City and County of San FranciscoSan Francisco Arts Commission

September 15, 2010

Visual Arts Committee - September 15, 2010
VISUAL ARTS COMMITTEE
Wednesday September 15, 2010
3 p.m.
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 70



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Minutes


Commissioners Present: JD Beltran, Greg Chew, Lorraine Garcia-Nakata, PJ Johnston, Barbara Sklar.

Staff Present: Mary Chou, Allison Cummings, Carol Marie Daniels, Marcus Davies, Jennifer Lovvorn, Jill Manton, Genevieve Masse, Judy Moran, Susan Pontious, Meg Shiffler, Zoe Taleporos.

Note: All votes are unanimous unless recorded otherwise.

The meeting commenced at 3:15 p.m.


1. Consent Calendar

1. Motion to approve a 15' x 80', mosaic mural by lead artist Josef Norris and 60 students from Ida B.Wells High School. The mural, Reaching, will be painted on the Fell Street retaining wall between Pierce and Steiner Streets in collaboration with the Alamo Square Neighborhood Association and the North of Panhandle Merchant's Association. The project commences in October 2010 and will be completed in January 2011.

2. Motion to approve a mosaic tile mural You've Got a Right to the Tree of Life on the front of Daniel Webster Elementary School on Missouri and 20th Streets. The mural will be painted by Kid Serve Youth Mural founder Josef Norris and 45 students from Daniel Webster Elementary School, in collaboration with the Potrero Residents Education Fund, Potrero Hill Merchants Association, Friends of the Public Library and the Potrero Neighborhood House. A Community Mural Day is scheduled for October 2010.

3. Motion to approve the Construction Document Phase deliverables (Final Design Illustrations) for the three mosaic artworks by Lena Wolff for Floor 2 at the General Hospital Acute Care Unit and authorization to proceed with fabrication.

Motion: Approve consent calendar items
Moved: Sklar/ Chew

2. San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery
Meg Shiffler

Gallery Director Meg Shiffler presented a short PowerPoint on the upcoming City Hall exhibition, Afghanistan: Counter Narratives that will take place after the New Year. Ms. Shiffler described how the exhibition showcases the work of two artists: James Lee and Teru Kuwayama. She described Mr. Lee as a local photojournalist and former Marine who documented Afghan national security forces on the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Ms. Shiffler described the work of Teru Kuwayama, a renowned photojournalist who captures military scenes with old disposable cameras. Ms. Shiffler discussed the possibility of bringing Mr. Kuwayama to San Francisco to put him in dialogue with Mr. Lee and explained the fundraising efforts for this purpose have begun.

Motion: Motion for the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a contractual relationship with Mr. James Lee for an honorarium in the amount of $1000. Mr. Lee will participate in the City Hall photography exhibition Afghanistan: Counter Narratives.
Moved: Beltran/Chew

3. General Hospital Acute Care Unit – Art Glass Project on Floor 5

Jennifer Lovvorn

Project Manager Jennifer Lovvorn presented the Construction Document Phase deliverables for the light court windows and curved glass element for the art glass project by Nancy Blum on Floor 5 of the General Hospital Acute Care Unit. Ms. Lovvorn reminded the Commissioners of the July 21, 2010 Visual Arts Committee meeting wherein Ms. Blum’s design development phase images were approved with the recommendation that she revise one of the designs. Ms. Lovvorn reported that the artist successfully resolved the issue and she explained how the revised design now included a greater depth of field and more opportunity to draw the viewer’s eye into the work. She noted that Ms. Blum has chosen to work with Lenehan Architectural Glass as her glass fabricator. Once the artist begins fabrication, she will work directly with the fabricator to refine the glass techniques and colors. These fabrication samples will be presented to the Commission for approval prior to final fabrication.

Motion:
Motion to approve the Construction Document Phase deliverables (final design illustration and project budget) for light court windows and curved glass element for art glass on Floor 5 by Nancy Blum.
Moved: Chew/ Johnston

Motion: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to modify the agreement with Nancy Blum to increase the agreement by $262,865 for a total contract amount not to exceed $282,655 for design, fabrication and transportation of artwork for General Hospital Acute Care Unit: Floor 5.
Moved: Sklar/ Beltran

4. General Hospital Acute Care Unit – Art Glass Project on Floor 6
Jennifer Lovvorn

Ms. Lovvorn presented the Construction Document Phase deliverables for the light court windows for the art glass project by Arthur Stern on Floor 6 of the General Hospital Acute Care Unit. She noted that Mr. Stern’s design development phase deliverables were approved at the July 21, 2010 Visual Arts Committee meeting. She reported that his finalized budget has been distributed to the Commissioners for review and approval as part of the Construction Document Phase.

Motion: Motion to approve the Construction Document Phase deliverables (project budget) for light court windows for art glass on Floor 6 by Arthur Stern.
Moved: Sklar/ Chew

Motion: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to modify the agreement with Arthur Stern to increase the agreement by $146,559 for a total contract amount not to exceed $157,161 for design, fabrication and transportation of artwork for General Hospital Acute Care Unit: Floor 6 (two corridor windows).
Moved: Chew/ Sklar

5. General Hospital Acute Care Unit – Art Glass Project on Floor 7
Jennifer Lovvorn

Ms. Lovvorn presented the Construction Document Phase deliverables for the light court windows and curved glass element for the art glass project by Alan Masaoka on Floor 7 of the General Hospital Acute Care Unit. Ms. Lovvorn reminded Commissioners that Mr. Masaoka’s design development phase deliverables were approved at the July 21, 2010 Visual Arts Committee Meeting. She presented Mr. Masaoka’s final design for the curved glass element and a glass mock-up, which demonstrates the manner in which the artist will adhere the stained glass panels to the plate glass as part of his installation for General Hospital. Ms. Lovvorn informed the Commissioners that a structural engineer will evaluate this proposed system of adhering the art glass panels to the plate glass before the artist enters into fabrication.

