Full_Commission
2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 MEETING OF THE FULL ARTS COMMISSION
Monday, September 10, 2007
3:00 p.m.
City Hall Room 416
Minutes
President Johnston called the meeting to order at 3:15 p.m.
- Roll Call
Commissioners Present
P.J. Johnston
José Cuellar
Leonard Hunter
Alexander Lloyd
Sherene Melania
Janice Mirikitani
Beverly Prior
Lawrence Rinder
Pop Zhao
Commissioners Absent
Andrea Cochran
Maya Draisin
John Kriken
Jeannene Przyblyski
Dede Wilsey
Sherri Young
Dwight Alexander
- Approval of Minutes
The following Resolutions were moved, seconded, and unanimously adopted:
RESOLUTION NO. 0910-07-225: APPROVAL OF MINUTES ADOPTED
RESOLVED, that this Commission does hereby approve the Minutes of the Meeting of July 20, 2007.
RESOLUTION NO. 0910-07-226: APPROVAL OF MINUTES ADOPTED
RESOLVED, that this Commission does hereby approve the Minutes of the Meeting of August 4, 2007.
NOTE: ALL ADOPTIONS ARE UNANIMOUS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.
- President’s Report
President Johnston said that he anticipates some changes in the Committees, possibly in their memberships or meeting schedules. He noted that he and Commissioner Przyblyski have discussed the workload of the Visual Arts Committee, which will continue to increase with some of the large public art projects on the horizon. He added that the Executive Committee is moving closer to the goal of discussing planning issues and is currently serving as the search committee for the permanent Director of Cultural Affairs position. He expects the search to require several meetings in October to review and interview candidates. He explained that the Mayor has said very clearly that he wants the process to be finished soon. President Johnston thanked Interim Director of Cultural Affairs for her grace in serving in the interim status.
President Johnston said that he intends to temporarily expand the Executive Committee to seven members during the search process, and that he would announce the new members’ names shortly. Finally, he reminded everyone that Commission Secretary Sharon Page Ritchie and Public Art Program Director Jill Manton had contact information for Heather Renschler, the search consultant.
- Interim Director’s Report
Interim Director of Cultural Affairs Nancy Gonchar reported that she, Community Arts and Education Program Director Judy Nemzoff, and Arts Education Program Manager Dia Penning would need to leave the meeting by 4:15 to meet with the new Superintendent of Schools, to discuss the Arts Education Master Plan.
She reported that in her recent meeting with the Mayor, he was very enthusiastic about the proposed Mayor’s Arts Award; the inaugural award will be presented to Ruth Asawa. Ms. Gonchar has spoken with Ms. Asawa’s family, and though she is in frail health, Ms. Asawa would very much like to attend the ceremony. Ms. Gonchar said that Arts Commission grantees, Gallery artists, Commissioners and staff will be invited. The event will also acknowledge the fortieth anniversary of Neighborhood Arts and all grantees in the past year. Ms. Gonchar thanked Interim Deputy Director Catherine Direen and Development Director Rachelle Axel for their work on the event. She said that this is a first effort in the new push to improve the agency’s visibility, and that staff hopes to highlight a new project or event each month. She added that Community Arts and Education Program Director Judy Nemzoff is working with the M-Line on publicity; future projects include the Louise Bourgeois sculpture, Crouching Spider, the relocation of the King Carlos III and Juan Bautista de Anza monuments to Lake Merced, the new Lincoln Brigade monument, and the photographic exhibition, Lonnie Graham: a Conversation with the World. Ms. Gonchar explained that the Graham exhibition is a collaboration with PhotoAlliance; large photographic banners will be displayed in City Hall, and the images will also appear in the Decaux kiosks in November.
Ms. Gonchar reported that the deadline had just passed for the new Arts and Communities: Innovative Partnerships grants, and that 54 proposals were submitted. She reported that at Bayview Opera House, preparation has begun for a high-quality paint job. Funds from various City departments, and some federal funds have been raised for work on the Opera House and plaza. SWA Group is hosting a pro bono landscaping event to upgrade the plaza. They are meeting with community groups and will present their plan to Civic Design Review this fall.
