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MEETING OF THE FULL ARTS COMMISSION
Monday, November 3, 2008
3:00 p.m.
City Hall Room 416

Minutes

In the absence of President Johnston, Vice President Draisin called the meeting to order at 3:12 p.m.

Roll Call
Commissioners Present
Maya Draisin, Vice President
René Bihan
John Calloway
Alexander Lloyd
Jeannene Przyblyski
Cass Calder Smith
Dede Wilsey
Sherri Young
Christina Olague

Commissioners Absent
P.J. Johnston, President
Nínive Calegari
Topher Delaney
Lorraine García-Nakata
John Kriken
Sherene Melania
Pop Zhao
President’s Report
Because only seven Commissioners were present at the beginning of the meeting, Vice President Draisin made a brief report, and called for the Director’s report, before taking any actions.

Vice President Draisin reminded the Commission about the upcoming Commission-staff retreat on November 21 at the Port of San Francisco, noting that the 2007 retreat had been tremendously helpful.

She also congratulated staff on the very successful event featuring American Conservatory Theater Executive Director Heather Kitchen, to help develop the Cultural Centers and make them more sustainable in these difficult economic times.
Director’s Report
Mr. Cancel began his report on a positive note, describing the dedication of the new Maya Lin sculpture at the Academy of Sciences. The artist was present at the dedication and gave a wonderful lecture at the de Young Museum, just across the Music Concourse, which is hosting a show of her work. Mr. Cancel reported that the sculpture is a great success, very well integrated into the Renzo Piano architecture. Mr. Cancel added that the piece exemplifies the extraordinary quality of the Civic Art Collection. To general applause, he commended the work of Public Art Program Director Jill Manton and Public Art Program staff in bringing the project to completion.

Mr. Cancel distributed copies of the letter of resignation of Commissioner John Kriken, citing his new professional commitments, including a major project in China. Mr. Cancel expressed sadness at Commissioner Kriken’s departure, and gratitude for his service on the Commission. Noting that this was his second stint on the Commission, Mr. Cancel wished Commissioner Kriken continued success.

Mr. Cancel reported that in October, he had attended the national conference of Grantmakers in the Arts in Atlanta, GA, meeting with philanthropic leaders in public and private agencies of all sizes. He found the event very informative, and heard first-hand how the Wall Street crisis is affecting all of the funders, arts agencies and artists. He reported that Jeremy Nowak, a member of the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, predicted that the recession will be longer—eighteen months or more—and more severe because it affects our global economic partners as well as the United States.

Mr. Cancel reported that he had recently attended a meeting of some twenty-two foundations in the Bay area which support the arts, and they reported a significant impact from the recent stock market contraction. Mr. Cancel plans to call for a community meeting in December to develop strategies to pursue over the coming eighteen months to address the financial crisis for the arts community.

Mr. Cancel reported that, because of the impact of the economic downturn on the City’s budget, the Mayor’s office has directed all City agencies to reduce General Fund expenditures by seven percent. Having determined that a midyear cut in personnel would be too disruptive, Mr. Cancel proposed that the required cuts be made in Cultural Equity Grants, exempting Creative Space and Individual Artist Commissions, and spreading the reductions among Cultural Equity Initiatives Levels One and Two, Arts and Communities: Innovative Partnerships, and Organizational Project Grants. This spreads the cuts across many organizations rather than forcing just a few to bear a larger impact.

Finally, Mr. Cancel made several announcements of upcoming Arts Commission events. The new national WritersCorps anthology, Tell the World, has been published by HarperCollins, incorporating work from all the WritersCorps sites—the Bronx and Washington, DC, along with San Francisco. The new publication, a sequel to the 2003 anthology Paint Me Like I Am, was celebrated with a Litquake reading on October 11. Mr. Cancel announced that on November 13, 2008, the Arts Commission Gallery will hold a reception for the opening of This Place Called Poetry, a multimedia exhibit celebrating the fifteenth anniversary of WritersCorps, featuring the work of eleven young WritersCorps artists. Mr. Cancel also announced a reading by National Book Award winner Sherman Alexie at the Herbst Theater as part of the City Arts and Lectures series. The event is a fundraiser for WritersCorps. Alexie wrote the foreword for Tell the World.
Approval of Minutes
Vice President Draisin noted the arrival of Commissioner Przyblyski, so that the meeting now had a quorum. The following Resolution was moved, seconded, and unanimously adopted:

RESOLUTION NO. 1103-08-247: APPROVAL OF MINUTES ADOPTED
RESOLVED, that this Commission does hereby approve the Minutes of the Meeting of October 6, 2008.

