Meeting Information

Full_Commission

MEETING OF THE FULL ARTS COMMISSION
Monday, June 4, 2007
3:00 p.m.
City Hall Room 416

Minutes

President Johnston called the meeting to order at 3:06 p.m.

1. Roll Call
   Commissioners Present
   P.J. Johnston
   José Cuellar
   Maya Draisin
   Leonard Hunter
   Janice Mirikitani
   Jeannene Przyblyski
   Sherri Young
   Pop Zhao
   Dwight Alexander
   
   Commissioners Absent
   Andrea Cochran
   John Kriken
   Alexander Lloyd
   Sherene Melania
   Beverly Prior
   Lawrence Rinder
   Dede Wilsey
   
   
2. Approval of Minutes
   The following Resolution was moved, seconded, and unanimously adopted:
   RESOLUTION NO. 0604-07-144: APPROVAL OF MINUTES ADOPTED
   RESOLVED, that this Commission does hereby approve the Minutes of the Meeting of May 7, 2007.
   
   NOTE: ALL ADOPTIONS ARE UNANIMOUS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.
   
   
3. President’s Report
   President Johnston explained that in light of the presentations to be made, he would keep his report brief and take the action items first on the agenda.
   
   He praised Commissioner Melania’s recent concert.
   
   He reported on the opening of the current temporary art project at Patricia’s Green, the Hayes Valley Historic Miniature Golf Extravaganza. President Johnston thanked Public Art Program Director Jill Manton and staff, noting that this was a creative use of an underutilized space adjacent to the park. He noted that many people were playing golf, and he encouraged everyone to visit on the alternate Saturday afternoons when the artists are staffing the course.
   
   He reminded Commissioners of the retreat at Treasure Island on July 20, and noted that the online survey would be going out shortly to constituents and stakeholders, and the results would be part of the discussion at the retreat.
   
   President Johnston gave a brief update on the search for a new Director of Cultural Affairs, reporting that the Controller has contracted with Ralph Andersen and Associates to conduct the search; he has met with both Andersen and the Controller’s Office. The search will be discussed at the June Executive Committee meeting, and further at the July full Commission meeting.
   
   
4. Consent Calendar
   Item #2 was withdrawn from the agenda since the Executive Committee minutes had not been distributed. The remaining items were approved as follows.
   
   RESOLUTION NO. 0604-07-145:
   Approval: RESOLVED, that this Commission does hereby adopt the following items on the Consent Calendar and their related Resolutions:
   
   Approval of Committee Minutes
   
   1. RESOLUTION NO. 0604-07-146: Motion to approve the Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee Meeting Minutes of May 8, 2007.
      
      
   2. RESOLUTION NO. 0604-07-147: Motion to approve the Visual Arts Committee Meeting Minutes of May 16, 2007.
      
      
   3. RESOLUTION NO. 0604-07-148: Motion to approve the Civic Design Review Committee Meeting Minutes of May 21, 2007.
      
      Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee Recommendations (May 8, 2007)
      
   4. RESOLUTION NO. 0604-07-149: Motion to approve the Programs in the Community (PIC) grant to the following PIC grantee organizations, recommended by the PIC review panel, pending written confirmation from Grants for the Arts:
      
      Central City Hospitality House $19,000
      Eldergivers $19,000
      Urban Services YMCA $19,000
      Filipino-American Development Foundation $19,000
      Bayview Hunters Point Foundation for Bayview Hunters Point 3rd Street Youth Center and Clinic $19,000
      Larkin Street Youth Services $19,000
      Rose Resnick Lighthouse for the Blind & Visually Impaired $19,000
      Boys & Girls Clubs of SF $19,000
      Institute on Aging $19,000
      Youth Guidance Center $19,000
      San Francisco Parks Trust for Friends of Boeddeker Park $19,000
      Literacy for Environmental Justice $18,998.31
      World Savvy $19,000
      
