Meeting Information

Visual_Arts_Committee

VISUAL ARTS COMMITTEE
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
10:00 a.m.
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 70

Minutes

Commissioners Present:
Jeannene Przyblyski, Dede Wilsey, P.J. Johnston, Alexander Lloyd

Absent: Lorraine Garcia-Nakata

Staff Present:
Mary Chou, Marcus Davies, Carol Marie Daniels, Jennifer Lovvorn, Tonia Macneil, Jill Manton

Note: All votes are unanimous unless recorded otherwise.

The meeting commenced at 10:05 a.m.

1. North Beach Branch Library
   Project Manager Jennifer Lovvorn reported that the first North Beach Branch Library artist selection panel meeting took place on June 3rd and included the following panelists: Robert Carleson, North Beach Library Branch Manager; Marsha Maytum, Project Architect; Rene Bihan, Arts Commissioner; and three community representatives Abby Herget, Aileen Meehan, and Howard Wong. The panel reviewed 33 artists, which included artists from the Branch Library Prequalified Artists Pool and the 2009 Bay Area Artists Registry, and selected three finalists and one alternate: Bill Fontana, Paul Hayes, Mark Malmberg, and alternate Mark Baugh-Sasaki. Ms. Lovvorn presented the work of the finalists and alternate. She reported that the next step will be an artist orientation meeting with the community tentatively scheduled for July 14th, followed by the development of the proposals and the display of proposal boards at the library. The final selection panel meeting will take place at the beginning of October.
   
   Commissioners Przyblyski and Johnston recommended that the short list of finalists be augmented to include one or two additional artists that reflect the ethnic diversity of the North Beach neighborhood as well as diversity in art practice as the three finalists have an aesthetic that is more abstract and conceptual. Ms. Lovvorn stated that she will review the artists in the Branch Library Prequalified Artists Pool and the 2009 Bay Area Artists Registry to select more artists to be considered as finalists.
   
   THIS MOTION HAS BEEN POSTPONED.
   Motion: Motion to approve the artist selection panel's recommendation of the following artists as finalists for the North Beach Branch Library public art project: Bill Fontana, Paul Hayes and Mark Malmberg as finalists and Mark Baugh-Sasaki as the alternate.
   
   
2. Church & Duboce Muni Track and Streetscape Improvement Project
   Ms. Lovvorn reported that the first Church & Duboce Muni Track and Streetscape Improvement Project artist selection panel meeting took place on June 5th. The artwork will be sculptural seating for two locations near the intersection of Church and Duboce, which will provided much needed seating and function as a visually unifying element in the area. The artwork project budget is $80,000. Ms. Lovvorn explained that the community requested an artist to do sculptural seating as the streetscape design has already been envisioned by the community. The artist selection panel included Cass Calder Smith, Arts Commissioner; Kris Opbroek, Department of Public Works ("DPW"), the client agency representative; Garrin Wong and Kenneth Wingard, community representatives; and three arts professionals, Joseph Becker, Zac Frank, and Julio Morales. The panel reviewed 16 artists from the 2009 Bay Area Artists Registry and selected the following artists as finalists: Masayuki Nagase, a stone sculptor who has created sculptural seating; Primitivo Suarez-Wolfe, whose sculptures focus on architecture; Matthew Passmore/REBAR, whose work includes temporarily turning parking spaces into instant mini-parks with grass and portable amenities; and the alternate Donald Fortescue, who creates wooden sculpture and furniture.
   
   Commissioner Przyblyski expressed some concern about the finalists who do not have experience creating permanent public artworks because the sculpture commissioned for this project needs to function as seating and be easy to maintain. Ms. Lovvorn stated the artists will be properly prepared prior to commencing with their design work: Senior Registrar Allison Cummings will attend the artist orientation in order to talk about the use of permanent materials and address concerns about creating functional artworks. Additionally, prior to the second selection panel meeting Arts Commission staff will evaluate the proposals and will forward to a conservator any proposal that may need further evaluation. These evaluations will be shared with the selection panel and the Arts Commission.
   
