Visual_Arts_Committee
2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 VISUAL ARTS COMMITTEE
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
3:00 p.m.
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 70
Minutes
Commissioners Present:, Jeannene Przyblyski, Lawrence Rinder, Pop Zhao
Absent: Leonard Hunter, Dede Wilsey
Staff Present:
Dana Hemenway, Nancy Gonchar, Sarah Lenoue, Jennifer Lovvorn, Tonia Macneil, Judy Moran, Richard Newirth, Susan Pontious
Note: All votes are unanimous unless recorded otherwise.
The meeting commenced at 3:03 p.m.
- Consent
- Motion to increase the total amount of the Municipal Railway Metro East Light Rail Vehicle Maintenance and Operation Facility fabrication contract with the artist team of Anita Margrill and Nobuho Nagasawa from a total not-to-exceed amount of $140,000 to a new total not-to-exceed amount of $160,000, to fund the increased costs of final computer-aided design (CAD) drawings, fabrication and transportation of the artwork curtainwall insulated glass units.
- Motion to approve the four mosaic sidewalk marker designs by Susan Cervantes inspired by the Twenty Day Signs of the Aztec Calendar and funded by the Fleishhacker Foundation for the following three locations: two markers at Precita Eyes Mural Center at 2981 24th Street; one marker at La Gallinita Market at 24th and Harrison; and one marker at the Mission Neighborhood Center at 3013 24th Street.
- Motion to approve the temporary installation titled ReCycle Ryoan-ji, by Judith Selby Lang, which is an 18’ by 55’ replica of the Ryoan-ji Garden in Kyoto, Japan, created using recycled materials, to be located on the west side of Civic Center Plaza for ten days from April 14 through April 24, 2007.
Motion: Motion to adopt the consent calendar items.
Moved: Rinder/Zhao
- Gallery Report
Gallery Manager Dana Hemenway presented the proposed exhibition, Lucky Day, which includes the following artists: Michael Anderson, Gretchen Bennett, Spencer Finch, Euan Macdonald, Chris McCaw, Claude Zervas and Daniel Tierney. Ms. Hemmenway stated that the exhibition would be on display in the Gallery and Grove Street Windows from January 25–March 24, 2007, with an opening reception on January 25 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. This landscape exhibition considers that the representation of site is bound with the experiences had there. Each artist in this exhibition had an experience that provoked them to seek, capture and record bits and pieces of a specific place. The exhibited works represent locations in terms of the transient nature of each artist’s personal connection to the landscape.
Commissioner Przyblyski stated that the exhibition has a nice mix of local and national artists.
Motion: Motion to approve honoraria payments to the following artists for participating in the gallery exhibition Lucky Day on view from January 25 through March 24, 2007: Michael Anderson ($400); Claude Zervas ($300); Chris McCaw ($300); and Daniel Tierney ($700).
Moved: Rinder/Zhao
- Collections Report — Lucien Labaudt Collection and Jewelry Collection
Collection Program Intern Marcus Davies gave a report on the collection of the estate of Lucien Labaudt. He stated that Mr. Labaudt was a historically important artist to the City of San Francisco. He contributed to the Coit Tower mural project and painted frescos at the Beach Chalet. Mr. Davies reported that the Arts Commission has over 1,000 objects in the Lucien Labaudt Collection, which run the gamut from paintings and drawings to personal ephemera. The collection was donated to the Arts Commission in 1984 by the artist’s widow, and to date there has been no complete inventory. Mr. Davies stated that there are various challenges that this collection presents: 1. There are boxes of smaller works which are not inventoried and do not have accession numbers; 2. There are a number of works on rolled paper, which shouldn’t be opened without a conservator present; 3. There are paintings which need conservation; and 4. There are a number of works which are inappropriate for display in government buildings because they depict religious themes or female nudes.
Mr. Davies made the following recommendations: 1. The collection needs a complete inventory; 2. The Arts Commission should investigate possible venues for long-term loans; 3. The entire collection should be documented; and 4. Certain pieces from the collection could be displayed in cases in City Hall. Mr. Davies stated that it has not been determined whether the estate wanted the collection to stay together.
Commissioner Przyblyski stated that the challenges that this collection presents may be indicative of why the City is not the best repository for art collections. She suggested that a research venue might be a better location for this collection. In general, rather than accepting artworks into the Civic Art Collections, she stated that the Arts Commission may do better to help facilitate finding a proper institution to house them. She added that these concerns also make clear that it is very important for the Arts Commission to have a Collections Program Manager on staff.
Project Manager Susan Pontious added that with the new Arts Commission Development Director starting soon, the Collections Program may be able to pursue a conservation grant.
The Commissioners stated that they applaud the work that has been done on assessing this collection. They recommended that there be a permanent Civic Art Collections Manager, and that the first duty for this person would be to inventory the Collections and prioritize the conservation projects. The Commissioners stated that it is important to manage the City’s patrimony according to best practices nationwide.
