July 11, 2011 | San Francisco Arts Commission

Full Commission - July 11, 2011

MEETING OF THE FULL ARTS COMMISSION
Monday, July 11, 2011
3:00 p.m.
City Hall Room 416

Minutes

President Johnston called the meeting to order at 3:05 p.m.

Roll Call
Commissioners Present
P.J. Johnston, President
Mark Breitenberg
Gregory Chew
Leo Chow
Lorraine García-Nakata
Dorka Keehn
Barbara Sklar
Cass Calder Smith
Kimberlee Stryker
Sherri Young

Commissioners Absent
JD Beltran, Vice President
John Calloway
Amy Chuang
Sherene Melania
Jessica Silverman
Christina Olague, ex officio
Approval of Minutes
RESOLUTION NO. 0711-11-165: Motion to approve May 2, 2011 Minutes.

The remaining item was withdrawn.
President’s Report
President Johnston noted that the Commission had been through an intense couple of weeks in the public eye, but he was very optimistic and excited for the future of the staff, the Commission, the arts community and the city as a whole. He said that the Commission had a duty focus on what is important, to see that the city and the community feel well-represented. While reflecting on what brought the Commission to this day, President Johnston said that he was now focused on the future, and hoped the Commissioners and staff could focus on the future and what is to come.

At his request, Commissioner García-Nakata reported on the status of the cultural equity study on the Latino community, recently approved by the Commission. She explained that San Francisco has always been a leader in these issues, and she hoped the study would have a large impact on the discourse nationwide, informing other philanthropic colleagues.

Commissioner García-Nakata thanked Cora Mirikitani and Diane Sanchez, who have served on the advisory committee with her. She added that there will be many points for the community to have input. She explained that the idea is to examine assumptions and look at new developments over the last several years, so that the report will not be merely a recap of what is already known. She noted that one critical issue to be examined is how organizations can be sustained—what are the structural elements that have changed, and what new structures can replace them. She felt strongly that San Francisco is well-positioned to undertake this study, and will push to go beyond the comfort zone. She added that she would continue to update the Commission on the study and invited colleagues to comment.

Brad Erickson, Executive Director of Theatre Bay Area, supported the studies, and was struck by what he has seen. He thought that some of the findings would not be a surprise to anyone; for example, that San Francisco is incredibly diverse. He agreed that it was important to understand how organizations are supported. He thought this was a one-of-a-kind program, incredibly important not only locally, but nationally, addressing how artists serve their communities and the city as a whole. He noted that the landscape is changing, that diversity today is not the same as yesterday. Finally, he thought this was an important message for the Board of Supervisors and the Mayor, as well as for other funders and the arts community.

Vinay Patel, director of Asian Improv aRts, seconded Commissioner García-Nakata’s comments, adding that San Francisco has the highest density of Asian-American arts organizations and artists. He thought the studies were very important, with such a large proportion of Asians and Asian-Americans in the city’s population. He thought the studies were good stepping-stones to lead to more understanding, and to look at other cultural communities throughout the city. He urged the Commission to continue to support the studies.

Debra Walker, president of the Arts Democratic Club, wanted to see the Arts Task Force’s recommendations carried forward, and was excited and heartened by the Commission’s efforts. She thought that the Cultural Equity Grants program has done an amazing job in achieving equity. She noted that both the arts task force in the 1980’s and the more recent one in 2006 found that grants made by Grants for the Arts did not fully reflect the diversity of the city, and she thought it was important to evaluate how Cultural Equity is doing. She added that the Arts Democratic Club will continue to pay close attention to the Commission’s activities.

President Johnston thanked Commissioner García-Nakata and members of the public for their comments.

Turning to the process of naming an interim Director of Cultural Affairs, President Johnston first thanked Deputy City Attorney Adine Varah for her unflagging support and wise counsel. He explained that the Arts Commission is the appointing authority for the Director of Cultural Affairs, and not for any other staff positions. Further, he explained, all of the Arts Commissioners are appointed solely by the Mayor and serve at the pleasure of the Mayor. Clearly, he said, it is important that the Commission consult with the Mayor as CEO of the City in making this appointment, and he has done so. President Johnston called for a brief, but open, fair and solid recruitment process for a permanent Director of Cultural Affairs. He anticipated discussing this at future meetings, and proposed that the search be conducted by the City’s Department of Human Resources rather than by an outside consultant. He was confident that this search would produce a number of excellent candidates, and pledged to build into that an open and transparent process for community input.

