Visual_Arts_Committee
2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
VISUAL ARTS COMMITTEE
Friday, September 30, 2005
3:00 p.m.
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 70
Minutes
Commissioners Present
Leonard Hunter, Jeannene Przyblyski, Lawrence Rinder
Absent: Pop Zhao, Dede Wilsey
Staff Present
Richard Newirth, Director of Cultural Affairs; Nancy Gonchar, Deputy Director; Jill Manton, Director, Public Art Program; Susan Pontious, Carol Marie Daniels, Judy Moran, Tonia Macneil
Note: All votes are unanimous unless recorded otherwise.
The meeting commenced at 3:09 p.m.
- Consent
- Motion to authorize payment of $1,000 honorarium for Civic Art Collection intern Jaime Schwartz, to complete data entry in the collection management database of the inter-department loan program records in preparation for an inventory and assessment of the collection.
Motion: Motion to adopt the consent calendar item
Moved: Rinder/Hunter
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Policy Discussion Regarding Proposed Changes to the Art Enrichment Ordinance
Explanatory Document: Staff Report sent to Commissioners under separate cover on September 19, 2005.
Public Art Program Director Jill Manton stated that the Art Enrichment Ordinance has not been revised in over ten years. She proposed calling a special meeting to discuss the potential ordinance changes. She also noted that, largely due to Mayor Newsom’s support, there is heightened interest in temporary public art projects, which has motivated staff to review and update guidelines for temporary projects, and request Commission approval of them. These guidelines might also be addressed at the special meeting.
The most significant proposed changes to the ordinance are:
a. The Commission in its sole discretion shall determine the percentage of art enrichment funds for each project to be set aside for administration.
b. As the funding source allows, the Commission in its sole discretion shall determine the amount of art enrichment funds to be set aside for maintenance.
c. As the funding source allows, the Commission in its sole discretion shall determine the site for expenditure of pooled funds.
d. As the funding source allows, the Arts Commission may choose to commission non-traditional artworks including temporary works and work in other media besides visual art, including sound, word, and movement.
Ms. Manton will supply samples of other art enrichment ordinances for the committee’s information. Commissioner Przyblyski noted the Portland, Oregon public art program as an example of a successful program that should be included. She also suggested that the Committee discuss the consolidation of curatorial oversight of public art projects, which is now spread over three agencies: the Arts Commission, the Redevelopment Agency and the City Planning Department.
- Joseph Lee Recreation Center Art Enrichment
The Joseph Lee Recreation Center will undergo a major remodel, including the replacement of much of the existing structure. Jill Manton explained that, due to limited staff time, the selection of an artist for the Joseph Lee Recreation Center is not proceeding in sequence with the architectural design. She requested that Commissioners approve a location for artwork at the site, so that the structure can be designed to accept artwork. Brooke Mehbratu, Department of Public Works architect, explained the architectural plans and proposed renovation. The Recreation Center, located in the Bayview District between Newcomb, Oakdale and Mendell, is home to a major cultural artifact, a mural by Dewey Crumpler painted in the 1970’s. While portions of the mural will be destroyed in the remodel, large sections of it will remain and have a strong visual presence at the site. Manton acknowledged Mehbratu for making an extra effort to preserve the mural.
Potential options for location of the artwork were presented for discussion. They include treatment of the walls on either side of the entry doors, a freestanding sculpture near the building entrance, or a suspended artwork in the 13-foot high lobby. The budget for art enrichment will be about $70,000. Commissioners declined to approve a single location, suggesting that it should be up to the selected artist. They spoke favorably of the possibility of freestanding artwork in the entry landscape, or an “archway” treatment protruding from the building reflecting the motif in the Crumpler mural. Artwork on the perimeter fencing was also discussed, but rejected by consensus of the Commissioners.
The following motion was tabled.
Motion: Motion to approve an approach for development of a public art project at the Joseph Lee Recreation Center.
- Arts Commission Gallery
Richard Newirth reported that the new Gallery Director, Meg Shiffler, will be starting work on Monday, October 3. In her absence, Tucker Nichols, a member of the Gallery Advisory Board and of its subset Programming Committee, requested approval of an interim exhibition to be installed in the Gallery from early November, 2005 to mid-January, 2006. The concept is a two-person show of an “outsider” and a local artist. The idea is to make artists from outside the Bay Area relevant by pairing them with local artists with whom they share certain characteristics. The proposed “outside” artist, Oliver Herring, was born in Germany and lives in New York City. Nichols showed images from two of the artist’s current bodies of work in which he challenges the borders between modern art genres. In the first, the artist takes multiple photographs of people and then creates 3D sculptures using Styrofoam structures overlaid with hundreds of pieces of the photos. The second group includes videos and stills of people from off the street who are given props and asked to perform simple, often absurd tasks while the action is documented. Herring will be an artist-in-residence the Headlands Center for the Arts next month. He is currently represented by Max Protech Gallery in New York.
