Visual_Arts_Committee
2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 VISUAL ARTS COMMITTEE
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
3:00 p.m.
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 70
Minutes
Commissioners Present:
Leonard Hunter, Jeannene Przyblyski, Lawrence Rinder
Absent:
Dede Wilsey, Pop Zhao
Staff Present:
Nancy Gonchar, Tonia Macneil, Jill Manton, Judy Moran, Richard Newirth, Susan Pontious, Ellen Shershow
Note: All votes are unanimous unless recorded otherwise.
The meeting commenced at 3:10 p.m.
- Consent
1. Motion to approve the six final designs by artist Jennifer Durrant for an Art on Market Street 2006 Kiosk Poster series, to be installed in 24 kiosks on Market Street from November 10, 2006, to February 8, 2007.
This has been continued to the next meeting.
- Branch Library Improvement Program
Project Manager Judy Moran presented images from A Library Book, an illuminated sculpture by artist Vince Koloski, recently installed in the new Mission Bay Branch Library.
Ms. Moran stated that the first of the Branch Library Improvement Program branches eligible for public art has been completed, with the Koloski artwork installed. She requested that the Commissioners approve the installed artwork and the acceptance of the artwork into the Civic Art Collection.
The book sculpture is comprised of acrylic panels that include twelve quotes from a variety of people, including Jewelle Gomez, Spike Lee and Groucho Marx. Three of the quotes are in other languages: Japanese, Spanish and Arabic. In addition to the quotes, the book includes illustrations of early forms of writing, up to the first printing press materials. The book sculpture also has a front cover that is carved to resemble rock, with hieroglyphs, as well as a back cover with icons that reference the history of Mission Bay. The acrylic panels are each lined with colored LED strips that illuminate the carved letters, making them visible during the day and making them glow even more brightly after dark.
The Arts Commission is providing an ADA notebook for library patrons at the front desk, with translations of the sculpture’s text in Braille, Spanish, Chinese and Russian
Motion: Motion to approve the completion and installation of A Library Book, an illuminated book sculpture for the new Mission Bay Branch Library.
Moved: Hunter/Rinder
Motion: Motion to accept into the Civic Art Collection A Library Book, a book sculpture by artist Vince Koloski, with a wooden and carved foam cover panel and a wooden end panel with metal plates, and eight clear acrylic panels illuminated by colored LED strips and etched with twelve quotes about books and libraries, permanently installed on the second story walls of the new Mission Bay Branch Library on 4th Street at Berry Street.
Moved: Rinder/ Hunter
- Art on Market Street Program
Project Manager Judy Moran presented a staff proposal for changes to the Art on Market Street Program. Ms. Moran reminded the Commissioners that this proposal was briefly discussed at a past Visual Arts Committee meeting. The proposal suggests that we broaden the curatorial scope and modify the artist selection process of the Art on Market Street Kiosk Poster Series. Ms. Moran proposed expanding the focus of the projects beyond the Market Street theme, while continuing to work with Bay Area artists, in addition to revising the artist and project selection process.
The funding for the poster series program is provided by the Municipal Transit Agency (MTA) through a contract between the MTA and CBS Outdoor. The MTA has expressed their interest in having artists include references to transportation in their poster designs. Public Art staff would like to find a way to work with this theme without being limited by it; for example, working with the theme of ‘Travel’ this year and perhaps ‘Urban Systems’ next year. Additionally, Public Art staff would like to expand the program to include printed materials, projects that include both a poster series and a temporary project, and collaborations with other arts and non-arts organizations. Ms. Moran also wants to include poets, writers, photographers, and performers.
Further, the annual competition would be discontinued, in favor of staff serving as the primary curators for the program with Visual Arts Committee input and approval. Staff would work with a limited number of artists to develop proposals, for which they would be paid an honorarium. These proposals would then be presented to the Commissioners for approval. As a way to encourage the submission of materials from new artists, a notice will be placed on the Public Art Program website soliciting artists’ materials for review on an ongoing basis.
