The meeting commenced at 3:05 p.m.
Consent Calendar
1. Motion to approve the following individuals as candidates for the SOMA West Public Art Selection Panel: Sheila Ghidini, Artist and Educator; Stephanie Syjuco, Artist; Patricia Rodriguez, Artist, Gallery Manager, Mission Cultural Center; John Roloff, Artist, Educator; Pamela Winfrey, Curator, Senior Artist, Exploratorium; Courtney Fink, Director, Southern Exposure; Maysoun Wazwaz, Exhibitions Program Manager, Southern Exposure; Barry McGee, Artist; Aaron Noble, Artist; Clare Rojas, Artist; Rigo 23, Artist; Glen Helfand, Writer, Curator, Educator; Richard Berger, Artist, Educator; Shelley Willis, Public Art Administrator; Terri Cohn, Curator, Art Historian; Matt Heckert, Artist, Educator; Hou Hanru, Director of Exhibitions, San Francisco Art Institute.
Motion: Approve consent calendar items.
Moved: Garcia-Nakata/Wilsey
Gallery - 401 Van Ness Ave and Grove Street
In the absence of Gallery Director Meg Shiffler, Gallery Manager Aimee Le Duc presented two upcoming exhibitions: one titled Conversation 5: Nicholas and Sheila Pye and Jamie Vasta at the main SFAC Gallery, curated by Ms. Shiffler, and the other featuring Ajit Chauhan at the Grove Street window site, curated by Ms. Le Duc. Ms. Le Duc explained that Conversation 5 is part of ongoing series at the gallery that presents the works of two artists, where at least one artist is based in the Bay Area. Jamie Vasta is a recent graduate of the California College of the Arts ("CCA") and works from both found and staged photos to create dynamic and shimmering paintings using glitter. These works deal with issues of feminism and the erotic, folklore and Greek mythology, and good and evil. Ms. Le Duc showed samples of her work including a found photograph of young girls standing next to their first kill - a slain deer. The works for the series in the gallery exhibition will focus on the mythology of sirens, and include a floor installation as well as paintings mounted on the wall. The accompanying artists, Nicholas & Sheila Pye, are film makers from Toronto whose films are an exploration of their own private world as well as the traditional roles of males and females in society. Ms. Le Duc presented a clip from the film "Loudly Death Unties," which is based on banshees or spirits in the form of young girls that signal the imminent death of someone in the house.
Ms. Le Duc then presented the work of self-educated artist Ajit Chauhan, who will create a new installation for the Grove Street site using drawings and works on paper to create three-dimensional objects. She explained that the artist often includes both sound and video in her work. Ms. Le Duc stated that the installation will represent a frozen moment inspired by some of the past sculptures by Barry McGee.
Motion: Motion to approve an honorarium in the amount of $3000 to Jamie Vasta for her participation in the exhibition Conversation 5: Nicholas and Sheila Pye and Jamie Vasta, July 24 - September 19, 2009 at the SFAC Gallery at 401 Van Ness.
Moved: Wilsey/Garcia-Nakata
Motion: Motion to approve an honorarium in the amount of $1200 to Ajit Chauhan for his participation in a solo exhibition of a new site specific sculpture at the SFAC Gallery Grove Street installation space from July 24 - September 19, 2009.
Moved: Wilsey/Garcia-Nakata
Gallery - City Hall
Gallery Assistant Joyce Grimm presented the next City Hall exhibition, 10 x 10 x 10, which will take place on the lower level of City Hall from July 6 to September 18, 2009. She stated that this series of exhibitions, organized in collaboration with PhotoAlliance, includes ten curators/arts professionals who each select one artist to exhibit ten works in the exhibition; the curators will each write a statement to contextualize the work of the artists they have selected. Ms. Grimm presented the ten curators and the ten artists selected for the exhibition. The ten curators - Thom Sempere, Heather Snider, Ann Jastrab, Stacen Berg, Carla Williams, Ray Potes, Linda Conner, Paul Schiek, Meg Shiffler, and Joyce Grimm - selected the following ten artists: Ken Botto, Lucy Goodhart, Daniel Grant, Pablo Guardiola, Glynnis Reed, Alexander Martinez, Chris McCaw, Mark McKnight, Mary Parisi, and Jesse Schlesinger. She then presented images of the works of some of the artists selected to participate in the exhibition. She stated that with the limited budget, each artist will be in charge of framing their own work and that the gallery has partnered with local frameshops.