East Bay artist Tim Sullivan is proposed for the local artist. Sullivan holds an MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute, where he specialized in photography and video. Sullivan’s work also has an absurdist streak. He examines himself and his place in the world, playing with optical illusions and notions of contrast, belonging and separation, inside and outside. Sullivan will be creating new work for the exhibit so he is receiving a larger honorarium.
Motion: Motion to approve an exhibition at the Arts Commission Gallery at 401 Van Ness Avenue by Tim Sullivan and Oliver Herring from November 2005 through January 2006.
Moved: Hunter/Rinder
Motion: Motion to approve an honorarium payment of $700 to Tim Sullivan for an exhibition at the Arts Commission Gallery at 401 Van Ness Avenue from November 2005 through January 2006.
Moved: Rinder/Hunter
Motion: Motion to approve an honorarium payment of $300 to Oliver Herring for an exhibition at the Arts Commission Gallery at 401 Van Ness Avenue from November 2005 through January 2006.
Moved: Hunter/Rinder
- Broadway Streetscape Improvements Art Enrichment
Tonia Macneil reviewed the site plans for improvements to the streetscape on Broadway near the intersection with Columbus, including the small plaza to be created at the intersection. She explained that the selection panel had interviewed three finalists, Cork Marcheschi, Jessica Bodner and Brian Goggin, and had selected Brian Goggin to receive the commission to create an artwork for the plaza. Commissioner Hunter, who was a member of the selection panel, described the selection process and assured the Committee that, although there was lively discussion among the panelists, they had generally agreed that Brian Goggin was the appropriate choice for the site.
Motion: Motion to approve the selection panel's recommendation of Brian Goggin as the project artist to perform the public art commission for the Broadway Streetscape.
Moved: Rinder/Hunter
Motion: Motion to authorize that the Director of Cultural Affairs enter into a contract with Brian Goggin in an amount not to exceed $37,500 for the design, fabrication, transportation and installation of an artwork for the Broadway Streetscape Project.
Moved: Hunter/Rinder
- Academy of Sciences Art Enrichment
Jill Manton announced that the selection panel for the Academy of Sciences art enrichment program had interviewed four artists: Ned Kahn, Janet Echelman, Susumu Shingu, and Maya Lin, and had selected Maya Lin to receive the commission. The artists went through a rigorous selection process, including long interviews. Ms. Manton stated that Lin was selected on the basis of her international reputation and deep personal interest in species loss. In fact, Lin has created a foundation to support work in this arena. The panel decided not to select an alternate, choosing to re-convene in the event that Lin is unable to undertake the project. The members of the Academy on the panel expressed pleasure in the choice, as they believe that Lin's artwork will be as compelling as the Renzo Piano building. Maya Lin will be in San Francisco on October 24, 2005.
Motion: Motion to approve the recommendation made by the Art Advisory Committee of the Academy of Sciences to select artist Maya Lin as the artist to perform the public art commission for the Academy of Sciences Art Enrichment Project.
Moved: Hunter/Rinder
Motion: Motion to enter into a preliminary design contract with Maya Lin for an amount not to exceed $40,000 for the Academy of Sciences Art Enrichment Project.
Moved: Hunter/Rinder
- Laguna Honda Hospital
Susan Pontious presented the revised design by artist Cheonae Kim for tile work to be installed at the swimming pool at Laguna Honda Hospital. She explained that the artist had been through several iterations using a palette from standard commercial tile. The artist's new design was facilitated by the Arts Commission, which agreed to pay for a more expensive custom tile from Heath Ceramics. Heath would work with the artist to match their glazes to her colors.
Motion: Motion to approve the revised color palette and design by Cheonae Kim for the Aqua Therapy Room at Laguna Honda Hospital.
Moved: Hunter/Rinder
Ms. Pontious presented images of two of the 16 tapestries for the central Esplanade of Laguna Honda designed by Lewis deSoto, which depict the history of the hospital. The client found the two images, entitled "1947-1954" and "1934-1954-1982" problematic. In the case of the tapestry called "1947-1954", a minor language change was sufficient to gain the hospital's approval. The design of the second tapestry was changed to emphasize the covering over and rediscovery of several WPA murals by Glenn Wessel.
