The meeting commenced at 3:05 p.m.
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Consent
1. Motion to approve an exhibition organized by San Francisco General Hospital's Cancer Awareness, Resources and Education (CARE) Program of portraits by photographer Nicole Franco in the cafeteria of San Francisco General Hospital.
2. Motion to accept into the Civic Art Collection the Harvey Milk commemorative bronze sculpture and base (2008), a gift to the city from the Harvey Milk City Hall Memorial Committee. The sculpture, designed by Daub, Firmin, Hendrickson Sculpture Group, is located in the Supervisors' Ceremonial Rotunda at City Hall.
3. Motion to approve a mural by artist Norm Stien with assistance from artists Victor Reyes and Amanda Lynn, to be installed for a period not to exceed six months, on the outer perimeter wall of the skate park as part of the improvements at Potrero del Sol and Rolph Playgrounds, pending approval from the Recreation and Park Commission on June 5, 2008.
4. Motion to approve a series of high-resolution chalk stencils of historical photographs on the sidewalks outside of 15 major theatres and art museums throughout the civic center and downtown San Francisco by artists Jessica Tully and Kim Munson, as part of Yerba Buena Center for the Arts' visual arts exhibition Bay Area Now 5. This will involve a two-step process: four temporary spray chalk designs installed in four locations during the week of June 9, followed by a second series commencing July 11 and continuing through October 19, 2008 in all 15 locations.
5. Motion to approve an increase in the current total contract budget amount of $35,000 by $750 for additional required engineering costs for artist Scott Donahue's Contract Number POAR004000098 to design, fabricate and install an artwork for the renovated Richmond Branch Library for a new total contract budget amount of $35,750.
Motion: Motion to adopt the consent calendar items.
Moved: Wilsey/Hunter
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Gallery - 155 Grove Street installations
Gallery Director Meg Shiffler presented the next 155 Grove Street exhibition, which was curated by Gallery Manager Dana Hemenway. Artist Paul Hayes uses pieces of paper to create large suspended works that are fluid and natural. His work is appropriate for a temporary installation and this particular work at Grove Street is unique because people can only view the work from a fixed perspective outside the gallery space, whereas his work is usually suspended up high and seen by viewers from below. For the Grove Street installation, the artist will play with the whole height of the building from the floor to the ceiling. Ms. Shiffler reported that the installation is currently in progress and should be completed by May 30, 2008.
Motion: Motion to approve an honorarium in the amount of $500 for artist Paul Hayes for his installation at 155 Grove Street, to be installed May 30, 2008.
Moved: Wilsey/Hunter
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Gallery - Bill Fontana at City Hall
Ms. Shiffler reported that the upcoming Bill Fontana exhibition at City Hall is progressing nicely. She submitted to Commissioners a preliminary press release of the installation, entitled Spiraling Echoes, and a budget. Ms. Shiffler stated that the Arts Commission is ready to enter into contract with Mr. Fontana and she reviewed the budget for the project. The amount of secured funds totals $55,000, with $30,000 from the SFAC Gallery and $25,000 from the National Endowment of the Arts. Expenditures for the project total $98,400 and the Arts Commission needs to raise the remaining $43,400. Ms. Shiffler will work with Development Director Rachelle Axel to apply for additional support from Adobe, Fleishhacker and the San Francisco Foundation. In addition, Ms. Shiffler reported that Director of Cultural Affairs Luis Cancel plans to approach high-tech movie and sound companies for funding. Ms. Shiffler explained that if the total remaining amount cannot be raised, there is a scaled-back plan, which she would rather not use. The contract amount is for $68,000 with a contingency of $9,000. The sound equipment will be owned by the Arts Commission, but purchased by Mr. Fontana because it is highly specialized equipment that he can purchase at a good rate from companies he has worked with in the past.