   Motion: Motion to approve the artist selection panel's recommendation of the following artists as finalists for the Church & Duboce Muni Track and Streetscape Improvement public art project: Masayuki Nagase, Primitivo Suarez-Wolfe, and Matthew Passmore/REBAR as finalists and Donald Fortescue as the alternate.
   Moved: Johnston/Wilsey
   
   
3. General Hospital Acute Care Unit - Second Floor Corridor
   Ms. Lovvorn presented Lena Wolff's preliminary design illustrations for artwork for the second floor corridor of the General Hospital Acute Care Unit. She stated that Lena Wolff was assigned to this site because her work, which includes imagery of animals, plants and insects rendered in a folk-art manner, was considered to be well suited in style and content for the women's and children's floor. The artist has created design illustrations for artwork at two locations on the corridor. The design which includes two birds and a deer perched on a branch would be located at the end of the corridor. The design which includes a tree and a number of smaller animals would be installed on the corridor wall just opposite the elevator lobby. Ms. Lovvorn asked Commissioners for approval of the preliminary design illustrations before the artist creates fabrication samples.
   
   Commissioner Wilsey suggested that the colors in the work could be more vibrant to create a warmer and more welcoming feeling. She stated that while the imagery is whimsical, the color palette could be more cheerful. Commissioner Johnston thought that the images appeared as if they were floating and suggested that the artist carefully consider the scale of the corridor space and the color in the designs. Programs Director Jill Manton stated that it would be nice to have more contrast in the works as the white background would blend into the surrounding white walls of the corridor. Commissioners reviewed images of Ms. Wolff's past work and noted how the black background made the imagery more vibrant.
   
   Commissioners explained that they were not, however, suggesting Ms. Wolff use black in her proposal for the hospital, but they would like her to consider the element of contrast in her designs. Ms. Lovvorn responded that she would convey the comments from the Commissioners to the artist and bring back revised preliminary design illustration for the review of the Commissioners.
   
   Motion: Motion to approve preliminary design illustrations by Lena Wolff with feedback by the Commission for an artwork for the second floor corridor of the General Hospital Acute Care Unit.
   Moved: Wilsey/Lloyd
   
   
4. General Hospital Acute Care Unit - Art Steering Committee
   Ms. Lovvorn reported on the formation of the General Hospital Acute Care Unit Art Steering Committee. She stated that Sue Currin, the new CEO of General Hospital would like more hospital staff members to be involved in the public art process in a meaningful way. As a result, the Arts Commission proposed to develop an Art Steering Committee, which will be responsible for conducting the remaining artist selections and reviewing and commenting on the artists' proposals before they are presented to the Visual Arts Committee. The Committee will consist of ten people: five General Hospital representatives; the DPW Project Manager Ron Alameida; two arts professionals including an Arts Commissioner; and two Arts Commission staff including Public Art Program Director Susan Pontious and Project Manager Jennifer Lovvorn.
   
   Commissioner Przyblyski asked whether this project's administrative funding was sufficient to support the coordination of a steering committee. Ms. Manton explained that because the estimated administrative fee is over $1 million, the Arts Commission has the resources to do an excellent job facilitating such a committee. Ms. Manton stated that as the Art Steering Committee includes hospital staff, it generates goodwill and creates a sense of anticipation among staff regarding the public art program. 
   
