February 20, 2013

The meeting commenced at 3:04 p.m.

1. Roll Call

Commissioners Present:
JD Beltran
Gregory Chew
Jessica Silverman

Commissioners Absent:
Barbara Sklar, Chair
Dorka Keehn

Commissioner Beltran announced that Commissioner Sklar was ill and that in her absence she would chair the meeting.

THE FOLLOWING ITEM MOVED FROM ITEM 11 TO ITEM 2

2. Public Comment
Discussion

Ms. Paula Datesh requested to speak and submitted the following statement in writing to be included in the minutes as follows:

“I want to notify the Commissioners of the San Francisco Arts Commission of the on-going activities of John Tenuli, the manager at Justin Herman Plaza. He has called the police on me three times in the past month. When the police approach me I am told he made a 911 call with claims that I violated a no contact order and was told to stop making false claims and wasting resources of the San Francisco Police Department. He has not complied and continues to call 911 for no reason.

The few times I have attempted to ask him questions about procedure in running the lottery, Tenuli’s response is “get away from me, you fucking bitch, you belong in prison.” He gossips to colleagues that I am a convicted felon who has done time in prison. This is not true and slander.

I have been written up several times over incidents that Tenuli did not witness and was not a party to. I was not asked about the event and there was no evidence to support his allegations. To date, I have filed two police reports against him and suggest that Tenuli is harassing me.

Clearly, Tenuli is abusing his power as a market manager and harassing me out of the Street Artist Program.”

Commissioner Beltran thanked Ms. Datesh for her time and called for further public comment. There was no further public comment.

3. Consent Calendar
Action
 

1. Retroactively approve and accept into the Civic Art Collection the artwork Baile!, 1999, by Carmen Lomas Garza. The artwork is 22 inches x 33 1/2 inches, hand-cut paper mounted on foam core board. The artwork is a proposal for the sculpture by the same name that was commissioned for the San Francisco International Airport and accepted into the Civic Art Collection in 2000 (Resolution No.0110-00-033).

Senior Registrar Allison Cummings explained that as staff works on a complete inventory of the collection, some residual issues of managing the Civic Art Collection (“CAC”) will arise and such items will be added to the consent calendar in the coming months. Baile! should have been accessioned previously and therefore this retroactive resolution is to correct a simple oversight. Commissioner Beltran voiced support for this level of diligence in the management of the CAC.

Commissioner Chew inquired whether this artwork would be placed in storage or displayed. Director of Cultural Affairs Tom DeCaigny replied that the artwork would typically remain in storage while the CAC loan program continues to be on moratorium and the inventory of the CAC is completed. Ms. Cummings stated that Baile! will remain in Arts Commission storage. Ms. Cummings stated that the Arts Commission does not typically accession artwork proposals for site specific commissions, but there is historical precedent to do so when the proposal is an artwork in itself, such as with Baile!. She added that accessioning artwork into the CAC remains at the discretion of Arts Commission.

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

Motion: Motion to approve consent calendar items.
Moved: Chew/Silverman
The motion was unanimously approved

4. SFAC Galleries
Meg Shiffler
Action

SFAC Galleries Director Meg Shiffler presented the upcoming exhibitions. She announced that the Cardboard Institute of Technology (“CIT”) will have an installation in the Grove Street location from May through August, 2013 with exact dates to be announced at a later date. She presented examples of previous projects by CIT and explained that they typically produce large scale installations made of cardboard. CIT is led by Joshua Short and has been a collaborative since 2007 of artists, technologists, handymen and people of different skills who often use found materials. Ms. Shiffler added that the CIT is adept at producing site specific installations and she believes that it will be a fun exhibit for the public.

Next, Ms. Shiffler introduced the Bay Area photographer, Joe Blum, and his upcoming solo exhibition that will be on view at the City Hall location from June 7 through September 27, 2013. She noted that Mr. Blum will be exhibiting 80 - 125 color and black-and-white photographs from his series documenting the laborers building the new span of the Bay Bridge. Ms. Shiffler stated that the black-and-white photographs pay homage to the historic documentation of the construction of the original Bay Bridge and that she finds the color photographs graphically dynamic. She added that the exhibit dates were chosen to coincide with the Bay Bridge opening festivities of early September 2013 and that the Galleries would focus their outreach and public programming to laborers and unions for this exhibit.

Mr. Blum also addressed the Commissioners and stated that his goal is to directly represent the laborers’ perspective by getting as close as possible to them while they work and to honor and celebrate all of their contributions.

Commissioner Beltran commented that she loves the direct reference in Mr. Blum’s work to the black-and-white documentary photographs of the construction Golden Gate Bridge.
Commissioner Beltran called for public comment. There was no public comment.