NOTE: ALL ADOPTIONS ARE UNANIMOUS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.
Consent Calendar
Vice President Draisin called for public comment on the Consent Calendar.

Terry Winston, of the Women’s Audio Mission, explained that her program taught media and recording arts to girls. She said that the Creative Space Grant they received was very important, since their organization is small and young. She was deeply appreciative of the Commission’s support.

Maya Rosal, of Joe Goode Performance Group, said that Mr. Goode has played an important role in the arts community for over twenty years. She said that the company is building on a new vision combining theater and dance, and needs studio space in San Francisco. She briefly described their current work, including collaborations with local and international artists in many disciplines, and their training programs. She said that the Creative Space planning grant for which the company had applied was very important to continuing this work.

Jennifer Walsh, of ABADA-Capoeira San Francisco, announced that they were holding major event within the week, including artists from New York, Sao Paolo and Guadalajara. She said that the Arts Commission’s support was instrumental in their ability to produce the event. She said that the organization is in its fifteenth year, and briefly discussed the scope of its work: performances, classes for youth and adults, and partnerships with over 40 sites. She was grateful for the Arts Commission’s past and future support, allowing it to work on a strategic plan.

Krissy Keefer, of Dance Mission Theater, said that Mr. Cancel had painted a grim picture, and she was hopeful that the election would end eight years of Republicans in the White House. She hoped that an Obama presidency would inaugurate a new WPA, putting money into local arts programming. She described her history as an artist in San Francisco since 1976, and in the Mission since 1984. She said that without the Arts Commission’s support, her program wouldn’t exist, and that at Brady Street, CEG grants made it possible to produce work that was not funded by Grants for the Arts. She said that she understood that it is important to keep staff positions, but argued that every $10,000 in grants generates $50,000 in the local economy. She said that many artists live on less than $40,000, and that organizations often have to put $10,000 in resources toward a grant application.

Courtney Fink, of Southern Exposure, said that her organization was ending a two-and-a-half year nomadic period, after leaving Project Artaud, and was moving into a new home on 20th and Alabama Streets. She explained that they had a fifteen-year lease on the new 4,000 square-foot space. She said that they had undertaken a significant capital campaign, and were focused on creating sustainability and building a cash reserve. She added that not only does Southern Exposure have many programs, but it is now regranting $100,000 to local arts projects. She invited everyone to the grand opening of the new facility in the spring of 2009. She explained that the $18,000 grant from the Arts Commission is one of the largest toward their $700,000 goal, and that it is very difficult to get grant money for capital funding.

There was no further public comment.

Mr. Cancel pointed out that the Maya Lin commission was a very complex process, involving a special advisory committee on which Commissioner Przyblyski sat, working very hard with the Academy of Sciences for three years. Vice President Draisin added that Commissioner Przyblyski’s speech at the dedication was very inspiring.

Returning to the budget question, Mr. Cancel explained that his purpose in discussing the financial difficulties is to galvanize the community to start to create a safety net, and not wait for the financial tsunami to crash down on us.

The Commission approved the Consent Calendar as follows.

RESOLUTION NO. 1103-08-248:
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. 1103-08-249: Motion to approve the Civic Design Review Committee Meeting Minutes of September 15, 2008.
2. RESOLUTION NO. 1103-08-250: Motion to approve the Executive Committee Meeting Minutes of September 22, 2008.
3. RESOLUTION NO. 1103-08-251: Motion to approve the Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee Meeting Minutes of October 14, 2008.
4. RESOLUTION NO. 1103-08-252: Motion to approve the Visual Arts Committee Meeting Minutes of October 15, 2008.
5. RESOLUTION NO. 1103-08-253: Motion to approve the Civic Design Review Committee Meeting Minutes of October 20, 2008.
  