   Ms. Lovvorn reported that there will be five to seven meetings of the Art Steering Committee between now and October and staff is requesting an Arts Commissioner to serve on the Committee. Commissioner Przyblyski recommended Commissioner Garcia-Nakata to serve as the lead Commissioner and herself as alternate. If Commissioner Garcia-Nakata is unavailable, Commissioner Przyblyski would be the lead and Commissioner Johnston would be the alternate. Ms. Lovvorn explained that the motion accompanying this agenda item is to approve a list of potential arts professionals to serve on the Committee. She explained that the list includes artists who are familiar with the site and the mission of the hospital by virtue of having completed past artwork commissions for the hospital or due to their participation on the General Hospital artist selection panel. Commissioner Johnston stated that General Hospital serves a broad constituency with a large Latino population and it would be prudent to have a member of the Latino community serve on the panel. Commissioner Przyblyski recommended that the list include curators. Ms. Manton suggested staff from the Mission Cultural Center or Galería de la Raza. Ms. Lovvorn stated that she will send the names of additional arts professionals to the Arts Commissioners for their review and she will revise the motion for the July Full Commission agenda.
   
   THIS MOTION WILL BE REVISED.
   Motion: Motion to approve the following arts professionals as possible members of the General Hospital Acute Care Unit Art Steering Committee: Leonard Hunter, former Art Commissioner; Hilda Shum, artist; Richard Shaw, artist; Blake Summers, Director and Chief Curator, San Francisco Airport Museums; and Peter Richards, artist.
   
   
5. Art on Market Street
   In Project Manager Judy Moran's absence, Ms. Manton presented proposals by three artists for the 2009/10 Art on Market Street Program. Ms. Manton explained that there is a new process for the development of the Art on Market Street program that includes the review of each artist selected for the program by Mr. Cancel. Ms. Manton explained that Kota Ezawa is no longer part of the program and has been paid a partial fee for his time working on the proposals. Ms. Manton then showed images of the proposals of the three artists selected for the program: Pamela Wilson-Ryckman's posters are watercolors based on archival photographs of people in the urban landscape of San Francisco; Binh Danh's posters are photographic collaborations with twelve Bay Area street recyclers; and Jonathan Burstein's posters are portraits of different types of people on Market Street created from a collage of hundreds of photos from Market Street. The portrait in the proposal depicts Dashuam Duffy, a photographer who sells his work in Justin Herman Plaza.
   
   Commissioner Johnston stated that Mr. Danh's proposal appears to celebrate and advocate for street recyclers, which is actually an illegal activity that the Department of the Environment is currently battling. He stated that street recyclers are also a nuisance to business owners along Market Street as they rifle through their trash receptacles. Commissioners responded that they really like Binh Danh's artworks but requested that he change the theme. Regarding Mr. Burstein's portraits, Commissioner Lloyd asked staff to confirm that street artists depicted in the portraits are actually licensed by the Arts Commission. Ms. Manton responded that she would forward the recommendations by the Committee to Ms. Moran.
   
   Motion: Motion to approve the kiosk poster proposal by artist Pamela Wilson Ryckman for the Art on Market Street 2009/10 Program and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a contract for an amount not to exceed $16,000 to design and print six posters and coordinate an auxiliary public program.
   Moved: Johnston/Wilsey
   
   THIS MOTION WAS POSTPONED.
   Motion: Motion to approve the kiosk poster proposal by artist Binh Danh for the Art on Market Street 2009/10 Program and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a contract for an amount not to exceed $16,000 to design and print six posters and coordinate an auxiliary public program.
   
   Motion: Motion to approve the kiosk poster proposal by artist Jonathan Burstein for the Art on Market Street 2009/10 Program and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a contract for an amount not to exceed $16,000 to design and print six posters and coordinate an auxiliary public program.
   Moved: Johnston/Lloyd
   
   
6. Valencia Streetscape
   Project Manager Tonia Macneil presented the finalists for the Valencia Streetscape public art project. Ms. Macneil explained that the selection panel wanted to choose four finalists rather than three finalists and an alternate. The budget for the project is $52,000 and the project site spans Valencia Street from 15th to 19th Streets. She stated that originally, staff was considering artwork that functions as bike racks; however, the project has now evolved to sculptural works that will be installed on six poles at least ten feet high, which will be provided by DPW. She stated that the selection panel included Kevin Chen, Program Director of Intersection for the Arts; Carolina Ponce De Leon, Executive Director of Galeria De La Raza, DPW landscape architects Martha Ketterer and John Dennis, and two community representatives, Clare Hyland and Aife Murray. The four artist finalists are Michael Arcega, Ana Teresa Fernandez, Brian Goggin, and Misako Inaoka.
   