Collection Program Intern Jaime Schwartz gave a follow-up report on the Jewelry Collection, which has items that either are missing or have unknown locations. She distributed a report with a timeline that indicates when and where each piece was last seen. She stated that the missing items may be with their respective artists, at another institution where they were last displayed, such as the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, or they may be lost or stolen. Ms. Schwartz recommends that the Arts Commission first conduct a thorough search of its storage facilities for these pieces, then contact the organization or institution where the item was last seen, and finally, only if necessary, contact the artist. After there has been an exhaustive search for the missing items, the Arts Commission should file an official report that lists the missing items as stolen art.
She added that it is important that the Commission establish policies and procedures to handle the current situation and to keep it from occurring in the future.
Ms. Schwartz also presented a brief estimate of up to $2,600 to photograph, conserve, and update the storage for the Jewelry Collection. She stated that many of these pieces will soon be on display at the San Francisco Airport.
Commissioner Przyblyski suggested that these costs be included in the budget for the San Francisco Airport Museum as part of responsibly preparing for the exhibition.
The Commissioners stated that Ms. Schwartz has done a great job assessing the Jewelry Collection. They directed staff to vigorously pursue the missing works in the most professional way possible.
- Collections Report
Project Manager Susan Pontious presented the spending plan for the $75,000 Board of Supervisors’ Supplemental Funds. The plan is as follows: 1. $29,600 to clean, repair, and wax the monuments to Juan Bautista de Anza and King Carlos III; 2. $15,000 to clean wall and mirrors and replace two broken mirrors on Constellation, by Naland Blake, at the Main Library; 3. $10,000 to replace two broken glass lights in Cloud Dragons, by Al Wong, at Fire Station #2 in Chinatown; 4. $10,500 to remove graffiti on King and Queen, by Martha Heavenston, and replace missing tiles on the artwork by Johanna Poethig at Tenderloin Recreation Center; and 5. $3,390 to hire a consultant to create a graffiti removal manual and train City staff at Department of Public Works to perform this duty on certain artworks. The plan includes a contingency of $6,510.
Commissioner Przyblyski stated that the plan has a nice balance of neighborhood projects and large-scale works. She added that staff should provide the estimate for Tenderloin Recreation Center graffiti removal to the Recreation and Parks Department for informational purposes relative to the tile project that was placed in the pocket park on York Street without Arts Commission approval. She stated that the Arts Commission will not be responsible for maintenance of this work.
Motion: Motion to approve the budget and project list of artworks to be conserved with the $75,000 Board of Supervisors supplemental funding.
Moved: Rinder/Zhao
- Rolph Playground and Potrero del Sol Park
Project Manager Judy Moran presented the preliminary artwork proposal by artist Isis Rodriguez for the main entrance gates at both the Rolph Playground and the Potrero del Sol Park. In accordance with the Art Enrichment Guidelines for selection of artists for projects with budgets less than $50,000, staff selected Isis Rodriguez from the prequalified pool. Ms. Moran stated that because the budget is so small, Public Art Program Director Jill Manton recommended that one artist do a similar treatment to the gates at both locations, which are directly opposite each other on Potrero Boulevard. The artist proposes to create two identical laser-cut "drawings" of a family, which would each be attached to the top of one of the entrance gates at each site.
Because the community is requesting colorful artwork, Ms. Moran will explore with the artist how best to achieve multiple colors on a galvanized steel, powder-coated steel surface. Ms. Moran reported that the artist is proposing to laser-cut the drawings rather than hand-roll the metal, which is very time-consuming. Ms. Moran stated that if the Commissioners prefer the look of the hand-rolled metal, she will communicate this fact to the artist.
Commissioner Rinder stated that he prefers the look of the hand-rolled metal, and feels that it is a better option since it would allow for variations in each of the two sculptural drawings.
Commissioner Przyblyski agreed and stated that the Commissioners would support supplementing the budget so that the artist will be able to produce hand-rolled pieces. She added that if the artist wants to pursue laser cutting, the Commissioners would need to approve a sample.
Motion: Motion to approve the preliminary artwork proposal by artist Isis Rodriguez for metal gate enhancements, with a stated fabrication preference of rolled metal over laser-cut metal, requiring approval of a laser-cut steel sample for final design, and a requirement for a variation in the design for each of the two sites, for installation on the main entrance gates at both the Rolph Playground and the Potrero del Sol Park, and to authorize the artist to proceed to final design of the artwork.
Moved: Zhao/Rinder
Motion: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a contract with artist Isis Rodriguez (DBA Good Huevos) for final design, fabrication and transportation of artworks for the Rolph Playground and the Potrero del Sol Park for a total contract amount not to exceed $34,000.
Moved: Rinder/Zhao
- Branch Library Improvement Program — Glen Park Branch Library
Project Manager Judy Moran presented the final design by the artist team of Reddy Lieb and Linda Raynsford for an artwork to be installed at the Glen Park Branch Library. She stated that the artist team’s preliminary proposal was presented and approved by the Visual Arts Committee at its September 2006 meeting. She presented sample elements for the artwork made with the following materials and techniques: painted metal and glass; silkscreened metal and glass; and cut and painted metal. She stated that the artists did extensive research in Glen Park for the artwork. The imagery is inspired by Glen Park and the piece will feature poetry by Beat poet Diane di Prima, who lives in the neighborhood. All the individual elements will be attached to the wall separately, with the lower elements flush against the wall and the higher elements set off from the wall.