Motion: Motion to approve an artist honoraria payment in the amount of $2,000 to artist Joshua Short for his contributions to the Cardboard Institute of Technologies’ summer 2013 exhibition at the SFAC Galleries Window Installation Site at 155 Grove Street.
Moved: Chew/Silverman
The motion was unanimously approved

Motion: Motion to approve an artist honoraria payment in the amount of $3,000 to Joseph Blum for his solo exhibition of photographs of the building of the new Bay Bridge span, which will be exhibited at City Hall in the summer of 2013.
Moved: Silverman/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

THE FOLLOWING ITEM MOVED FROM ITEM 7 TO ITEM 5

5. SOMA West McCoppin Hub
Justine Topfer
Action

Project Manager Justine Topfer introduced Matthew Passmore and Elizabeth Marley of Rebar to present their final design drawings and lighting prototype for the artwork, Handsignals. Ms. Marley explained the engineering specifications and assembly details of the artwork noting all of the components had been sourced from established traffic infrastructure companies and are weatherproof.

Ms. Marley further explained that that they had also made changes as requested by the Arts Commission to ensure that the artwork functioned even without electricity. Mr. Passmore stated that the next step is to program the sequence of the lights. He added that Rebar will test the light component in their studio prior to installation by running it non-stop for three to four months.

Director DeCaigny asked for further clarification of the artwork’s long-term durability. Mr. Passmore reiterated that all the materials are designed to be outdoors and he is confident that the work is weatherproof. He stated that the LED light will last six to seven years and the housing component is designed to easily open in order to change the light bulb. He detailed the backup solution and exhibited seven identical reflective replacement panels that could be easily swapped out and used instead of the artworks current structure (transparent panels in combination with the LED lights). He stated the panels would be able to achieve a similar reflective light effect due to their south facing direction without electricity.

Commissioner Chew asked when the project would be completed and Ms. Topfer stated a year from now, explaining there had been a delay due to the Office of Economic and Workforce Development changing the design of the of the plaza but not the artwork.

Director DeCaigny asked if any approvals were required from San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (“SFMTA”) regarding the light signaling or possible nuisance to the neighbors. Ms. Topfer and Mr. Passmore confirmed that Project Manager Mary Chou did review the artwork placement with SFMTA. Ms. Topfer stated that she would research the issue of the light being a possible nuisance to the neighbors.

Commissioner Beltran stated her support for the project and called for public comment. There was no public comment.

Motion: Motion to approve the construction document phase deliverables (final design drawings and sculpture mock up) for the artwork, Handsignals, by Rebar for the SOMA West McCoppin Hub project.
Moved: Chew/Silverman
The motion was unanimously approved

6. Boeddeker Park
Marcus Davies
Action

Project Manager Marcus Davies presented Amy Blackstone’s Conceptual Design for an artwork at Boeddeker Park, located in the Tenderloin neighborhood at Eddy and Jones streets. Ms. Blackstone’s design will encompass four fence panels on the park’s southwest corner and will be composed of vertical floral elements hand-built in steel. Mr. Davies explained that Ms. Blackstone’s artwork tends to evolve organically during the fabrication process, and that a final design will be brought before the Committee before fabrication. He then presented the Commissioners a sample of one of the flowers to be incorporated in the design, stating that the sample was representative of Ms. Blackstone’s design concept and technical ability. Mr. Davies reminded the Committee that the concept takes its inspiration from an existing artwork by Ms. Blackstone surrounding the park’s message board. He concluded by showing an image of Ms. Blackstone’s artwork at Hoff Playground in the Mission, explaining that the color palette depicted would be similar to her work for Boeddeker Park, although the exact palette and method of application is yet to be determined. 

Commissioner Chew complimented the line quality of the artist’s design.

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

Motion: Motion to approve Amy Blackstone’s Conceptual Design for an artwork at Boeddeker Park.
Moved: Chew/Silverman
The motion was unanimously approved

7. SFO Airport, Terminal 3, Boarding Area E
Marcus Davies
Action

Mr. Davies began his report by explaining that the requested contract increases in the following motions will be reflected in the artist contract amounts for Eric Staller and Merge Conceptual Design, allowing the artists to progress to additional phases of the project, including Design Development, Construction Documents, Fabrication and Consultation during Installation. He added that the contract increases will not increase the overall project budget for Terminal 3, Boarding Area E.