President Johnston noted that in the previous search, the Commission relied on its consultant to meet with community constituents. In this search, he wanted to be sure that the community, stakeholders, staff and friends of the arts would have a say as well. He reiterated his belief that this could be done relatively quickly. He explained that he saw the interim appointment as just that, a temporary director to hold down the fort and see the staff and agency through the transition and to allow an open and fair process in the search for a permanent director. He pointed out that these are two very different questions, and added that the Commission would discuss in its closed session what they saw as important qualities for the candidate. He looked forward to a robust process in choosing a permanent Director of Cultural Affairs.
Director’s Report
There was no report.
Consent Calendar
The Consent Calendar was approved as follows.

RESOLUTION NO. 0711-11-166:
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. 0711-11-167: Motion to approve the Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee Meeting Minutes of June 14, 2011.
2. RESOLUTION NO. 0711-11-168: Motion to approve the Visual Arts Committee Meeting Minutes of June 15, 2011.
  
  Visual Arts Committee Recommendations (June 15, 2011)
3. RESOLUTION NO. 0711-11-169: Motion to approve the following former Visual Arts Commissioners to serve as panelists for the Artist Selection Panels during the months of June, July and August, 2011: Lawrence Rinder, Jeannene Przyblyski, and Leonard Hunter.
4. RESOLUTION NO. 0711-11-170: Motion to approve the final designs for The Golden Spoke poster series by artist Ian Heubert for the Art on Market Street Program 2010-2011, a total of 36 posters to be installed in 18 bus shelters on Market Street from August 8, 2011 to October 21, 2011.
5. RESOLUTION NO. 0711-11-171: Motion to accept into the Civic Art Collection the following artworks, commissioned for and located at Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center:
  
  a. Reflection, 2010 by Diana Pumpelly Bates, a bi-fold stainless steel entrance gate.
  
  b. Patterns of Time and Place, 2006 by Suzanne Biaggi, a fountain installation of basalt, water and black pebbles, located in the northeast courtyard (courtyard F) of the north residence building.
  
  c. Bloom, 2010 by Jonathan Bonner, an installation of five lathe-turned granite stones in the northwest courtyard (courtyard B) of the north residence building.
  
  d. Seasons of Memory, 2008 by Beliz Brother, a series of fourteen photographs on glass panels and glass and stainless steel light boxes located on the third floor of the north and south residence buildings.
  
  e. Laguna Line (The Possibility of the Everyday), 2010 by Cliff K. Garten, a cast bronze handrail located on the east and west walls of the pavilion building’s first floor hallway.
  
  f. Re-Connection/Re-Cognition, 2008 by Linnea Glatt, a series of ten molded fiberglass, button-shaped sculptures located in the north courtyard (courtyard E) of the north residence building.
  
  g. Summer’s Goldfinch, Rollers and Cumulus, 2009 by Diane Andrews Hall, a series of three tapestries located on the first floor of the north residence building.
  
  h. Untitled and Untitled, 2010 by Arlan Huang, four glass block windows with blown glass elements located in the northwest corner of the pavilion building’s first floor hallway and ten glass panels with blown glass rondels located on the fourth floor of the north and south residence buildings.
  
  i. My Time, Spring, Summer, Winter and Untitled, 2005-2010 by Terry Hoff, a series of fifteen multimedia and chalkboard installations located on the second floor of the north and south residence buildings.
  
  j. Landscape, Skydancing and Horizontal Feeling, 2008 by Takenobu Igarashi, two terracotta wall reliefs located in the mezzanine dining and living rooms, one suspended aluminum and steel sculpture located in the mezzanine atrium, and seven wood and terracotta reliefs located on the mezzanine floor or the north residence building.
  
  k. somewhere, 2009 by Cheonae Kim, two glazed ceramic tile installations located on the north and south walls of the aquatherapy room.
  
