Meeting Information

Full_Commission

MEETING OF THE FULL ARTS COMMISSION
Monday, March 6, 2006
3:00 p.m.
City Hall Room 416

Minutes

President Johnston called the meeting to order at 3:10 p.m.

1. Roll Call
   Commissioners Present
   P.J. Johnston
   Andrea Cochran
   José Cuellar
   Leonard Hunter
   John Kriken
   Janice Mirikitani
   Lawrence Rinder
   Ethel Pitts Walker
   Pop Zhao
   
   Commissioners Absent
   Maya Draisin
   Alexander Lloyd
   Beverly Prior
   Jeannene Przyblyski
   Dede Wilsey
   M. Sue Lee
   
   
2. Approval of Minutes
   The following Resolution was moved, seconded, and unanimously adopted:
   RESOLUTION NO. 0306-06-033: APPROVAL OF MINUTES ADOPTED
   RESOLVED, that this Commission does hereby approve the Minutes of the Regular Monthly Meeting of February 6, 2006.
   
   NOTE: ALL ADOPTIONS ARE UNANIMOUS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.
   
   
3. President’s Report
   President Johnston distributed copies of the Form 700 Statement of Economic Interests and the Sunshine Ordinance Declaration, reminding Commissioners that they are required to file these documents with the Ethics Commission each year.
   
   He introduced WritersCorps Program Manager Janet Heller to discuss the upcoming Write Like a Giant event. She explained that on opening night, April 7, 2006, there will be a pre-game reception and reading by some of the WritersCorps youth. Posters promoting the event, and featuring a poem by WritersCorps student Antonio Caceres, will be placed in about 40 of the Decaux kiosks downtown. She said that the Giants organization, including players Omar Vizquel (a spoken-word artist in his free time) and Randy Winn, featured in the promotional video, have been enthusiastic about the event and WritersCorps. She invited all of the Commissioners to participate in this fundraising event, and urged them to help get the word out about the event. She played the promotional video. Commissioner Mirikitani congratulated Ms. Heller and the staff, saying this was a great idea.
   
   President Johnston reported that he had attended an event in Pacific Heights honoring Commissioner Rinder and his work at the California College of the Arts (“CCA”). Commissioner Rinder noted that this was part of an effort to raise awareness of CCA as a cultural incubator, and also to raise awareness of the importance of the arts in the city in general.
   
   President Johnston reported that he had attended one of the United States Urban Arts Federation events where the Mayor spoke to the members. He said that everyone clearly saw how great a city for the arts San Francisco is, and that they were really glad to be here. He congratulated Mr. Newirth for making this a great event. President Johnston noted that news about the Arts Task Force and its final report was appearing at the same time, and that it was interesting to hear arts directors dealing with similar issues across the country.
   
   He announced the appointment of Commissioner Cuellar as Chair of the Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee, and of Commissioner Lloyd as Chair of the Street Artists Committee. He predicted some changes in other committee assignments in the near future.
   
   President Johnston reported that he has been working with Street Artists Program Director Howard Lazar on Supervisor McGoldrick’s proposal, later withdrawn, that the Arts Commission license street performers. They will continue to meet over the next several weeks and report to the full Commission.
   
   
4. Director’s Report
   Mr. Newirth distributed an article from the San Francisco Chronicle about the Arts Task Force, and a CD of the Commonwealth Club panel which he had moderated at the end of January. He also distributed a wonderful review of the Gallery’s “Conversation 1” show from Artweek, and a rave review by Kenneth Baker in the Chronicle of “Conversation 2,” currently showing in the Gallery. He noted that the Baker review was extensive and flattering, and that the focus was on local artist Alice Shaw.
   
   Mr. Newirth described the Urban Arts Federation as a whirlwind, saying that he enjoyed showing off the city’s highlights, including the Piazzoni murals, the Asian Art Museum, Mission Cultural Center and murals in the Mission District. He distributed some of the post-conference e-mails from his colleagues to give a sense of how highly they regard San Francisco and how much they look forward to returning.
   