Mr. Davies then reviewed artist Eric Staller’s proposal for the Boarding Area E Children’s Area, displaying the latest conceptual renderings depicting a series of 12 rotating discs under glass embedded in the floor and wall of the play area. Mr. Davies noted that the artwork is still a Conceptual Design and that the final colors, lighting and interactivity are currently being developed and refined by the artist’s design team. He also added that the artist’s fabricator is developing a mock up to test the artwork’s mechanic and electrical components, and that he hopes to be able to present the working mock up to the Committee in the coming months. The Committee agreed that a review of the mock up would be a useful next step. Director DeCaigny asked for clarification about the lighting in the Children’s Area, to which Mr. Davies replied that the artist and his design team are working to create an atmosphere that will make the Children’s Area a unique environment and will enhance the color and lighting of the artwork. 

Mr. Davies then presented Merge Conceptual Design’s proposal for an artwork consisting of twenty-six suspended mirrored stainless steel spheres with colored and lit hollow interiors. Commissioner Beltran noted that in response to previous comments by the Committee, Merge Conceptual Design had reduced the number of spheres and increased their size. The Committee agreed that these changes were a significant improvement in the artwork’s design.

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

Motion: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to increase the agreement with Eric Staller from $25,000 to $304,040 to add to the scope of work Design Development, Construction Documents, Fabrication and Consultation during Installation for an artwork at SFO Airport, Terminal 3, Boarding Area E.
Moved: Silverman/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

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

Motion: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to increase the agreement with Merge Conceptual Design from $50,000 to not to exceed amount of $300,000 to add to the scope of work Design Development, Construction Documents, Fabrication and Consultation during Installation for an artwork at SFO Airport, Terminal 3, Boarding Area E.
Moved: Silverman/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

8. 2013-2014 Prequalified Artist Pool
Marcus Davies and Zoë Taleporos
Action

Mr. Davies announced the results of the 2013-2014 Prequalified Artist Pool. He began by introducing Program Associate Zoë Taleporos who administered the jury process and noted that Commissioner Silverman sat on the selection panel. He explained that a Request for Qualifications (“RFQ”) was issued on October 29, 2013, following which two artist application workshops were held on November 8, 2012 at SOMArts Cultural Center and November 10, 2012 at the Bayview Opera House. Out of 379 applicants, staff created a short list was that was then scored by a panel of arts professionals (Renny Pritikin, California College of the Arts faculty; Mary Rubin, Senior Project Manager, San Jose Public Art Program; and Commissioner Silverman). Mr. Davies announced that the panel process yielded 196 applicants who scored within a competitive range to be included in the 2013-2014 Prequalified Artist Pool. Mr. Davies then presented the list of artists in the pool to the Committee.

Commissioner Beltran noted the impressive and international caliber of artists selected. She added that the pool is a reflection of the good work being done by the Arts Commission’s Public Art Program. 

Commissioner Chew asked what type of projects the pool would be used for. Mr. Davies explained that for projects with budgets under $200,000, Project Managers would select a short list of artists from the pool to present to project specific selection panels. He added that since the artists included in the 2013-2014 Prequalified Artist Pool have already been vetted through a competitive process, the necessity to issue an RFQ for each small project is eliminated, thus reducing project administration.

Senior Project Manager Jennifer Lovvorn clarified that once a short list is curated by a Project Manager for a specific project, that list is presented to the project’s artist selection panel that selects the finalists and later selects the project artist.