Motion: Motion to approve Lewis deSoto's revised designs for the "1947-1954" (UCSF) and "1934-1954-1982" (Glenn Wessel murals) tapestry panels for Laguna Honda Hospital.
Moved: Rinder/Hunter
Artist Suzanne Biaggi has been commissioned to carve stone sculptures for the Alzheimer Wander Garden in one of the atriums of the new hospital. The hospital has requested that the artist create additional "marker" stones for garden pathways to draw patients along the pathways and excite their senses. Susan Pontious explained that there would be additional time and expenses for this work and asked for approval of an increase to the artist's contract.
Motion: Motion to approve increasing Suzanne Biaggi's contract from $55,000 to $64,284 to allow for the inclusion of additional stone markers along the "wander path" in Courtyard F at Laguna Honda Hospital.
Moved: Hunter/Rinder
- 16th Avenue Tiled Steps Project
Nancy Gonchar distributed images of the 16th Avenue tiled steps, and explained the process by which they came into existence. A group of neighbors at 16th Avenue and Moraga, led by project manager Jessie Audette, had conceived the idea of paving the steps in the tradition of tiled steps seen in Italian and Sicilian villages. The community raised the necessary funds, obtained discounts and in-kind donations, contracted with the artists, and met with the Department of Public Works and the Arts Commission to identify the best materials and processes for the tiling of 167 concrete steps. The artists, Colette Crutcher and Aileen Barr, worked with the community to design and create the tiles. Gonchar introduced the artists, who received a round of applause. Jill Manton attended the dedication, and spoke to the committee of the notable breadth and diversity of project supporters. They were of all ages and ethnicities. She stated that the steps are a great service to the public as well as to the Arts Commission, as they have recruited many new converts to the power of art in public places.
Frank Noto, resident of Quintara Street, representing the Golden Gate Heights Neighborhood Group, spoke in favor of the project.
Motion: Motion to accept into the Civic Art Collection the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps Project by Colette Crutcher and Aileen Barr.
Moved: Rinder/Hunter
- Review of Harvey Milk Plaques for Harvey Milk Plaza at the Castro Muni Station
Jill Manton introduced the mock-ups of photographic plaques that are proposed for installation at the Harvey Milk Plaza Castro Muni Station. The three panels will be fabricated in ceramic steel and installed on a picket fence bordering a garden area recently cleaned and re-landscaped by the Department of Public Works (DPW). The project was conceived and managed by DPW in cooperation with Supervisor Bevan Dufty. Supervisor Dufty invited the photographer Dan Nicoletta, to curate a selection of photographs of Harvey Milk, which make up the images on the plaques. Dan Nicoletta was present at the meeting to speak on behalf of the Supervisor and of Liz Lerma, DPW Community Liaison, who was unable to attend the meeting. He explained that the picket fence was the most visible site, and the plaques would act as a focal point for commuters. Commissioners noted that the plaques might be better sited if they were not below eye level. Mr. Nicoletta noted that the plaques will be placed at eye level. They will be bolted to the fence posts but can be moved if necessary if a better site is identified in the future.
Motion: Motion to approve the designs proposed for a series of three commemorative plaques in honor of Harvey Milk to be placed at the Harvey Milk Plaza at the entrance to the Castro Muni Station.
Moved: Hunter/Rinder
- San Francisco International Airport Art Enrichment
Susan Pontious showed slides of "Cardboard Kore" by Michael Stutz, a figurative sculpture executed in post-consumer paper products. The life-size sculpture will be installed shortly at Boarding Area C of San Francisco International Airport. It will join several other artworks by important Bay Area artists, in what has become a sculpture court with pieces by Jun Kaneko, Werner Klotz, Fran Martin, Jack Zajac, Isumi Noguchi and Manuel Neri.
Motion: Motion to accept "Cardboard Kore," a figurative sculpture executed in post-consumer paper products, by Michael Stutz, commissioned for Boarding Area C of San Francisco International Airport, into the Civic Art Collection.
Moved: Rinder/Hunter
Susan Pontious gave an update on the Sister City Project Proposal, directing the Commissioners attention to the staff report accompanying the meeting agenda. In response to the Airport Director's strong interest in using some of the remaining Art Enrichment funds to do an art project honoring San Francisco's sister cities, the VAC previously approved asking Lewis deSoto for a proposal expanding his artwork, In the Air, (located in the arrivals lobby of the International Terminal), to include acknowledgement of the sister cities. He was also invited to look at expanding the artwork in the departures area.
