Full_Commission
2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 MEETING OF THE FULL ARTS COMMISSION
Monday, March 5, 2007
3:00 p.m.
City Hall Room 416
Minutes
President Johnston called the meeting to order at 3:07 p.m.
- Roll Call
Commissioners Present
P.J. Johnston
Andrea Cochran
Leonard Hunter
John Kriken
Alexander Lloyd
Sherene Melania
Beverly Prior
Jeannene Przyblyski
Dede Wilsey
Pop Zhao
Commissioners Absent
José Cuellar
Maya Draisin
Janice Mirikitani
Lawrence Rinder
M. Sue Lee
- Approval of Minutes
The following Resolution was moved, seconded, and unanimously adopted:
RESOLUTION NO. 0305-07-066: APPROVAL OF MINUTES ADOPTED
RESOLVED, that this Commission does hereby approve the Minutes of the Meeting of February 5, 2007.
NOTE: ALL ADOPTIONS ARE UNANIMOUS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.
- President’s Report
President Johnston reminded Commissioners that they are required to file Form 700 and the Sunshine certification by April 2 of each year, and distributed the forms. He also reminded them that open enrollment for health insurance will be in April.
President Johnston introduced Sherene Melania, newly sworn in as an Arts Commissioner filling the dance seat vacated by Blanche Brown. He announced the appointment of Commissioner Melania to the Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee, and to the Street Artists Committee, effective at the beginning of April, replacing himself on both. Commissioner Melania thanked him for his welcome, and said that she was excited to be on the Commission and looked forward to beginning her work with the Commission.
- Director’s Report
Director of Cultural Affairs Richard Newirth also welcomed Commissioner Melania.
He reported on a presentation he and Cultural Equity Grants Program Director San San Wong attended on the Pennsylvania Cultural Data Project, which has created standard forms to be used in grant applications to multiple funding sources. All of the participating funders agree to use the same format, and this allows for the provision of a great deal of data useful to funders and arts organizations. Ms. Wong will give a fuller presentation at a future meeting.
Mr. Newirth thanked Deputy Director Nancy Gonchar, Senior Project Manager Susan Pontious, and Project Manager Rommel Taylor, all of the Collections team, for their presentation on the capital budget. The Arts Commission has requested capital funds for the Cultural Centers and for badly needed repairs on some historic monuments. The Mayor’s Office has decided not to submit the Arts Commission’s Proposition 40 application for the Bayview Opera House, but instead has committed to spending capital improvement funds of approximately one-half million dollars per year over the next four years on the facility. This provides greater flexibility than the State Prop. 40 funding, with its matching and other requirements.
Mr. Newirth reported that he, Gallery Director Meg Shiffler and Gallery Board Chair Patrick Banks met with Michael Cohen of the Mayor’s Office regarding the status of 155 Grove. Having received eleven responses to the Request for Interest, they are moving forward with a Request for Proposals/Request for Qualifications.
He announced that Public Art Program Director Jill Manton has received the great honor of being elected National Chair of the Public Art Network.
He reported that the unveiling of the Lewis deSoto artwork Shining Paths: San Francisco’s Sister Cities, at the San Francisco Airport, was a great success, and that President Johnston spoke at the event. He noted that the project was both highly visible and cost-effective.
He reported that he had met with the Gallery Board, who would be taking a more active role in the Commission’s activities.
Mr. Newirth announced that Rachelle Axel has now officially begun her service as Development Director. At a mini-retreat with her and Ms. Gonchar, they developed a plan for the next six months, and will determine the agency’s greatest needs. He also announced that Public Art Program Associate Jennifer Lovvorn’s last day had arrived, and that Ellen Shershow will be taking that position once Community Arts and Education Program Associate Robynn Takayama returns from her leave in late April. He also was very pleased to announce that Dia Penning, formerly of California College of the Arts, has accepted the position of Arts Education Program Manager.
Mr. Newirth announced that the Victorian Alliance has awarded the Arts Commission $15,000 toward restoration and conservation of Portals of the Past.
He also announced that the Bill Fontana sound sculpture project for City Hall will be rescheduled, as it will require more time to implement and to raise the needed funds.
Mr. Newirth reminded the Commissioners about the March 14, 2007, Art Train event, as part of the Third Street Light Rail Project. He commended Public Art Program Manager Judy Moran, who has worked scrupulously on the project for the entire ten years of her tenure at the Arts Commission. He noted that she found errors that the construction managers missed.
Mr. Newirth announced that there will be public meetings on the proposed Supporting Neighborhood Artists Residencies program beginning in April. The meetings are intended to gather public input so that the program can be launched next year.
He announced that Cultural Equity Grants Program Associate and Civic Art Collection Archivist Sarah Lenoue will be leaving the Arts Commission staff to spend more time with her family.
Finally, Mr. Newirth congratulated Commissioner Wilsey, who will be honored with the Arts Medallion at the Performing Arts Library and Museum’s luncheon on March 19, 2007.
