Meeting Information

Full_Commission

MEETING OF THE FULL ARTS COMMISSION
Monday, April 7, 2008
3:00 p.m.
City Hall Room 416

Minutes

President Johnston called the meeting to order at 3:08 p.m.

1. Roll Call
   Commissioners Present
   P.J. Johnston
   Maya Draisin
   Nínive Calegari
   Leonard Hunter
   Sherene Melania
   Lawrence Rinder
   Dede Wilsey
   Pop Zhao
   
   Commissioners Absent
   Topher Delaney
   John Kriken
   Alexander Lloyd
   Jeannene Przyblyski
   Sherri Young
   Christina Olague
   
   
2. President’s Report
   President Johnston introduced Commissioner Nínive Calegari, newly appointed by the Mayor to fill the spot vacated by Janice Mirikitani. President Johnston said that he was excited to welcome Commissioner Calegari, founder of 826 Valencia, which introduces young people to literature and writing in thought-provoking and new ways. He added that with this appointment, the Mayor helped move the Commission closer to its vision of community activism and excellence.
   
   Commissioner Calegari said that she had previously been a public school teacher, credentialed in both social studies and art, and she looks forward to working with the Arts Commission.
   
   President Johnston asked Commissioners to calendar May 22, 2008 for the formal installation of the Harvey Milk bust in City Hall. He noted that after much discussion and negotiation with the various constituencies, the Mayor, the Board of Supervisors, the Visual Arts Committee of the Arts Commission, and the City Hall Preservation Advisory Commission have agreed that the bust will be installed in the Board of Supervisors’ Rotunda. This is directly opposite the Mayor’s Rotunda, where busts of former Mayors Moscone and Feinstein are located. The Milk bust will be the first on this side of the building. President Johnston noted the historic connection between these two Mayors and Supervisor Milk, and the fact that he is the first Supervisor who did not also serve as Mayor to be honored with a bust. Drawing Commissioners’ attention to the photo of the bust shown at this meeting, President Johnston agreed that the piece was beautiful, and would be an asset to the City Hall experience. This location also means that no other busts will need to be displaced.
   
   President Johnston introduced Joey Cain, Co-Chair of the Harvey Milk City Hall Memorial Committee. He explained that this May 22 would have been Harvey Milk’s 78th birthday. He said that the ceremony would include local officials and people who knew Milk. Several young people have been chosen to do the actual unveiling, in the spirit of Milk’s quote which appears on the pedestal: “I ask for the Movement to continue because my election gave young people out there hope. You’ve gotta give ’em hope.” Mr. Cain explained that there would be a sit-down event from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., with speakers to be announced soon. The Gay Men’s Chorus will perform; the Chorus’s first performance was on the night of the assassination. Mr. Cain described the three bronze bas-reliefs placed around the pedestal. They depict Milk as a Navy officer; Milk riding in the 1978 Gay Freedom Day Parade; and the candlelight march on the night of his assassination. On behalf of the Memorial Committee, Mr. Cain said that he was glad to have been able to work with the Arts Commission, noting that this was the first time a private group partnered with the Commission.
   
   President Johnston advised that the Commission still had two vacant seats, although the Mayor’s office was close to filling them. He plans to announce changes in Committee assignments once those seats are filled. In the meantime, he appointed Commissioner Calegari to the Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee.
   
   President Johnston asked Commissioners to make it a priority to attend their Committee meetings and the full Commission meeting. Acknowledging that they are all busy people, and that service on the Commission can be time-consuming, he noted that it is often difficult to achieve a quorum. For the benefit of newer Commissioners, he explained that the bylaws were amended a few years ago to remove the requirement that Commissioners serve on at least two Committees, as a concession to the time constraints of Commissioners. In light of that, he urged Commissioners to commit to attending their Committee meetings. He noted that even when a meeting has a quorum, but other Commissioners are absent, it can be difficult to review or explain to them later the sometimes difficult discussions held in their absence. With the new appointments coming from the Mayor’s office, and the energy of the new Director of Cultural Affairs, President Johnston called on the Commissioners to do their part and participate fully.
   