  Visual Arts Committee Recommendations (October 15, 2008)
6. RESOLUTION NO. 1103-08-254: Motion to approve a multiphase mural entitled “The Bayview is________” by artists Malik Seneferu and Heidi Hardin working in collaboration with Bayview Footprints and Quesada Garden Initiative. The mural is located at the intersection of Newhall and Bridgeview Streets. During this first phase, sun and bird imagery will visually divide the wall into five distinct sections and provide space for community artists and youth to add imagery pending funding and design approval from relevant parties.
7. RESOLUTION NO. 1103-08-255: Motion to approve and to accept into the Civic Art Collection the artwork Swimmers’ Waves, consisting of 27 porcelain enamel panels with photographic images of blue water, completed in 2008 by artist Catherine Wagner, installed on the east wall of the Larsen Park Sava Pool natatorium at 19th Avenue and Ulloa Street in the Sunset District.
8. RESOLUTION NO. 1103-08-256: Motion to approve and accept into the Civic Art Collection the artwork California Wildflowers, consisting of four glass and stainless steel shutters, each shutter with five handcrafted tempered glass panels with flower imagery, completed in 2008 by artist Dana Zed, installed behind the front windows of the Portola Branch Library located at Bacon and Goettengen Streets in the Portola District.
9. RESOLUTION NO. 1103-08-257: Motion to approve and accept into the Civic Art Collection the artwork Sun Spheres, consisting of three mosaic-covered spheres, measuring three feet, four feet, and five feet in diameter, respectively, completed in 2008 by artist Laurel True, installed on three corners of the intersection of Ocean and Granada Avenues in the Ocean View-Merced Heights-Ingleside District.
10. RESOLUTION NO. 1103-08-258: Motion to approve the addition of the following arts professionals and community representatives to the Branch Library Improvement Artist Selection Panel: Kevin Chen, Gallery Director, Intersection for the Arts; Carrie Brewster, Director, Hearst Art Gallery, St. Mary’s College; Carrie Lederer, Director, Bedford Gallery; Sharon Wilchar, artist and member of the Emeryville Public Art Advisory Committee; Michelle Seville, Cultural Arts Manager, City of Richmond; Karen Tsujimoto, Curator, Oakland Art Museum; and Amana Johnson, artist.
11. RESOLUTION NO. 1103-08-259: Motion to approve the addition of the following arts professionals and community representatives to the Central Subway Artist Pool Selection Panel: Ellen Oh, Director of Kearny Street Workshop; Shiree Dyson, Director of Public Programs, Education, and Museum Exhibitions, Museum of the African Diaspora; Hou Hanru, Director of Public Programs, San Francisco Art Institute; and Ellen Magnin Newman, Union Square Association board member.
12. RESOLUTION NO. 1103-08-260: Motion to approve honoraria in the amount of $200 to each artist participating in the Chinese video and photography exhibition taking place at the San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery from February 13 through April 18, 2009. The artists include: Zhu Jia, Ni Haifeng, Lu Chunsheng, Shi Yong, Xu Zhen, Xing Danwen, Yang Zhenzhong, and Michael Zheng.
13. RESOLUTION NO. 1103-08-261: Motion to approve an honorarium in the amount of $1,000 to Ferris Plock for his contributions as co-curator of the City of Glass exhibition at the San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery at 401 Van Ness Avenue on view from May 1 to July 3, 2009.
14. RESOLUTION NO. 1103-08-262: Motion to approve the final draft of the Artwork Goals and Guidelines sections of the Central Subway Arts Master Plan.
15. RESOLUTION NO. 1103-08-263: Motion to approve the design development phase of the Philosopher’s Walk by Peter Richards and Susan Schwartzenberg at McLaren Park.
16. RESOLUTION NO. 1103-08-264: Motion to approve the conceptual design submitted by Kent Roberts for the Moscone Recreation Center, and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with the artist for design development, fabrication, transportation, and installation of the artwork for an amount not to exceed $70,000.
17. RESOLUTION NO. 1103-08-265: Motion to approve the conceptual design submitted by Charles Sowers for the Randall Museum and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with the artist for design development, fabrication, transportation, and installation of the artwork for an amount not to exceed $100,000.
18. RESOLUTION NO. 1103-08-266: Motion to approve the selection of artists Janet Echelman and Buster Kendall to design suspended artworks for Terminal Two of the San Francisco International Airport, and to pay each an honorarium of $2,000 for the conceptual design.
19. RESOLUTION NO. 1103-08-267: Motion to approve the selection of artists Linda Beaumont and Norie Sato as finalists for the glass façade curtainwall, and approval to pay each an honorarium of $2,000.
20. RESOLUTION NO. 1103-08-268: Motion to approve Bob Zoell’s final design for glass panels for the Secure Connector at San Francisco International Airport.
21. RESOLUTION NO. 1103-08-269: Motion to approve design of Lewis deSoto’s tapestries Proposition A for Laguna Honda Hospital Project Gets 73% Voter Approval 1999 and Groundbreaking to the Beam Party 2003–2006 for Laguna Honda Hospital.
22. RESOLUTION NO. 1103-08-270: Motion to approve the public art program for the Leland Avenue Streetscape Improvement Project.
  