  l. NEVERODDOREVEN, 2004-2010 by Living Lenses (Louise Bertelsen and Po Shu Wang), a redwood sculpture located in the south courtyard (courtyard J) of the south residence building.
  
  m. Water, Fire, Earth and Air, 2008 by Anne Chamberlain and Bernie Lubell, a series of six photographs on glass panels with stainless steel light boxes and four tapestries located on the sixth floor of the north and south residence buildings.
  
  n. Building the Iron Horse and The Four Elements, 2008 by Owen Smith, three ceramic tile mosaics located in the entrance lobby and eight ceramic tile mosaics and six glass fiber reinforced concrete reliefs located on the fifth floor of the north and south residence buildings.
6. RESOLUTION NO. 0711-11-172: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to increase the artist honoraria for Elizabeth Axtman and Travis Somerville in response to the SFAC Gallery award of $15,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts for the exhibition they will participate in. Elizabeth Axtman will receive an additional $1,500 (making her total honorarium $3,000—see previous approval for $1,500 Resolution # 0502-11-121) and Travis Somerville will receive an additional $1,000 (making his total honoraria $3,000—see previous approval for $2,000 Resolution #0307-11-057). With the increase in funding, each artist’s project will be expanded accordingly.
7. RESOLUTION NO. 0711-11-173: Motion to approve the Construction Documents Phase deliverables (finalized lighting plan, site plan and refined sculpture designs for integration into architectural construction documents and final budget) by Cliff Garten for artwork for the General Hospital Acute Care Unit: Entry Drive Median.
8. RESOLUTION NO. 0711-11-174: Motion to approve the Construction Documents Phase deliverables (revised design of specific elements, modification of site plan, final budget and mock-up of stainless steel seating element) by Anna Valentina Murch for General Hospital: Plaza.
9. RESOLUTION NO. 0711-11-175: Motion to approve the direction (as represented by initial fabrication samples) of the implementation of the two dimensional artwork program for corridors and waiting rooms of the General Hospital Acute Care Unit.
10. RESOLUTION NO. 0711-11-176: Motion to approve the following six finalists and one alternate as recommended by the Art on Market Street Artist Selection Panel: Julie Chang, Felipe Dulzaides, Christina Empedocles, Guillermo Gómez-Peña, Paul Madonna, Deth P. Sun, and alternate Ala Ebtekar, for the development of a proposal for the Art on Market Street Poster Series 2012 and to authorize the payment of an honorarium not to exceed $250 for each finalist to develop preliminary artwork proposals.
11. RESOLUTION NO. 0711-11-177: Motion to approve revised project outline for SOMA West Skatepark.
  
  Civic Design Review Committee Recommendations (June 20, 2011)
12. RESOLUTION NO. 0711-11-178: Motion to approve Phase 3 of the Tesla Portal Protection Project with the contingency to reduce the angle of the parapet and use steel form concrete with snap ties.
13. RESOLUTION NO. 0711-11-179: Motion to approve the below-ground portion of the Central Subway Union Square Market Street station with the following conditions: The architects should look into solutions for materials with consideration of cleanability and views looking down through the station. The design team should work with the selected public artist prior to completion of construction documents to ensure integration between the art and architecture. There should be creative alternatives to replicating the look of the pylons on the platform level.
14. RESOLUTION NO. 0711-11-180: Motion to approve Phase 2 of the Public Safety Building with the condition that the project team present materials samples and a model at Phase 3 review.
  
  Executive Committee Recommendations (June 27, 2011)
15. RESOLUTION NO. 0711-11-181: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to approve an advance to the African American Art and Culture Complex for FY2011-2012 of $47,421 with an additional $47,421 advance allocated upon adoption of the FY2011-2012 budget.
16. RESOLUTION NO. 0711-11-182: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to approve an advance to the Bayview Opera House, Inc. for FY2011-2012 of $31,166 with an additional $31,166 advance allocated upon adoption of the FY2011-2012 budget.
17. RESOLUTION NO. 0711-11-183: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to approve an advance to Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts for FY2011-2012 of $52,292 with an additional $52,292 advance allocated upon adoption of the FY2011-2012 budget.
18. RESOLUTION NO. 0711-11-184: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to approve an advance to SOMArts Cultural Center for FY2011-2012 of $58,436 with an additional $58,436 advance allocated upon adoption of the FY2011-2012 budget.
Committee Reports and Committee Matters
1. Executive Committee—P.J. Johnston, Chair
  1. President Johnston reported that most of the Committee’s last meeting was taken up with a lengthy closed session, and they voted not to disclose their discussion. He reported that there were some items discussed in open session, including the approval of funding for the Cultural Centers; this was fairly routine and without controversy.
2. Civic Design Review Committee—Cass Calder Smith, Chair
  1. In the absence of Commissioner Smith, Commissioner Stryker reported that several projects came before the Committee for phase two and three approval.
    