   He reported that the Arts Task Force has adopted its final report, which is being designed and edited for final publication. Task Force Chair Debra Walker suggested that the Task Force continue to meet every six months, but other members suggested monthly meetings. He has begun regular meetings with Kary Schulman and Renee Hayes of Grants for the Arts, and Deputy Director Nancy Gonchar to address the Task Force recommendations, as well as meeting with Ms. Walker. Mr. Newirth reported that Supervisor Ma is requesting supplemental funds to implement the Task Force recommendations.
   
   He reported that he will be meeting with Ben Rosenfield to discuss long-term capital planning for the City, to include the Cultural Centers. There are enormous capital needs, including millions of dollars in seismic work.
   
   Noting that the monuments of King Carlos and Juan Bautista de Anza appeared again in ChronicleWatch, he reported that Commissioner Przyblyski has been in contact with the Mayor and Supervisor Elsbernd to urge that money be found for them.
   
   Mr. Newirth reported that he and President Johnston had a meeting regarding the commissioning of a bust of Harvey Milk for City Hall. He was pleased that the project was coming to the Arts Commission for consultation early in the process, and that it included administrative fees.
   
   He announced that Public Art Program Associate Jennifer Lovvorn had a baby boy, Jasper Ian, on February 17, and noted that Ms. Heller would be taking maternity leave shortly.
   
   
5. Consent Calendar
   Because minutes of the Civic Design Review Committee of February 27, 2006 had not been distributed, they were severed from the Consent Calendar. And because the Civic Design Review Committee was unable to hear item 12 on the agenda, it was also severed. The remaining items were approved as follows.
   
   RESOLUTION NO. 0306-06-034
   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. 0306-06-035: Motion to approve the Executive Committee Meeting Minutes of January 24, 2006.
      
      
   2. RESOLUTION NO. 0206-06-036: Motion to approve the Visual Arts Committee Meeting Minutes of February 15, 2006.
      
      Visual Arts Committee Recommendations (February 15, 2006)
   3. RESOLUTION NO. 0306-06-037: Motion to approve the revised design proposal by Steve Gillman and Katherine Keefer for Coffman Pool.
      
      
   4. RESOLUTION NO. 0306-06-038: Motion to approve a payment of $100 to artist Amy Globus and $500 to artist Cynthia Ona Innis for honoraria for artwork included in upcoming exhibition.
      
      
   5. RESOLUTION NO. 0306-06-039: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a contract with Architectural Resource Group Conservation Services in an amount not to exceed $275,000, to provide repair and conservation of the Mark di Suvero sculpture “Sea Change” on the Embarcadero, and to perform seismic stabilization of the Portals of the Past Monument in Golden Gate Park.
      
      
   6. RESOLUTION NO. 0306-06-040: Motion to approve Cliff Garten’s proposed color palette for his artist-designed handrails for Laguna Honda Hospital.
      
      
   7. RESOLUTION NO. 0306-06-041: Motion to approve sculptural “button” designs as proposed by project artist, Linnea Glatt, for Laguna Honda Hospital.
      
      
   8. RESOLUTION NO. 0306-06-042: Motion to approve an increase of $2,700 in the Grant Agreement with Epiphany Productions for the Art on Market Street Program’s performance of Lotta’s Fountain, previously approved for funding for an amount not to exceed $27,000. The increase is to pay for an administrative fee charged by Epiphany Productions’ fiscal agent, Dancers’ Group, and the total new Grant Agreement amount is not to exceed $29,700.
      
      
   9. RESOLUTION NO. 0306-06-043: Motion to approve the following firms as a pre-qualified list of fine arts services providers and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contracts with these firms on an “as needed” basis for an amount not to exceed $25,000: Architectural Conservation, Inc., Angotti & Reilly, ARG Conservation Services, Atthowe Fine Arts Services, B.R. Howard & Assoc., Baird, Rief & Assoc., Conservation Artisans, Conservation Resources Management, Gizmo, Lawrence Fine Arts, Thomas Swan, Mikhail Ovchinnikov, Brian Boeddeker and Ann Rosenthal.
      