      
   5. RESOLUTION NO. 0604-07-150: Motion to approve Neighborhood Festival grants pending written confirmation from Grants for the Arts:
      
      Uprising Community for Andrew’s Boarding and Boarding Care, Andrew’s Boarding and Boarding Care’s 4th of July Picnic, $3,000
      San Francisco Foundation Community Initiative Funds for Excelsior Action Group, Excelsior Festival, $3,000
      San Francisco Parks Trust for Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema’s Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema, $3,000
      Potrero Hill Neighborhood House, Inc., Potrero Hill Festival, $3,000
      Reclaiming Collective for Marigold Project’s Dia de los Muertos Festival of Altars, $2,500
      Visitacion Valley Community Development Corp for Visitacion Valley Business Opportunities and Outreach to Merchants’ Leland Avenue Street Fair, $3,000
      Community Development Institute for South of Market Community Action Network’s SOMAfest, $3,000
      Sunset Youth Services for Sunset District Neighborhood Coalition, Sunset Community Festival, $3,000
      North of Market/Tenderloin Community Benefit District, Santa Sitings, $3,000
      San Francisco Foundation Community Initiative Funds for Portola Neighborhood Steering Committee, Portola Festival, $3,000
      OMI Cultural Participation Project, OMI International Family Festival, $3,000
      
      
   6. RESOLUTION NO. 0604-07-151: Motion to enter into a grant agreement, not to exceed $11,270, for graffiti abatement at SomArts.
      
      Visual Arts Committee Recommendations (May 16, 2007)
   7. RESOLUTION NO. 0604-07-152: Motion to approve the six final poster designs by artist Helena Keeffe for the Art on Market Street program to be reproduced and installed in twenty-four kiosks on Market Street between Van Ness Avenue and the Embarcadero from July 16 to November 8, 2007.
      
      
   8. RESOLUTION NO. 0604-07-153: Motion to approve Link Building gate entry as an art project site.
      
      
   9. RESOLUTION NO. 0604-07-154: Motion to authorize the Interim Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a $3,000 design contract with Diana Pumpelly Bates for the Link Building entry gate.
      
      
   10. RESOLUTION NO. 0604-07-155: Motion to approve an honorarium to Mark Lee Morris for $1000 and an honorarium to Jillian Mcdonald for $1000 for their participation in the SFAC Gallery exhibition Conversation 4: Jillian Mcdonald & Mark Lee Morris (June 29–August 25, 2007).
       
       Civic Design Review Committee Recommendations (May 21, 2007)
       Action
   11. RESOLUTION NO. 0604-07-156: Motion to approve the Hamilton Pool and Recreation Center Phase 3.
       
       
   12. RESOLUTION NO. 0604-07-157: Motion to approve the SEWPCP Building 915—Modular Building Phase 2.
       
       
   13. RESOLUTION NO. 0604-07-158: Motion to approve the Sensu Element, San Francisco Japantown Phase 2.
       
       
   14. RESOLUTION NO. 0604-07-159: Motion to approve the Sunnyside Conservatory Renovation Phase 1 contingent upon further study of the exterior form expressing the original use of the building.
       
   
   
5. Committee Reports—Motions
   
   1. Executive Committee—P.J. Johnston, Chair
      
      1. President Johnston reported that the Committee discussed the search for a new Director of Cultural Affairs, the upcoming Commission and staff retreat, and the 2007-2008 budget, which he said did not have significant changes since it was last discussed.
         
         President Johnston presented the following motion:
         
      2. RESOLUTION NO. 0604-07-160: Motion to authorize the Interim Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with the San Francisco Symphony to produce the annual Summer in the City concert series in the amount of $1,498,387.
         
         
   2. Civic Design Committee—Andrea Cochran, Chair
      1. In the absence of Commissioner Cochran, Commissioner Hunter reported that the Committee reviewed the Hamilton Pool project, and made some broad suggestions to the architects, who were very responsive. He added that the Committee voiced its opinion that modular or prefabricated construction need not eliminate aesthetic considerations.
         