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

Motion: Motion to approve the following artists and artist teams for the 2013-2014 Prequalified Artist Pool: Bryan Allen; D-L Alvarez; Kathy Aoki; Juana Alicia Araiza; Michael Arcega; Edgar Arceneaux; Arktura LLC; Arteclettica; Deborah Aschheim; Jay Atherton; Ball Nogues Studio; Suzy Barnard; Brian Barneclo; Aileen Barr; Michael Bartalos; Bruce Beasley; Lanny Bergner; Ken Bernstein; Timothy Berry; Leo Bersamina; Suzanne Biaggi; Micajah Bienvenu; Lisa Blatt; Carrie Bodle; Matt Borruso; Sarah Bostwick; Wythe Bowart and Josh Powell; Mark Brest van Kempen; Val Britton; Christopher Brown; Michael Brown and David Cole; Elaine Buckholtz; Dean Burton; Riis Burwell; Ed Carpenter; Cause Collective; Christian Cerrito; Alexander Cheves; Dayton Claudio; Adriane Colburn; Colette Crutcher; Michael Davis; Paz de la Calzada; Jenna Didier and Emily White; Katherine Dube; Jessica Eastburn; Amy Ellingson; Sam Erenberg; Alicia Escott; Kota Ezawa; Jeremy Fish; Claudia Fitch; David Fletcher; Rebecca Fogg; Chris Fraser; Matt Gagnon and Alan Grumet; Stephen Galloway; Benicia Gantner; Ann Gardner; Steven Gardner; Cliff Garten; Carmen Lomas Garza; Sheila Ghidini; Pere Gifre; Vanesa Gingold; Tracy Ginsberg and Theodore Lille; Brian Goldbloom; Walter Gordinier; Todd Gray and Kyungmi Shin; Mark Grieve and Ilana Spector; David Griggs; Barbara Grygutis; Edwin Hamilton; Gerald Heffernon; Jenny Heishman; Archie Held; Taraneh Hemami; Amy Ho; Paul Hobson; Barbara Holmes; Eric Hongisto; Karrie Hovey; Joyce Hsu; Salomon Huerta; Gordon Huether; Hughen/Starkweather; Leonard Hunter; Suzanne Husky; Leonard Hunter; Misako Inaoka; Cynthia Innis; Kelly Inouye; Carrie Iverson; Jason Jagel; Packard Jennings; Chris Johanson; Ned Kahn; Sarah Kavage and Nicole Kistler; Katherine Keefer; Kipp Kobayashi; Naomie Kremer; Carrie Leeb; Mark Leichliter; Lisa Levine and Peter Tonningsen; Heidi Lippman; Hung Liu; Maria Lobo; Mary Lucking; Cybele Lyle; Whitney Lynn; Jefferson Mack; Jack Mackie; David Maisel; Jetro Martinez; Sanaz Mazinani; Adam McCauley; Robert Minervini; Anne Mudge; Anna Valentina Murch; Ken Murphy; Joaquin Newman and Eduardo Pineda; Joe C. Nicholson; Jann Nunn; Scott Oliver; Penny Olson; Kelly Ording; Sean Orlando; Erik Otto; Gay Outlaw; Tressa Pack; Andrea Padilla; Erin Palmer; Siddharth Parasnis; Susan Pascal Beran; Tahiti Pehrson; Sam Perry; Joel Phillips; Troy Pillow; Yulia Pinkusevich; Ferris Plock and Kelly Tunstall; Johanna Poethig; Nigel Poor; Eric Powell; Al Price; Rebar Art and Design Studio; Rhiza A + D; Meghann Riepenhoff; Lordy Rodriguez; John Roloff; Koryn Rolstad; Leah Rosenberg; Catherine Ruane; James Russell; Saori Ide Russell; Serrah Russell; Heath Satow; Ron Moultrie Saunders; Jovi Schnell; Vicki Scuri; Merle Axelrad Serlin; Sheri Simons; Phillip Smith; Tracy Snelling; Jessica Snow; Chris Sollars; Charles Sowers; Heather Sparks; Joshua G. Stein; Arthur Stern; Roger White Stoller; Anne Storrs; Marcia Stuermer; Primitivo Suarez-Wolfe and Ginger Wolfe-Suarez; Stephanie Syjuco; T.W. Five; Christopher Taggart; Kana Tanaka; Aaron Terry; David Tomb; Ben Trautman; Urban Rock Design; Urbana Studio; Camille Utterback; Gregg Valley; Kerry Vander Meer; Philip Vaughan; Mark Dean Veca; Rhonda Weppler; Lindsey White; Diane Whitmore; Joshua Wiener; Daniel Winterich; Jenifer Wofford; Brandon Zebold; Dana Zed; Jody Zellen; and Susan Zoccola.
Moved: Silverman/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

Staff thanked Commissioner Silverman for participating on the panel.

9. Port Pier 92
Justine Topfer
Action

Ms. Topfer presented the selected proposal for Transfiguration from the Seattle based artist team, Haddad|Drugan. The project is a joint commission between the Arts Commission and the Port of San Francisco with the intention of being completed in time for the Americas’ Cup in early September 2013. Haddad|Drugan proposed a large temporary mural printed on mesh that will envelope the exterior of a grain silo located at Port Pier 92 and will be illuminated with color LED lighting in the evening. The proposal imagery contains various references to the cultural, history and ecology of the Bayview neighborhood. Ms. Topfer explained that the imagery included on the proposal is conceptual and indicated that the artists intend to develop the final design through a community engaged process. 

Commissioner Beltran asked for clarification on the materials being used for the mural and how the lighting component functions. 

Ms. Topfer clarified that the black mesh screen is printed with colored imagery that is visible during the day. In the evening, the mural is illuminated with different colored lights which cause those particular colors in the mural to be visible thus causing the mural to morph in varying sequences.