Proposed Bust of Mayor Sutro for City Hall
Public Art Program Deputy Director Susan Pontious introduced Jonah Hendrickson to present the maquette for the proposed bust of Mayor Sutro for City Hall. Mr. Hendrickson thanked Commissioners for the opportunity to present the bust and expressed his enthusiasm about learning many interesting facts about Mayor Sutro's life and his contributions to San Francisco while working on this project. He presented the bust as a collaboration between LeonidNakhodkin of the United Humanitarian Mission ("UHM") and himself. Mr. Hendrickson explained that the basic concept for the sculpture is a bust about 2 ½ feet tall, placed on a pedestal that is about 5 to 5 ½ feet high. The bronze bust will sit on top of a granite book, with the spine facing forward that includes the Mayor's name and life dates. The book will sit on top of a granite trapezoidal pedestal, similar in color to the book, and include Mayor Sutro's mayoral dates and highlight key accomplishments in his life. Mr. Hendrickson stated that he used a couple of commonly found images of Mayor Sutro, and focused on key descriptions of his character as disciplined, intelligent, wise, and quiet to create the bust.
Mr. Hendrickson asked Commissioners for their support for this cohesive artistic concept so that fundraising efforts could move forward. He stated that there may be some modification to the bust but any change would most likely take place at the intersection between the bust and the book. He also asked Commissioners about the possibility of preparing a plaster cast of the bust for display in City Hall.
Mr. Nakhodkin thanked Mr. Hendrickson for his work on the bust and stated the importance of having the materials of the bust reflect its placement in City Hall. He showed samples of a stone called the Jewish stone because of the appearance of Jewish letters in the stone. Mr. Hendrickson stated that a small piece of the stone will be inset into the base of the sculpture and that the location of the sculpture will be important in determining the final coloration of the bronze bust. Public Art Program Director Jill Manton stated that the location proposed for the bust is in the North Light Court Gallery, which is bathed in natural light. Ms. Pontious clarified that the Commissioners are being asked to approve the artistic quality of the maquette and that there will be a final presentation of the sculpture when all other elements have been determined.
Commissioner Johnston commended Mr. Hendrickson for his work on the maquette and expressed his approval to accept the concept for the bust. However, he stated that he was not comfortable with the idea of presenting a cast of the bust in City Hall. Ms. Manton stated that the reason for placing the bust on display should be made clear to viewers who may want to provide feedback about the design or placement of the bust.
Motion: Motion to approve the proposal design of the bust of Adolph Sutro, a proposed gift to the city from the United Humanitarian Mission, designed by Jonah Hendrickson.
Moved: Garcia-Nakata/Wilsey
Bust of Harvey Milk in City Hall
Ms. Pontious presented on the proposed sale of copies of the maquette of the bust of Harvey Milk in City Hall. She stated that Mr. Hendrickson, who was previously a member of the sculpture group Daub Firmin Hendrickson who created the Harvey Milk bust, recently separated from the group and was given the copyright to the bust. Ms. Pontious reminded Commissioners that the bust was a gift to the City, not a work commissioned by the Arts Commission. She stated that the artist has been approached by individuals requesting a replica of the piece for personal display. The contract states that artworks in the City's Collection are original and unique but allow some latitude for artists to work with derivative or smaller works and various other licenses. Ms. Pontious stated that Mr. Hendrickson would like to make smaller versions of Harvey Milk's portrait to reproduce and sell; in exchange, a certain percentage of proceeds from the sale would be given to LGBT organizations and the Arts Commission for maintenance of the Harvey Milk bust. She explained that staff thought it was important to bring the request to the Arts Commission before working out the details of the agreement.
Commissioner Garcia-Nakata asked if there was any precedent for such requests. Ms. Manton stated she was not aware of similar requests but did some time ago, alter the contracts to allow for reproductions at a different scale and for proceeds to be used for maintenance of the Civic Art Collection. Ms. Pontious stated that the general language in the contract allows the City to sell postcards and other two-dimensional reproductions; it specifically excludes reference to three-dimensional reproductions. Commissioners expressed their support for the reproduction and sale of maquettes of the bust, but stated that they are interested in hearing about the details of the contract. Ms. Manton stated that the reproductions will have to include the statement that they were reproduced with the permission of the San Francisco Arts Commission. Ms. Pontious reported that she has spoken to the Harvey MilkCity Hall Memorial Committee who has expressed their support for the reproductions. Ms. Manton asked about the possibility of not limiting proceeds from the sale of the reproductions to LGBT organizations. Commissioner Johnston stated that the motion will be postponed until more detailed information about the agreement regarding the sale of the reproductions is available.