         Commissioner Przyblyski reported on the Sunnyside Conservatory, a landmarked redwood building, and a potentially vibrant community space. She explained that the community is involved in raising grant money for the space, and that it will have a public art component. She added that the Committee is looking forward to working with other City agencies and with the community on the project.
         
         Commissioner Hunter reported that the Committee also reviewed, as new business, the renovation of a soccer field at Crocker Amazon Playground, which is to be resurfaced with a synthetic material. He presented the following motion.
         
         
      2. RESOLUTION NO. 0604-07-161: Motion to approve the Crocker Amazon Playground Soccer Field Renovation Phases 1 and 2.
         
         
   3. Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee—José Cuellar, Chair
      1. Commissioner Cuellar reported that the Committee discussed many items at its May 8 meeting. He reported that Cultural Equity Grants Program Director San San Wong had initiated a significant reevaluation of the granting programs, deadlines and guidelines. He reported that WritersCorps had held several events, including reading at the Giants baseball game (which perhaps contributed to the team’s success that evening).
         
         He reported that the Committee reviewed Management and Program Plans (“MPP”) from the Cultural Centers. He explained that on June 30, Shelley Bradford Bell would be resigning from her position at the Bayview Opera House, and the Committee and staff were working with the Center to develop a solid transition plan for new leadership. He announced the resignation of Andrew Brother Elk from the Native American Cultural Center, and the appointment of Kim Schuck as Interim Executive Director. He reported that the current fiscal year’s funds have been frozen, and the time for the Center to file its MPP has been extended.
         
         Commissioner Cuellar presented the following motions.
         
         
      2. RESOLUTION NO. 0604-07-162: Motion to amend Resolution No. 0507-07-125 to correct an error in the grant amounts for Nanos Operetta and Triple Base Gallery, and to correct the funding total accordingly. The corrected amounts are as follows:
         
         Nanos Operetta, $12,000
         Triple Base Gallery, $3,500
         
         The corrected total funding recommended for 2006-2007 Organizational Project Grants is $569,506.
         
      3. RESOLUTION NO. 0604-07-163: Motion to approve funding recommendations for the FY2006-2007 Individual Artist Commission (IAC) grants totaling $391,900:
         
         Bill Basquin, $9,600
         J.D Beltran, $9,600
         Evan Bissell, $7,500
         Jonathan Burstien, $7,500
         Matthew Davidson, $8,000
         Keina Davis, $7,500
         Jay Dayrit, $10,000
         Brian Dempster, $9,000
         Ana Fernandez, $9,700
         Todd Gilens, $7,500
         Eileen Goldenberg, $7,500
         Maya Gonzalez, $7,500
         Sam Green, $9,600
         Anne Hamersky, $8,700
         Taraneh Hemami, $9,700
         Amy Hicks, $9,600
         Mateen Kemet, $9,600
         Jennifer Kroot, $9,600
         Mike Lai, $7,500
         Joyce Lee, $9,600
         Rudy Lemcke, $9,700
         Genny Lim, $8,000
         Madeleine Lim, $9,600
         Carlos Loarca, $9,700
         Felicia Lowe, $9,600
         Michelle Matz, $8,000
         Rebecca McBride, $9,700
         Amanda Micheli, $9,600
         Kari Orvik, $8,700
         Alberto Palomar, $8,000
         Laura Parker, $8,700
         Alison Pebworth, $9,700
         Margo Perin, $8,000
         Elissa Perry, $9,000
         Greta Snider, $7,500
         Chad Sweeney, $10,000
         Sandra Taylor, $8,700
         Michelle Tea, $10,000
         Thy Tran, $10,000
         Truong Tran, $10,000
         Migdalia Valdes, $9,700
         Sharon Virtue, $9,700
         Jess Wells, $8,000
         Rene Yanez, $7,500
         