  Civic Design Review Committee Recommendations (October 20, 2008)
23. RESOLUTION NO. 1103-08-271: Motion to approve Phase 2 of the Anza Branch Library.
24. RESOLUTION NO. 1103-08-272: Motion to approve Phase 2 of the Visitacion Valley Branch Library on the condition that the roof tile and stucco surface treatment be presented during Phase 3 review.
25. RESOLUTION NO. 1103-08-273: Motion to approve Phase 1 of the Chinese Recreation Center with the condition that the entryway is revised and signage presented in Phase 2 review.
26. RESOLUTION NO. 1103-08-274: Motion to approve Phase 1 of the San Francisco International Airport Terminal Two Renovations Project.
27. RESOLUTION NO. 1103-08-275: Motion to approve Phases 1 and 2 of the San Francisco International Airport Secure Connector.
28. RESOLUTION NO. 1103-08-276: Motion to approve Phase 1 of the SFMTA Cable Car Kiosks.
Gallery Director’s Report
Gallery Director Meg Shiffler began her report by noting that she came to the position three years ago. She named Gallery staff Aimee Le Duc and Joyce Grimm, and explained that this three-person staff is able to program fourteen to sixteen exhibitions in three locations, for approximately $350,000 a year. She added that she couldn’t think of another organization that did as much with such a small staff and budget.

She discussed the Gallery’s mission statement, and her view that the Gallery should reflect San Francisco as an international hub, looking both within the local community and out into the context of the larger world.

Ms. Shiffler gave a brief history of the Gallery, originally an artist-run space at 155 Grove Street called “Capricorn Asunder,” which came under the Arts Commission’s jurisdiction in 1981. The Gallery’s website documents the sculpture program formerly shown in the vacant lot next door. The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake seriously damaged the building, which was not fully vacated until 1994. The Gallery was “temporarily” relocated to its current main site at the Veterans’ War Memorial Building in 1996. Gallery exhibitions visible from the street are displayed in the Grove Street windows, although the public is not allowed to enter the building, and the Gallery also exhibits on the ground floor of City Hall, emphasizing photography.

Ms. Shiffler explained that most of the Gallery’s programming is highly curated and presented in a variety of formats and sites, including blogs and streaming video online, a web-based novella in the Grove Street window, audio projects, and the JCDecaux kiosks on Market Street. She gave examples from recent shows. Ms. Shiffler also discussed the multifaceted education program, including close collaboration with Arts Education staff to develop lesson plans for students, and brown-bag lunch programs open to the community.

In response to a significant budget cut, the Gallery will do fewer exhibitions (ten to twelve rather than fourteen to sixteen) rather than lay off staff. Ms. Shiffler concluded her report with brief overviews of upcoming shows, including a sound installation in the City Hall Rotunda by the internationally recognized Bill Fontana, opening January 29, 2009. She also mentioned a show featuring video and photographic works by eight contemporary Chinese artists commenting on the sociopolitical and economic situation in China, and a show based on Paul Oster’s novel, City of Glass, asking whether cities hold hidden codes and exploring forgotten histories. In addition, the ground floor of City Hall will be the venue for Wolfgang’s Vault’s Rock Art for Social Change, drawn from the Bill Graham archives.
Committee Reports and Committee Matters
Noting that Commissioner Wilsey would have to leave somewhat early, Vice President Draisin took the Committee Reports in the following order.
1. Street Artists Committee—Alexander Lloyd, Chair
  1. Commissioner Lloyd reported that the Committee did not meet, and had no report. He presented the following motion.
  2. RESOLUTION NO. 1103-08-278: Motion to approve requests by former certificate-holders for priority issuance of certificate with waiver of re-screening of wares: Jess Zepeda, Barbara Ramos, Joe Ramos, Caroline Graber, Viviane Davilla, Sarah Huntoon.
2. Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee—Maya Draisin, Chair
  1. Vice President Draisin reported that the Committee received reports from the Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center (“APICC”) and the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts (“MCCLA”) at its last meeting. Because the APICC’s document wasn’t delivered until the day of the meeting, the Committee was unable to review it. Vice President Draisin reported that MCCLA has taken advantage of many opportunities offered, and is doing great work.
    