Ms. Shiffler reported that Mr. Fontana conducted a sound test two days before this meeting in City Hall with attendees from the Arts Commission, the City Hall Preservation Advisory Commission and the Mayor's Office of Disability. Susan Mizner, Director of the Mayor's Office of Disability, stated that while the sound installation will be disorienting for some, it will be delightful for most who experience the work. Ms. Shiffler reported that Ms. Mizner was thrilled about the project. Ms. Shiffler will also be presenting the works to the City Hall Preservation Advisory Commission for their support in June. The next sound test in City Hall will be scheduled for the fall of 2008 and Commissioners and the Mayor's staff will be invited.
Commissioner Wilsey recommended that Ms. Shiffler bring this project to Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier for her support. Ms. Shiffler thanked Commissioner Wilsey for her suggestion and reported that she will also present the project to Belinda Lyons, Executive Director of the Mental Health Association of San Francisco.
Commissioner Hunter inquired about how the Arts Commission would use the equipment after the installation at City Hall. Ms. Shiffler stated that as the equipment is part of the artwork, it is important to keep it in case the Arts Commission wants to display the work at a different location. She explained there might be the possibility of using parts of the equipment for uses other than the display of the artwork, such as in the gallery for other installations that have an aural component. The equipment consists of a basic sound board and transmitters that emit ultrasonic bands of sound.
Commissioner Hunter stated that the Arts Commission would probably have to ask Mr. Fontana permission for using the equipment for purposes other than exhibiting his work. Ms. Shiffler concurred.
Motion: Motion for the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a contract with Bill Fontana for the creation, installation and de-installation of a temporary sound art installation at City Hall scheduled to open in late January 2009. The contract amount shall not exceed $68,000.
Moved: Wilsey/Hunter
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Patricia's Green - Temporary Sculpture Proposal
Public Art Program Director Jill Manton reported on the possibility of a temporary exhibition of Tony Labat's Peace Sign sculpture in the Hayes Valley Patricia's Green. Ms. Manton stated that the sculpture was first proposed several years ago as a gift to the City from former Arts Commission President Stanlee Gatti to be permanently installed in the Panhandle. This project was ultimately not approved. Ms. Manton proposed a temporary six-month exhibition of the sculpture on Patricia's Green and stated that the installation of the work prior to the presidential election would be particularly poignant. Ms. Manton has received support for this project from the Hayes Valley Art Coalition. She plans to present the project to the Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association and anticipates their support for the project. She will then present the work at a Recreation and Park Commission hearing in June, which is part of the permit approval process. Ms. Manton then introduced artist Tony Labat.
Mr. Labat stated that the timing of this installation is particularly significant not only because 2008 is the fiftieth anniversary of the peace sign, but also because of the election in November. Mr. Labat explained that this sculpture reflects his longtime interest in the power of signs and symbols and their relationship to history. He reported that when the sculpture was originally proposed for permanent installation in 1997, there was too much emphasis on hippies and the Summer of Love and not enough talk about the nuclear disarmament movement and the origins of the peace sign. Now, with the fiftieth anniversary of the peace sign, and current U.S. government talks with North Korea and Iran, the peace sign will function more as a global symbol. Mr. Labat said that the site of Patricia's Green is beautiful and perfect for this work.
Ms. Manton reported that while funding for this project has been approved, the budget is still in the process of being finalized. The final figure will be determined by the placement of the artwork on either the lawn or the concrete. Ms. Manton is in discussion with the City Attorney's office about completing a loan agreement with an artist's honorarium instead of the standard contract used for commissioning permanent artworks.
Commissioner Przyblyski expressed her hopes to have a community-based event surrounding the installation of the Peace Sign sculpture.
Motion: Motion to approve the temporary display of the Peace Sign sculpture by Tony Labat from October 15, 2008 to June 15, 2009 in Patricia's Green pending the availability of funds from the PUC art enrichment reserve, support for the project from the Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association, and permit approval from the Recreation and Park Department.
Moved: Hunter/Wilsey
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Civic Center Plaza - Temporary Sculpture Proposal
Ms. Manton reported on the possibility of installing an artwork utilizing recycled tree branches by artist Patrick Dougherty in Civic Center Plaza during the winter of 2009. The work would be installed on top of the existing trees on the plaza during the winter when the branches are bare. Ms. Manton reported that Mr. Dougherty usually works with a support staff who set up equipment such as scaffolding and lifts, and who assist with the installation. Ms. Manton is currently looking for local partners and inquired about the possibility of recruiting art students from local universities to provide assistance.