         
      4. RESOLUTION NO. 0604-07-164: Motion to approve the following individuals as guideline review panelists for Cultural Equity Grants and to be considered for agency-wide panel pool:
         
         Nancy Quinn, Principal, Quinn Associates, Arts Management Services
         Wayne Hazzard, Executive Director, Dancers’ Group
         Yesenia Sanchez, Fiscal Sponsorship Coordinator, Intersection for the Arts
         Madeleine Lim, filmmaker; Founder and Artistic Director, Queer Women of Color Media Arts Project
         Lily Kharrazi, dance writer; Living Cultures Grants Program Manager, Alliance for California Traditional Arts
         Carolina Ponce de Leon, Executive Director, Galeria de la Raza
         Sean Dorsey, choreographer; Artistic Director, Fresh Meat Productions
         Olivia Malabuyo, Program Associate, Gerbode Foundation; former Managing Director, Bindlestiff Studio
         Cicely Sweed, Center for Community Life Manager, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
         
         
   4. Street Artists Committee—Alexander Lloyd, Chair
      
      1. In the absence of Commissioner Lloyd, Commissioner Cuellar reported that the Committee had not met, and would be meeting in the following week.
         
         He presented the following motion.
         
         
      2. RESOLUTION NO. 0604-07-165: Motion to approve former certificate-holders for priority issuance of certificate with waiver of re-screening of wares: Jameson Christiansen, Larry Lowell, Wing W. Chan.
         
         
   5. Visual Arts Committee—Jeannene Przyblyski, Chair
      
      1. Commissioner Przyblyski reported that the minutes of the Committee’s meeting were very complete. She pointed out item 13, the Central Subway project, and said that the Committee was excited about its many art opportunities with potentially significant impacts. Commissioner Przyblyski then introduced Public Art Program Manager Judy Moran to present the completed Third Street Light Rail project.
         
         Ms. Moran discussed the Third Street Light Rail project, on which she originally began work during her first week at the Arts Commission some ten years ago. She explained that the project encompassed 28 platforms, from Fourth and King Streets, through Mission Bay, to the San Mateo County line, and that it was the first large transit project after the passage of the current Public Art ordinance. She noted that an innovation on this project is that the entire line is conceived as a single unit, while in other systems, artwork for each station is treated independently. She described the process of working on the project and showed images of the stations and the artwork incorporated within them. She explained that there are four elements in the design (pole-mounted sculptures, canopy shadow casters, paving elements and windscreen display case posters), and that only eight of the most heavily-trafficked stations have all four elements. Budgetary constraints prohibited using all four elements in all of the stations. Ms. Moran also showed a video clip from ABC7News on the Light Rail system’s artwork.
         
         Commissioner Przyblyski thanked Ms. Moran, noting that the Committee wanted her to make this presentation to the full Commission. In her honor, Commissioner Przyblyski made the following motions.
         
         
      2. RESOLUTION NO. 0604-07-166: Motion to approve the installation of, and accept into the Civic Art Collection, the series of permanent public artworks designed for and installed on the 28 T-Third Street Light Rail transit platforms by the three Third Street Light Rail Artist Teams, including Bill and Mary Buchen (Mission Bay); Horace Washington, Frederick Hayes, and JoeSam (Bayview Hunters Point); and Anita Margrill and Nobuho Nagasawa (Visitacion Valley and the standard pole-mounted sculptures), to include 28 pole-mounted metal sculptures (9 specialty pole-mounted sculptures and 19 standard pole-mounted sculptures); and 10 sets of metal laser-cut panel canopy shadow casters; metal, mosaic tile, granite, and sandblasted and painted paving insets on 14 platforms.
         
