July 18, 2012

President Beltran assumed the role of Chair for the meeting in the absence of Commissioner Sklar.

The meeting commenced at 3:07 p.m.

1. Roll Call

Commissioners Present:
JD Beltran
Greg Chew
Dorka Keehn
Jessica Silverman

Commissioners Absent:
Barbara Sklar, Chair

2. Consent Calendar
Action

1. Motion to approve an exterior painted mural by Precita Eyes lead artists Yukako Ezoe Onodera and Max Marttila on a retaining wall in the playground area of the Minnie and Lovie Ward Recreation Center 650 Capital Street in the Oceanview District. The painting pictures the community engaged in healthy activities. The mural is sponsored by Rebuilding Together San Francisco.

President Beltran called for public comment. There was no public comment.

Motion: Motion to approve Consent Calendar item.
Moved: Silverman/Keehn
The motion was unanimously approved

3. SOMA West McCoppin Hub
Mary Chou and Matthew Passmore
Action

Project Manager Mary Chou reported that the artist team Rebar had revised their artwork for McCoppin Hub due to the redesign of the location. She introduced Matthew Passmore of Rebar who presented the revised proposal Handsignals. Mr. Passmore explained that Handsignals is inspired by old theater marquees located in the Mission district. It is made out of seven pedestrian crossing signs whose signals are reimagined by Rebar to represent various aspects of the neighborhood. He noted that the back of the seven signs spelled out “McCoppin” to act as a landmark to the Hub. Mr. Passmore added that the artwork will be 23 feet high, without the light fixture on top of the post, and set back from the street so it would not be confused with the existing pedestrian crossing signals at that intersection. Mr. Passmore explained that each sign console will contain an LED light, a translucent polymer covered by water jet cut steel, and a steel grate. The lifespan of the LED bulbs is expected to last approximately six to eight years and possibly longer. Mr. Passmore stated that his team is currently looking into identifying locations to store the outdoor controller that would allow for ease in replacement.

Ms. Chou stated that Handsignals was reviewed by the Mayor’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development, the Department of Public Works (“DPW”), and the project architect who all responded favorably to the design. She said that she received two public comments during the public proposal display period that were both positive. She added that the Arts Commission staff is very supportive of the proposal and recommends approval by the Visual Arts Committee (“VAC”).

President Beltran called for public comment. There was no public comment.

Motion: Motion to approve Rebar’s proposal Handsignals for the public artwork for the revised design of McCoppin Hub.
Moved: Keehn/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

4. Bayview Branch Library
Mary Chou and Ron Saunders
Action

Ms. Chou reported that artist Ron Saunders had completed his final designs for the interior and exterior artworks at the new Bayview Branch Library. She introduced Mr. Saunders who presented his deigns. Mr. Saunders showed four photographic images that will be translated into porcelain enamel by KVO Industries and installed in the courtyard of the library. Commissioner Keehn asked if the porcelain translation will be color matched to the original photograph. Ms. Chou said that Mr. Saunders will work closely with KVO Industries to insure that the color is correct. Commissioner Beltran inquired about the finish of the porcelain enamel. Mr. Saunders said that he assumed the finish will be a gloss so it will be easily maintained.

Mr. Saunders presented five images for the children’s area of the library. Ms. Chou explained that each of the five images will be digitized, printed at 44 inches by 55 inches, mounted to aluminum, and covered with Plexiglas. She presented examples of this printing and mounting technique. Ms. Chou noted that there was some concern about the image quality when enlarged to the scale of 44 inches by 55 inches. Mr. Saunders presented a mock-up showing a detail of his work printed at that size to demonstrate that the resolution would still be clear. Ms. Chou reported that a porcelain enamel sample will be presented at a later VAC meeting for approval.

President Beltran called for public comment. There was no public comment.

Motion: Motion to approve final designs for interior and exterior artwork pieces and mock-up of interior artwork piece by artist Ron Saunders for the new Bayview Branch Library.
Moved: Silverman/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

5. Chinese Recreation Center
Mary Chou
Action

Ms. Chou presented two completed artworks for the Chinese Recreation Center: an exterior artwork by Colette Crutcher; and an interior work by Shan Shan Sheng. Ms. Chou explained that the exterior artwork consists of tile mosaic panels installed on a wall depicting a child flying kites. She added that the artist made some of the tiles in her studio, while other materials were sourced from broken pottery. Ms. Chou presented images of the interior artwork consisting of Venetian glass Chinese characters suspended in the building’s atrium. She stated that the characters are excerpts of poems from well-known ancient Chinese poets, as well as poems about the immigrant experience at Angel Island and the Chinese American experience in the San Francisco Bay Area.

President Beltran called for public comment. There was no public comment.