The Commissioners supported the proposal, expressed support of the two suggested themes, and recommended that the revised program be evaluated after the first year, perhaps involving guest curators in the future. The Commissioners appreciated the ongoing solicitation of new work for staff consideration, as the Market Street Program is a great entry point for young artists interested in public art.
Lastly, Ms. Moran stated that the program would include an annual Market Street journal, created at the end of each programming year, which would include work from that year, possibly some appropriate images from previous projects, and additional materials, to be edited and designed by an artist. Commissioner Hunter suggested putting together a retrospective exhibition of the past ten years of the Art on Market Street Program.
Motion: Motion to approve broadening the curatorial parameters of the Art on Market Street Program to include themes beyond Market Street; and to modify the artist selection process by discontinuing the annual proposal competition and having the Arts Commission staff solicit and provide a fee for proposals from a small group of artists selected through staff outreach, and from artists’ submissions of documentation of past work, with input and approval from the Arts Commissioners.
Moved: Rinder/Hunter
- Minnie and Lovie Ward Recreation Center
Project Manager Tonia Macneil presented the revised material and other design details for artwork at the Minnie and Lovie Ward Recreation Center. Ms. Macneil stated that the Visual Arts Committee had approved Jon Rubin’s and Jim Goldberg’s revised conceptual proposal in May 2006, with an installation date of February 2007. Since that time, the community and the Recreation and Parks Department have responded very positively to the proposal. Jon Rubin and Jim Goldberg have further identified a subcontractor to collect community names and images of trophies.
However, the artists have encountered budgetary issues. The price of executing the work with a glass laminate system exceeds the project budget. They have therefore proposed to use a digital high-pressure laminate material made by Fossil Industries. This material is inexpensive and lightweight, making it easy to install. It can, however, be scratched with some effort, leading the artists to propose adding sacrificial panels of Plexiglas to cover the first eight feet in height.
The Commissioners stated that they preferred the visual effect of working with glass, and wondered about reducing the overall scale of the artwork and/or decreasing the number of images to save funds. Ms. Macneil stated that the artists feel it is important both to produce the same number of images and to have the artwork continue all the way up to the ceiling.
The Commissioners were not able to make a firm decision without seeing a larger sample of the Fossil material with the images of the artwork. It was agreed that Ms. Macneil would bring a sample to the next Visual Arts Committee meeting.
Motion: Motion to approve the use of a digital high-pressure laminate and final design details to be presented at meeting for the artwork by Jon Rubin and Jim Goldberg at Minnie and Lovie Ward Recreation Center.
The motion has been continued to a later meeting
- Moscone Recreation Center
Public Art Program Director Jill Manton presented the Moscone Recreation Project selection panel’s recommendation of Kent Roberts, Troy Corliss and Brian Goggin as finalists to submit preliminary proposals for the Moscone Recreation Center.
Ms. Manton stated that, considering the amount of time and work we ask project finalists to provide, the $500 honorarium we currently pay is very little. Ms. Manton stated that she would like to have a longer discussion with the Commissioners regarding this topic in the future, as the amount of time and work is often intertwined with the scope of a project and the budget, causing the Commission to pay artists at a variety of levels. In the meantime, she requested approval to increase the honorarium for this project to $650. The Commissioners were in full support of this temporary change as well as a future discussion.
Motion: Motion to rescind resolution passed at the June Visual Arts Committee meeting to award an honorarium in the amount of $500 to each of the following three finalists for the Moscone Recreation Center: Brian Goggin, Troy Corliss and Kent Roberts.
Moved: Hunter/Rinder
Motion: Motion to approve the Director of Cultural Affairs to pay an honorarium in the amount of $650 to Brian Goggin, Troy Corliss and Kent Roberts for preliminary proposals for the Moscone Recreation Center.
