May 19, 2010

Commissioners Present: Greg Chew, JD Beltran, PJ Johnston, Barbara Sklar

Staff Present: Eleanor Beaton, Marcus Davies, Jennifer Lovvorn, Jill Manton, Genevieve Masse, Susan Pontious, Zoe Taleporos

Note: All votes are unanimous unless recorded otherwise.

The meeting commenced at 3:08pm.


1. Consent Calendar

1. Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into agreement with Stephen Galloway for design of art glass for General Hospital Acute Care Unit: 4th Floor in an amount not to exceed $21,000, which shall include an artist fee of $7,000 and reimbursable expenses of up to $14,000.

2. Motion to approve a pool of selection panelists for the Central Subway Temporary Art Program project in Chinatown, to Ellen Oh, Executive Director of the Kearny Street Workshop; Kevin Chen, Artist Director of Intersection for the Arts; Mark Johnson, Director of the Fine Arts Gallery at San Francisco State University; and additional candidates to be announced at the Visual Arts Committee meeting.

Motion: Approve consent calendar items.
Moved: Beltran/Chew

2. General Hospital Acute Care Unit: Entry Drive Median
Jennifer Lovvorn

Project Manager Jennifer Lovvorn reported on the General Hospital Artist Selection Panel’s final meeting wherein they evaluated proposals from four finalists for the General Hospital Acute Care Unit: Entry Drive Median: Gliff Garten, Lorna Jordan, Anna Valentina Murch and the artist team Living Lenses. The panel unanimously chose Gliff Garten’s proposal and ranked Living Lenses as the alternate.

Ms. Lovvorn then presented Cliff Garten’s proposal for nine stainless steel sculptures to be installed on a landscaped medium. The sculptures vary in height ranging from 14 to 22 feet tall and at night they are intended to be illuminated by colored light emitting diode lighting. The artist proposes to study the lighting color options once the sculptures are fabricated. Commissioner Johnston, who took part in the panel meeting, commented on the varying preference of color for the lighting and suggested that the issue be brought to the Commission at a later stage for final approval.

Motion: Motion to approve the selection of artist Cliff Garten and his proposal for the General Hospital Acute Care Unit Entry Drive Median as recommended by the General Hospital Artist Selection Panel.
Moved: Beltran/Chew

Motion: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a contract with Cliff Garten, selected by the General Hospital Artist Selection Panel for design, fabrication, transportation and installation/consultation during installation for an artwork for General Hospital Acute Care Unit: Entry Drive Median in an amount not to exceed $400,000.
Moved: Beltran/Chew

3. General Hospital Acute Care Unit: Potrero Avenue Pedestrian Entry and Walkway
Jennifer Lovvorn

Ms. Lovvorn presented the final design by Tom Otterness of mother with children figures for the Potrero Avenue pedestrian plaza and the series of heart figure sculptures for the pedestrian walkway leading from Potrero Avenue to the main hospital entry. She stated that Mr. Otterness’s final design is a refinement to the conceptual design which was approved by the Commission in October 2009. The final design of the mother with children sculpture contains the following revisions: it is to be installed on a 9” high base due to Americans with Disabilities Act requirements for cane detection and there are two additional heart characters under the daughter's arm. The final design of the hearts sculpture series contains the following revisions: the series includes a "helping hands" heart to represent General Hospital staff and a father figure heart. Ms. Lovvorn reported that the final design had been presented to the General Hospital Art Steering Committee where it was received favorably.

Motion: Motion to approve the final design by Tom Otterness of mother with children figures for the Potrero Avenue pedestrian plaza and the series of hearts sculptures for the pedestrian walkway.
Moved: Beltran/Chew

4. General Hospital Acute Care Unit: 3rd Floor Art Glass
Jennifer Lovvorn

Ms. Lovvorn presented the art glass design by Mildred Howard for the 3rd Floor curved glass element and light court windows. The design features landscape imagery layered with brightly colored floral elements. Ms. Lovvorn stated that the current design is an extension and refinement of the proposal that Ms. Howard submitted as part of the selection process, which only included imagery for the curved glass element. The design now includes complementary imagery for the two light court windows based on the same landscape and floral motif. She reported that Ms. Howard’s current art glass design was presented to the General Hospital Art Steering Committee where it was well received.

Motion: Motion to approve the art glass design by Mildred Howard for the General Hospital Acute Care Unit: 3rd Floor curved glass element and light court windows.
Moved: Beltran/Sklar

5. Mission Playground
Jennifer Lovvorn

Ms. Lovvorn presented studies for placement of artwork fence panels by Michal Bartalos for Mission Playground along the park’s frontages on Valencia and 19th streets. Ms. Lovvorn stated that the studies were being presented in response to the Commissioners’ request to view possible placement variations at the Visual Arts Commission meeting on April 21, 2010. At that time, the Commission gave approval of the designs of the fence panels and asked to see how the artist envisioned the placement of his work in relation to the background elements such as park buildings and trees.

Ms. Lovvorn stated that while conducting the placement studies, the artist determined that splitting the set of 10 panels between the Valencia and 19th street frontages made the artwork less visually impactful and weakened the artist’s concept of a parade of characters. To resolve these issues, the artist proposes to have the full set of 10 panels installed on the Valencia Street frontage. Ms. Lovvorn reported that the Recreation and Park Department Project Manager is amenable to this proposal and will also request bids for the cost of producing a second set of panels to be installed on 19th Street. If the bids are favorable and the project can afford a second set of 10 art panels, then there will also be a full set of art panels installed on the 19th Street frontage.