Ms. Gonchar reported that there appears to be a resolution of the controversy regarding the mural on the Department of Parking and Traffic property at 24th and Capp Streets. She briefly explained that any mural projects on City property must be reviewed by the Visual Arts Committee, that the design proposal was approved in June and painted by HOMEY as a summer youth project, and that members of the community objected to a part of the mural that differed significantly from what the Committee approved. Since then, staff has met with the artists and with several community groups, and has facilitated meetings between community groups. The artists have developed several alternatives to the panel in question, and a satisfactory resolution is in sight. Because the design has changed from what was approved, the revised project will be reviewed by the Committee.
Commissioners and staff discussed the situation. Commissioner Cuellar asked more generally about the relationship between an action taken by a Committee and the approval of that action by the Commission as a whole, and whether and to what extent the Committee could revisit its decision. He also raised the question of how the Commission ought to respond to community or interest groups which object to its actions.
Ms. Gonchar said that staff and Committee members agreed that guidelines for mural review will be more specific in the future. Commissioners and staff noted that artists creating public artworks are frequently requested to change something in their work, including materials, colors, imagery and other elements. Staff referred to the Robert Arneson bust of George Moscone, and Three Shades of Blue by Mildred Howard for the Fillmore Street Bridge, as examples of the Commission’s taking action when the approved design was different from the finished artwork.
President Johnston said that controversial art was not a problem, but that the Commission is responsible to see that what is delivered is what was approved. He closed the discussion, cautioning that it was inappropriate to hold a full review of the project without its appearing on the agenda, and adding that it may be necessary to consult with the City Attorney’s office on some of the process questions raised. He noted that the Arts Commission operates within the public sphere, and that public participation is part of the process.
Ms. Gonchar had nothing further to report.
- Consent Calendar
The motion to approve the Visual Arts Committee minutes of August 15, 2007, was withdrawn from the Consent Calendar because the minutes had not yet been distributed. The remaining items were approved as follows.
RESOLUTION NO. 0910-07-227:
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. 0910-07-228: Motion to approve the Executive Committee Meeting Minutes of August 21, 2007.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0910-07-229: Motion to approve the Street Artists Committee Meeting Minutes of August 22, 2007.
Visual Arts Committee Recommendations (August 15, 2007)
- RESOLUTION NO. 0910-07-230: Motion to approve the following pool of arts professionals for the Sunnyside Conservatory artist selection panel: Stacy Garfinkel, Maria del Carmen Carrión, Joyce Chu and Kristen Zaremba.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0910-07-231: Motion to approve a mosaic tile beautification project with the Friends of Crocker Amazon and the Excelsior (“FACE”) and Precita Eyes Mural Center at the Children’s Playground in Crocker Amazon Park.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0910-07-232: Motion to approve a dual mural at 3859 and 3881–24th Street, where the Noe Valley Farmers’ market takes place, depicting plants related to the Farmers’ Market and local urban history.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0910-07-233: Motion to approve an artist honorarium in the amount of $1,000 to Ann P. Meredith for her solo exhibition, Tall in the Saddle: Cowgirls, Ranch Hands and Rodeo Gals at City Hall (December 20, 2007–March 22, 2008).
