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MEETING OF THE FULL ARTS COMMISSION
Monday, October 5, 2009
3:00 p.m.
City Hall Room 416

Minutes

President Johnston called the meeting to order at 3:07 p.m.

Roll Call
Commissioners Present
P.J. Johnston, President
Maya Draisin, Vice President
Nínive Calegari
John Calloway
Gregory Chew
Amy Chuang
Sherene Melania
Barbara Sklar
Cass Calder Smith
Sherri Young

Commissioners Absent
Leo Chow
Topher Delaney
Lorraine García-Nakata
Astrid Haryati
Ron Miguel, ex officio
Approval of Minutes
This item was withdrawn.
President’s Report
President Johnston reported that while this meeting was originally intended to be a workshop with the Department of Human Resources (“DHR”) consultant, Teri Jourgensen, he and Mr. Cancel concluded that the Executive Committee was a better forum for that discussion. President Johnston added that he looked forward to presentations from the Gallery and from Community Arts and Education to help give the entire Commission a sense of the agency’s full mission. He thought the thumbnail presentations at the September full Commission had been really helpful, and would like each program area to give a fuller presentation over the next several months.

President Johnston noted that new Commissioners had attended the September meeting, and he welcomed Barbara Sklar as both a newly appointed Commissioner and a returning Commissioner, who had served on the Arts Commission several years ago. President Johnston welcomed Commissioner Sklar, describing her as a very accomplished and well-known painter. He added that she and her late husband, Richard Sklar, had served the City in many cultural capacities over the years.

She thanked him and said that she looked forward to working with all the Commissioners. President Johnston thanked her for her willingness to step back into the Commission, and was glad to have a full complement again.

President Johnston distributed the 2010 meeting calendar, urging Commissioners to make their best efforts to attend meetings, despite their busy schedules. He announced the appointment of Commissioner Melania as Chair of the Street Artists Committee and Commissioner García-Nakata as Chair of the Visual Arts Committee. He also congratulated Commmissioner García-Nakata on the birth of her new grandchild.

Finally, President Johnston added that Gallery Director Meg Shiffler would discuss the upcoming Passport event.
Director’s Report
Mr. Cancel began his report by reminding the Commission that the City’s budget adopted for the current fiscal year which began in July had made some allowances for the California State budget which had not then been adopted, setting aside contingency funds. He explained that the final State budget cut funding to the City by $120 million; after financing a large portion of the shortfall and tapping reserves, the net shortfall was about $2.5 million, which the Mayor had decided not to backfill. This has resulted in cuts primarily to public health, and is not currently expected to significantly impact the arts and culture sector.

Mr. Cancel reported that the Cultural Equity Grants Program (“CEG”) is well into its current grant cycle, having received applications for various grants, with panel reviews underway, but no grant recommendations yet. He reported that this year saw nine Cultural Equity Initiative Level 2 applications, compared with five two years ago; five Creative Space Grant applications, the same number as to years ago; and thirty-four Individual Artist Commission applications so far; applications are expected to surpass the number in the last round. Mr. Cancel reminded Commissioners that Individual Artist Commissions are on a biennial cycle, alternating performing arts with visual arts; performing arts applications are being accepted this year.

Mr. Cancel reported that Walnut Creek’s Bedford Gallery is showing a retrospective of seventeen years of works from the Art on Market Street program. He said the installation is striking with the large, beautiful posters double-hung in the gallery. He attended a lovely opening reception, along with the Vice Mayor of Walnut Creek and the head of their Arts Commission. Mr. Cancel congratulated Director of Programs Jill Manton and Public Art Project Manager Judy Moran, who initiated the Art on Market Street program some seventeen years ago. He described the program as an incubator, introducing artists to the public art process; several have gone on to compete for larger commissions. He reported that the exhibition ends on November 15, and he hopes to bring it to San Francisco at some point, possibly into a vacant space in the financial district.

Mr. Cancel reported that Art in Storefronts is underway, with twenty artists matched with storefronts in four communities. The program will have its public launch on October 23 with ten storefronts in the mid-Market area, and four in the Tenderloin; the Mayor is expected to participate. Mr. Cancel reported that San Francisco artist Chor Boogie has been asked to do a mural on a large construction wall, at least 100 feet long, on Market Street. Mr. Boogie was recently commissioned by the city of Washington, DC to do several murals. Mr. Cancel reported that Art in Storefronts will launch in the Bayview a week later, and in the Mission in November. Mr. Cancel distributed a Time Magazine article discussing the initiative. Explaining that the program is a team effort with the Mayor’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development, which provided funding and facilitated connections with storeowners, Mr. Cancel thanked Community Arts and Education Program Director Judy Nemzoff and her staff, and independent curator Joyce Grimm (formerly on the Gallery staff), for their hard work within such a short time frame. He expects this exciting project to be a highly visible part of the streetscape.