Motion:
Motion to approve the Construction Document Phase deliverables (final design illustration for curved glass, mock-up and project budget) for light court windows and curved glass element for art glass on Floor 7 by Alan Masaoka.
Moved: Chew/ Sklar

Motion:
Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to modify the agreement with Alan Masaoka to increase the agreement by $132,549 for a total contract amount not to exceed $144,579 for design, fabrication and transportation of artwork for General Hospital Acute Care Unit: Floor 7.
Moved: Sklar/Chew

6. Revisions to Policies and Guidelines for the Civic Art Collection
Susan Pontious

Program Director Susan Pontious presented the revised Civic Art Collection Policies and Guidelines. Ms. Pontious reminded Commissioner how changes regarding staff efficiencies and the artist selection process were discussed at the June 16, 2010 Visual Arts Committee Meeting. Based on feedback provided by Commissioners at that time, the Civic Art Collection Policies and Guidelines have undergone revisions. Ms. Pontious presented a Staff Report highlighting the key changes, most notably the artist selection process for projects with budgets under $100,000.

Motion:
Motion to approve revised Civic Art Collection Policies and Guidelines.
Moved: Sklar/Chew.

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

Ms. Pontious presented Charles Sowers’ Butterfly Wall mock-up for the Children’s Area at SFO, Terminal Two. Ms. Pontious described how the mock-up is comprised of butterflies made of dichroic plexi ascending and descending along a rail operated by viewer-activated hand cranks. Ms. Pontious noted that this mock-up was the first Mr. Sowers had produced. Per her suggestion, another mock-up with aluminum butterflies will be produced by Mr. Sowers and presented to the Visual Arts Committee at a later date. Ms. Pontious went on to explain that Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) compliance had not been met by this project at this time. However, she believed that compliance could be achieved by simply extending the base of the work or by installing a rail. Ms. Pontious concluded her presentation by describing the work’s final dimensions of 12’ in height with 8’ and 4’ segments. The work is scheduled to be installed March 2011

Motion: Motion to approve mock-up of Charles Sowers’ Butterfly Wall for the Children’s Area at SFO, Terminal Two.
Moved: Sklar/ Beltran

8. SFO Boarding Area E
Susan Pontious

Ms. Pontious presented Amy Ellingson’s conceptual design for the terrazzo floor for the renovated SFO Boarding Area E. Ms. Pontious noted how the artist had produced several designs for the project with various degrees of intensity in color and pattern. Ms. Pontious remarked how after reviewing the designs, she and the artist chose one that most emulated the artist’s past work favored by the SFO Boarding Area E Selection Panel. Ms. Pontious reported that the artist had consulted with two terrazzo fabricators to simplify her deign so it could be fabricated within the project budget. She informed the Commissioners that some concern had been expressed by SFO staff about the intensity of color in the artist’s design. In order to address this concern, Ms. Pontious will request that the artist create two versions of her final conceptual design: the first having the artist’s choice of color palette, and a second with the color toned down. The final conceptual design will be reviewed by the Airport Steering Committee on October 7th, 2010.

Motion:
Motion to approve conceptual design by Amy Ellingson for terrazzo floor at SFO Boarding Area E.
Moved: Beltran/Chew

9. Leland Avenue
Susan Pontious

Ms. Pontious presented a recently completed work by the artist team Rebar, Street Life, an 18' sculpture made of steel pipe, parking meter heads and glass installed on Leland Avenue at Bayshore Boulevard. Ms. Pontious expressed how pleased she was that the artist team had produced and impressive work favored by the surrounding community. She informed the Commissioners of the dedication scheduled for September 17, 2010 at which Mayor Gavin Newsom will be in attendance.

Motion: Motion to approve and accept into the Civic Art Collection Street Life, 2010 by the artist team Rebar (Matthew Passmore, John Bela, Blaine Merker and Teresa Aguilera) an 18' sculpture made of steel pipe, parking meter heads and glass installed on Leland Avenue at Bayshore Boulevard.
Moved: Sklar/ Beltran

10. Program Updates

Susan Pontious

Ms. Pontious opened a discussion of the Great City Campaign that will help solidify the Public Art Program’s position as a supporter of local, national and international art. Ms. Pontious noted the importance of communicating the program’s values to public and elected officials, and posed the question of how those values could be transmitted in other ways. Ms. Pontious suggested the development of a tag phrase that could be incorporated into press materials. Commissioner Johnston responded by suggesting an evaluation of organizational identity and the need to incorporate that into a marketing plan. He remarked how the Market Street Poster Series could be an excellent place to maximize a new marketing strategy that celebrates the diversity of work produced by the Public Art Program.

11. New Business


12. Old Business

13. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 4:36 p.m.

ZT 9/15/10
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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.

Public comment in regard to specific items will be taken before or during consideration of the item.

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