- RESOLUTION NO. 0910-07-234: Motion to approve the Recreation and Park Department request to relocate the Korean monument, Movement: The First 100 Years, by Man Lin Choi, from the west end of Block 203 near Davis Street, between Washington and Clay, to the east end of Block 203, near Drumm Street, in order to accommodate the redesign of Ferry Park.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0910-07-235: Motion to approve the conceptual proposal by artist Gina Telcocci for the Potrero Branch Library and to approve the artist to proceed to design development and final design.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0910-07-236: Motion to authorize the Interim Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with Gina Telcocci for final design, fabrication, transportation and installation of artwork for the renovated Potrero Branch Library, for an amount not to exceed $35,000.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0910-07-237: Motion to approve alternative site at Laguna and Francisco Streets for sculpture entitled Guide Post, by artist Brian Goggin for the Moscone Recreation Center.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0910-07-238: Motion to deaccession from the Civic Art Collection one untitled tapestry by Hal Painter and one unidentified textile, due to severe insect infestation and resulting damage, after conducting research on both pieces to identify their actual value (and provenance in the case of the unidentified textile), and after their examination by a professional conservator.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0910-07-239: Motion to approve design development documents and materials by artist Joyce Hsu for San Francisco Airport International Terminal Gate Room wall.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0910-07-240: Motion to approve relocation of Robert Hudson’s Horse of a Different Color to Gate Room 1 in Boarding Area A of the San Francisco Airport.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0910-07-241: Motion to approve purchase of TAXA, a suite of six prints, individually entitled Gone, Back, Ascendent, Descendent, Collection and Trade, by Isabella Kirkland, for an amount not to exceed $15,000 for the San Francisco Zoo pending Zoo approval.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0910-07-242: Motion to approve conceptual proposal by Bean Finneran for tile artwork for the façade of Junipero Serra Playground, pending evidence of support from the Friends of Junipero Serra Playground and resolution of final colors to be used.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0910-07-243: Motion to authorize the Interim Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with Bean Finneran for the completion of design development, fabrication, transportation, and installation of artwork at Junipero Serra Playground, for an amount not to exceed $23,000.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0910-07-244: Motion to approve recommended approach for McLaren Park project development.
Street Artists Committee Recommendations (August 22, 2007)
- RESOLUTION NO. 0910-07-245: Motion to approve authorization of Program Director to submit proposals to Board of Supervisors for six-month designation of four (4) street artist spaces in the Hayes Street/Octavia Street vicinity.
- Committee Reports
- Executive Committee—P.J. Johnston, Chair
- President Johnston reported that the Committee met and discussed the controversy surrounding the mural project. He urged Commissioners to attend Committee meetings other than their own when they are able, on highly controversial or uncontroversial matters.
He mentioned the impending installation of Crouching Spider, which he expects to draw some controversy. He said that NBC11 did a good television segment on the piece, for which they interviewed Commissioner Przyblyski. He was a little surprised to see that in the person-on-the-street interviews, no one disapproved of the project.
- Civic Design Committee—Andrea Cochran, Chair
- In the absence of Commissioner Cochran, Commissioner Prior reported that the Committee did not meet. She presented the following motions for Phase 3 approval.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0910-07-246: Motion to approve Crocker Amazon Playground Soccer Field Renovation—Building Modification, Phase 3: Administrative Review.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0910-07-247: Motion to approve Ingleside Branch Library, Phase 3: Administrative Review.
- Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee—José Cuellar, Chair
- Commissioner Cuellar reported that the Committee did not meet, and that it expects to have a busy fall season. He reported that there are still significant concerns with the Native American Cultural Center and the Bayview Opera House. He urged Commissioners to think about the Commission’s relationship with the Centers, and that the Committee will be discussing them at future meetings.
Commissioner Cuellar presented the following motions, noting that the initial Programs in the Community (“PIC”) grantee declined the grant, and the present motion awards the grant funds to the next organizations down the list recommended by the PIC review panel.
President Johnston added that the Committee is considering a change in its meeting schedule to accommodate full discussion of both Cultural Equity Grants and Community Arts and Education matters.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0910-07-248: Motion to approve the following individuals as application review panelists for Cultural Equity Grants:
Tamara Alvarado, Executive Director, Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana, Inc.