   President Johnston also called for attention to the current sensitive and important period in the development of the Commission’s collaboration with the San Francisco Unified School District in the implementation of the Arts Education Master Plan. Citing the City Charter mandate to foster arts education, he emphasized the need to continue working actively with the School District. The Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee continues to monitor the plan’s implementation, and President Johnston suggested a possible report to the full Commission in the coming months.
   
   He added that he would like to return to the practice of having program staff make presentations to the full Commission at meetings, explaining that Commissioners benefit from knowing what's happening in areas outside their own Committees.
   
   
3. Director’s Report
   Director of Cultural Affairs Luis R. Cancel reported that the gap between the City’s budget needs and its funds has continued to grow. The Mayor has directed departments to cut an additional 8% from their budgets, specifically targeteing personnel. Mr. Cancel suggested that this tactic, applied to agencies with large personnel budgets, will yield savings to carry forward. He and Deputy Director Nancy Gonchar were able to advocate that, in small agencies such as the Arts Commission, an 8% cut in personnel significantly erodes service to the public. They have submitted two budget proposals, and have been asked by the Mayor’s office to keep them confidential, because of the sensitive nature of personnel actions. The proposals will, however, both preserve staff and meet the Mayor’s priorities. Mr. Cancel added that it appears that the State legislature will be late in adopting a budget, and until the State budget is adopted, the City’s budget cannot be finalized.
   
   Mr. Cancel added that the Mayor has expressed his continued support for the Cultural Voucher initiative, and wants to present that in the next fiscal year.
   
   Mr. Cancel turned to the Cultural Centers as the focus of his report. He directed the Commissioners’ attention to the posters announcing the Neighborhood Arts Program’s 40th anniversary celebration. At this milestone, he wanted to review both what has been accomplished and what can be improved. He reported that he and Community Arts and Education Program Director Judy Nemzoff met with the City Attorney’s office to discuss revisions of the leases with the Cultural Centers, noting that the previous leases expired in 1997. The goal is to work closely with the boards and staff of the Centers to help them take the necessary steps to build stability for the communities they serve, to find private capital support, and to allow for long-term leases-forty years or more-which would facilitate taking advantage of federal tax laws. He explained that this would create a greater opportunity for the Arts Commission to have the appropriate oversight to ensure that the public interest is protected over the long term.
   
   Commissioners discussed the advantages and challenges of private funding for the Centers, and the relative merits of short-term and long-term leases. In response to a question, Mr. Cancel explained that the leases are not at fair market rates, but one dollar per year. For decades, there has been a close relationship between the organizations running the Cultural Center programming and the Arts Commission, and President Johnston emphasized the historic role of the City in their establishment. Commissioner Wilsey voiced the objections some potential private donors might raise, challenging the community, the neighborhood and the City to support the Centers and demonstrate their success before seeking private funding.
   
   The Commission and Mr. Cancel discussed the examples of the Bayview Opera House and the Native American Cultural Center as instances where the Commission acted assertively to exercise its oversight. Adding that in most cases things at the Cultural Centers are working well, he concluded that this would be an appropriate topic for the coming annual planning process.
   
   Mr. Cancel then turned to the Neighborhood Arts Program’s fortieth anniversary festival, with events in a variety of venues from April 21 through May 3, 2008. He mentioned panel discussions on “Mapping Survival: Creating Something out of Nothing” and “The Money and the Madness”; “Unveiling the Future” at the Bayview Opera House, featuring music, dance and poetry performances, along with remarks by the Mayor and Bayview Supervisor Sophie Maxwell; and the culminating half-day celebration bash on May 3, featuring a reunion of founding members of the program, and helping nonprofits to connect with resources. Mr. Cancel referred Commissioners to the festival’s poster and program for more detailed information.
   
   Mr. Cancel reported on the dedication of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade Memorial at Justin Herman Plaza on March 30, 2008, presided over by the Mayor. The onyx and steel monument was designed by the late Ann Chamberlain and Walter Hood. Mr. Cancel noted that the project has been underway for eight years, and he thanked Deputy Director Nancy Gonchar and Public Art Program Director Jill Manton for working tirelessly to help make the monument a reality.
   
   Mr. Cancel reported on the current Art on Market Street poster series, referring Commissioners to the accompanying catalogue, “Wish You Were Here: Postcards from Our Awesome Future.” Ms. Manton added that this was the third of the 2007 poster series, created by Steve Lambert and Packard Jennings. They interviewed urban planners, asking what they would design if they didn’t have to worry about budgets, bureaucracies, politics or physics!
   