- Consent Calendar
RESOLUTION NO. 0305-07-067:
Approval: RESOLVED, that this Commission does hereby adopt the following items on the Consent Calendar and their related Resolutions:
Approval of Committee Minutes
- RESOLUTION NO. 0305-07-068: Motion to approve the Executive Committee Meeting Minutes of December 19, 2006.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0305-07-069: Motion to approve the Executive Committee Meeting Minutes of January 16, 2007.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0305-07-070: Motion to approve the Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee Meeting Minutes of February 13, 2007.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0305-07-071: Motion to approve the Street Artists Committee Meeting Minutes of February 14, 2007.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0305-07-072: Motion to approve the Civic Design Review Committee Meeting Minutes of February 26, 2007.
Civic Design Review Committee Recommendations (February 26, 2007)
- RESOLUTION NO. 0305-07-073: Motion to approve the SEWPCP Building 915 Office Facility, Phase 1.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0305-07-074: Motion to approve the Van Ness Avenue Streetscape Improvement Project, Phase 2.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0305-07-075: Motion to approve the Mint Plaza, Phase 2.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0305-07-076: Motion to approve the Pipeline Repair and Readiness Improvements—Phase B at Sunol Yard, Phase 3 Administrative Review.
Visual Arts Committee Recommendations (February 28, 2007)
- RESOLUTION NO. 0305-07-077: Motion to approve the six final designs for reproduction for an Art on Market Street kiosk poster series by the artist team of Amanda Hughen and Jennifer Starkweather with writer David Buuck, scheduled for exhibition from March 12 to June 7, 2007, and to approve the preliminary design by the artist team of a catalog related to the exhibition for publication and public distribution.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0305-07-078: Motion to increase the contract amount with Joyce Hsu from $23,500 to a new amount not to exceed $25,713 to compensate the artist for additional work on the artwork for Argonne Playground.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0305-07-079: Motion to approve an honorarium payment in an amount not to exceed $5,000 for further research and development of Spiraling Echoes, a sound art piece by artist Bill Fontana to be installed in City Hall in August through October, 2007.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0305-07-080: Motion to approve a payment in the amount of $4,000 to PhotoAlliance for co-curating four exhibitions for the 2007 Art at City Hall program with the San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery (City Hall, Lower Level), which will be issued in four installments of $1000 each (one for each exhibition) within the next 12 months.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0305-07-081: Motion to approve an honorarium payment in the amount of $700 to Derek Powazek for co-curating the upcoming exhibition JPG: A Photography Revolution, on display in the San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery from April 13 through June 16, 2007.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0305-07-082: Motion to approve the conceptual proposal by Horace Washington of a work of art for Hamilton Pool and Recreation Center.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0305-07-083: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a contract with Horace Washington for an amount not to exceed $145,000 for the completion of design, fabrication, transportation, and installation of an artwork for the Hamilton Pool and Recreation Center.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0305-07-084: Motion to approve the revised proposal by Owen Smith for an artwork for the “H” walls at Laguna Honda Hospital.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0305-07-085: Motion to increase Diane Andrews Hall's contract amount from $80,000 to $87,000 for payment of an artist fee comparable to other Laguna Honda Hospital artists.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0305-07-086: Motion to approve the mural design by Santie Huckaby featuring the South East Community Facility Founders to be installed near the entrance to the facility at 1800 Oakdale Avenue.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0305-07-087: Motion to accept the selection panel’s recommendation of the artist team Daub Firmin Hendrickson Sculpture Group, LLC for the Harvey Milk Commemorative Sculpture in City Hall.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0305-07-088: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into an agreement with the artist team Daub Firmin Hendrickson Sculpture Group, LLC in an amount not to exceed $57,500 for design, fabrication and transportation of a commemorative sculpture of Harvey Milk for City Hall.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0305-07-089: Motion to authorize staff to proceed to announce a competition for artwork for two exterior sites at the Randall Museum with a budget of $50,000 each.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0305-07-090: Motion to accept the staff recommendation to decline with gratitude the gift of sculpture from Alberto Cristini.
- Committee Reports—Motions
- Executive Committee—P.J. Johnston, Chair
- President Johnston reported that the Committee had not met. He presented and discussed the following motion. He reviewed the fact that in November, the Commission had approved the spending plan for the addback funds, and that plan has been successfully implemented. He pointed out that there has been considerable discussion about new initiatives for 2007-2008, and the funding annualized by the Mayor for future budget years. There is great interest in and enthusiasm for doing new things with that money, putting it to work in new ways, in addition to the existing grants programs. The Commission has received public input at its meetings. He explained that community outreach meetings will be held as part of the process of shaping new programs to be launched in the 2007-2008 fiscal year, which begins in July. He is confident that they will be effective and hopeful that they will be well-received in the community.