Moved: Rinder/Hunter
- Harvey Milk Commemorative Sculpture
Public Art Program Director Jill Manton presented the establishment of a pool of jurors for the Harvey Milk Commemorative Sculpture selection panel. Ms. Manton stated that she and Public Art Program Deputy Director Susan Pontious are working in collaboration on the Harvey Milk Commemorative Sculpture project.
The jury pool will include Daniel Nicoletta and Gary Nathan from the Harvey Milk Memorial Committee, one Commissioner and possibly former Arts Commissioner Dugald Stermer, among others. Ms. Manton requested additional suggestions from the Commissioners. Commissioner Przyblyski suggested Robert Flynn Johnson, Chief Curator at the Legion of Honor. Commissioner Rinder recommended Rob Epstein, who directed the award-winning documentary, The Times of Harvey Milk. Commissioner Przyblyski offered to serve on the jury as well.
Ms. Manton then asked the Commissioners for artists who might be invited to apply. The Commissioners suggested John DeFazio and Cedric Wentworth.
Director of Cultural Affairs Richard Newirth stated that this is meant to be a traditional bronze bust, like the other busts of past Mayors in City Hall. He also reminded the Commissioners that these busts are often moved to various locations in City Hall, so the panel should not make a decision based on the current proposed location.
Motion: Motion to approve the establishment of a pool of jurors for the Harvey Milk Commemorative Sculpture selection panel to include Dugald Stermer, Robert Flynn Johnson, Anne Kronenburg, Rob Epstein and Jeannene Przyblyski .
Moved: Rinder/Hunter
- Broadway Streetscape
Project Manager Tonia Macneil gave an informational presentation on the Broadway Streetscape Public Art Project.
Since first presenting a proposal by the artist Brian Goggin to the Committee in December of 2005, Tonia Macneil and the Department of Public Works organized a public meeting to introduce the artist to the community and to hear comments regarding the project. At that point, the community requested that the art piece not block the sightlines or interfere with pedestrian movement, but that it be visible at night and represent the community of North Beach. This led Mr. Goggin to reconsider his earlier design. He met separately with several community members and, based on their feedback, developed a proposal to create a suspended sculpture of between 15 and 35 translucent book shapes fabricated from polycarbonate, arranged to look like a flock of birds taking flight. In explaining his inspiration, the artist made reference to the flocks of birds often found on Italian piazzas. Budget permitting, Mr. Goggin would like to include light and sound in this installation. He also proposed installing text in the sidewalk in such a way that it would appear to have fallen from the books. He further proposed the use of light concrete on the plaza with cast iron text that would eventually rust and bleed into the concrete. The total artwork budget is $35,000. The streetscape project is funded by an MTC grant that was recently extended for an extra six months. Construction is expected to begin in March of 2007 and to last seven to nine months.
The Community members who have seen the proposal are in full support of this project. Ms. Macneil and the artist will be meeting with members of the Chinese community following the Visual Arts Committee meeting to obtain their comments as well. Project Manager Judi Mosqueda from the Department of Public Works expressed concern that the artist might expect some of the project costs to be absorbed into the construction project cost. She explained that the budget for the entire streetscape project is modest and that more funds are not likely to be available.
Public Art Deputy Director Susan Pontious cautioned that we need to look seriously at the cost of maintenance of a project like this, as we do not have the staff or the budget to manage such things, particularly when it comes to working with media, such as light and sound.
Joseph Butler, a member of the Telegraph Hill community, said that the sound aspect of this installation would be a positive addition to the ambient sounds of the intersection, particularly if the stoplights were adjusted to allow for a “Pedestrian Scramble,” thus providing a moment of relative quiet. A second Telegraph Hill dweller, Cathleen Dooley, expressed her support for Brian Goggin’s proposal.
The Commissioners supported the project conceptually, but wanted to be sure that the technology and budgetary issues could be resolved.
- Joseph Lee Recreation Center
Public Art Program Director Jill Manton asked the Commissioners to appoint a Visual Arts Committee liaison to the Joseph Lee Recreation Center Public Art project selection panel. Ms. Manton stated that there is some flexibility regarding sites for the artwork at this recreational center, and that she would like to identify a Bay Area artist who can work well with the community. It was decided that Pop Zhao would represent the Visual Arts Committee on the selection panel.