Commissioner Przyblyski stated that she has a recommendation for a student who just graduated from the San Francisco Art Institute who is not only well-suited to assist Mr. Dougherty, but also excited about the project.
Ms. Manton suggested a symposium or panel about the topic of art and landscape to accompany this temporary installation. Commissioner Przyblyski said there was a possibility for collaboration on this project between the California College of the Arts, the San Francisco Art Institute, and San Francisco State University.
Ms. Manton stated that one of the next steps after Mr. Dougherty provides the Arts Commission with his site specific proposal is to obtain the approval of the Recreation and Park Department for the installation.
Motion: Motion to award the artist Patrick Dougherty an honorarium of $750 to develop a site specific proposal for the Civic Center Plaza to be implemented in winter of 2009.
Moved: Wilsey/Hunter
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Sunnyside Conservatory
Project Manager Judy Moran reported that of the three proposals submitted for the Sunnyside Conservatory, the selection panel chose the artist team Wowhaus for the implementation of an artwork at the Conservatory. Ms. Moran stated that several of the Friends of the Sunnyside Conservatory also attended the selection panel meeting and spoke most favorably about the Wowhaus proposal. The Wowhaus proposal includes a menagerie of small bronze imaginary creatures, installed in the concrete along the garden pathways. The Friends spoke in favor of the proposal because it was the least obtrusive and most compatible within the landscape; they also enjoyed its subtlety and playfulness. Ms. Moran reported that the selection panel thought the Wowhaus proposal was the most appropriate for the site but requested that the artists reduce the number of works and create larger pieces that are unique, not duplicates. They suggested that the larger creatures be less static in pose and more dynamic, and the smaller creatures be clustered to create more of a presence. Ms. Moran stated that the selected artist will work with the project's landscape architects to place the sculptures throughout the park. She also explained that she had a conservator review the materials proposed by each of the artists.
Commissioner Wilsey expressed concern that the public may trip over the sculptures. Ms. Moran stated that the sculptures will be placed with attention to the way people walk through the space.
Commissioner Przyblyski requested clarification of whether the selection panel wanted fewer figures, or if they wanted larger, more unique figures, in which case the number would decrease because of the cost of casting. Ms. Moran explained that the panel seemed most interested in having each figure be unique. The limitation is the cost of creating the molds for each unique figure.
Commissioner Przyblyski stated that the possibility of having two of the same figures may not be so bad. She believes that there needs to be enough of these figures to have a presence in the garden; to create the effect of a fairy tale that continues throughout the landscape. If there were only one or two of the larger sculptures, then the works might feel arbitrary. She would prefer not to sacrifice numbers for individuality. Commissioner Wilsey agreed that there needed to be enough figures to create a sense of narrative in the park.
Motion: Motion to approve the artist team Wowhaus for their proposal for the Sunnyside Conservatory, as recommended by the Sunnyside Conservatory Artist Selection Committee.
Moved: Hunter/Wilsey
Motion: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with the artist team Wowhaus for the final design, fabrication, and transportation of an artwork for the Sunnyside Conservatory for an amount not to exceed $50,000.
Moved: Wilsey/Hunter
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Sava Pool
Ms. Moran presented the final design of artist Catherine Wagner's artwork consisting of 27 porcelain enamel panels for permanent installation at the Larsen Park Sava Pool Natatorium. The images are unique photographs taken by the artist of the waves created by swimmers in a pool. Two of the photographs also include an image of the beloved lifeguard Charlie Sava in the design. Commissioners stated that the design looked beautiful and the work was very successful.
Motion: Motion to approve the final design by artist Catherine Wagner of porcelain enamel panels for permanent installation at the Larsen Park Sava Pool Natatorium and authorization for the artist to proceed to fabrication of the artwork.