    She explained that the following motion was before the full Commission because the Committee had lost its quorum by the time this project was presented. Civic Design Review Program Manager Vicky Knoop confirmed that Commissioner Smith had reviewed the park restroom project and supported its approval by the Commission. In response to a question by Commissioner Keehn, she explained that the full Committee had reviewed the project in phase one. President Johnston added that the project team was ready to take the project to the next phase.
    
    Commissioner Stryker explained that the design team had put forward to the Committee several designs for traditionally styled park restrooms, and for a modern design. She added that Commissioners advised the team on possible revisions to the design.
    
    At the invitation of President Johnston, Commissioner Breitenberg endorsed the motion, and reminded the Commission that this was not final approval for the project, that it would be reviewed again in phase three by the Committee.
    
    There was no further discussion, and Commissioner Stryker presented the following motion.
  2. RESOLUTION NO. 0711-11-185: Motion to approve Phase 2 of the 2008 Restroom Park Bond—Traditional Design.
3. Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee—Sherri Young, Chair
  1. Commissioner Young reported that Director of Grants San San Wong had organized a series of workshops on applying for grants from the National Endowment of the Arts, and she urged everyone to share the announcement with artists they know. She added that although the San Francisco workshop was full, there was still space in workshops in Oakland and San Jose.
    
    Commissioner Young reported that the Committee discussed funding for the Cultural Centers, explaining that normally both the physical Centers and the “virtual” Centers receive some funding from the Commission before the City’s budget is finally approved to allow them to operate over the summer. She said that in the past, the amount was 25% of their grant, but the recommendation of the Controller was that it should be only 10%; this, she noted, would only allow them to operate for about a month. The funding question was referred to the Executive Committee, which passed the motions in the Consent Calendar approved above, authorizing ten percent initially, and another ten percent upon adoption of the budget.
    
    Commissioner Young announced that the Committee would not meet in July, and she presented the following motions.
  2. RESOLUTION NO. 0711-11-186: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with the following teaching artists to work in the WritersCorps program for 2011-2012:
    Richard D’Elia, $38,000
    Carrie Leiser-Williams, $38,000
    Anhvu Buchanan, $38,000
    Meg Day, $38,000
    Minna Dubin, $38,000
    Judith Tannenbaum, $59,000
  3. RESOLUTION NO. 0711-11-187: Motion to approve the following individual as grants application review panelist for Cultural Equity Grants: Archana Horsting, Executive Director, Kala Art Institute.
4. Street Artists Committee—Gregory Chew, Chair
  1. Commissioner Chew reported that the Committee would be meeting in a couple of days. He noted that while the vast majority of artists focus on their work, there are are occasionally a few with whom problems arise.
    
    Explaining that the artists below are returning artists whose work has previously been screened, Commissioner Chew presented the following motion.
  2. RESOLUTION NO. 0711-11-188: Motion to approve requests by former certificate-holders for priority issuance of certificate with waiver of re-screening of wares: Julian Meyer, Henry Jiao, Yu Ping Tan, Olga Salakutdinova, David Hoobler, Fortunate Payne, Conchetta Washington, Sean Applegate, Edna Garcia-Carrillo, Zi Jian Mei, Matt Summers.
    