Mr. Cancel introduced Gallery Director Meg Shiffler to discuss the Passport event, whose kickoff party was also set for October 23. Ms. Shiffler explained that in 2007, she began rethinking the Gallery’s annual fundraising event; asking artists for donations created some stress for them. The inaugural Passport event will take place in the Mission. She displayed the passports, small bound blank notebooks with artwork by Tucker Nichols on the cover (one of twelve cover designs), a unique number on the inside cover, and a map in the back. The passport is purchased for $25, and on Saturday, October 25, artists will be stationed at a dozen small businesses around the Mission to stamp passports. Some of the stamps are rubber stamps of line drawings by the participating artists, some are stickers, and one is a custom photograph. Ms. Shiffler explained that each passport will thus become a limited edition. Participating businesses include restaurants, and 826 Valencia. The kickoff party will be held at the Polish Club, 22 nd and Shotwell Streets, with a band and a cash bar, as well as a raffle for prizes donated by Chronicle Books and others. She added that the list of participating artists was impressive, and she hoped to sell 500 passports, which can also be purchased online.

President Johnston added that the stamps themselves are works of art; he was excited about this innovative multimedia event. He anticipated contributions of at least $100 from each Commissioner, as well as their participation. Ms. Shiffler added that the event was planned to be very family-friendly, and that the Bike Coalition would be running valet bike parking at the party.

Ms. Shiffler went on to invite Commissioners to the upcoming opening of the Murphy and Cadogan show, featuring some of the best and brightest of the MFA students at local schools before their spring shows. Finally, she invited everyone to see the exhibition already installed on the ground floor of City Hall, in collaboration with Lighthouse for the Blind, of work by visually impaired artists. The opening reception was scheduled for October 15.

Mr. Cancel reported that the Public Art Program had another busy month. The artwork proclaimed by Maya Lin to be her last memorial, What is Missing?, was dedicated at the Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park. The Academy has the distinction of having two pieces by Ms. Lin. Mr. Cancel thanked President Johnston and former Commissioner Jeannene Przyblyski for shepherding this project to completion.

Mr. Cancel reported that the anti-graffiti curriculum, Where Art Lives, will be launched shortly in six San Francisco schools, in collaboration with the Department of Public Works (“DPW”). The curriculum is designed to teach middle-school students the difference between creating art with permission and defacing someone else’s property, and what effect that has on the community. He explained the second component of this initiative, StreetSmARTS, which will identify property owners who want to have a mural painted on their building, with the intention to discourage tagging. He explained that property owners will be expected to contribute to the cost of the mural, and that the Arts Commission has some matching funds available. Arts Commission staff are interviewing and choosing artists with the skill and experience to do these murals. In response to a question from Commissioner Calloway about the schools chosen for the pilot program, Mr. Cancel explained that the Arts Commission was given a target zone of areas particularly hard hit by tagging and defacing property. He pointed out that the City spends an enormous amount of money dealing with graffiti. DPW identified the area, and Arts Commission staff identified the corresponding schools. Ms. Nemzoff added that the schools identified have been signed up on a first-come, first-served basis. If additional funds can be found, more schools will be added.

Mr. Cancel reported that the Mexican Museum recently unveiled a display at the Palo Alto Art Center of 150 objects from its collection. He said that this reminds everyone how important the collection is, spanning pre-Columbian through colonial through contemporary Chicano art. They hope to bring the show back to San Francisco after the Palo Alto show closes in six months. He reported that after the Board of Supervisors passed a unanimous resolution urging Fort Mason to try to keep the Mexican Museum there, Mr. Cancel began trying to set up a meeting between Fort Mason and the Museum. He found they have already agreed to mediation.

Mr. Cancel reported that he and Street Artists Program Director Howard Lazar have been working to establish a formal procedure for the artists to represent their views to the staff and the Committee. There has been no way to know whether those who speak at the Committee’s meetings genuinely represent the opinions of the majority of the artists. There will now be an established procedure, with nominations and the opportunity for all street artists to vote on representatives. The sealed ballots will be counted at the November meeting of the Street Artists Committee.