Part I of his proposal for expanding the work on the arrivals lobby includes creating a special outer "ring" for the sister city plaques. Currently installed are six medallions of cities that are sister cities. Eight more medallions would be designed. All 14 of the plaques would then have to be cast (existing medallions would have to be re-cast as it is unlikely that they could be removed without damage), and installed with the special "sister city" ring.
The cost for Part I is estimated to be $31,465.
Phase II of his proposal calls for expanding the project to the international concourses. The artist proposes to site fourteen 6' acrylic medallions between the seismic braces in both the A & G concourses. The imagery will reference the In the Air medallions by using the same airport pilot maps in the background, with the flower associated with each sister city superimposed on the map. The estimated cost for this part of the proposal is approximately $200,500, not including engineering and installation.
Members of the Visual Arts Committee expressed concern that proceeding with Phase II of this proposal would represent a major commitment of Art Enrichment Funds for an art project by an artist already in the collection. Also of concern is the fact that the number and identity of sister cities is not fixed. New cities are added, and the sister city status of others becomes defunct. How these changes would be incorporated in an artwork needs to be seriously considered.
Staff noted that it has traditionally been the purview of the Airport Art Steering Committee (AASC) to address issues like these, and then make a recommendation to both the Airport and Arts Commissions. The committee agreed that the issue of proceeding with either Phase I or Phase II should be deferred to the AASC for their consideration and recommendation.
The following motions were referred to the Airport Art Steering Committee for consideration and recommendation:
Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a contract with Lewis deSoto for $32,500 to expand his artwork, In the Air, located in the Arrivals Lobby of San Francisco International Airport, to include 14 new plaques honoring San Francisco Sister Cities.
Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a contract with Lewis deSoto for $9,500 for design development of his proposal to create 14 acrylic medallions celebrating San Francisco's sister cities, for installation in Boarding Areas A and G of the International Terminal at San Francisco International Airport.
- Portola Branch Library Art Enrichment
Judy Moran requested approval of the selection panel's recommendation of Dana Zed to create artwork for the Portola Branch Library. Moran pointed to the artist's presentation board showing examples of her past work, in which she fuses delicate metal filigree with glass. The glass can be opaque or transparent, may be colored, and can incorporate copper and other metals and objects. The board was displayed in the community along with those of the other two finalists, Sayed Alavi and Rene Yung. The panel, in making the selection, noted the artist's playfulness and use of color, which they thought would enhance the austere building. Moran explained that the branch library is in a residential area surrounded by private residences and next to a middle school. The architectural team of Stoner, Meek and Noll & Tam have suggested that Zed's glass artwork could be installed in either exterior or interior locations that are already designed to receive glazing such as windows. The architects also encouraged the artist to complement their design approach of incorporating a narrative, book-related theme throughout the facility. Among the themes for the artwork suggested at a community meeting was a history of greenhouses and nurseries in the area. The Commissioners expressed skepticism about both the architects' and community's suggestions.
Moran noted that Dana Zed was selected from a pre-qualified pool of artists that had been selected by a panel of arts professionals and library staff specifically for the Branch Library Improvement Art Enrichment Program. A selection of the Library Artist Pool were then presented to an artist selection committee for the Portola Branch Library composed of three community members, the library branch manager, and a representative of the architectural team. Moran explained that the two-tiered selection process had been developed several years ago in conjunction with the Library, which wanted a community-based process. The result is the Branch Library Improvement Art Enrichment Plan for the seven library branches eligible for art enrichment. Commissioners questioned the heavy involvement of community members in the artist selection process. Moran explained that the Public Art Program staff had learned a great deal from the Branch Library Plan and were continuing to develop ways of improving the process.
Motion: Motion to accept the selection panel's recommendation of Dana Zed as the project artist for the Portola Branch Library.
Moved: Rinder/Hunter
Motion: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a contract with Dana Zed for an amount not to exceed $36,000 for design, fabrication and installation of an artwork for Portola Branch Library.
Moved: Hunter/Rinder
- Civic Art Collection Guidelines
Susan Pontious asked Commissioners for their comments and edits to the 2005 draft guidelines, which were distributed to them on September 19, 2005. She explained that the Guidelines govern the procedure by which the public art and collections staff implements the Commission’s policy.
Commissioner Rinder noted that Section 2.3 of the City Charter indicates that the Arts Commission supervises and controls all funds for art approved by the Board of Supervisors. He stated that this language would seem to indicate that funds allocated by the Board of Supervisors to Grants for the Arts should be supervised and controlled by the Arts Commission. Director Newirth offered to seek clarification from the City Attorney on this matter.