    Finally, President Johnston welcomed Commissioner Melania, former Chair of the Committee, back from her bicoastal time studying at Harvard.
5. Visual Arts Committee—Lorraine García-Nakata, Chair
  1. President Johnston reported that Commissioner García-Nakata was recovering from surgery and so he would make this Committee’s report. He reported that the Committee, as usual, had a fairly heavy load of projects, and reviewed their progress toward the normal milestones. He reported that Gallery Director Meg Shiffler made an excellent presentation to the Committee, and that she would do the same for the full Commission at a future meeting. He added that the Committee was very encouraged by her “out-of-the-box” thinking.
Public Comment
Luis Granados spoke in appreciation of former Director of Cultural Affairs Luis Cancel, praising him as very gracious and generous with his time. Mr. Granados said that Mr. Cancel was very strategic in figuring out how to manifest a strong vision. He added that Mr. Cancel was really focused on equity for women, LGBT people, and ethnic communities. Speaking not as a grantee but as someone dealing with the City, he believed that Mr. Cancel set a good standard, and that the Arts Commission needs someone who can focus on outcomes and a big vision.

There was no other public comment.
Public Employee Appointment/Hiring: Director of Cultural Affairs
Closed Session to Appoint an Interim Director of Cultural Affairs
President Johnston explained that the Government Code allowed for this matter to be discussed in closed session. He called for public comment on holding the closed session.
1. Public Comment
  Debra Walker, president of the Arts Democratic Club, explained that she sat on the City’s Building Commission, and in that capacity has been involved in hiring a director on several occasions. She said that this hiring was an exciting opportunity for forward movement, and that many in the community were excited. She said that the Commission has some great programs, including bringing the arts to Market Street, and equity in funding. She said that the community supported these ideas, pointing to the Arts Task Force report. She hoped that the interim director would keep the agency moving forward and would take time to talk with the community.
  
  Skot Kuiper, of the WSOMA Planning Task Force, said that he would like to see the Commission appoint someone who knows about the various challenges, including land use issues and the Cultural Centers. He thought it was a priority to retain and create new opportunities for living and work spaces for artists in San Francisco. He said that the community was invested in the appointment, noting that the Arts Commission is a leader in cultural equity and he hoped to see that continue. He said that the interim director should have a vision of San Francisco and its various communities, and that cultural equity was important throughout the department.
  
  There was no further public comment.
2. Vote on Whether to Hold Closed Session to Appoint an Interim Director of Cultural Affairs [San Francisco Administrative Code Section 67.10(b)]
  The Committee voted unanimously to hold a closed session for the above purpose. The closed session commenced at 3:57 p.m.
3. Closed Session Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957 and San Francisco Administrative Code Section 67.10(b)
  The closed session included Commission President P.J. Johnston, Commissioners Mark Breitenberg, John Calloway, Gregory Chew, Leo Chow, Amy Chuang, Lorraine García-Nakata, Dorka Keehn, Sherene Melania, Barbara Sklar, Kimberlee Stryker and Sherri Young, and Deputy City Attorney Adine Varah.
  1. Consideration and Action to Appoint an Interim Director of Cultural Affairs until Appointment of Permanent Director of Cultural Affairs
4. Reconvene in Open Session
  1. Report on Action Taken in Closed Session [Government Code Section 54957 and San Francisco Administrative Code Section 67.12(b)(4), and in the event the Commission appoints an Interim Director, the roll call vote of that action]
    The Commission reconvened in open session at 5:03 p.m. and President Johnston reported that they voted unanimously to appoint JD Beltran as Interim Director of Cultural Affairs, effective July 11, 2011, until the conclusion of the search for a permanent Director of Cultural Affairs.
  2. Vote to Elect Whether to Disclose Any or All Discussions Held in Closed Session [San Francisco Administrative Code Section 67.12(a)]
    The Commission voted unanimously not to disclose any of its discussions.
President Johnston reported that Commissioners gave long and thoughtful consideration to this matter, and that all are excited about moving forward with the search for a new permanent director. He said that the Commission was grateful that Ms. Beltran was brave enough to undertake this responsibility, and was committed to the staff and the community.

Commissioner Young thanked President Johnston for leading the Commission through treacherous waters, noting that the mark of a great leader was not his performance in smooth sailing but when conditions were windy and choppy.

Commissioner García-Nakata thanked staff as well.

President Johnston added that he wanted to see the Arts Commission flourish.
Reports and Announcements
There were no other reports or announcements.
New Business
There was no new business.
Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:07 p.m.

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