The Commissioners and Director DeCaigny expressed their concern with the imagery chosen thus far stating that the imagery was too oblique. The Commissioners requested that artists rethink the imagery so that it is easier to decipher and more relevant to the community.
It was decided that Ms. Topfer will bring revised imagery to next Visual Arts Committee.

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

THE FOLLOWING MOTION WAS REVISED

Motion: Motion to approve the proposal of a temporary artwork, Transfiguration, for the Port Pier 92 Silos Project by the artist team Haddad|Drugan, LLC as recommended by the selection panel except for the final conception and visual design which is subject to approval after community outreach and further staff committee process.
Moved: Silverman/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

Motion: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a contract with the artist team Haddad|Drugan, LLC in an amount not to exceed $190,000 for design, fabrication and consultation during installation of a temporary artwork for the Port Pier 92 Silos Project.
Moved: Silverman/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

10. Church and Duboce Streetscape
Jennifer Lovvorn
Action

Ms. Lovvorn presented alternate installation locations for two of the nine bronze chairs from the artwork Domestic Seating, 2012, by Primitivo Suarez-Wolfe at the intersection of Church Street and Duboce Avenue. She stated that the artworks were installed in December and since that time the Mayor's Office on Disability (“MOD”) received a complaint that the two chairs located on Church Street next to Safeway pose a potential tripping hazard to a person with low vision. Ms. Lovvorn stated that the artwork installation complies with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and was formally permitted through the Department of Public Works (“DPW”). She met with representatives from both MOD and DPW to discuss how to best resolve the situation and it was recommended that the Arts Commission move these chairs in light of the complaint.

Commissioner Beltran interjected that Commissioner Silverman is a named party in a lawsuit with the wife of Primitivo Suarez-Wolfe and therefore has a conflict of interest. VAC lost quorum for this item and the motion was continued to the March 2013 VAC meeting.

Ms. Lovvorn ended by offering some positive news and support of the piece. The hospice Maitri on the south side of Duboce Avenue has been a supporter of the artwork from the inception of the project and donated the original rocking chair that was cast into bronze. Maitri has requested that both chairs be placed prominently in front of their business. Also, both the Castro/Upper Market Community Benefit District and DPW have agreed to provide ongoing pro-bono graffiti abatement services for the artwork.

THE FOLLOWING MOTION WAS CONTINUED TO THE NEXT VISUAL ARTS COMMITTEE MEETING

Motion: Motion to approve the alternate installation locations for two of the nine bronze chairs from the artwork Domestic Seating, 2012 by Primitivo Suarez-Wolfe which are currently installed on east side of Church Street next to Safeway, moving one to the north side of Duboce Avenue and the other to the south side of Duboce Avenue per the revised site plan.

11. Central Subway: Union Square Market Street Station Platform
Jennifer Lovvorn
Discussion

Ms. Lovvorn gave an update on Design Development phase deliverables of the artwork by Jim Campbell and Werner Klotz for the platform level of the Union Square Market Street Station. Ms. Lovvorn stated that she recently conducted a studio visit along with Program Director Susan Pontious, Commissioner Beltran, and an SFMTA staff member to inspect the artwork design revisions. Ms. Lovvorn presented images of the sculpture test model installed in the studio and explained that the artists are still refining various aspects of the work, such as the size and placement of the discs. She stated that she is working with Commissioner Beltran and Ms. Pontious to provide the artists with specific comments on the model and hopes to bring the design development phase deliverables for this project to the Committee in the next couple of months.

12. New Business and Announcements
Discussion

Director DeCaigny announced that he and Ms. Pontious will include on the March 2013 VAC agenda a policy conversation regarding the 2% Art Enrichment Ordinance . He stated that Capital Planning had proposed to review the ordinance and allocation set-aside for conservation in order to allow greater flexibility to the Arts Commission for the conservation of existing artworks, the type of artworks that are covered, and finally how conservation needs are structured as a whole. Due to the complexity of the issue, Mr. DeCaigny stated that it warrants further consideration. The discussion at next month’s VAC will be a precursor to a larger discussion on this topic to happen at the full Arts Commission.

Ms. Cummings announced she will be on maternity leave after Friday, March 1, 2013 with the intention to return to her position on September 3, 2013. Ms. Cummings introduced temporary Registrar Anne Marie Purkey Levine who will assist completing a comprehensive inventory of the Civic Art Collection and program related duties while she is on leave.

13. Adjournment
Action

The meeting was adjourned at 4:37 p.m.

JDC 3/1/13
JDC 3/14/12 Adopted Minutes Posted
______________________________________

Notices

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For assistance, please notify Jenn Doyle Crane, Jennifer.crane@sfgov.org, 415-252-2586.

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