   Commissioner Przyblyski asked if the artists in the candidate pool had expressed interest in the Valencia Streetscape project. Ms. Macneil responded that as the pool was selected from the 2009 Bay Area Registry, very few of the artists expressed a particular interest in the Valencia Streetscape project. Commissioner Przyblyski commented that it was difficult to imagine the work that Ms. Fernandez would propose for the project given her past work. Ms. Macneil responded that both Mr. Chen and Ms. Ponce de Leon strongly advocated for Ms. Fernandez to participate as a finalist. Ms. Manton stated that she supports the diversity of artistic practice in the final group given that there have been complaints about projects being awarded to the same group of artists.
   
   Motion: Motion to approve the artist selection panel's recommendation of the following artists as finalists for the Valencia Streetscape public art project: Michael Arcega, Ana Teresa Fernandez, Brian Goggin, and Misako Inaoka.
   Moved: Lloyd/Wilsey
   
   
7. 2008-2009 Annual Maintenance of the Embarcadero Historic and Interpretive Signage and the Promenade Ribbon Sculpture
   Project Manager Carol Marie Daniels provided a brief review of the 2008-2009 projects funded by the San Francisco County Transportation Authority. She reported that maintenance work was completed with a budget of approximately $72,000 for the Embarcadero Historic and Interpretive Signage project and the Promenade Ribbon Sculpture. Ms. Daniels stated that the Arts Commission initially wanted to repair all the damaged bollards and missing skate clips, but then limited repair of the raised elements because of the redevelopment along the Embarcadero. She reported that DPW patched and repaired the bollards from Pier 14 to Pier 30 and a local art fabricator is replacing three damaged porcelain enamel podia panels. Stickers and graffiti were removed from the porcelain enamel pylons and slurry was applied to the concrete plinths. An anti-graffiti coating was also applied to all the concrete plinths and bases. Ms. Daniels reported that 53 percent of the budget for the maintenance of the work went to DPW, 17 percent went to a San Francisco fabricator, and six percent went to an out-of-state manufacturer. Commissioners applauded both the maintenance completed on the works at the Embarcadero as well as the fact that the work was primarily completed by DPW and San Francisco-based workers.
   
   
8. New Business
   
   Ms. Manton reported that the art program completed at Laguna Honda Hospital was truly successful because the clients have asked the Arts Commission to purchase additional artwork for 800 patient rooms in the amount of $400,000. Instead of purchasing posters to be framed, Ms. Manton expressed her interest in commissioning local artists to create prints for the patient rooms. With the cost of framing estimated to be about $150, the Arts Commission could spend up to $350 on a print. Ms. Manton reported that she spoke with local gallery owners including Paule Anglim, Julina Togonon, and Heather Marx, who is currently featuring limited edition artist prints for as low as $250. Ms. Manton stated that the Arts Commission could focus on works by San Francisco-based artists or artists represented by San Francisco galleries. She believes that such a project would be good public relations for the Arts Commission while placating some of the concerns by Supervisor Chiu about supporting local artists. She said that as Ms. Pontious and Ms. Cummings have some concerns about the management of the artwork - as patients are allowed to select artworks at they move into their rooms and it would be difficult to provide proper oversight with a moving collection - the Arts Commission could purchase the work and charge a reasonable fee to maintain the inventory of the original pool, but not accept the work into the City's Collection because of the difficulty in tracking and maintaining the work.
   