THIS MOTION WAS POSTPONED.
Motion: Motion to approve Jonah Hendrickson's sale of copies of the maquette of the bust of Harvey Milk, with a proviso that a portion of the proceeds go to a maintenance fund for the preservation of the Harvey Milk sculpture by Daub Firmin Hendrickson Sculpture Group in City Hall.
San Francisco International Airport - Terminal Two
Ms. Pontious presented the revised design proposal by Walter Kitundu, a recent recipient of the MacArthur Genius Award, for Terminal Two of San Francisco International Airport. She stated that Mr. Kitundu's proposal consists of two wooden benches shaped like bird wings that also function as musical instruments installed next to a mural of bird images photographed in San Francisco; the feathers on one of the birds in the mural will also function as a musical instrument. Ms. Pontious explained that the benches will play the first five notes of the bird song and the volume of the benches can be adjusted to be louder or softer. She stated that the artist will work closely with the architects to determine how the piece is situated in the site. She explained that the motion asks for approval of the design so that the artist can proceed with construction. Commissioners were supportive of the design. Mr. Cancel asked about the long-term maintenance of the work; Ms. Pontious stated that the instruments can be played with a simple non-mechanical element, and as the work is located behind security, it will be safe from anybody tempted to carve letters or images into the wood.
Ms. Pontious presented the design of Charles Sowers work to be included in Children's Area in Terminal Two of San Francisco International Airport. Ms. Pontious explained that the work will be located outside the originally defined area in a space where the ceiling is eleven foot five inches in height. She explained that the work is activated by cranks that lift up butterfly-shaped objects or whirly-gigs along vertical wires; when the whirly-gigs reach the ceiling, they then flutter and spin to the floor. The work will be sandwiched between two pieces of glass about one foot apart to protect the apparatus from being touched. She explained to Commissioners that she is looking for conceptual approval of this design. Commissioners expressed their support for the work.
Ms. Pontious provided an update on Norie Sato's artwork for the glass facade of Terminal Two. She clarified that the work will be part of the glass facade in front of the curtain wall. From on-site testing and tests completed at the Franz Meyer studio in Germany, the artist determined that the ideal point for the photographic image to come into focus is at a distance of about 150 feet, which results in pixels that are ½ inch in diameter. The color of one of the panels will transition from blue to red while the color on the other panel will transition from blue to green; the intensity of the color will vary depending on the light and the time of day.
Mr. Cancel asked about the make-up of the pigment. Ms. Pontious stated that the color is part of the glass, not applied onto the surface, and that it is a permanent material.
Motion: Motion to approve design proposal by Walter Kitundu for Terminal Two of San Francisco International Airport.
Moved: Wilsey/Garcia-Nakata
Motion: Motion to approve design proposal by Charles Sowers for Terminal Two of San Francisco International Airport.
Moved: Wilsey/Garcia-Nakata
General Hospital Acute Care Unit
Project Manager Jennifer Lovvorn reported that following the Arts Commission's approval of the primary and secondary short lists of artists for the General Hospital Acute Care Unit (Resolution numbers 1201-08-298 & 1201-08-299), SFAC staff convened a committee to assign the short listed artists to specific sites at SFGH. The committee included: Client representative, Kathy Jung, San Francisco General Hospital; Project consultants, David Fong, Paolo Diaz and Melanie Brang, Fong and Chan Architects; Commissioner Jeannene Przyblyski; SF General Hospital Acute Care Unit Lead Artist Rupert Garcia, and Arts Commission staff, Susan Pontious, Jill Manton, and Jennifer Lovvorn.
The committee met on January 29, 2009 and made the following site assignment recommendations: Tom Otterness for the Potrero Avenue pedestrian entry and walkway; Lena Wolff for the second floor corridor wall(s); Paul Kos for the surgery waiting room (on the Basement 1 Level); and Masayuki Nagase for the roof garden.
Ms. Lovvorn presented examples of these artist's past work. Tom Otterness creates playful bronze sculptures that explore the range of human experience, from grand ambition to common foibles. Paul Kos's works include video projection on painted canvas as well as more permanent integrated artworks such as the design of Poet's Plaza downtown. Lena Wolff creates works on paper with themes relating to folk-art traditions and veneration for the natural world. Masayuki Nagase creates carved stone sculptures and as well as sculptural seating.
