MEETING OF THE FULL ARTS COMMISSION
Monday, July 6, 2020
2 p.m.
Remote Meeting via video and teleconferencing
 

Minutes 

President Ordeñana called the meeting to order at 2:04 p.m.

1. Roll Call
   
   Commissioners Present
   Roberto Ordeñana, President
   Kimberlee Stryker, Vice President
   JD Beltran
   Charles Collins
   Suzanne Ferras
   Mary Jung
   Dorka Keehn
   Nabiel Musleh
   Linda Parker Pennington
   Abby Sadin Schnair
   Marcus Shelby
   Janine Shiota
   Debra Walker
   Paul Woolford
   Joel Koppel, ex officio
   
   President Ordeñana announced virtual meeting instructions. Commission Secretary Alyssa Ventre announced public comment instructions.
   
   Commissioner Shiota and Commissioner Walker joined the meeting.
    
2. Approval of Minutes
   Commissioner Shiota, seconded by Commissioner Stryker moved to approve the June 1, 2020 Minutes, as presented.
   
   There was no public comment.
   
   The motion unanimously carried by the following vote:
   Ayes: Ordeñana, Stryker, Beltran, Collins, Ferras, Jung, Keehn, Musleh, Parker Pennington, Schnair, Shelby, Shiota, Walker, Woolford
    
   RESOLUTION NO. 0706-20-077: Motion to approve June 1, 2020 Minutes.
    
3. General Public Comment
   
   Richard Rothman commented that Mayor London Breed set up a committee for City statues and asked that staff post the locations of the statues for public information. He also said that the Mother’s Building at the Zoo has been closed for 20 years. He said the Arts Commission needs to take a more robust role in working with other City departments and community leaders to get the building open. He said the Arts Commission needs to be included since they’re responsible for the artwork and that we need to protect the artwork in the City.
    
4. Director’s Report
   Acting Director of Cultural Affairs Rebekah Krell reported on the status of the Columbus monument. She described the Mayor’s directive in requesting the Arts Commission to partner with other City departments to figure out how to move forward. She also reported on the next phase of the artist selection process for the Maya Angelou sculpture. She announced the second installment of this year’s Art on Market Street Poster series which celebrates the 50^th Anniversary of PRIDE featuring Win Mixter’s “Pride is a Protest” project. She also gave an update on the upcoming budget process.
   
   In response to Commissioner questions, Acting Director Krell explained the cultural centers budget more in depth as well as the Arts Commission’s response to the monuments and the status of this year’s grant funding.
   
   Commissioners discussed the idea of shared resources and the need for health care during this time.
   
   President Ordeñana thanked staff for their hard work to take down the Columbus statue. He said that there was concern about how the statue didn’t align with the Arts Commission’s values and wanted to ensure the health and safety of the public who wanted to take it down themselves. He also acknowledged the partnership with Rec and Park to remove the statue quickly and safely.
   
   President Ordeñana gave an update on the search for the Director of Cultural Affairs position. He reported that Bob Murray & Associates, led by Valerie Phillips, will start outreach this month which includes a staff listening session, a community survey and placing ads with professional networks. He encouraged commissioners to distribute the job description to their networks. He continued to explain the timeline for the search and how the public and the Commission will be involved in the process.
   
   There was no public comment.  
   ​
5. Committee Reports and Committee Matters
   1. Civic Design Review Committee—Kimberlee Stryker, Chair
      1. Commissioner Stryker reported on the Phase 2 Otis Street Public Plaza project featuring artist Frida Escobedo.
         
         There was no public comment.
   2. Community Investments Committee—Charles Collins, Chair
      1. Commissioner Collins asked Deputy Director of Programs Joanne Lee to present the motion. Ms. Lee provided background information for the special grant for the virtual cultural center, American Indian Cultural Center. 
         
         Commissioners discussed the fiscal sponsorship program and the structure of the virtual cultural centers.
         
         Commissioner Collins introduced the motion to approve the recommendation to award a Special Project Grant (“SPX”) to the following organization and to authorize the Acting Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a grant agreement with the following organization for an amount not to exceed, at this time: American Indian Cultural Center (Fiscal Sponsor: Intersection for the Arts) $123,868 to support ongoing capacity-building and operations of a cultural center, as presented.
         
         President Ordeñana, seconded by Commissioner Beltran moved to approve the motion, as presented.
         
         There was no public comment.
         