Moved: Hunter/Wilsey
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Franklin Square
Public Art Program Deputy Director Susan Pontious reported on the use of art enrichment funds generated by the renovation of Franklin Square Park for the engineering fees associated with the design of a support wall for Anthony Stellon's mosaic mural, Brotherhood of Man. This mural was removed from the Martin Luther King pool in 1998, and former Civic Art Collection Program Director Debra Lehane saved the mural from destruction. Ms. Lehane contracted for preliminary engineering to reinstall the work but it was too costly and the mural has been stored in Franklin Square since then. Ms. Pontious is in conversation with members of the community about installing the work in Franklin Square, which has just been renovated. Art enrichment has generated $28,000, which should cover the design and engineering of the new wall for the mural. Ms. Pontious believes the additional costs of installing the work could be covered by private funds. The mural was a gift of Mayor Alioto to the City and Supervisor Alioto-Pier is very interested in having the work reinstalled. Ms. Pontious introduced a member of the Friends of Franklin Square.
Kate Sofis, on behalf of the Friends of Franklin Square, reported that the Friends are eager to have artwork in the park and they believe that art should be a key component of the park. The community surrounding Franklin Square is a melting pot and the Brotherhood of Man symbolizes the feeling of unity and diversity in the neighborhood. Ms. Sofis stated that there is a lot of motivation to match the art enrichment funds with private funds. The only concern of the Friends is to create a design that prevents people from hiding behind the wall on which the mural is installed.
Commissioner Hunter praised the work for its beauty and exceptional quality. Ms. Pontious explained that the artist also designed the seal for the City of San Francisco.
Ms. Gonchar stated that the proposal for the mural to be placed in Franklin Square should be reviewed by Supervisor Alioto-Pier.
Ms. Manton stated that other sites for the mural were considered, including the parking garage building at Civic Center Plaza, but there was no appropriate wall for the work to be placed. Commissioner Przyblyski supported the placement of the artwork at Franklin Square as it seemed like an appropriate location and it has the support of the community.
Motion: Motion to approve use of $28,000 art enrichment funds generated by the renovation of Franklin Square Park for architectural and engineering fees to design a support wall for Anthony Stellon's mosaic mural, Brotherhood of Man.
Moved: Hunter/Wilsey
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San Francisco International Airport
Ms. Pontious reported on the Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") between the Airport and the Arts Commission, which has been under negotiation for a year. Ms. Pontious worked with Ms. Manton, Mr. Cancel, Airport Director John Martin, and Director of San Francisco Airport Museums Blake Summers on this MOU and believes it's a good arrangement for the Arts Commission. Ms. Pontious then explained the terms of the revised MOU: In exchange for the sliding scale for calculating art enrichment from capital bond funds, the Airport would assume the annual costs of maintaining the collection from its operating budget, and routine maintenance and repairs would be performed by the Airport staff and a new Associate Registrar to be hired by the Airport for this purpose. Ms. Pontious stated that major repair or conservation will be managed by the Arts Commission and paid for by the Airport's operating budget and annual interest from the maintenance endowment. The Arts Commission will enter annually into a separate MOU with the Airport Commission to determine this amount.
Commissioner Przyblyski expressed concern about the length of the contract. Ms. Pontious explained that she started negotiations with a 5-year contract and a much lower threshold but the Airport responded with a higher threshold and a 10-year contract.
There was also some discussion regarding the gaps between construction costs and the percentage for art enrichment. Ms. Pontious explained that the amounts corresponded to budgets on projects and that construction costs and the percentage to art enrichment outlined in the MOU are based on individual projects.
Commissioner Przyblyski explained that her major concern regarding the MOU was that the contract did not set a minimum threshold or dollar amount for maintenance, other than the additional staff position of Associate Registrar, while the reduction in the percentage of art enrichment is clearly stipulated. Mr. Cancel concurred that the baseline is not included in the contract as a dollar amount.
Ms. Pontious explained that the Airport is as motivated as the Arts Commission about keeping the City's Collection well-maintained. Ms. Pontious suggested using the figure of $150,000 as the baseline for maintenance based on the work completed in 2007-2008, adjusted for inflation. This figure includes routine maintenance performed by Airport staff ($70,000), a facilities fund for changing light bulbs and minor repairs ($50,000), and funds to the Arts Commission from the operating budget for conservation ($30,000).