Ms. Lovvorn reminded the Commissioners that in March 2009, the Visual Arts Committee reviewed the two preliminary schematic artwork designs by Tom Otterness, which the artist provided prior to commencing work on the proposal. Commissioners had provided feedback on the schematic designs, which has been relayed to the artist.
Ms. Lovvorn explained that the committee also identified seven artists from the short lists to be included in a pool of semifinalists for the artwork projects on floors three through seven. Each floor has public art opportunities associated with the glass of the light court windows and the curved glass elements near the elevator lobby. The committee recommended selecting one artist per floor to give each floor a signature look. The pool of semifinalists identified by the committee includes: Seyed Alavi, Stephen Galloway, Mildred Howard, Paul Marioni, Julio Morales, Anna Murch, and Susan Schwartzenberg. Due to her current obligations, Ms. Schwartzenberg declined the opportunity. Ms. Lovvorn requested that the members of the Visual Arts Committee select an artist and an alternate from the following list of high ranking artists from the short lists to replace Ms. Schwartzenberg: Kathy Bradford, Beliz Brother, Joel Meyerowitz, Lisa Levine, and Deborah Roundtree.
Ms. Lovvorn presented those artists' past work: Kathy Bradford, who depicts imagery of nature in her sandblasted works on glass; Beliz Brother, who uses layers of photographic imagery and text to create works in glass; Joel Meyerowitz, who creates large-scale photographs of water ripples and refracted light; Lisa Levine, a photographer who creates digitally-manipulated compositions of water and landscapes; and the artist team Deborah Roundtree and Brian Crotty who create interactive and digitally enhanced photographic artworks. Commissioners discussed the works of each of the artists presented and collectively agreed to select Kathy Bradford as the seventh artist, and Joel Meyerowitz as the alternate.
Motion: Motion to approve the following artists from the General Hospital Acute Care Unit Artist Short Lists (approved by the Arts Commission with resolution numbers 1201-08-298 and 1201-08-299) to create proposals for the following sites: (1) Tom Otterness for the Potrero Avenue Pedestrian Entry and Walkway; (2) Lena Wolff for the Second Floor Corridor Wall(s); (3) Paul Kos for the Surgery Waiting Room (or Surgery Waiting Room Entry Courtyard); and (4) Masayuki Nagase for the Roof Garden.
Moved: Wilsey/Garcia-Nakata
THIS MOTION WAS REVISED.
Motion: Motion to select Kathy Bradford to be included in the pool of seven semifinalists and Joel Meyerowitz as an alternate to create proposals for the light court windows and curved glass elements for Floors 3 through 7.
Moved: Wilsey/Garcia-Nakata
THIS MOTION WAS REVISED.
Motion: Motion to approve the following seven artists/artist teams from the General Hospital Acute Care Unit Artist Short Lists (approved by the Arts Commission with resolution numbers: 1201-08-298 and 1201-08-299) as semifinalists to create proposals for the light court windows and curved glass elements on Floors 3 through 7: Stephen Galloway, Mildred Howard, Paul Marioni, Julio Morales, Anna Murch, Seyed Alavi and Kathy Bradford
Moved: Wilsey/Garcia-Nakata
Leland Avenue Streetscape
Project Manager Tonia Macneil presented images of the works of the three finalists for Leland Avenue Streetscape: Michael Arcega, Julio Morales, and Michael Passmore/REBAR. Commissioners supported the artists selected by the Leland Avenue Streetscape Selection Panel.
Motion: Motion to approve the artist selection panel's recommendation of the following artists as finalists for the Leland Avenue Streetscape public art project: Michael Arcega, Julio Cesar Morales, and Michael Passmore/REBAR as semi-finalists.
Moved: Wilsey/Garcia-Nakata
Bayview/Anna E. Waden Branch Library
Project Manager Regina Almaguer presented the proposal by artist Ron Moultrie Saunders for the Bayview/Anna E. Waden Branch Library. She explained that the proposal consists of a series of photograms on porcelain enamel with imagery of the human figure, plants and other elements. Mr. Saunders will create specific design proposals for both the courtyard and the Children's Area; the specific images will be presented to the Visual Arts Committee at a future meeting. Ms. Almaguer stated that his work is highly regarded within the community, and he has been a 24-year resident of the Bayview District. Ms. Almaguer also stated that the library architects are very excited to work with the artist.