         The motion unanimously carried by the following vote:
         Ayes: Ordeñana, Stryker, Beltran, Collins, Ferras, Jung, Keehn, Musleh, Parker Pennington, Schnair, Shelby, Shiota, Walker, Woolford
         
         RESOLUTION NO. 0706-20-078: Motion to approve the recommendation to award a Special Project Grant (“SPX”) to the following organization and to authorize the Acting Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a grant agreement with the following organization for an amount not to exceed, at this time: American Indian Cultural Center (Fiscal Sponsor: Intersection for the Arts) $123,868 to support ongoing capacity-building and operations of a cultural center, as presented.
         ​
   3. Visual Arts Committee—Dorka Keehn, Chair
      1. Commissioner Keehn commended Senior Registrar Allison Cummings and the public art staff for removing the Columbus statue as well as working on the future recommendations regarding the statues. She reported on the first virtual Visual Arts Committee meeting which highlighted the Galleries COVID-19 poster project that thanks healthcare workers featuring ten local artists. She also reported on the final design of the artwork by Norie Sato at the Southeast Wastewater Treatment plant.
         
         Commissioner Collins thanked the staff, City leadership and commissioners for their work during this important and historic time.
         
         Commissioner Walker thanked Commissioner Keehn and Acting Director Krell for their leadership. She also applauded the Gallery staff for their poster project. She noted that the task force is interested in these types of projects in order to figure out how to use the arts as an effective communication tool.
         
         There is no public comment.
         ​
6.  Consent Calendar
President Ordeñana introduced the consent calendar items.

Commissioner Ferras announced that she would need to recuse herself from item 8 because she has represented some of the artists listed in item 8. President Ordeñana announced he needed to recuse himself from item 8 because one of the artists has a relationship with his employer, the SFLGBT Center, which may pose a financial conflict of interest.

President Ordeñana called for a motion except sub item 8

Commissioner Collins, seconded by Commissioner Beltran moved to approve the consent calendar items (1 – 7, 9 – 13), as presented.

There was no public comment.

The motion carried unanimously by the following vote:
Ayes: Ordeñana, Stryker, Beltran, Collins, Ferras, Jung, Keehn, Musleh, Parker Pennington, Schnair, Shelby, Shiota, Walker, Woolford 

RESOLUTION NO. 0706-20-079:
Approval: RESOLVED, that this Commission does hereby adopt the following items on the Consent Calendar and their related Resolutions:
1. RESOLUTION NO. 0706-20-080: Motion to approve the Civic Design Review Committee Meeting Minutes of June 15, 2020.
2. RESOLUTION NO. 0706-20-081: Motion to approve the Visual Arts Committee Meeting Minutes of  June 17, 2020.
   
   Civic Design Review Committee Recommendations (June 15, 2020; link to agenda)
   Action
3. RESOLUTION NO. 0706-20-082: Motion to approve Phase 2 of the 30 Otis Street Public Plaza Project contingent upon 1) consulting an arborist to approve the designated tree for the site 2) that there be electrical outlets for day and evening performances and 3) that there be test pours designated in the contract so that there will be quality control in the texture, color, and gradient for the concrete work.
   
   Visual Arts Committee Recommendations (June 17, 2020; link to agenda)
   ​Action
4. RESOLUTION NO. 0706-20-083: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to increase the contract with artist Michael Bartalos, for design, fabrication, and consultation during installation of an artwork gates for the Ambulance Deployment Facility from $311,200 to an amount not to exceed $327,500 (an increase of $16,300) for additional artwork engineering and materials as a result of expansion of the gate size from 8 ft. to 10 ft. in height. Contract originally authorized under Resolution No. 0806-18-253.
    
5. RESOLUTION NO. 0706-20-084: Motion to extend the display of Middleground, a temporary interactive installation focused on social psychology developed in partnership by the Civic Center Commons Initiative, the SF Public Library Main Branch, and the Exploratorium's Studio for Public Space and funded by the National Science Foundation. The installation is located on Larkin Street plaza in front of the main entry to the Library. The interactive exhibit shall be on extended display until December 2020 with the Exploratorium's commitment to remove the Middleground exhibit upon request of the Arts Commission and pending the Maya Angelou sculpture installation date.
    
6. RESOLUTION NO. 0706-20-085: Motion to approve Portola Blossoms, a mural design by artist Kseniya Makarova. The mural will be installed at Hawaiian Drive-Inn, which is located on 2600 San Bruno Ave. at Burrows St. The painted mural will measure approximately 20 ft. by 30 ft. The project is funded by the Portola Neighborhood Association. The painted mural will not become part of the Civic Art Collection.
    
7. RESOLUTION NO. 0706-20-086 :Motion to approve The Interconnectedness of All Things, a mural design by artist Georgia Hodges. The mural will be installed on the side of a residential building facing the Far Out West Community Garden, which is located on 3830–3832 Judah St. at 43rd Ave. The painted mural will measure approximately 32 ft. by 40 ft. The project is funded by a Community Challenge Grant. The painted mural will not become part of the Civic Art Collection.
9. RESOLUTION NO. 0706-20-087: Motion to approve final design of artwork (final color and overall design) on the Headworks Building by Norie Sato for the Southeast Wastewater Treatment Plant.
    