Commissioner Przyblyski asked for clarification of the Public Art Fund. Richard Newirth explained that it is funding that the Arts Commission receives through the Symphony’s Summer In the City Program. The funds used to be discretionary but are now almost entirely devoted to salaries. The possibility of changing the name of the fund was discussed.
It was also suggested that Section 2.2.2 of the Charter should be photocopied and sent to the Mayor, City department heads, division heads and managers to remind them of the Arts Commission’s mandate to supervise, and control funds and approve artwork on City property.
Commissioners requested the following changes to the 2005 Civic Art Collection Guidelines:
Section 3.2: Mission and Goals. Change “congenial” social spaces to “great” social spaces.
Sections 3.3.5 and 3.3.6: Director of Cultural Affairs, Public Art Program Director, Public Art Managers. Add language regarding responsibility for developing a broader curatorial vision inclusive of the entire collection. Include the context of the artwork within the Civic Art Collection and whether the work strengthens the collection.
Section 4.3.2: Criteria for Artwork. Include the context of the artwork within the Civic Art Collection and whether the work strengthens the collection.
Section 5.6.3: Placement/Site. Change last item to “significant enhancement of the site” and move it to the top of the list.
Susan Pontious requested a revision to the original motion, to allow approval of the motion with the modifications requested by the Commissioners.
Motion: Motion to approve the 2005 Revision of the Civic Art Collection Guidelines as revised by Visual Arts Committee, September 30, 2005.
Moved: Rinder/Hunter
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2005 Prequalified Artist Pool
Commissioner Leonard Hunter was appointed to serve on the selection panel for the 2005 Prequalified Artist Pool screening, scheduled for October 7, 2005.
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Civic Art Collections
Rommel Taylor requested approval of the Committee to rotate the Leonidas Statue in Golden Gate Park 180 degrees to face the pedestrian promenade. The change will preserve the original location but make the statue more accessible to pedestrians. The plaque will be located on the front of the statue's granite base.
Motion: Motion to approve the designs proposed for a series of three commemorative plaques in honor of Harvey Milk to be placed at the Harvey Milk Plaza at the entrance to the Castro Muni Station.
Moved: Hunter/Rinder
Mr. Taylor announced that the Arts Commission is participating in Architecture and the City, a city-wide, program of tours, films, exhibitions and lectures, sponsored by the AIA San Francisco and the Center for Architecture + Design. He has curated an exhibition of Arts Commission public art projects in architecture entitled Public Works: Architecture and Art, which will be on display from October 4 to October 25 in the lobby of 25 Van Ness Avenue. A reception will be held on October 6, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the lobby. Taylor presented Commissioners with the event catalog for the entire two-month program of events, which includes the Arts Commission's exhibition.
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Burning Man Temporary Art Exhibit
Jill Manton introduced Leslie Pritchett, Executive Director of the Black Rock Arts Foundation. Manton and Pritchett are collaborating on the installation of a series of temporary artworks in the city, in honor of the 20th anniversary of Burning Man, a project that is strongly supported by the Mayor. The Foundation proposes to bring work from Burning Man to the city, starting with the Civic Center. A committee of the Foundation board selected a piece that would translate from the desert to the Civic Center, the 45-foot high, 2,500-pound sculpture Flock by Michael Christian. The sculpture will be revised to make it unclimbable and to remove any hazardous surfaces. The engineering firm of Degan and Kolb will handle engineering issues. The Foundation will review its plans with the Building Department and with the City's ADA coordinator to assure compliance with codes and that any needed permits are obtained. The 24-footed sculpture will not require a special footing. It will be staked into the ground at each contact point. A motion to approve the installation of Flock will be placed on the full Commission's agenda under the Visual Arts Committee's report.
- New Business — Hayes Green Temporary Art Program
Jill Manton stated that she has begun discussions with the community to develop a program for temporary artworks at Hayes Green. A budget of $50,000 is available for this effort. Among the ideas discussed are both sculpture and performance on the Green itself and a multi-block installation in the dirt areas where the freeway used to be. She spoke of the need to develop a fair selection process so that the Commission does not rely solely on Black Rock artists. Commissioners warned of the need to be clear about the community's expectations, to be sure that the artwork has the impact that the community envisions.
- Old Business
- Adjournment
As there was no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:30 p.m.
Submitted by Tonia Macneil, Public Art Project Manager
Approved by Richard Newirth, Director of Cultural Affairs
10/6/2005
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: Jennifer Lovvorn (415) 252-2594.
Public comment in regard to specific items will be taken before or during consideration of the item.
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