   Noting that the planning process begun at the Commission’s retreat in 2007 is important for healthy organizations, Mr. Cancel reported that he has begun a series of meetings with Arts Commission staff at each level. He expects to invite Commissioners to some of these meetings to discuss policy, culminating in an annual planning meeting on Friday, November 21, 2008.
   
   Mr. Cancel reported that several sculptures by the Spanish artist, Manolo Valdés, will be temporarily installed at the Civic Center, with an opening on Tuesday, April 29, 2008. He thanked Commissioner Lloyd for his help in securing private-sector donations to cover 90% of the costs, and he thanked Commissioner Draisin for her help in getting the opening event onto the Mayor’s schedule. Mr. Cancel added that Ms. Manton is working with Grants for the Arts to secure an additional $10,000 to help close the funding gap for the installation.
   
   Finally, Mr. Cancel reported that the Gallery's new show, Make You Notice, has had positive reviews. He announced a brown-bag lunch talk by the curator on April 15, 2008. He also reported that the Gallery is actively preparing for a major audio art installation by Bill Fontana, scheduled for the end of January, 2009, and has been awarded an NEA grant of $25,000 to help pay for the installation.
   
   President Johnston called for public comment; there was none. He encouraged Commissioners to participate in the Neighborhood Arts Festival events, adding that the Bayview Opera House is looking great, and that the story of the International Hotel and Manilatown (site of “The Money and the Madness”) is fascinating.
   
   
4. Approval of Minutes
   The following Resolution was moved, seconded, and unanimously adopted:
   
   RESOLUTION NO. 0407-08-074: APPROVAL OF MINUTES ADOPTED
   
   RESOLVED, that this Commission does hereby approve the Minutes of the Meeting of March 3, 2008.
   
   NOTE: ALL ADOPTIONS ARE UNANIMOUS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.
   
   
5. Consent Calendar
   Item 17 on the Consent Calendar below was corrected to reflect the proper information about the artist and location of the project. The corrected Consent Calendar was approved as follows.
   
   RESOLUTION NO. 0407-08-075:
   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. 0407-08-076: Motion to approve the Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee Meeting Minutes of March 11, 2008.
      
      
   2. RESOLUTION NO. 0407-08-077: Motion to approve the Civic Design Review Committee Meeting Minutes of March 17, 2008.
      
      
   3. RESOLUTION NO. 0407-08-078: Motion to approve the Executive Committee Meeting Minutes of March 18, 2008.
      
      
   4. RESOLUTION NO. 0407-08-079: Motion to approve the Street Artists Committee Meeting Minutes of March 20, 2008.
      
      
      Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee Recommendations (March 11, 2008)
   5. RESOLUTION NO. 0407-08-080: Motion to transfer funds from the Hotel Tax Fund in the amount of $5,000 to Grants for the Arts for the San Francisco Mayor's Working Group on American Indian Concerns, to support a feasibility study for the development of an American Indian Community and Cultural Center.
      
      
      Civic Design Review Committee Recommendations (March 17, 2008)
   6. RESOLUTION NO. 0407-08-081: Motion to approve Phase 1 of the Camp Mather Visitor’s Center with the recommendation that the designers consider additional skylights and consider the balance of bicycle-friendly roads versus permeable paving.
      
      
   7. RESOLUTION NO. 0407-08-082: Motion to approve Phase 1 of the San Francisco General Hospital Rebuild Project with the stipulation that the Committee would like to see a revised design for Phase 2 that is more humane and that expresses the City’s commitment to take care of people where they need it.
      