    She invited WritersCorps Project Manager Janet Heller to introduce this year’s teachers and to speak briefly about the program. Ms. Heller explained that this is the fifteenth year of WritersCorps, and they are celebrating with the show at the Arts Commission Gallery, This Place Called Poetry, developed by Katharine Gin from interviews she conducted over the last year with eleven young WritersCorps poets. Ms. Heller thanked Gallery Director Meg Shiffler and the Gallery staff for inviting WritersCorps, adding that it was a great opportunity for the young people.
    
    She went on to introduce the current faculty: Myron Michael Hardy, Aracely Gonzalez, Milta Ortiz, and Cindy Je, who was unable to attend the meeting. Ms. Heller requested the Commissioners’ participation in the December 1 benefit featuring Sherman Alexie, and asked that they spread the word about the event at City Arts and Lectures. She showed a video clip from This Place Called Poetry, and thanked both WritersCorps Program Associate Melissa Hung and Ms. Gin. Ms. Heller reported that one of the young poets featured in the video, Annie Yu, has been commissioned to do a thirteen-foot mural.
    
    Ms. Heller thanked Mr. Cancel, Deputy Director Nancy Gonchar and Community Arts and Education Program Director Judy Nemzoff for their steadfast support of the program.
    
    Finally, Leticia Hernandez, Executive Director of GirlSource, spoke in support of WritersCorps. She said that WritersCorps is a great resource for students and teachers, and that there is no other program like it. She praised Ms. Heller for her leadership of the program, and urged Commissioners to join her in buying a ticket and attending the fundraiser.
    
    Vice President Draisin presented the following motion.
  2. RESOLUTION NO. 1103-08-277: Motion to approve the following individuals as grants application review panelists for Cultural Equity Grants:
    Traci Bartlow, choreographer; Instructor, East Side Arts Alliance
    Mona Shah, Interim Executive Director, Oakland Asian Cultural Center
3. Executive Committee—P.J. Johnston, Chair
  1. Vice President Draisin made no report, saying that Mr. Cancel’s report covered the Committee’s discussions on how to help the arts community deal with the difficult economic climate.
4. Civic Design Review Committee—Jeannene Przyblyski, Chair
  1. Commissioner Przyblyski reported that the Committee discussed several projects, including Anza and Visitacion Valley libraries, noting that it was difficult to build them without a lot of money. The Committee is writing to the Mayor and Supervisor Sophie Maxwell to request additional funds for the Visitacion Valley branch, which will be a significant civic presence in the neighborhood.
    
    She reported that the Committee was excited about the Chinese Recreation Center; she said that Chinatown has been waiting fifteen years for the renovation of this desperately-needed center.
    
    Commissioner Przyblyski reported on ongoing rebuilding at the San Francisco Airport; the Committee reviewed Terminal Two, and approved a connector to get United passengers to the International Terminal.
    
    Finally, she reported that the Committee reviewed cable car ticket kiosks for Powell Street, designed by the same team working on the City’s bus shelters. The Committee recognized the importance of protecting the money collected, but asked the team to design a ticket booth that looks less like a safe.
5. Visual Arts Committee—Jeannene Przyblyski, Chair
  1. Commissioner Przyblyski remarked on the long timeline of Public Art projects, noting that the Committee is only now seeing completed projects that first came to the Committee at the beginning of her tenure. She reported that the Committee reviewed the Larsen Park Sava Pool project by Dana Zed and Laurel True, which will soon be finished. They also reviewed the Philosopher’s Walk at McLaren Park, discussing the use of recycled granite, a tough, durable and inexpensive material for sculpture.
    
    Finally, Commissioner Przyblyski reported that the Committee discussed the Randall Museum, continued its discussion of policy on the Central Subway, received a report on proposed zone C-3 public art legislation, and considered how to rationalize the placement of busts in City Hall.
    
    Commissioner Wilsey left the meeting, so that there was no longer a quorum.
New Business
There was no new business.
Reports and Announcements
There were no announcements.
Public Comment
There was no further public comment.
Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:24 p.m.

10/30/08 spr

Meeting Information

Full_Commission