Ms. Manton asked if there is an escape clause in the contract so that if the Airport does not uphold their part of the MOU, it can be renegotiated. Ms. Pontious responded that such a clause was not included in the MOU under review.
Commissioner Przyblyski recommended that Arts Commission staff strongly consider including a dollar amount baseline in the contract and then revisit the motion to accept the MOU at the next meeting of the full Commission. Commissioner Wilsey concurred that a minimum dollar amount should be included in the MOU, which can then be renegotiated in ten years.
THIS MOTION HAS BEEN POSTPONED FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE FULL COMMISSION.
Motion: Motion to approve a Memorandum of Understanding between the Airport and Arts Commission, which shall apply to art enrichment and art maintenance expenses between July 1, 2007 and June 30, 2017, and which outlines the procedures and policies for the selection of art for the Airport and collection management responsibilities, art enrichment funding formulas, and other issues related to the coordination and cooperation between the Airport and the Arts Commission relative to the Public Art Program at the Airport.
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Junipero Serra Playground
Project Manager Tonia Macneil reported on the completion of artwork at Junipero Serra Playground by artist Bean Finneran and presented images of the installed artwork. She made note that vents on one wall and a light fixture on the other were not indicated on the architectural drawings that the artist referenced during the design phase. The vents will be painted flat grey when the building is painted.
THIS MOTION HAS BEEN AMENDED.
Motion: Motion to approve the completion of two untitled ceramic tile artworks by the artist Bean Finneran, installed on the north and south walls of the clubhouse at Junipero Serra Playground.
Moved: Hunter/Wilsey
THIS MOTION HAS BEEN AMENDED.
Motion: Motion to accept into the Civic Art Collection of the City and County of San Francisco two untitled ceramic tile artworks by the artist Bean Finneran, installed on the north and south walls of the clubhouse at Junipero Serra Playground.
Moved: Wilsey/Hunter
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Gallery - SFAC Gallery exhibition at 401 Van Ness
Ms. Shiffler presented the next SFAC Gallery exhibition at 401 Van Ness titled Resisting Dominion, on view from June 12 to August 16, 2008. The exhibition will feature Tiffany Bozic (Oakland), James Drake (Sante Fe), Leiv Fagereng (Portland), Walton Ford (Great Barrington, MA), and Tara Tucker (San Francisco). There will be a VIP champagne toast to celebrate the opening because the works are being borrowed from galleries and private individuals.
Ms. Shiffler stated that this exhibition includes work that is meticulously executed, beautiful, and timely in terms of political content. She presented two works by artist Walton Ford, who creates Audubon-inspired intaglio prints with personifications of animals. Artist Tiffany Bozic, who recently had a solo show at the Academy of Sciences, creates exquisite paintings that depict creatures from the deep sea. The works are large, up to three feet by four feet, and comment on scientific dredging and the relationship of humans to animals. Artist Tara Tucker, who is represented by Rena Bransten, imagines a future where man doesn't exist. While her animals look peaceful, there is a dark undertone that reflects people's behavior toward the environment. Artist Leiv Fagereng depicts animals at the edge of civilization and grafts parts of animals and people in unnatural ways. Mr. Fagereng's work references Dutch seventeenth-century paintings and political allegorical narrative. The exhibition will also include a 19-minute long three-channel video by artist James Drake, presented with three different projectors. On the left, a banquet table set up in western Texas is visited by a pack of feral pigs; in the middle, hummingbirds visit a banquet and havalenas (wild pigs) run around in the background; on the right, a python slowly and gracefully circles the banquet table and a live chicken lands on the roasted turkey. The Gallery will produce an accompanying exhibition catalogue that includes an essay by Meredith Tromble.
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Gallery - Fundraising programs
Ms. Shiffler presented on a new series of fundraising programs spearheaded by the SFAC Gallery Advisory Board. The first of these programs, ON YOUR MARK, will take place on Saturday, June 14, 2008 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Electric Works Gallery, and will feature a print demonstration and talk by emerging artist Ala Ebtekar. Tickets are $100 each and the ticket price can be applied to the purchase of a print. Ms. Shiffler plans to do a series of three fundraising programs a year, which will have an educational and social component. Paule Anglim has given the SFAC Gallery $2,000 to underwrite the event. The next artist under consideration for the series is Rosana Castilla for the fall of 2008.