10. RESOLUTION NO. 0706-20-088: Motion to approve as installed the completed artwork entitled The Color of the Horizons by Dana Hemenway for San Francisco International Airport Harvey Milk Terminal 1. The artwork is installed in the pre-secure departures area and consists of wood, steel, rope, extension cords, ceramics and LED lights. 
     
11. RESOLUTION NO. 0706-20-089: Motion to approve the Revised Design Development Phase deliverables by Hood Design Studio, Inc. for an artwork for Fire Station #35.
     
12. RESOLUTION NO. 0706-20-090: Motion to approve artist Emory Douglas’ Construction Document phase deliverables, including final imagery, material and fabrication mockup for the artwork at Margaret Hayward Playground.
     
13. RESOLUTION NO. 0706-20-091: Motion to approve the project outline for the Southeast Health Center Expansion Project—Community History Wall.
    
    Commissioner Ferras and President Ordeñana left the meeting.
    
    Commissioner Keehn presented item 8 of the consent calendar.
    
    Commissioner Collins, seconded by Commissioner Schnair moved to approve the consent calendar items (item 8) as presented.
    
    There was no public comment.
    
    The motion carried unanimously by the following vote:
    Ayes: Stryker, Beltran, Collins, Jung, Keehn, Musleh, Parker Pennington, Schnair, Shelby, Shiota, Walker, Woolford
    
    RESOLUTION NO. 0706-20-092: Motion to approve the following artists for the StreetSmARTS Murals Program Artist Pool as recommended by the Artist Review Panel. The pool will be valid for a two-year period, expiring at the end of Fiscal Year 2022: 
    
    fnnch (Brambling, LLC)
    Deborah Aschheim
    David Benzler
    Nico Berry
    Christopher Burch
    Mary Finlayson
    Perry Fong
    Amos Goldbaum
    Peter Goldlust
    Arran Harvey
    Chad Hasegawa
    Crystal Hermann
    Steve Ha (Illuminaries)
    Jason Jagel
    Jeremy Jarvis
    Mikey Kelly
    Joshua Lawyer
    MJ Lindo-Lawyer
    Kara Maria
    Nate Mellado
    Lindsey Millikan
    Marcus Murray
    Sirron Norris
    Ryan Petersen
    Luis Pinto
    Harumo Sato
    Nisha Sethi
    Mila Sketch
    Nigel Sussman
    Claudio Talavera-Ballon
    Leah Tumerman
    Mike Tyau
    ​Lena Wolff
     
7. New Business and Announcements
   President Ordeñana and Commissioner Ferras returned to the meeting.
   
   Commissioner Shiota left the meeting due to a power outage issue.
   
   Commissioners discussed the larger framework of equity and racial justice and the Commission’s role as a public body to foster the arts conversation. Commissioners continued to discuss how to start productive dialogue and how to brainstorm action items to help the Commission move forward in their commitment to racial equity. In response to President Ordeñana’s request, Acting Director Krell reported on the agency’s recent racial equity work. The commissioners recommended sharing suggestions on how to use current resources and networks such as the community, other arts organizations, and the cultural centers in order to create a conversation relating to racial equity and social justice.
   
   Commissioner Keehn announced the completion of a large scale commission by Ivan Navarro for 166 Market Street. She noted that Ivan Navarro, an internationally recognized artist, got his start in San Francisco at Galería de la Raza.
   
   Commissioner Shiota returned to the meeting.
   
   Commissioners discussed the creative approaches in which artists and arts organizations are shifting to virtual events and presentations. Commissioner Ferras suggested creating an arts calendar for events. Commissioner Beltran explained that she’s working with Commissioner Walker and Arts Commission staff to create an arts calendar. She said they’re also collaborating with OEWD to create an arts hub including a resource page for COVID related items.
   
   Commissioners shared information for upcoming events at ACT and the Bay Area Playwright Festival.
   
   Commissioners discussed the issue of the equity gap in arts education and how the Commission can help support the community in impactful and meaningful ways.
   
   There was no public comment.
    
8. Adjournment
   There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 3:46 p.m.
   
   posted 7/20/2020, 4:48 p.m. adv
   approved 8/3/2020
   
   Language Accessibility
   
   Translated written materials and interpretation services are available to you at no cost. For assistance, please notify Commission Secretary Alyssa Ventre, 415-252-2255, Alyssa.ventre@sfgov.org.
   
   我們將為閣下提供免費的書面翻譯資料和口譯服務。如需協助，Commission Secretary Alyssa Ventre, 415-252-2255, Alyssa.ventre@sfgov.org
   
   Materiales traducidos y servicios de interpretación están disponibles para usted de manera gratuita. Para asistencia, notifique a Commission Secretary Alyssa Ventre, 415-252-2255, Alyssa.ventre@sfgov.org