      
   10. RESOLUTION NO. 0306-06-044: Motion to approve the establishment of a pool to include the following individuals from which the Hayes Green Temporary Projects selection panel will be chosen: Larry Badiner (Zoning Administrator, Department of City Planning), a representative from the Hayes Valley Association, David Best, Brian Goggin, Mabel Wilson, Ralph Rugoff, Sandra Percival, Susan Schwartzenberg, Kevin Chen, Renee Green, Susette Min and Hulleah Tsinhnahjinnie.
       
       Civic Design Review Committee Recommendations (February 27, 2006)
   11. RESOLUTION NO. 0306-06-045: Motion to approve Moscone Center Clubhouse Phase 2.
       
       
6. Committee Reports
   1. Executive Committee—P.J. Johnston, Chair
      
      1. President Johnston reported that the Committee met and discussed the budget at length. He will ask Ms. Gonchar to present the budget to the full Commission at a future meeting. The Committee also discussed the Arts Task Force report.
         
         
   2. Civic Design Review Committee—Andrea Cochran, Chair
      1. Commissioner Cochran reported that the Committee reviewed several projects, praising the redesign of the Moscone Clubhouse. She said that the Airport Connector will be coming back to the Committee for further discussion, and that questions were raised about community involvement in the Skyview Pump Station project.
         
         
   3. Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee
      
      1. President Johnston reported that the Committee did not meet, and he presented the following motions with additional information from Community Arts and Education Program Director Judy Nemzoff.
         
         
      2. RESOLUTION NO. 0306-06-046: Motion to approve the following individuals for Cultural Equity Grants Panel Pool:
         
         Teresa Walsh, poet, program manager, California College of the Arts
         Patricia Tumang, editor, Seal Press
         Leslie Lewis, editor, Open Mind Publishing Co.
         Janice Peacock, director, Public Glass
         Sonali Joshi, development associate, BayCat, a media education program in Bayview
         Stephanie Yang, video maker and former grants officer, the Women’s Foundation
         Sandra Percival, director, New Langton Arts
         Jerome Elliot, program manager, San Francisco Mime Troupe
         Deborah Slater, choreographer, artistic director, Art of the Matter
         Kendra Kimbrough, choreographer, artistic director, KStar Productions
         Bill Bowles, artistic director, Old First Music Concerts
         Beth Hoenninger, development director, SF Jewish Film Festival
         Kegan Marling, choreographer, arts consultant
         Roderick Lowe, singer, member of Volti
         Elliot Lessing, curator, executive director, BUILD Arts Space
         
         
      3. RESOLUTION NO. 0306-06-047: Motion to approve the following panelists to be considered for the Programs in the Community Grants panel pool:
         