José María Francos, Production Manager, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts; Lighting Designer
Jon Funabiki, Department of Journalism, San Francisco State University; Consultant
Eric Hayashi, Executive Director, Film Arts Foundation
Ana Hortillosa, Performing Arts Program Coordinator, Asian Art Museum
Amy Kitchener, Executive Director, Alliance for California Traditional Arts
Lori Laqua, Managing Director, ODC
Yasmen Sorab Mehta, Artistic Director, California Contemporary Dancers (1989-2004)
Eugene Rodriguez, Executive Director, Los Cenzontles Mexican Arts Center
Judy Tam, Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer/Chief Operations Officer, Independent Television Service, Inc. (ITVS)
Geol Leonard Weirs, Executive Director, Young Audiences of Northern California
Rene Yung, Artist, Writer and Designer
- RESOLUTION NO. 0910-07-249: Motion to approve the Programs in the Community (“PIC”) grant to the following PIC grantee organizations, recommended by the PIC review panel:
Golden Gate Council of American Youth Hostels, $6,175
San Francisco General Hospital Foundation, $19,000
- Street Artists Committee—Alexander Lloyd, Chair
- Commissioner Lloyd asked Street Artists Program Director Howard Lazar to speak about the Committee’s recommendation of August 22, just approved in the Consent Calendar above. Mr. Lazar explained that many years ago, there had been requests for the Street Artists Program to move into the neighborhoods. Artists have proposed four spaces in Hayes Valley, which Mr. Lazar described as a very art-enriched neighborhood. Both the artists and the staff are excited to be able to propose these new spaces, and he thanked the Commission for authorizing him to present this request to the Board of Supervisors.
Commissioner Lloyd presented the following motion.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0910-07-250: Motion to approve former certificate-holders for priority issuance of certificate with waiver of re-screening of wares: Shanhe Ouyang, Cynthia Montoya-Wong, Jennifer Giles.
- Visual Arts Committee—Jeannene Przyblyski, Chair
- In the absence of Commissioner Przyblyski, Commissioner Rinder reported that the Committee had met on August 15, and that a large part of the discussion involved the HOMEY mural. He expressed pride in the Commissioners and staff, and praised the respectful and honest sharing of ideas. He was hopeful of a prompt resolution.
He described the rest of the meeting as more or less business as usual, briefly citing as examples the approval of an artist honorarium for Ann Meredith, the motion to relocate the Korean monument, approvals of the projects by Gina Telcocci at the Potrero Branch Library and Bean Finneran at Junipero Serra Playground.
Commissioner Rinder presented the following motion, adding that the Committee was very excited about this project. He noted that the second motion on the agenda, regarding Brian Goggin’s Guide Post, had been withdrawn at the request of staff.
- RESOLUTION NO. 0910-07-251: Motion to approve an honorarium in the amount of $1,000 to artist John Melvin for the development of a proposal for a temporary public art installation at Lake Merced as part of the Temporary Projects in Natural Settings Initiative.
- Public Comment
President Johnston recognized Stephen Worsley for public comment.
Mr. Worsley introduced himself as the founder of Coit Depression Preservationists, and distributed the group’s brochure to the Commission. He spoke in opposition to a plan by the Recreation and Parks Commission to develop Coit Tower as a tourist attraction. He requested the Arts Commission’s support to contact the Recreation and Parks Commission and ask them not to “turn this quiet respite into an extension of Pier 39.” Mr. Worsley discussed the frescoes in the tower, and said that a visit to Coit Tower should be an educational experience, not a shopping experience.
President Johnston thanked him for his comment and mentioned the example of the Beach Chalet as a development that successfully integrates an educational art experience with dining and shopping concessions.
- New Business
Commissioner Cuellar questioned the text in the Americans for the Arts posters proposed for the Decaux kiosks, specifically the reference to “hot sauce” in the poster of Celia Cruz. He thought the reference could be considered offensive, given the enormous esteem in which Ms. Cruz is held, particularly by people in the Cuban and Puerto Rican communities. President Johnston said he would bring the subject to the Executive Committee.
There was no further new business.
- Reports and Announcements
There were no other reports or announcements.
- Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:20 p.m.
9/28/07 spr