         
      3. RESOLUTION NO. 0604-07-167: Motion to approve the long-term temporary installation in windscreen display cases on the 28 T-Third Street Light Rail platforms of 20 posters designed by the three Third Street Light Rail Artist Teams, including Bill and Mary Buchen (Mission Bay); Horace Washington, Frederick Hayes, and JoeSam (Bayview Hunters Point); and Anita Margrill and Nobuho Nagasawa (Visitacion Valley), as well as 40 posters designed by 14 youth as part of the Third Street Light Rail Youth Arts Program.
         
         Before taking up the Interim Director’s Report, President Johnston introduced Sherri Young of the African American Shakespeare Company, the newly-appointed Commissioner for theater. Commissioner Young said that she was very pleased to be on the Commission, and to see all of the work the Commission is doing. She explained that she had grown up in San Francisco and attended the School of the Arts, and that making art in San Francisco is very important to her. She looks forward to working with the Commission.
         
         
6. Interim Director’s Report
   Interim Director of Cultural Affairs Nancy Gonchar reported that the Mayor has submitted his budget, noting that anyone interested can review it in detail at www.sfgov.org. She requested that Commissioners who have not yet spoken with the retreat facilitators contact them soon.
   
   Ms. Gonchar reported that Rommel Taylor has left his position as Civic Design Review Program Manager, and she was pleased to have Vicky Knoop, a former intern with the program, taking over his responsibilities on an interim basis.
   
   Ms. Gonchar reported that Americans for the Arts has released its Arts and Economic Prosperity III study.
   
   She reported that Assemblymember Mark Leno was sponsoring AB 1365 in the State Assembly to set aside a portion of the sales tax on artworks to reinstate the California Arts Council.
   
   WritersCorps Project Manager Janet Heller introduced a presentation honoring the outgoing WritersCorps teachers: Chrissy Anderson Zavala, Kim Nelson, Michelle Matz and Gloria Yamato. She spoke briefly about each of them, their work, and their future plans, and she presented each with a framed photograph. For each teacher, one of their students read a poem written for the occasion. The students were Mariela Tello, Annie Yu, Ahmed Elsayed and Indiana Pehlivanova.
   
   Commissioner Mirikitani thanked the students for sharing their work, and the teachers for their work with the program. She said that they are “like the hands that clean the soot from our lamps,” and she quoted poet Audre Lorde, describing WritersCorps as “forming the quality of light with which we create a future of hope.” President Johnston echoed Commissioner Mirikitani’s thanks to both students and teachers on behalf of the entire Commission.
   
   Ms. Gonchar finished her report by announcing that the full 10% increase in Hotel Tax funding will be allocated to Cultural Equity Grants and Community Arts and Education grants.
   
   President Johnston introduced Dwight Alexander, President of the Planning Commission and ex officio member of the Arts Commission.
   
   
7. New Business
   There was no new business.
   
   
8. Reports and Announcements
   There were no other reports or announcements.
   
   
9. Public Comment
   Ave Montague, of the San Francisco Black Film Festival, spoke to the Commission. She said that the Festival had received great coverage in the San Francisco Chronicle’s recent Pink Section. She said that the Festival did not receive the Cultural Equity Grant requested this year, and that their appeal was unsuccessful. She reported that the Festival received 36 out of a possible 40 points from the reviewing panel, and had received funding in past years. She said that they had submitted the same materials as in previous years, but they were not accepted this year. She asked that the Festival’s grant request be placed on the full Commission’s agenda. She closed by inviting everyone to the Festival’s opening at Theater Artaud on Thursday, June 7.
   
   President Johnston agreed to place the item on the Commission’s agenda.
   
   Gallery Director Meg Shiffler reported that the Gallery is now including a panel discussion or educational event of some kind with each of its exhibits. A panel discussion at the Main Library entitled “Are We All Photographers Now?” began the series in connection with the current show, Breakthrough: An Amateur Photography Revolution. The panel was attended by some 150 people who were informed and entertained by the discussion. She judged its success by hearing people enthusiastically continuing the conversation with one another as they left the auditorium.
   
   
10. Adjournment
    There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:07 p.m.

8/2/07 spr