Mr. Cancel announced that Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts will hold a gala reception for Day of the Dead on November 2, and SOMArts will host a Day of the Dead show from October 16 through November 2. He recalled that last year’s show was mind-boggling, saying that many San Francisco artists participated, creating incredible installations.

President Johnston announced that a few weeks earlier, the very significant art collection of Donald and Doris Fisher finally found a home at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (“SFMOMA”). Very shortly thereafter, Donald Fisher died. President Johnston described the gift of the collection a tremendous contribution to San Francisco. He reminded everyone that the Commission had voted unanimously to support a home in the Presidio for the collection, and thought SFMOMA was also a fantastic choice. He called for the meeting to be adjourned in memory of Donald Fisher.
Consent Calendar

RESOLUTION NO. 1005-09-242:
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. 1005-09-243: Motion to approve the Civic Design Review Committee Meeting Minutes of May 18, 2009.
2. RESOLUTION NO. 1005-09-244: Motion to approve the Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee Meeting Minutes of September 8, 2009.
3. RESOLUTION NO. 1005-09-245: Motion to approve the Visual Arts Committee Meeting Minutes of September 16, 2009.
4. RESOLUTION NO. 1005-09-246: Motion to approve the Street Artists Committee Meeting Minutes of September 9, 2009.
  
  Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee Recommendations (September 8, 2009)
5. RESOLUTION NO. 1005-09-247: Motion to approve the following individuals as grants application review panelists for Cultural Equity Grants:
  Dale Albright, Membership Director, Theatre Bay Area
  Sidney Chen, Artistic Administrator, Kronos Quartet
  Rita Felciano, dance critic, San Francisco Bay Guardian
  Paul Flores, performance artist and youth development specialist
  Joe Goode, Founder and Director, Joe Goode Performance Group
  Joanna Haigood, Artistic Director, ZACCHO Dance Theatre
  Tony Kelly, founding member, Thick Description
  Eduardo Pineda, visual artist and educator
  Jordan Simmons, Artistic Director, East Bay Center for the Performing Arts
  Linda Tillery, founder, Cultural Heritage Choir
  Moriah Ulinskas, Director of Next Gen Programs, Bay Area Video Coalition
  Luis Valverde, choreographer, Peruvian Dance Company (PERUDANCE)
  
