a memorial. Commissioner Przyblyski inquired whether a plan was in place to upgrade the piece as technology grows and changes. Ms. Manton responded that conversations are underway with the Academy of Science regarding their taking responsibility for the complete maintenance and repair of the artwork, including upgrading the technology as needed.
Ms. Manton reported that Ms. Lin’s contract with the Arts Commission states that she must provide the Academy with a unique artwork that will not be displayed elsewhere. The discussion continued as to how exactly to define the artwork, and whether and to what extent Ms. Lin could utilize either the same video in a different format or venue, or a different sized glass box with the video in future artworks.
The Commissioners expressed concern that the limits of the art enrichment budget may not be sufficient for both the suspended wire sculpture and the video artwork. The Commission also expressed concern about the scale of the video sculpture being considerably smaller than what was originally proposed last year.
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EmbarcaderoRibbon
Ms. Manton stated that Arts Commission staff is continuing to work on the Embarcadero Promenade Ribbon. She commended Project Manager Carol Marie Daniels for a thorough and prompt job repairing and replacing the Ribbon skateblocks that had been vandalized in the vicinity of Pier 14 prior to the installation of the Louise Bourgeois Crouching Spider sculpture. There are numerous other locations along the two-mile stretch of the Ribbon that are awaiting repairs pending availability of funds. Currently, staff is exploring the possibility of funding from the Port of San Francisco to assist with the cost of this work. In addition, staff is investigating a new lighting system for the Ribbon. Ms. Manton started that Ribbon electrician TJ McHose has met with a representative of the original fiber optics company that provided the lighting for the Ribbon. The company will provide two sets of illuminators gratis so that they can be tested and evaluated at a single location. Pier 23 has been selected as the ideal test site, as it has both aboveground and underground vaults. Ms. Manton cautioned that the new fiber optics lighting system may be a bit dimmer than the original LED lights. At present, we are awaiting a delivery schedule from Mr. McHose.
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Moscone Center West
Ms. Manton stated that Diller + Scofidio will be in San Francisco on Thursday, December 13, 2007, to give a lecture at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. They will meet with Ms. Manton the following Friday, December 14. Ms. Manton went on to state that she is consulting with an outside engineering expert as well as a City engineer with the Department of Public Works (“DPW”) to evaluate Pol-X’s proposed redesign to the motion system for the Facsimile video project at Moscone Center West. Pol-X, the project engineer, believes the problem has to do with the Sheedy accident; however, it is difficult to confirm this. Ms. Manton does not yet have City funding for the repair of this project, but she is confident that she will find the funds once a design option is agreed to and cost estimates obtained.
Ms. Manton stated that the Sheedy accident occurred five years ago, and that the Moscone Center has been extremely patient. However, there may come a time when the Commission needs to make a decision about the artwork and whether it remains stationary. Commissioner Przyblyski stated that ultimately, such a decision would need to be made by Diller + Scofidio.
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Harvey Milk Memorial Bust
Ms. Manton stated that the completion of the Harvey Milk Memorial Bust is going very well. Ms. Manton solicited the Committee’s opinion regarding the explanatory text for the piece; specifically, whether the word ‘assassinated’ should be included in the text. At issue is whether this will cause the bust to be about his death as opposed to honoring his life and ongoing importance to equal rights for all.
Commissioner Rinder stated that since Harvey Milk was assassinated in City Hall, in terms of place it is both relevant and historically significant. Commissioner Rinder also stated that he would not object to either wording.
Commissioner Przyblyski stated that she felt this should be decided by the community. She went on to state that as we have seen from the other busts in City Hall, the moment when all of those people who knew Supervisor Milk personally are gone is the moment when the bust becomes what is remembered. With that in mind, the community may need to think about how they would like Supervisor Milk to be remembered by future San Franciscans.
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Ocean Avenue K-Line
Project Manager Tonia Macneil briefly reminded the Committee that this project has been delayed since it was discovered that the land earmarked for art was in fact owned by a nearby Presbyterian church. Since that time, Ms. Macneil has been working with Deputy City Attorney Adine Varah to develop a permit to use the property and a Memorandum of Understanding with DPW for the use of the public sidewalk. Ms. Macneil has also begun the process of obtaining a commercial building permit from the Department of Building Inspection. A public hearing was held as required, but no one attended. The final step is obtaining the Major Sidewalk Encroachment Permit from the Board of Supervisors, which should happen in January or February. By late March, three red-orange mosaic spheres should be installed on Ocean Avenue at Granada along the MUNI K-Line.
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New Business
Ms. Manton stated that there is a twenty-seven-year-old mural on the façade of the Bernal Heights Branch Library. Currently, the community is engaged in a debate over whether the mural should be renovated, or removed completely. The community seems to be split on this issue, with some members who object to the removal of the mural as a sign of gentrification, and others who feel it is time for a change. The City Librarian is conducting a series of focus groups on this issue.
Several of the Commissioners were familiar with this mural, and all agreed it was in need of attention.
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Old Business
Project Manager Tonia Macneil presented three of her projects to the Committee. She showed the final construction documents for the Harvey Milk Recreation Center, and stated that the design of this project is near completion. Next, Ms. Macneil showed the Commissioners the final design of the printed trophy wall for the Minnie and Lovie Ward Recreation Center. Ms. Macneil stated that the final installation will be delayed beyond the reopening of the center, but that in the meantime, the artists will hang a commemorative poster containing images and descriptive text, so that visitors will have a sense of what the larger wall will look like once complete.
Lastly, Ms. Macneil reported on Rochambeau playground. Artist Johanna Poethig had designed and installed a twenty-two-inch mosaic sculpture of a basketball on a tiled column. Tragically, the basketball was vandalized within eight months of its installation. Ms. Macneil worked with artist/fabricator Jason Webster to design a new and stronger installation system and to fabricate a new sphere. The ball is now made from a dense architectural foam with a steel post that bolts it to the base. Artist Colette Crutcher applied new mosaic tile to the sphere, with excellent results. All the Commissioners agreed that this is a very successful solution.
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Adjournment
As there was no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:08 p.m.
ES 1/11/2008
Notices
Explanatory documents are available for public inspection and copying at the Arts Commission office, 25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94102 during regular business hours. INFO: Mary Chou (415) 252-3215.
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