Motion: Motion to approve and accept into the Civic Art Collection the artwork Plaything of the Wind, 2012 by Colette Crutcher, commissioned for the Betty Ann Ong Chinese Recreation Center. Fabricated of ceramic tile, crockery, recycled mirrors, grout and cement board, the artwork consists of mosaic panels distributed over two wall areas approximately 7 feet high by 12 feet wide, located on the west wall of the Chinese Recreation Center, in the children’s outdoor playground area.
Moved: Silverman/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

Motion: Motion to approve and accept into the Civic Art Collection the artwork Active Memory, 2012 by Shan Shan Sheng, commissioned for the Betty Ann Ong Chinese Recreation Center. Fabricated of Venetian handmade glass and stainless steel, the artwork is suspended in the entry lobby of the Chinese Recreation Center from a ceiling area approximately 8 feet wide by 4 feet deep, with 8 individual strands up to 15 feet long.
Moved: Keehn/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

6. Airport: Control Tower and Boarding Area E
Susan Pontious
Action

Program Director Susan Pontious presented the San Francisco International Airport Artist Selection Panel’s recommendations for artists for upcoming public art projects at the San Francisco International Airport. Ms. Pontious reported that the panel directly selected the artist team Merge to create a light sculpture at Boarding Area E. She noted that this selection was made in part because of the project’s tight timeline. Ms. Pontious stated that Merge was an inventive team that works well under pressure and is responsive to collaboration. Commissioner Keehn asked Ms. Pontious to direct Merge to utilize their inventiveness as they begin their design process.

Ms. Pontious reported that the panel directly selected artist Eric Staller to develop an artwork for the children’s area of Boarding Area E. She noted that Mr. Staller had attended a portfolio review with the Public Art Program staff for advice on how to strengthen his applications. She added that the artist often creates fun, interactive works that the panel felt would be appropriate for the site.

Ms. Pontious said that for the artwork opportunity for the Non-Secure Connector at the Control Tower at Terminal 3, four artists were selected to create proposals: Val Briton, Adriane Colburn, James Melchert and Catherine Wagner.

President Beltran called for public comment. There was no public comment.

Motion: Motion to approve the San Francisco International Airport Artist Selection Panel’s recommendation of Val Britton, Adriane Colburn, James Melchert, and Catherine Wagner to develop proposals for the Non-Secure Connector at the San Francisco International Airport, and authorization to pay a proposal fee to each of $3,250.
Moved: Keehn/Silverman
The motion was unanimously approved

Motion: Motion to approve the San Francisco International Airport Artist Selection Panel’s recommendation for the artist team Merge to develop a proposal for a light sculpture at Boarding Area E at the San Francisco International Airport, and authorization to pay a proposal fee of $3,250.
Moved: Silverman/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

Motion: Motion to approve the San Francisco International Airport Artist Selection Panel’s recommendation for the artist Eric Staller to develop a proposal for the Children’s Area at Boarding Area E at the San Francisco International Airport, and authorization to pay a proposal fee of $1,500.
Moved: Silverman/Keehn
The motion was unanimously approved

7. Central Subway
Jennifer Lovvorn
Discussion

Senior Project Manager Jennifer Lovvorn requested Commissioner representation on the upcoming Central Subway Artist Selection Panels. Commissioner Chew confirmed his participation on the Chinatown Station Crosscut Cavern Wall Panel. Commissioner Silverman volunteered her participation on the Moscone Station Entry Plaza Sculpture Panel. Commissioner Keehn volunteered her participation on the Union Square Market Street Station Glass Elevator Enclosure and Deck Panel. President Beltran volunteered her participation on the Moscone Station Ticketing Hall Wall Panel.

President Beltran called for public comment. There was no public comment.

8. Civic Art Collection
Allison Cummings
Discussion

Senior Registrar Allison Cummings reported on the restoration of Keith Haring’s Untitled, 1989, (2001.1) located on the corner of 3rd and Howard streets at the Moscone Convention Center. Ms. Cummings stated that work was recently reinstalled after a two month conservation process. She explained that the work was removed from its site, transported to a paint shop in Vallejo, California, disassembled, stripped of its original paint, and eventually repainted. She noted that the conservator overseeing the project used a technique to measure the depth of the paint layers and found that the sculpture’s original metal surface was pitted and not smooth. Because of this, the base coat on the sculpture was left intact to ensure a smooth surface after being repainted. She added that the sculpture’s original paint was now illegal to use in California and a lot of research went into finding a replacement. She added that the Moscone Convention Center cleaned the base of the sculpture and restored its lighting.

President Beltran called for public comment. There was no public comment.