  Visual Arts Committee Recommendations (September 16, 2009)
6. RESOLUTION NO. 1005-09-248: Motion to approve a painted mural on a privately owned building at 191 Golden Gate Avenue at Leavenworth from Precita Eyes and San Francisco Clean City Coalition. The mural will be painted by Precita Eyes muralists Catalina Gonzalez-Hill and Cory Calandra-Devereaux, collaboration with the North of Market/Tenderloin Community Benefit Corporation. Painting will commence September 14, 2009 and will be completed by October 9, 2009.
7. RESOLUTION NO. 1005-09-249: Motion to approve a painted mural on Central Drug Store, a privately owned building at 4494 Mission Street at Santa Rosa Street. The mural will be painted by Precita Eyes muralists Cory Calandra-Devereaux and Jason Gilmore in collaboration with the San Francisco Clean City Coalition, the Excelsior District Improvement Association, Excelsior Action Group, Friends and Advocates of Crocker Amazon & the Excelsior, District 11 Council members and Balboa High School Alumni Association. Painting will commence September 14, 2009 and will be completed by October 22, 2009.
8. RESOLUTION NO. 1005-09-250: Motion to approve a painted mural on the rear wall of the Instituto Familiar de la Raza, Inc. a privately owned building at 2919 Mission Street. The mural will be painted by muralist Darren Villegas and youth from Instituto Familiar de la Raza, Inc.’s La Cultura Cura program. Painting will commence October 7, 2009 and will be completed by October 30, 2009.
9. RESOLUTION NO. 1005-09-251: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with the artist Laurel True (dba True Mosaics, Inc.) in an amount not to exceed $20,000 for the design, fabrication, and transportation of an artwork for the Hayes Valley Playground.
10. RESOLUTION NO. 1005-09-252: Motion to approve an honorarium in the amount of $2000 ($1000 for research and development, and $1000 upon delivery of artwork) to the following artists for newly commissioned artwork for the SFAC Gallery’s 40th Anniversary celebration: Packard Jennings, Lynn Hershman Leeson, Ken Lo, Guillermo Gómez-Peña, Joseph del Pesco, Margaret Tedesco, Jeannene Przyblyski, and Paul Schiek.
11. RESOLUTION NO. 1005-09-253: Motion to approve the revision of Sections 4.3.1 and 4.3.2 of the Public Art Program Policies and Guidelines relative to California State Proposition 209.
12. RESOLUTION NO. 1005-09-254: Motion to approve proposal from Lance Fung, the curator of the Wonderland exhibition, scheduled to open on October 17, 2009 in the Tenderloin district.
13. RESOLUTION NO. 1005-09-255: Motion to approve the artwork proposal by Tom Otterness for the Potrero Avenue Pedestrian Entry and Walkway of the General Hospital Acute Care Unit.
14. RESOLUTION NO. 1005-09-256: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a contract with Tom Otterness for an amount not to exceed $700,000 for design, fabrication, transportation and installation consultation for artwork for the Potrero Avenue Pedestrian Entry and Walkway of the General Hospital Acute Care Unit.
15. RESOLUTION NO. 1005-09-257: Motion to approve the artwork proposal by Masayuki Nagase for the Roof Garden of the General Hospital Acute Care Unit.
16. RESOLUTION NO. 1005-09-258: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a contract with Masayuki Nagase for an amount not to exceed $200,000 for design, fabrication, transportation and installation consultation for artwork for the Roof Garden of the General Hospital Acute Care Unit.
17. RESOLUTION NO. 1005-09-259: Motion to approve the artwork proposal by Lena Wolff for the Second Floor Corridor of the General Hospital Acute Care Unit.
18. RESOLUTION NO. 1005-09-260: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a contract with Lena Wolff for an amount not to exceed $138,000 for design, fabrication, transportation and installation consultation for artwork for the Second Floor Corridor of the General Hospital Acute Care Unit.
19. RESOLUTION NO. 1005-09-261: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into an agreement with Rupert Garcia for an amount not to exceed $50,000 for design through construction documents for the lobby and pedestrian bridge for General Hospital.
20. RESOLUTION NO. 1005-09-262: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to modify the agreement with Cliff Garten and Assoc. Inc. to increase the amount by $44,124, for a new contract amount of $276,824, in order to 1) modify the handrail mold to meet ADA requirements, 2) create 38 extra returns, and 3) fabricate the stanchion posts for areas where the handrail cannot attach to the wall.
21. RESOLUTION NO. 1005-09-263: Motion to approve the artist selection panel’s recommendation of the following artists as finalists for the Cayuga Playground public art project: Jefferson Mack, Eric Powell, Bryan Tedrick, and alternate Amy Blackstone.
22. RESOLUTION NO. 1005-09-264: Motion to approve the artist selection panel’s recommendation of the following artists as finalists for the Sunset Playground Public Art Project: Amy Blackstone, Jefferson Mack, Bryan Tedrick, and alternate Julie Chang.
23. RESOLUTION NO. 1005-09-265: Motion to approve the donation of funds in the amount of $50,000 by the Castro/Upper Market Community Benefit District to the San Francisco Arts Commission of the City and County of San Francisco to be added to the Church and Duboce Public Art Project budget for additional artwork to be located at Church and Market Streets: $40,000 to help supplement the funds available for the creation and installation of the artwork and for any additional future expenses related to the display, care, conservation and current or future maintenance of this artwork and $10,000 for Arts Commission administrative fees.
24. RESOLUTION NO. 1005-09-266: Motion to approve the artist Shan Shan Sheng and her proposal recommended by the Chinese Recreation Center Artist Selection Panel for the interior lobby of the Chinese Recreation Center.
25. RESOLUTION NO. 1005-09-267: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with the artist Shan Shan Sheng, selected by the Chinese Recreation Center Artist Selection Panel, for the final design, fabrication, and transportation of artwork for the interior lobby of the Chinese Recreation Center in an amount not to exceed $170,000.
26. RESOLUTION NO. 1005-09-268: Motion to approve three artist finalists—Seyed Alavi, Mark Grieve, and Scott Oliver—selected by the SOMA West Artist Selection Panel to prepare artwork proposals for the SOMA West Garden Project.
  