      
   8. RESOLUTION NO. 0407-08-083: Motion to approve Phase 3 of the James Rolph Clubhouse and Playground Renovation.
      
      Executive Committee Recommendations (March 18, 2008)
   9. RESOLUTION NO. 0407-08-084: Motion to approve recommendations to award forty-eight grants totaling $596,750 in the 2007-2008 cycle of Organization Project Grants (OPG) to the following organizations, and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into grant agreements with each for the amounts listed:
      
      509 Cultural Center/Luggage Store, $15,000
      Afro Solo, $15,000
      American Indian Film Institute, $12,000
      Arab Cultural Center, $12,000
      Arab Film Festival, $12,000
      Army of Lovers, $7,150
      ArtSpan, $12,000
      Asian American Women Artists Association, $7,600
      Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center (APICC), $12,000
      Campo Santo, $15,000
      Charming Hostess, $12,000
      Cuba Caribe, $12,000
      Cypress Performing Arts Association, $12,000
      Dancing Tree, $12,000
      Dandelion Dance Theater, $12,000
      Deborah Slater Dance Theater, $12,000
      Del Sol Performing Arts Organization, $12,000
      Distortion 2 Static, $12,000
      Door Dog Music Productions, $15,000
      Erika Shuch Performance Project (ESP Project), $15,000
      EXIT Theatre, $15,000
      Femina Potens, $12,000
      Global Women Intact, $12,000
      Intersection for the Arts, $12,000
      Joe Goode Performance Group, $15,000
      Kid Serve Youth Murals, $12,000
      La Pocha Nostra, $12,000
      Litquake, $12,000
      Living Word Project, $12,000
      Manilatown Heritage Foundation, $12,000
      Out of Site: Center for Arts Education, $12,000
      Poor Magazine, $12,000
      Precita Eyes Muralists Association, Inc., $12,000
      Root Division, $12,000
      SAFEhouse, $12,000
      San Francisco Black Film Festival, $12,000
      San Francisco Camerawork, $12,000
      San Francisco Hip Hop DanceFest, $15,000
      San Francisco International Arts Festival, $12,000
      San Francisco Live Arts, $12,000
      San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, $12,000
      Scott Wells and Dancers, $12,000
      ShadowLight Productions, $12,000
      Sixth Street Photography Workshop, $15,000
      Small Press Traffic Literary Arts Center, $12,000
      Stepology, $12,000
      The Playwrights Foundation, $15,000
      Yerba Buena Arts and Events, $12,000
      
      
      Visual Arts Committee Recommendations (March 31, 2008)
   10. RESOLUTION NO. 0407-08-085: Motion to approve an amendment to increase the budget for Scott Donahue’s contract #POAR04000098 for the design, fabrication and installation of artworks for the Richmond Branch Library by an amount not to exceed $1,000, for a new contract total amount not to exceed $36,000, for additionally required engineering services regarding the safety of the artwork.
       
       
   11. RESOLUTION NO. 0407-08-086: Motion to acknowledge, accept with gratitude, and expend a gift of $2,000 from Friends of Duboce Park, and $1,500 from Hal Fischer and an anonymous donor, for the fabrication and installation of an artwork designed by Susan Schwartzenberg and Michael Davis of a quotation from Harvey Milk on the east-facing wall of the Harvey Milk Center for Recreational Arts.
       
       
   12. RESOLUTION NO. 0407-08-087: Motion to approve revised design in bronze for Cliff Garten’s sculptural handrails at Laguna Honda Hospital.
       
       
   13. RESOLUTION NO. 0407-08-088: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into an agreement with Cliff Garten for $238,108 to fabricate, transport and install 604 linear feet of bronze sculptural handrails at Laguna Honda Hospital.
       
       
   14. RESOLUTION NO. 0407-08-089: Motion to rescind resolution 1001-07-278 approving location proposal for the Harvey Milk Memorial sculpture on a south-facing wall in the Van Ness lobby of City Hall pending approval of the site by the Harvey Milk City Hall Memorial Committee and the City Hall Preservation Advisory Committee.
       
       
   15. RESOLUTION NO. 0407-08-090: Motion to approve the placement of the Harvey Milk memorial bust in the Board of Supervisors Ceremonial Rotunda in City Hall.
       
       
   16. RESOLUTION NO. 0407-08-091: Motion to approve the final design proposal and budget submitted by Maya Lin for the suspended wire landscape sculpture to be fabricated from marine grade stainless steel tubing approximately 5/8 inches in diameter to be installed in the exterior West Terrace of the Academy of Sciences for an amount not to exceed $275,000 including fabrication, transportation and installation.
       
       
   17. RESOLUTION NO. 0407-08-092: Motion to approve final project proposal and authorization for the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into an agreement with artist John Melvin for an amount not to exceed $27,000 for installation of a temporary art project at Lake Merced targeted for August, 2008.
       