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Gallery - Exhibition schedule
Ms. Shiffler reported on proposed changes in the Gallery's exhibition schedule for the calendar year of 2009. Ms. Shiffler reviewed the Gallery's new programming since her arrival, which includes one to three educational programs for each exhibition, radio broadcasts with a total of 36 guests, and an additional series for both the North Light Court Banners and the Decaux kiosk posters. She then presented a series of new circumstances in 2008 that include the departure of Gallery Manager Dana Hemenway after four years with the SFAC Gallery, the Gallery's central role in managing the installation of Bill Fontana's sound sculpture in City Hall, and the increasing number of fundraising events.
Ms. Shiffler presented her proposed changes to the Gallery's schedule, which would include four exhibitions instead of five at 401 Van Ness and Grove Street, and three instead of four on the ground floor of City Hall. Ms. Shiffler explained that these changes would be more in line with available funding. She then suggested increasing the exhibition of North Light Court banners from one to two per year if corporate sponsorship can be secured. She also stated that the Gallery will produce more lesson events, two to three board events, and will add one part-time employee. Ms. Shiffler then asked Mr. Cancel to present two new exhibition programs: a collaborative exhibition hosted at the SFAC Gallery with another local arts organization and a sister-city exhibition.
Mr. Cancel explained that these initiatives take into consideration the SFAC Gallery as a municipal gallery and the way in which the Gallery can fulfill the City's objectives. He reported on the initiative that includes an artist exchange with San Francisco's sister cities; Cork and Zurich are two cities particularly keen on moving forward with this exchange. Mr. Cancel also announced plans to mount collaborative exhibitions with neighborhood-based organizations at the SFAC Gallery as well as other civic spaces.
Upon inquiry from Commissioner Przyblyski, Ms. Shiffler stated that the annual exhibition that celebrates winners of the Murphy & Cadogan Fellowships in the Fine Arts is one of the four exhibitions to be presented at 401 Van Ness.
Commissioner Przyblyski stated that her concern over the artist exchange and exhibition program with sister cities is that while much excitement is generated from the trips, there is never any funding for exhibitions following the trip. Mr. Cancel stated that his proposed initiatives would depend on the financial contributions of local support groups. Mr. Cancel added that if the funding is not available, the current exhibition could be extended or the Gallery could consider other opportunities. Commissioner Wilsey explained that local support groups are more apt to give money to the trips than to local exhibitions. Mr. Cancel stated that an accompanying exhibition will have to be determined on a case-by-case basis depending on the artist's practice.
Commissioner Przyblyski explained that she has had extensive discussions with Ms. Shiffler about what it means to be a municipal gallery. While public art usually draws an older demographic, the SFAC Gallery reaches a younger, more diverse constituency. Commissioner Przyblyski explained that it is very difficult for the Arts Commission to maintain control over programming once it opens the space up to be occupied by other organizations.
Mr. Cancel explained that the intention is to broaden the curatorial voice, not to lower aesthetic standards. Local arts organizations could submit proposals and there could be a review process. He stated that the goal is to have the Arts Commission engage with local communities and constituencies and to have one of our exhibition slots engage in dialogue with the broader community and civic space.
Commissioner Przyblyski cautioned against using an open call for proposals with a review process because San Franciscans are advocates of process and there is the possibility of losing control over shaping overall policy and programming. She then stated that as the SFAC Gallery already collaborates with the local community in creating exhibitions, perhaps the Gallery should foreground and highlight these relationships in its press and auxiliary programming. Commissioner Przyblyski also proposed that the exhibition of works for the sister cities artist exchange program could be installed in a variety of locations, not just the SFAC Gallery, and could extend beyond the visual arts to include literature and music.