Commissioner Rinder asked if the elements with text and photographic imagery installed high on the wall would be legible.
Ms. Moran stated that she will discuss this with the artists and ensure that no element is illegible.
Commissioner Przyblyski stated that she is concerned that when the glass elements are mounted flush to the wall, they will lose their unique transparent quality. She also inquired whether the piece would be difficult to maintain.
Ms. Moran said that only a small portion of the elements at the very bottom of the artwork would be flush against the wall to prevent vandalism, and that the materials all are easily cleaned.
Project Manager Susan Pontious stated that the most difficult maintenance issue facing this artwork is reaching the higher elements.
Commissioner Rinder stated that the composition has a dynamic flow and will read well from both up close and far away.
Motion: Motion to approve the final design by the artist team of Reddy Lieb and Linda Raynsford for an artwork to be installed at the Glen Park Branch Library and to authorize the artist team to proceed to fabrication of the artwork.
Moved: Rinder/Zhao
- Art on Market Street Program
Project Manager Judy Moran presented revised project proposals by Helena Keeffe and the artist team of Packard Jennings and Steve Lambert for the Art on Market Street 2007 Program. Ms. Moran stated that she worked closely with the artists in the further development and revision of their proposals to increase the likelihood that the final proposals would be interesting and appropriate. Ms. Moran reported that Chris Cobb had not submitted a proposal prior to the meeting, as expected.
For her project, Helena Keeffe decided to focus on working with Muni drivers to produce annotated maps for display as posters on Market Street. Ms. Keeffe proposes to interview six drivers to create an original map design for each of their routes, with personal comments and observations, and supplemented by graphic drawings made by the artist. Ms. Moran reported that the Marketing Department at Muni was excited about the project. In additional to the posters, the artist may produce placards for display for the interior or exterior of some of the buses on the Market Street route.
Packard Jennings and Steve Lambert have revised their proposal to focus on a multi-phased process that begins with a symposium of transportation experts and planners, and culminates with a poster design and public forum on future transportation ideas co-sponsored with an appropriate organization. The artists also propose to produce a small run of a modest publication incorporating some of the information compiled during the previous research phases.
The Commissioners stated that the revised proposals are more focused and seem interesting. They liked the idea that the Arts Commission might collaborate with another organization on producing the transportation forum.
Commissioner Przyblyski stated that for projects like this, which can initially be very open-ended, it helps when staff provides direction to the artists.
Motion: Motion to approve the revised artwork proposal by artist Helena Keeffe for a kiosk poster series working with Muni bus drivers for the Art on Market Street 2007 Program.
Moved: Zhao/Rinder
Motion: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a contract with artist Helena Keeffe in an amount not to exceed $18,000 for design (in collaboration with Muni bus drivers) and printing of posters for temporary exhibition in 24 kiosks on Market Street between Van Ness and the Embarcadero as part of the Art on Market Street 2007 Program.
Moved: Rinder/Zhao
Motion: Motion to approve the revised artwork proposal by the artist team of Steve Lambert and Packard Jennings for posters for 24 kiosks illustrating visions of future transportation possibilities in the Bay Area, a related pamphlet and additional programmatic activities for the Art on Market Street 2007 Program.
Moved: Zhao/Rinder
Motion: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a contract with the artist team of Steve Lambert and Packard Jennings in an amount not to exceed $25,000 for the research, design, and printing of posters for temporary exhibition in 24 kiosks on Market Street between Van Ness and the Embarcadero, production of a related pamphlet, and additional related programmatic activities for the Art on Market Street 2007 Program.
Moved: Rinder/Zhao
The following motion was removed.
Motion: Motion to approve an artwork proposal by artist Chris Cobb to work with the Prelinger Library to create a kiosk poster series and related programmatic activities for the Art on Market Street 2007 Program.
The following motion was removed.
Motion: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a contract with artist Chris Cobb in an amount not to exceed $20,000 for the research, design, and printing of posters for temporary exhibition in 24 kiosks on Market Street between Van Ness and the Embarcadero with related programmatic activities for the Art on Market Street 2007 Program.
- Airport
Project Manager Susan Pontious presented an image of the revised artwork proposal by Hung Liu. The proposal was modified to reposition the two smaller outer panels slightly away from the large central panel.
Motion: Motion to approve the revised proposal by Hung Liu for an artwork for a gateroom wall at San Francisco International Airport.
Moved: Rinder/Zhao
Motion: Motion to approve the proposal by Clare Rojas for an artwork for a gateroom wall in the International Terminal of San Francisco International Airport pending Airport Commission approval.
Moved: Rinder/Zhao
- New Business
There was no new business.
- Old Business
There was no old business.
- Adjournment
As there was no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:26 p.m.
Submitted by Jennifer Lovvorn, Public Art Program Associate
Approved by Richard Newirth, Director of Cultural Affairs
1/25/2006
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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