       
   18. RESOLUTION NO. 0407-08-093: Motion to authorize payment of an additional honorarium in the amount of $250 each to artists Wang Po Shu, Walter Kitundu, and Charles Sower to submit a revised proposal for the Randall Museum public art project.
       
       
   19. RESOLUTION NO. 0407-08-094: Motion to approve a project of the Community Arts and Education Program for an exhibition in kiosks on Market Street of posters submitted by the San Francisco Unified School District to be installed in April, 2008.
       
       
6. Committee Reports
   1. Executive Committee—P.J. Johnston, Chair
      1. President Johnston reported that the Committee held a long and intense discussion regarding the work begun at the Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee, regarding Organizational Project Grants and the grant panel review process in general. He noted that sometimes an organization or an artist will contest the panel’s recommendation not to fund them, or an elected official may wish to intervene on behalf of an artist or organization. Upon review, the Committee agreed that the panel’s decisionmaking process was above reproach. Ultimately, in this case, the Committee agreed to fund the organizations listed in Resolution No. 0407-08-084 above.
         
         The Committee began a discussion about how and whether to account for factors outside of a strictly dispassionate review of applicants, such as fairness in distributing Arts Commission funding across the City’s neighborhoods; whether a small difference in scores should mean that one organization is fully funded while another is not funded; what is the appropriate role of Commissioner discretion and whether there should be any grantmaking reflecting their priorities; and whether Commissioners should sit on grants review panels as they do on public art panels.
         
         Mr. Cancel pointed out that these are the kinds of policy questions that should be part of the planning process. Commissioner Rinder agreed with the Committee’s decision to affirm the panel process, and mentioned another granting organization with which he is familiar, where there is also a small amount of discretionary funding available. President Johnston noted that he has always believed an arm’s-length relationship is appropriate; he noted that Commissioner Przyblyski made some interesting comments on Commissioners being involved in the review process from the beginning. He also thought that Supervisor Mirkarimi made an interesting point about elements external to the panel process. Commissioner Draisin mentioned that the panel’s role did not encompass an overarching view of all of the Commission’s grantmaking.
         
         
   2. Civic Design Committee—Jeannene Przyblyski, Interim Chair
      1. Commissioner Hunter reported that the Committee held a short meeting, reviewing three projects. The first, a visitors’ center at Hetch Hetchy, was a nice little log cabin, which the Committee liked better than the “tin sheds” that often serve this function. This is a joint project with the National Park Service. The project sparked a discussion of an issue often considered by the Committee, of sustainability, in this case, the use of permeable paving and improving natural light.
         
         A second project, by Recreation and Parks in the Mission District, had only minor changes.
         
         The largest project, at over $100,000,000, is San Francisco General Hospital. The Committee raised many issues and questions, pointing out that it is a major building in the City’s portfolio, and one that any and all residents are likely to experience at some time. He promised that it will have a great deal of the Committee’s attention in the months and years to come.
         
         
   3.  Street Artists Committee—Alexander Lloyd, Chair
      1. In the absence of Commissioner Lloyd, Commissioner Melania reported that the Committee had held a lively meeting, discussing the possibility of using some of the temporary holiday spaces on a more permanent, year-round basis. Several street artists in attendance became increasingly argumentative. When order could no longer be maintained, Commissioner Lloyd adjourned the meeting early. Later, a fistfight broke out between some of the artists outside the meeting room. Program Director Howard Lazar will work with the artists to help them set up a committee to discuss issues among themselves, and then bring them to the Street Artists Committee.
         
         Noting that the Committee’s meeting schedule change has the support of staff, and that in practice, meetings are often cancelled, President Johnston presented the following motions.
         
         
      2. RESOLUTION NO. 0407-08-095: Motion to approve requests by former certificate-holders for priority issuance of certificate with waiver of re-screening of wares: Barbara Zerbe, Canute Davis, Linda Pedersen, Michael Jamison, Salih Inci.
         
         
      3. RESOLUTION NO. 0407-08-096: Motion to change the schedule of meetings of the Street Artists Committee from monthly to bimonthly, beginning with the meeting of May 14, 2008.
         