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Standards and Guidelines for Busts in City Hall
Ms. Manton reported that she is working on guidelines for the design and placement of commemorative busts in City Hall. She stated that decisions about the guidelines will be made in consultation with the Mayor's Office. Ms. Manton explained that the impetus for developing these guidelines was highlighted by the challenges of finding a location for the Harvey Milk bust. Now that another commemorative bust in honor of Mayor Sutro is being proposed by Leonid Nakhodkin of the United Humanitarian Mission, Ms. Manton believes it is important to have some policies in place to guide the design and approval process. While all the thirteen busts in the City Hall are bronze, Mr. Nakhodkin believes a bust in marble is most suitable for its placement on the second floor of City Hall in the North Light Court. Ms. Manton explained that the new guidelines would serve to create consistency in the materials, style, scale and placement of busts proposed for City Hall. Commissioner Hunter agreed there should be homogeneity in the materials used for busts in City Hall.
There was some discussion regarding who has the authority to determine who is granted a bust in City Hall. Commissioner Hunter stated that the Arts Commission should guide decisions on aesthetics but not decisions on who gets a bust in City Hall. Commissioner Przyblyski explained that the busts in City Hall have been gifts to the City from people who have raised the money for the projects. The design and placement of the busts have been approved by the Arts Commission and the City Hall Preservation Advisory Committee.
Commissioner Przyblyski stated that Commissioners should review the guidelines before further discussion. Ms. Manton stated that she will circulate the draft of the guidelines and respond to Mr. Nakhodkin.
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Art on Market Street Program
Due to time restrictions, Ms. Moran presented one of the four proposals for the 2008-2009 Art on Market Street Program and will present the remaining three proposals to the Visual Arts Committee in June. Ms. Moran presented the work of Jenifer K. Wofford. She distributed copies of Ms. Wofford's sketch of the first poster, which will be developed in full color for the final poster. The proposal is for a series of posters depicting a narrative of a nurse who emigrates to San Francisco to work in a hospital, and experiences the tumultuous periods of the mid-70s in the Philippines and the United States. Each of the six posters will reflect one year from 1973 to 1978. Ms. Moran stated that auxiliary programming will include the neighboring Filipino community. The work will be installed in mid-September for three months. Ms. Wofford's work will also be exhibited in the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts exhibition Bay Area Now, from July to October 2008.
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Central Subway
Ms. Moran reported that over 400 applications were received for the Central Subway Call for Artists and over 60 are from Chinese and Chinese-American artists, a percentage larger than usual, because of the hands-on outreach completed primarily by the Chinese Culture Center and the Chinese Community Development Center in collaboration with the Arts Commission. Ms. Moran stated that outreach to the Chinese community serves as a model for the type of outreach needed to bring in artists from outside the public art field. She reported that efforts to work closely with the Chinese community on the Central Subway will continue.
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New Business
Ms. Manton reported that artist Maya Lin will commence installation of her wire landscape sculpture at the Academy of Sciences on August 18, 2008. Ms. Manton reported that Chronicle Books has approached the Public Art Program to create a public art walking tour as part of the series called City Walks with Kids. Ms. Manton stated that the Transbay Terminal contract between the Arts Commission and the Transbay Joint Powers Authority has been approved by the Transbay Joint Powers Authority. This contract provides the Arts Commission with an administrative fee of $950,000 for managing the public art program to be developed for the new Transbay Program. Ms. Manton also reported that the Public Art Program is gearing up to hold the first workshop of the Public Art Academy in October 2008. Commissioner Przyblyski stated that outreach for the workshop should be done to surrounding art schools.
Ms. Pontious reported on her intention to terminate the contract with artist Beliz Brothers for creating photographic light boxes for the Laguna Honda Hospital. Ms. Brothers has been unresponsive to e-mails and phones calls in the past year. Commissioner Przyblyski responded that Ms. Pontious should use her best judgment and has the support of the Commissioners.
Ms. Shiffler reported there was a review in the Guardian of the current exhibition, and coverage in the Chronicle's 96 Hours by Friday, May 30, 2008.
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Old Business
There is no old business to report.
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Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 5:25 pm.
MC 5/28/2008
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