         Sonia Manjon, Associate Director, California College of the Arts
         Rose Marie Dennis, San Francisco Recreation and Park Department
         Daniel del Solar, Community Media Activist
         Stephen Shapiro, Executive Director, Community Music Center
         Eddie Marshall, musician and former Arts Commissioner
         Gayle Roberts, independent consultant
         Jaren Bonillo, Community Outreach Manager, Southern Exposure
         Andrea Leal, Acting Cultural Funding Coordinator, City of Oakland Cultural Arts and Marketing Division
         Jason Jong, Acting Assistant Cultural Funding Coordinator, City of Oakland Cultural Arts and Marketing Division
         Miko Lee, Director, Art and Public Education, East Bay Center for Performing Arts
         Lilia Agüero, School Grants Coordinator, Creative Education Program, Cultural Initiatives Silicon Valley
         Ernest Mark, independent consultant
         Stella Chu, Staff Nutritionist, Department of Aging and Adult Services
         Wayne Kitchen, Board of Directors, SEW Productions/Lorraine Hansberry Theatre
         Javier Reyes, Colored Ink, Brava! For Women in the Arts
         Tracy Ward, Kaiser Permanente Educational Theatre Programs
         Tish Brown, Museums’ Accessibility Coordinator, M.H. de Young Memorial Museum
         Deborah Kaplan, Executive Director, World Institute on Disability
         Elias Katz, Co-Founder, National Institute of Art and Disabilities
         John Killacky, Program Officer for Arts and Culture, San Francisco Foundation
         Donna Feingold, Executive Director, Toolworks
         Bonnie Leifcowitz, Axis Dance Company
         Tom di Maria, Executive Director, Creative Growth Art Center
         Lynn Johnson, Youth Development Specialist, Community Network for Youth Development
         John Simpson, Executive Director, Theatre Rhinoceros
         Stephanie Yang, Senior Program Officer, Women’s Foundation of California
         Oren Slozberg, Executive Director, Community ArtReach Program
         Jumoke Hinton Hodge, Community Outreach Associate, The Crucible
         Joel Tan, Community Engagement Manager, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
         Sherwood Chen, Program Fellow, Arts and Culture, San Francisco Foundation
         Ken Ikeda, Executive Director, Youth Sounds
         Brad Erickson, Executive Director, Theatre Bay Area
         Kevin Chen, Program Director, Intersection for the Arts
         Manami Kano, independent consultant
         Peter Carpou, resident artist, Larkin Street Youth Services
         Susan Tibbon, visual artist
         Midge Wilson, director, Bay Area Women’s and Children’s Center
         
         
      4. RESOLUTION NO. 0306-06-048: Motion to award a grant to Intersection for the Arts in the amount of $15,000 for 2006 WritersCorps events and earthquake book launch.
         
         
   4. Street Artists Committee—P.J. Johnston, Chair
      1. President Johnston reported that the Committee did not meet. He recalled that at its January meeting, the Committee heard a complaint against a street artist, which was continued to allow for a studio visit. He reported that the artist cancelled the studio visit and has moved out of the area. President Johnston presented the following motions:
         
         
      2. RESOLUTION NO. 0306-06-049: Motion to approve waiver of 15-day policy for applicant in obtaining certificate: Yu Hua Lu.
         
         
      3. RESOLUTION NO. 0306-06-050: Motion to approve former certificate-holders for priority issuance of certificate with waiver of re-screening of wares: Li Wei Wang, Carlos Garth, Aurelia Bealum, Catherine Jones, Thomas Sedlack, Geoffrey Vorlaza.
         
         
   5. Visual Arts Committee—Jeannene Przyblyski, Chair
      
      1. Commissioner Rinder reported that he chaired the meeting in the absence of Commissioner Przyblyski. He said that the Committee heard several staff reports, and praised Public Art Program Director Jill Manton for her persistence in the Diller + Scofidio project at Moscone Center. He also reported that the Committee supported the idea of funds being pooled for small Recreation and Park Department projects. He said that Ms. Shiffler reported on the upcoming Conversation 3, and the Committee is enthusiastic about the show. He reported that the Committee discussed the critical importance of conservation of the collection, noting that staff are doing what they can even with very limited funds. Finally, he noted that the Committee agreed that it was wise to wait until there are very specific goals before recommending any changes to the public art ordinance.
         
         
7. New Business
   President Johnston announced that Commissioner Pitts Walker had submitted her letter of resignation from the Commission, effective April 1, 2006. He expressed deep regret at her departure, saying that her contribution has been enormous. He shared a few lines from her letter, asserting that the arts are as necessary as air and water.
   
   Commissioner Pitts Walker thanked everyone “for being so wonderful” and for the opportunity to serve. She said that the Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee has been a joy in her life, and that she knows great things will come for children from the Commission’s work.
   
   
8. Reports and Announcements
   There were no reports or announcements
   
   
9. Public Comment
   There was no other public comment.
   
   
10. Adjournment
    There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:47 p.m.
    

    
    3/29/06 spr