   Commissioner Przyblyski supported the idea of having relevant works created by promising young artists for the hospital. Ms. Manton explained that the work commissioned will enhance the experience of the patient's room and there are several wonderful printers in the area including Crown Point Press, Arion Press, Aurobora Press and Electric Works, who could participate in the project. Ms. Manton also stated that the program could be open to photography. Commissioners suggested contacting Supervisor Elsbernd and Ms. Manton responded that she will prepare a press announcement regarding the project and ask Supervisor Elsbernd to participate.
   
   Ms. Manton reported on the Section 149 policy issue about the use of private percent for art funds for performing arts spaces of facilities as well as for visual arts acquisitions or display. Commissioner Przyblyski asked how much C3 money realistically will be generated. Commissioner Johnston expressed his concern over acquiring space for the performing arts. He stated that if the funding is not logically and legally used for publicly accessible art, then the funding becomes more vulnerable to other uses in the future. Commissioner Johnston recommended the issue be discussed at the next meeting of the Executive Committee.
   
   
9. Old Business
   
   Ms. Lovvorn provided an update on the proposal for a temporary public art installation at the intersection of Castro and Market Streets titled "Pink Cloud" by the artist team of Christian Werthmann + LOMA. She explained that staff met with the Supervisor Dufty as well as leaders from the following community organizations: the Castro Community Benefit District, the Eureka Valley Promotion Association, and Castro Area Action + Planning. On May 17, Arts Commission staff held a public meeting, which was attended by approximately ten people who had questions primarily about the feasibility of the project. Because the notion of conducting a feasibility study is supported by Supervisor Dufty and the key community stakeholders, the Arts Commission will proceed with entering into an agreement with the artist to commence with the study.
   
   Commissioner Przyblyski stated her concern that the Public Utilities Commission ("PUC") art enrichment money be used throughout the City's many districts and not primarily in District 8. Ms. Manton reported that she met with PUC Assistant External Affairs Manager Laura Spanjian who is eager for art enrichment funds from the PUC to be used for permanent projects throughout the City to create a cultural legacy from the PUC Capital Improvement Program. Ms. Manton explained that the PUC funds have been used to finance both temporary projects and permanent projects. For this 2009/2010 year, Ms. Spanjian agreed to $150,000 for temporary public art projects. Ms. Manton explained that of the permanent projects funded by PUC money, the project at McLaren Park is temporarily stalled because of issues regarding ADA accessibility of the trail; the Sunnyside Conservatory is almost finished; and the artwork for the Randall Museum by Charles Sowers has been delayed, but a prototype will be installed in July.
   
   Ms. Manton reported that from a recent survey conducted by the Recreation and Park Department that asked people what they would like to have more of in their parks, the majority of respondents stated that they want more public art in their parks. Commissioner Przyblyski discussed the possibility of creating a destination place for experiencing artwork in San Francisco.
   
   Ms. Manton reported that Mayor Newsom wrote a memo to Mr. Cancel requesting a significant temporary public art project in the City next year. Ms. Manton reported that she met with San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Curator of Architecture, Henry Urbach and discussed the possibility of having Krzysztof Wodiczko create a projection or series of projections on San Francisco buildings or monuments. Commissioner Przyblyski recommended adding artists Alfredo Jaar and Francis Alys to the list of artists under consideration for the project.
   
   Ms. Manton reported that as Director of Programs, she is now responsible for Civic Design Review. She stated that the program is supposed to be revenue neutral but is now taking up at least thirty-five percent of her time; as a result, the Arts Commission is considering the possibility of charging departments a fee for special Civic Design Review meetings that occur in addition to the regular monthly meetings. She also stated that she would like to resurrect the artist-in-residence idea and would like to propose artist Ned Kahn to work with DPW architects. Commissioner Przyblyski suggested referencing the inSITE arts festival that takes place at the cities of Tijuana and San Diego.
   
   
10. Adjournment

Meeting adjourned at 11:54 am.

MC 6/12/09