  Civic Design Review Committee Recommendations (September 21, 2009)
27. RESOLUTION NO. 1005-09-269: Motion to approve Phase 3 of the San Joaquin Pipeline System.
28. RESOLUTION NO. 1005-09-270: Motion to approve Phase 3 of the Golden Gate Branch Library Renovation.
29. RESOLUTION NO. 1005-09-271: Motion to approve Phases 1, 2 and 3 of the Junipero Serra Historic Bell installation contingent upon staff review of signage.
30. RESOLUTION NO. 1005-09-272: Motion to approve Phase 2 of the Sunset Playground renovation project with the condition to maximize water capture onsite, research alternatives to paved surfaces, evaluate the street planting, and consider adding contrast to the color palette of the entry.
Committee Reports and Committee Matters
1. Executive Committee—P.J. Johnston, Chair
  1. President Johnston reported that the strategic planning process is continuing, and that Ms. Jourgensen and her colleague at DHR, Amy Lilley, had come to the Committee’s recent meeting. Ms. Jourgensen reported that the great majority of staff had already participated in planning discussions, and that interviews with Commissioners were the next step planned. The Committee had requested that Ms. Jourgensen interview a few Commissioners, though all were welcome to speak with her if they wished. President Johnston reported that the Committee discussed with Ms. Jourgensen the resources already existing, including the records of the Commission’s retreats in the last few years, and the report from the Arts Task Force. The Committee reiterated that it had chosen DHR staff rather than a private consultant with the expectation that they would be able to produce a realistic three-year plan for this public agency—as distinct from a private nonprofit—in light of its many legally mandated obligations, as well as the programs initiated by the Commission in furtherance of its mission.
    
    President Johnston reported that 2012 will be the 80 th anniversary of the Commission, and the Committee began discussing how this milestone might be marked, and what what it might mean both locally and beyond, since San Francisco’s is one of the nation’s oldest public arts agencies. He reported that 2011 will be the 40 th anniversary of the Gallery, and that planning to mark it is already underway. President Johnston recalled that the Neighborhood Arts Program celebrated its 40 th anniversary in 2008 with fourteen days of programming, marking the convergence of social activism and the arts. He invited Commissioners to participate in discussions and planning for these unique and important anniversaries.
    
    President Johnston named the Nominating Committee: Commissioners Calegari, Chow and Young. The Committee was scheduled to meet in October, to present nominations for President and Vice President for election at the Commission’s November meeting. The Nominating Committee’s meeting would, of course, be publicly noticed.
2. Civic Design Review Committee—Cass Calder Smith, Chair
  1. Commissioner Smith reported that the Committee reviewed several pump stations presented by the Public Utilities Commission (“PUC”). Members of the Committee had met with PUC staff and staff from the Bureau of Architecture (“BOA”) in a design charrette in August, to encourage a more artistic and more conceptual approach to designing these projects. Commissioner Smith felt that the charrette was very productive, and improved the relationship between all parties. Additionally, the Committee requested that BOA present a selection of Phase Two projects to the full Commission.
    
    Commissioner Smith reported that the Committee reviewed minor improvements to Harvey Milk Plaza, which are being proposed and paid for by a community group. The Committee felt that the design was not strong enough for this important public space, and asked the group to do further work on the design and return to the Committee.
    
    He reported that the Committee reviewed work on the Cayuga Playground, a unique and special space with several wooden sculptures carved by a gardener who worked there for many years. The Committee thought the project design was good, but that it did not have enough of a link to the legacy of the park, and sent the project back to the design team for further work.
    
    Commissioner Smith added that he had noticed that the Visual Arts Committee was also considering artwork for gates at this park, and said he would like to see the work of the two Committees coordinated. After the Civic Design Review Committee’s meeting, it was not clear that the gates would be part of the final project. President Johnston noted that the plan before the Visual Arts Committee included preservation of as many of the gardener’s sculptures as possible. Ms. Manton added that Public Art Project Manager Jennifer Lovvorn was managing this project, and that there were specific restrictions in the budget.
    
    Mr. Cancel explained that he has proposed a procedural modification to the Civic Design Review process to safeguard against future renovation projects impacting on existing public art, which has happened in a few recent cases. His proposal calls for certification from Collections that no existing art object will be impacted by the renovation before the project can proceed to Civic Design Review. President Johnston was hopeful that this early notice can limit problems.
3. Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee—Maya Draisin, Chair
  1. Vice President Draisin reported that Cultural Equity Grants has begun its new granting cycle. She reported, in response to a great deal of public comment on the Cultural Centers at the last full Commission meeting, that financial reports on all the centers have been received, with nothing untoward. She added that the Committee discussed worrisome economic trends in the overall economy and their impact on the City’s nonprofit arts sector.
    