Collections Manager Allison Cummings presented on the possible removal or destruction of the sculptural relief by Jacques Overhoff at the Bayview/Anna E. Waden Branch Library, which is scheduled to be replaced with the construction of a new library. Ms. Cummings showed images of the work, which is a brick bas relief sculpture integrated into the side of the building originally installed in 1968; at some point, hardware for the enclosure of a gate was installed in the middle of the artwork. She showed examples of other works by the artist in the Civic Art Collection which include a bronze relief sculpture on the facade of the Department of Human Services Building at 170 Otis Street, and a cast cement and ceramic tile mosaic sculpture at City College of San Francisco. Additional works by the artist not in the Civic Art Collection include sculptures at Maritime Plaza in San Francisco as well as works in the City of Richmond, Walnut Creek, and at the Los Angeles Music Center. Ms. Cummings explained that there is no action currently requested for the agenda item and the item is presented mainly as a discussion point. She explained that this is a significant piece to move or integrate into the different architectural plan for the library. She introduced Branch Library Improvement Program ("BLIP") Manager Mindy Linetzky and Bayview/Anna E. Waden Branch Library Manager Linda Brooksburg. Ms. Brooksburg stated that the community is excited about the new branch and based on input received during their community meetings, there has not been a strong sentiment to keep the work at the site of the new library. She suggested moving the work to the shipyard, but stated that the community is concerned about having funds for the construction of the new library used to remove, preserve and relocate the artwork. Ms. Linetzky stated that she has received some letters asking the work to be integrated into the new library; she stated that there are plans for the new artwork to be placed throughout the library and that there may be one potential site for the Overhoff relief, but it could have programmatic impacts on the space. She expressed concern over the costs associated with engineering and design to relocate the piece and stated that there are currently there are no resources in the budget to remove the work.
Commissioner Johnston asked for updated photographs that better show the nature of the sculptural relief of the work before further discussion takes place; he stated that the work is an important piece in the Civic Art Collection. Ms. Manton stated that it was probably one of the first pieces funded by art enrichment.
Commissioner Garcia-Nakata asked if there was a precedent for this kind of situation. Ms. Manton responded that a work by Anthony Stellon previously sited at the Martin Luther King pool was removed with funds from the Department of Public Works ("DPW") and stored in Franklin Square Park; the Arts Commission is currently trying to get money to erect the sculpture in the park as the community is supportive of its placement in the park. Commissioner Garcia-Nakata asked if there are other resources available to pay for the relocation of the sculpture so that it does not fall upon the budget of the building. Ms. Pontious stated that there is currently no available funding and staff would not want to remove the work without having the resources to install it elsewhere. Commissioners asked if the removal of the artwork was discussed at Civic Design Review; Ms. Manton stated that it was not brought up when Phase II of the project was discussed recently in Civic Design.
Commissioner Johnston stated that the Arts Commission should follow its process for requests to remove or relocate artwork in the Civic Art Collection; Ms. Pontious explained that this process begins with a formal request from the Library. She also stated that the artist is aware of the situation but not happy about it. Commissioner Garcia-Nakata recommended that the letter include a timeline to ensure that the removal of the artwork does not affect the construction budget.
Mr. Cancel stated that staff needs to properly evaluate its options and use the services of a consultant to determine the costs of safely salvaging and transporting the work. He stated that the costs associated with the removal of the work should come out of the Library's construction budget. Mr. Cancel expressed concern that the new building was designed without regard to the artwork. Ms. Linetzky responded that staff did not realize that the work was part of the Civic Art Collection. Jonah Hendrickson suggested auctioning the work and using the proceeds to fund the removal of the work.
Motion: Motion to approve the proposal by artist Ron Moultrie Saunders for the Bayview/Anna E. Waden Branch Library and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with Ron Moultrie Saunders for the design, fabrication and transportation of an artwork in an amount not to exceed $75,000.
Moved: Wilsey/Garcia-Nakata
Reinstallation of Bufano Sculpture at Valencia Gardens Housing Project
Commissioner Johnston requested that staff present the report on the successful reinstallation of Beniamino Bufano's marble sculpture Small Fish - Big Fish, ca. 1935 (1942.9) at Valencia Gardens during the Full Commission meeting on June 1, 2009.
Public Utilities Commission ("PUC") Funding
The report on the utilization of PUC Art Enrichment funding was postponed to the next meeting.
New Business
There was no new business to report.
Old Business
There was no old business to report.
Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 5:13 pm.