9. Arelious Walker Stair Replacement Project
Marcus Davies
Action

Project Manager Marcus Davies presented the public art program outline for the Arelious Walker Stair Replacement Program. Mr. Davies reported that the stairs are located at the intersection of Arelious Walker and Innes Avenue in the Bayview neighborhood, a site marked for renovation by DPW. The goal is to rebuild the stairway, landscape the area with native plants, and to face the stair risers with a tile mosaic artwork designed by an artist in collaboration with the surrounding community. Mr. Davies said that because the project requires an artist with a specific process that involves community design, a Request for Proposals ("RFP") will be issued and bids will be collected. Ms. Pontious added that the bids generated from the RFP will give DPW an idea of what the project will cost and if the current budget will need to be supplemented. Mr. Davies added that DPW had recently increased the project budget to $90,000, with an additional set-aside of $25,000 for the artwork installation.

Mr. Davies stated that he will contact the Bayview Opera House to assist in outreach to artists in the Bayview Neighborhood. Commissioner Chew suggested that he also inform the district supervisor when the RFP is issued.

President Beltran called for public comment. There was no public comment.

Motion: Motion to approve public art program outline for Arelious Walker Stair Replacement Program.
Moved: Silverman/ Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

10. Moscone West
Jill Manton
Action

President Beltran recused herself from voting on this item which requests entering into contract with Scott Minneman, her domestic partner.

Commissioner Keehn assumed the role of Chair for this item.

Director of Policy and Planning Jill Manton reported that she began work on Facsimile, an art project by Diller & Scofidio at Moscone West in 1996. She said that at the time, the team was given the challenge of creating a public artwork for a private building, and their solution was to create a video work that brought the inside activities of the building to the outside and vice versa. Ms. Manton described the artwork as a large video screen held by steel suspenders that runs along a track around the perimeter of the building's exterior displaying live and pre-recorded video. She noted that the video requires a custom-designed software. Ms. Manton explained that during the artwork's installation, one of the steel suspender arms fell and hit the video screen which has not been able to function as intended since.

Ms. Manton said that Diller & Scofidio hired a consultant based in Carson, California to oversee repairs on the artwork. However, this expert was no longer able to travel to San Francisco to perform the necessary work. She added that in addition to the tracks, there were multiple systems that needed repair, and her hope was to find one local person that could address all issues related to this project. Scott Minneman, the new proposed expert consultant, has multiple engineering degrees and other experience relative to the project. Ms. Manton said that after discussing the project with Mr. Minneman, it was clear that he was extremely qualified to perform the specified maintenance, repair and inspections that the project required. She added that the engineers at Moscone West and Diller & Scofidio have complete confidence in his ability to repair the artwork.

Commissioner Keehn called for public comment. There was no public comment.

Motion: Motion to approve a contract not to exceed $29,000 with Scott Minneman for maintenance work on the Facsimile art project at Moscone West.
Moved: Silverman/Keehn
Ayes: 3 – Silverman/Keehn/Chew
Excused: 2 – Beltran/Sklar

11. Boeddeker Recreation Center
Carol Marie Daniels
Action

Project Manager Carol Marie Daniels reported on the San Francisco Recreation and Parks request and Arts Commission staff’s recommendation to de-accession from the Civic Art Collection a hand-cut ceramic tile mosaic mural, Flying Dragon-Snake-Monkey-Bird by Johanna Poethig, due to the mural’s integration into the Clubhouse building which is scheduled for demolition in Fall, 2012. Ms. Daniels explained that Hamilton Recreation Center had expressed interest receiving Flying Dragon-Snake-Monkey-Bird, but the cost was too high to remove and relocate the artwork. She stated that the artist is now commissioned to create a new artwork for Hamilton Recreation Center. She added that Ms. Poethig supports this recommendation.

President Beltran called for public comment. There was no public comment.

Motion: Motion to recommend to the Full Commission, at the request of San Francisco Recreation and Parks, the de-accession from the Civic Art Collection of Johanna Poethig’s Flying Dragon-Snake-Monkey-Bird, 1988 (Accession #1988.41) located at Father Alfred Boeddeker Recreation Center Clubhouse 295 Eddy Street.
Moved: Silverman/Keehn
The motion was unanimously approved

Motion: Motion to approve, at the request of San Francisco Recreation and Parks, the destruction of Johanna Poethig’s Flying Dragon-Snake-Monkey-Bird, 1988 (Accession # 1988.41) following the expiration of a 90 day notice period in which the artist or a party authorized by the artist is given opportunity to remove and relocate the artwork.
Moved: Keehn/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

12. Public Comment
Discussion

President Beltran called for public comment. There was no public comment.

13. New Business and Announcements
Discussion

There was no new business or announcements.

President Beltran called for public comment. There was no public comment.

14. Adjournment
Action

The meeting adjourned at 4:26 p.m.

ZT 7/30/12
JDC 11/06/12 - adopted minutes posted