    Vice President Draisin explained that Ms. Nemzoff had given the Committee a presentation on the history and purpose of the Cultural Centers, and that the Committee had approved their Management and Programming Plans.
    
    Vice President Draisin presented the following motions.
  2. RESOLUTION NO. 1005-09-273: Motion to approve the following individuals as grants application review panelists for Cultural Equity Grants:
    Ellen Bruno, filmmaker and international relief worker
    Barbara Christmann, musician, composer, Director of Education & Outreach, San Jose Jazz
    Roy Hirabayashi, Executive Director, San Jose Taiko
    Diem Jones, Program Director, Arts Council Silicon Valley, and poet, musician
    Amy Kitchener, Executive Director, Alliance for California Traditional Arts
    Karen Kwan, consultant
    Raelle Myrick-Hodges, Artistic Director, Brava Theater Center
    Alleluia Panis, Executive Director, Kularts
    Lise Swenson, filmmaker/producer and media installation artist
    Isabel Yrigoyen, Performing Arts Manager, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
  3. RESOLUTION NO. 1005-09-274: Motion to increase the 2009-2010 grant agreement to Community Initiatives by an amount not to exceed $15,000, for a total grant not to exceed $25,000 to support the arts education program intern.
4. Street Artists Committee—Sherene Melania, Chair
  1. Commissioner Melania reported that the Committee had not met, and was anticipating the election of the advisory group at its November meeting.
    
    She presented the following motions.
  2. RESOLUTION NO. 1005-09-275: Motion to approve requests by former certificate-holders for priority issuance of certificate with waiver of re-screening of wares: Sui Sheng Chau, Julian Dash, Li Wei Wang, Christian Moffat.
  3. RESOLUTION NO. 1005-09-276: Motion to approve request by applicant for waiver of 15-day policy in obtaining a certificate: Nicholas Sanguinetti.
5. Visual Arts Committee—Lorraine García-Nakata, Chair
  1. In the absence of Commissioner García-Nakata, President Johnston made the report. He began by commending the Public Art Program staff, and Ms. Manton in particular, as well as former Commissioner Jeannene Przyblyski, on the Maya Lin project at the Academy of Sciences. He thought the monument an incredible piece, even more than its companion on the other side of the building. With a rueful aside on the well-known comparison of sausage-making to the legislative process (and by extension, the public art process), President Johnston described Ms. Lin as gracious in cooperating with the many entities involved to shape an even better work. He recounted how, a week after the dedication of What is Missing?, he chaperoned a kindergarten field trip to the site. The teacher had been teaching children about the project, and they were deeply engaged by the artwork.
    
    President Johnston described the Committee’s recent meeting as a trial by fire for Commissioners Chew and Sklar, with a huge contingent of the public speaking on the murals at the Bernal branch library. The Committee tabled the matter, and he noted that Mr. Cancel was continuing to work on crafting an appropriate resolution to this difficult situation. President Johnston noted that the murals in question were not done to the standards that would be applicable today, and were not part of the City’s public art collection, but were on a public building and thus under the Commission’s jurisdiction.
    
    Commissioner Sklar added that everyone had their say at the meeting, and Commissioner Chew praised staff work in recording all of the comments. President Johnston added that Commissioner García-Nakata had done a great job as chair, at her first meeting in that role.
    
    He presented the following motions.
  2. RESOLUTION NO. 1005-09-277: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to increase, by an amount not to exceed $25,000, contract DPAR08000113 with Gizmo Art Production for post-installation safety modifications of artwork by Michael Davis and Susan Schwartzenberg at the Harvey Milk Recreation Center and for the installation of commissioned artwork at Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center.
New Business
Mr. Cancel reported that in hopes of helping the Cultural Centers to become stronger nonprofits, expanding their boards and bringing them closer to the business community, the Commission had arranged for a full-page double spread ad in the San Francisco Business Journal’s special issue on philanthropy. The ad highlights each of the centers, encouraging the business community to become familiar with them and to join their boards. Each of the centers contributed $500 toward the ad, and the agency put in $1300. Mr. Cancel hopes to find other publications willing to run the ad for free as a public service. He commended Development Director Rachelle Axel and Civic Art Project Manager Vicky Knoop for creating the text, design and layout of the ad, particularly under a tight deadline.
Reports and Announcements
Finally, Ms. Shiffler announced that Commissioners had already purchased four passports for the Gallery fundraiser.
Public Comment
There was no further public comment.
Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:25 p.m., in memory of Donald Fisher.

12/30/09 spr

Meeting Information

Full_Commission