- Central Subway
Jill Manton reported on the Central Subway start-up. The new system extends from 4th and King to SFMOMA, Moscone, Union Square and Chinatown to provide a direct connection from the northeast corridor of the city to the county line in Visitacion Valley . As the first station to be designed is the Chinatown station, Ms. Manton explained that we will select candidates from the pre-qualified artists pool, and additionally solicit artists from the Chinese community. Public Art staff will identify a range of locations for artwork, including elevators and the station entrance. Although we do not know the final budget for this project, it will likely be significant. Commissioner Przyblyski stated that this has community-building opportunities, and Ms. Manton commented that this is a wonderful moment to balance local and national concerns.
- 525 Golden Gate
Jill Manton reported on start-up of the 525 Golden Gate Avenue project. Ms. Manton stated that this project was initiated in 2001, and involved the demolition of the State office building at Golden Gate and Polk Streets that was damaged in the Loma Prieta earthquake. At that time, the new building was mandated to achieve a high LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) status, and was to house the Department of the Environment and other City offices.
Prior to the project’s cancellation due to lack of funding, the Arts Commission had already chosen three artist finalists, who were Ned Kahn, Anna Valentina Murch, and Paul Kos.. Mr. Kahn proposed to install sculptural wind turbines to move air through the building. Anna Valentina Murch’s proposal was to work with colored glass, stone and sand in the building façade to represent the geologic strata of San Francisco. Paul Kos initially proposed a giant aviary containing canaries, and a large coal sculpture recalling the metaphor of the canary in the coal mine as a reflection of the building’s commitment to a high environmental standard. The artist’s last proposal was to install green colored slate on the lobby floor, which would gently undulate, not unlike a large body of water.
Ms. Manton stated that a new budget will be established for this project. She will present these three proposals to the new client, the Public Utilities Commission and the Visual Arts Committee to determine whether any of these projects are still viable All of the artists were paid for their work to date and the contracts closed, and we are not legally bound to any of the proposals.
- Public Utilities Commission
Jill Manton reported on the Public Utilities Commission Arts Master Plan. After spending two to three years working on a mutually agreeable MOU, the Arts Commission was poised to develop an arts master plan for the Public Utilities Commission properties and facilities throughout northern California. However, after 9-11 the Public Utilities Commission revisited its policies regarding security and protection of the watershed sites. Based on the Public Utilities Commission capital improvement program, there will be an estimated $5-7 million in art funding. This figure applies only to eligible construction. Much of the construction involves underground pipelines, which are exempt from the ordinance requirements.
The Mayor’s office has expressed its preference for much of the funding to be spent to benefit the City of San Francisco . The Public Utilities Commission’s authority supersedes the 2%-for-art ordinance, which means that the Public Utilities Commission can determine how to spend the art funds and what kinds of projects to support. It appears that the Public Utilities Commission is interested in supporting a range of projects to include temporary art projects in various communities, or significant permanent sculpture projects. The Public Utilities Commission has asked Ms. Manton to identify San Francisco sites for consideration.
- New Business
Jill Manton presented images of an international sculpture installation in Vancouver, British Columbia . The Commissioners inquired about the cost and support for an endeavor of this scale.
- Old Business
Ms. Manton provided an update on the Moscone West Convention Center . She stated that there is currently a dialog between Pol-X and the forensic engineer about how to proceed with the retrofit of the motion system. Ms. Manton is researching whether any private percent-for-art funds may be redirected to the art project at the Moscone West Convention Center.
Public Art Program Deputy Director Susan Pontious spoke briefly regarding the Civic Art Collection. Ms. Pontious stated that we have a wonderful jewelry collection, and she would like to discuss with the Committee what to do with it, as well as developing guidelines regarding the de-accessioning of artwork.
- Adjournment
As there was no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:24 p.m.
7/31/2006
Notices
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