         
   4. Visual Arts Committee—Jeannene Przyblyski, Chair
      1. Commissioner Hunter directed the attention of the Commissioners to the bust of Harvey Milk displayed onscreen at the meeting, noting that people who have seen all three of the three finalists say that this sculpture not only looks like Milk, it feels like him. President Johnston thanked Mr. Cain for doing most of the legwork and fundraising; thanked Public Art staff, particularly Public Art Program Senior Project Manager Susan Pontious and Ms. Manton for making the project happen; and thanked City Hall Docent Ellen Schumer for helping to ensure the amicable resolution of the question of where to locate the bust.
         
         Commissioner Rinder asked about the images on the pedestal; Commissioner Hunter confirmed that they had been reviewed and approved at the Committee meeting.
         
         Directing Commissioners’ attention to Resolution No. 0407-08-091, approved on the Consent Calendar, Commissioner Hunter reported that the Committee had spent a great deal of time discussing the Maya Lin landscape sculpture. It is modeled on the Bay’s contours, and will be an installation unique to San Francisco. He thanked Ms. Manton for yeoman duty on this project.
         
         Commissioner Hunter reported that Ms. Pontious did a great job presenting the General Hospital project to the Committee. He explained that the art for this project will be different from that at Laguna Honda, where the art is intended to be enlivening. At General Hospital, with its emphasis on treating trauma and on short-term care, the art should be more meditative and healing. Commissioner Hunter noted that this project will cost a great deal, and that the art will be an important addition to the City’s collection.
         
         Commissioner Hunter reported that the Committee also discussed several temporary art projects. The current Art on Market Street poster series is a result of artists asking city planners to “think outside the box.” The John Melvin work at Lake Merced as part of the Temporary Art in Natural Settings project, balloons strapped to trees, floating over the lagoon like a cloud, is a site-specific piece working with optical issues rather than narrative; the temporary nature is part of the experience, rather than collectability. The Valdés sculpture installation is a collaboration with a New York gallery; the Committee is exploring such collaborations as another way to facilitate temporary projects.
         
         Commissioner Hunter presented the following motion:
         
      2. RESOLUTION NO. 0407-08-097: Motion to approve clay models of the bust and the three memorial panels for the Harvey Milk City Hall Memorial Bust sculpture.
         
         
   5. Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee-Maya Draisin, Chair
      1. Vice President Draisin reported that the Committee had focused on two areas at its last meeting: the Organizational Project Grants discussed above, and the Native American Cultural Center. Cultural Equity Grants Program Director San San Wong reported that the Mayor’s office was working on a feasibility study for a Native center. She worked with the San Francisco Foundation to receive a matching grant to include an arts component in the feasibility study. President Johnston thought that working with the Mayor’s office to inject the arts agenda in this project is a very good development.
         
         
7. Public Comment
   Rosemary Cleese, the granddaughter of Mayor Angelo Rossi, spoke. She said that she hadn’t realized she was opening a discussion for so many people regarding the location of memorial busts in City Hall. She was glad that this allowed for the Harvey Milk bust to be placed where the Committee wanted to see it. She thanked Ms. Manton, James Haas, Commissioner Przyblyski, Susan Goldstein and Mike Farrah for being so responsive. She said that she would like to be involved in any future policy discussions of where art is placed in the magnificent City Hall. President Johnston thought that both the Arts Commission and the City Hall Historic Preservation Commission should discuss this, perhaps as a joint committee, along with the Mayor’s office.
   
   Ms. Cleese added that she would like to see Mayor Rossi’s bust moved back to where his cronies and mentors are. President Johnston acknowledged the many competing viewpoints about where each of the sculptures should be placed, and that he would like to see all the interested parties work collaboratively. He thanked her for coming to the meeting.
   
   
8. New Business
   There was no further new business.
   
   
9. Reports and Announcements
   Commissioner Hunter announced that Ms. Nemzoff was working with the San Francisco Unified School District on a series of posters that will go into the Market Street kiosks shortly. Ms. Nemzoff added that there will be a few large signed copies available.
   
   Commissioner Zhao announced that he is working on a 13km artwork in Beijing and will miss several Commission meetings because he will be out of the country for several weeks.
   
   Commissioner Melania announced that her company, Presidio Dance Theater, would hold its tenth anniversary gala on May 23.
   
   
10. Adjournment
    There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:45 p.m.
    

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