He pointed out that of the 2006-2007 funds, it is still possible to allocate approximately $400,000 into existing community grants programs. He said that the exact split between Cultural Equity Grants (“CEG”) and Community Arts and Education (“CAE”) will be discussed at the Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee meeting, and that the greater portion will probably go to CEG. He requested the approval of the Commission for this motion because it is important to get the funds out into the community now. He strongly supports the proposed new programs, and feels that they can be successfully launched in 2007-2008.
President Johnston requested public comment. Jeff Jones spoke, thanking the Commission for being responsive to the community. He questioned whether $400,000 was an accurate figure, and questioned the amount allocated to the Cultural Centers. Secondly, he suggested that public meetings should happen in the next week, rather than waiting till April. He thought it was better to accelerate the process.
Seeing no other public comment, President Johnston called for a vote on the motion, which was passed unanimously.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0305-07-091: Motion to approve allocations of all uncommitted funds in the FY 2006-2007 Spending Plan to existing grants programs.
- Civic Design Committee—Andrea Cochran, Chair
- Commissioner Cochran reported that the Committee had a good meeting; they reviewed the Mint Plaza design and the Islais Creek project, which is moving forward after many years. She presented the following motion.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0305-07-092: Motion to approve the Islais Creek Motor Coach Maintenance and Operations Facility, Phase 3.
- Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee—José Cuellar, Chair
- President Johnston reported that the Committee's last meeting was largely devoted to the issues he had discussed in his report on the Executive Committee. He explained that no specific dollar amount had been finally agreed upon for the CEG and CAE programs at that meeting. He presented the following motions. Mr. Newirth pointed out that the impending departure of Ms. Lenoue was a factor in the allocation of funding for interns in the second motion.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0305-07-093: Motion to approve the following individuals as application review panelists for the Cultural Equity Grants Program:
Holly Blake: Painter; Residency Program Manager, Headlands Center for the Arts
Jaime Cortez: Artist, Writer, Cultural Worker; Multi-Cultural Fellow, Arts Program, The San Francisco Foundation
Ali Dadgar: Artist working in experimental printmaking, digital photography, painting and performance
Caleb Duarte: Artist working in painting, installation, site specific collaborations; Arts Commissioner for the City of Oakland
Leonel Estevez: Artist working with new media design
Courtney Fink: Artist, Writer, Curator; Executive Director, Southern Exposure
Claire Light: Writer; Founder, Hyphen: Asian American Magazine
Isis Rodriguez: Artist working in murals, painting, silk screens, graffiti, flyers and posters, and animation
Joel Barraquiel Tan: Artist, Writer; Director of Community Engagement Programs, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Dominic Willsdon: Curator of Education and Public Programs, SFMOMA
Jenifer K. Wofford: Artist and Arts Educator
- RESOLUTION NO. 0305-07-094: Motion to approve an allocation of up to $5,000 for interns to be drawn from the Cultural Equity Grants.
- Street Artists Committee
- Commissioner Lloyd reported that the Committee had held an interesting meeting. He presented the following motions, briefly explaining the problem behind the action regarding Fisherman’s Wharf. He explained that the Street Artists program is largely self-regulated by the artists. There are artists not enrolled in the program who are operating around the Wharf, using bigger spaces than the regulated spaces and generating fumes from spray paints. He said that this harms the program because the surrounding merchants aren’t really aware of the difference between the regulated and illegal artists. He explained that because the specific areas involved are on Port property, the Arts Commission does not have jurisdiction over them. He said that this proposal is an example of the great work this Commission can do, in listening to constituents and taking action to make things better. In response to a question about the problem with the spray paint, he and Mr. Newirth explained that artists in the program need to do their work in their studios, not in the street. The illegal artists painting on the street may wear masks to protect themselves from the paint spray and fumes, but the public is not protected. In response to another question, they explained that the Port Commission would need to take action, and then the matter would go to the Board of Supervisors. Once they approve the spaces, they would be administered through the Street Artists Program.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0305-07-095: Motion to approve former certificate-holders for priority issuance of certificate with waiver of re-screening of wares: Maya Pell, Phillip Shaw, Deborah Kurfiss, Ming Yan Yin, Esther Janampa.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0305-07-096: Motion to approve resolution urging Port Commission to designate street artist selling locations on Jefferson Street.
- Visual Arts Committee
- Commissioner Przyblyski reported that the Committee had met and approved the new Art on Market Street program. She praised Ms. Moran’s work as really innovative and her energy as inexhaustible. The Committee had a demonstration of Bill Fontana’s proposed work, which they found incredible and fascinating; they are committed to ensuring that the project is ultimately mounted. She said that the Committee was delighted to approve the Harvey Milk memorial bust for City Hall. There were comments from some 300 viewers on the three models shown.
- New Business
There was no new business.
- Reports and Announcements
There were no other reports or announcements.
- Public Comment
There was no other public comment.
- Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 3:52 p.m.
4/2/07 spr