After reviewing the studies for the artwork panel placement options, the Commissioners agreed that more panels were necessary to achieve the artist’s desired effect. The Commissioners agreed with the proposed approach of installing all ten panels together on the Valencia Street frontage and stated that they would be pleased to have a second set of 10 art panels on 19th Street if the construction budget could support that cost.

THIS MOTION WAS REVISED
Motion: Motion to approve the proposed placement of artwork fence panels by Michael Bartalos for Mission Playground as follows: set of 10 panels to be installed on the Valencia Street frontage and, pending construction bid results, a second set of 10 panels to be installed on the 19th Street frontage.
Moved: Beltran/Chew

6. Laguna Honda
Susan Pontious

Public Art Program Director Susan Pontious presented Owen Smith’s final clay molds for Laguna Honda. Ms. Pontious mentioned that the artist, who completed several mosaic works for Laguna Honda, was in the process of creating relief sculptures to be displayed on the 5th level resident floors. She went on to describe how the artist was inspired by the 1934 Works Progress Administration murals of Glen Wessel placed in the historic lobby of the facility. Ms. Pontious displayed images of the clay models and sketches of the reliefs each integrating a theme of one of the four elements. Commissioner Johnston commented on how proud the Laguna Honda staff was of Owen’s mosaic works and expressed his enthusiasm for the new work presented.

Motion: Motion to Approve Owen Smith's final clay molds and approval to proceed to casting relief sculptures for Laguna Honda.
Moved: Beltran/Chew

7. San Francisco International Airport (“SFO”) Terminal Two
Eleanor Beaton, Susan Pontious

Project Manager Eleanor Beaton presented Walter Kitundu’s design for Bird Song Benches and Musical Bird Mural for SFO Terminal Two Children’s Area. Ms. Beaton described the artist’s proposal: a wooden wall with photographic imagery of various types of birds, and two benches shaped like bird’s wings that function as a musical instrument similar to a xylophone; one of the bird wings on the mural is also a musical instrument. Ms. Beaton showed photographs from a recent studio visit, which illustrated the mock-up of one of the wall panels. She also provided a sample cut-out of one of the bird heads from the wall panel.

Motion: Motion to approve Walter Kitundu’s design for Bird Song Benches and Musical Bird Mural for SFO Terminal Two Children’s Area.
Moved: Sklar/Beltran

Ms. Pontious reported on the progress of Janet Echelman’s project for SFO Terminal Two. She stated that the project is going to be installed by the general contractor, but the estimates given were larger than anticipated and there is concern about the project going over budget. Ms. Pontious indentified one cost concern was the fans requested by the artist to activate her sculpture. The artist is requesting five fans that will cost a total of $80,000. Commissioner Johnston stated that Ms. Pontious should discuss this element of the installation with the artist and investigate larger costs associated with the fans such as conduit labor before proceeding with the purchase.

8. SFO Boarding Area E
Susan Pontious

Ms Pontious presented the project outline for artist designed terrazzo for SFO Boarding Area E. She reported on SFO’s plans to refurbish Boarding Area E, which will consist mainly of upgrading finishes and remodeling gate rooms and concessions. This boarding area has a fairly low ceiling, and no un-programmed wall space. The new terrazzo floor has been identified as the main art enrichment opportunity. Ms. Pontious further explained that an artist designed terrazzo floor, especially one that uses rich color, will bring a sense of vibrancy and liveliness to what is otherwise an uninspired space. The final art enrichment budget has not been calculated yet, but it is estimated to be approximately $250,000; or approximately $200,000 for project costs and $50,000 for administration. This is a fast track project; the architects are expected to be hired by July, and the remodel finished by the end of the year.

Ms. Pontious explained that an artist will be selected based on past work to develop a design for the terrazzo. This design will be incorporated into the Boarding Area E’s construction documents and executed under the Boarding Area E’s general contractor. The artist’s contract is expected to be $30,000 - $35,000 for the artist’s design and artist’s subcontractors for computer work and construction documents. Ms. Pontious mentioned that due to severe time restrictions, a fast track selection process will be used and artist eligibility will be limited to San Francisco. A new Request For Proposals will not be issued; artists already in the pre-qualified artist pool will be considered for the project, as well as those specifically invited to apply. Ms. Pontious stated that the Public Art Program staff will develop a short list of artists who will be presented to the selection panel. The selection panel process for projects under $50,000 will be used. The panel will consist of an SFO representative, and Arts Commission representative, and an arts professional.

Commissioner Johnston asked if there were federal funds being used for the project that would prohibit limiting geographical eligibility. Commission Johnson then suggested that Ms. Pontious investigate any restrictions form the funding source and then proceed accordingly.

THIS MOTION WAS REVISED
Motion: Motion to approve project outline for artist designed terrazzo for SFO Boarding Area E pending determination of any applicable federal guidelines.
Moved: Beltran/Chew

9. New Business

10. Old Business

11. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 4:10pm

MD 5/19/10
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Notices

Explanatory documents are available for public inspection and copying at the Arts Commission office, 25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94102 during regular business hours. INFO: Zoe Taleporos (415) 252-3215.

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