MEETING OF THE FULL ARTS COMMISSION
Monday, March 5, 2018
2:00 p.m.
City Hall Room 416
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place

Revised Minutes

President Beltran called the meeting to order at 2:05 p.m.

1. Roll Call
    
   Commissioners Present
   JD Beltran, President
   Roberto Ordeñana, Vice President
   Charles Collins
   Simon Frankel
   Mary Jung
   Dorka Keehn
   Abby Sadin Schnair
   Marcus Shelby
   Barbara Sklar
   Lydia So
   Kimberlee Stryker
   Paul Woolford
    
   Commissioners Absent
   Sherene Melania
   Janine Shiota
   Jessica Silverman
   Rich Hillis, ex officio
    
    
2. Approval of Minutes
   There was no public comment, and the minutes were unanimously approved as follows.
    
   RESOLUTION NO. 0305-18-056: Motion to approve February 5, 2018 Minutes.
    
3. General Public Comment
   There was no public comment.
    
4. Director’s Report
   Mr. DeCaigny reported on the proposed elimination of the National Endowment for the Arts, along with the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and on efforts led by Americans for the Arts to support funding for the organizations, including a national Arts Advocacy day.
    
   He also reminded Commissioners that their annual Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700) will be due on Monday, April 2, and explained that the Commission Secretary will follow up with more specific information.
    
   He announced several activities of the agency, including plans for an entry in the Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Art Challenge for cities, and the Mayor's Art Award hosted by ArtCare on April 9, which will honor San Francisco Ballet's Yuan Yuan Tan and gallerist Rena Bransten. He also announced several events presented by the Galleries, including a two-part youth workshop on March 10 and 17; a tour on baseball history on March 13, a conversation with artist Tabitha Soren and the curator of Fantasy Life, which closes March 23. He reported on the great opening event of the Kenyatta A. C. Hinckle exhibition, which will have its closing performance on April 8; President Beltran noted that this was the first solo show in the new gallery, and she congratulated Galleries Director Meg Shiffler.
    
   Mr. DeCaigny announced the Arts Market to be held on the second Friday of each month in the lobby of the War Memorial Veterans Building.
    
   Finally, Mr. DeCaigny discussed a proposal by Supervisors Tang and Peskin to place a measure on the November ballot regarding the Hotel Tax. Directing Commissioners to the draft legislation posted on the website, he gave an overview and requested high-level comments from the Commission. He reported that a coalition of arts stakeholders will meet to discuss the proposed legislation, and that the Arts Commission has been asked to facilitate the conversation and submit recommendations to the Board by May 15. Noting that this legislation, if passed, would govern arts and culture funding for decades to come, he added that the Controller and the City Attorney are also reviewing the measure to confirm that it meets the appropriate requirements. He added that he expected to bring this back to the Commission on its April or May agenda.
    
   The Commission asked several questions about the proposal, and discussed how the funding decisions might be made, the question of what "culture" encompasses, potential requirements for environmental impact review, mechanisms for protection against significant downward fluctuations in the fund with economic downturns, and other questions.
    
   Public Comment:
   A member of the public asked about the makeup of the arts stakeholders group.
    
    
   There was no further public comment, and Mr. DeCaigny explained that the Arts Commission had not selected the group, but will post a list of the members on its website. He also assured the public that there will be opportunities for broad public comment, as well as a survey or another method for hearing from the larger community.
    
5. “Early Days” Sculptural Group of the Pioneer Monument
   Mr. DeCaigny invited Public Art and Collections Senior Registrar Allison Cummings to give an update on the statue and its history, and plans for its safe removal and storage. She also reported on the hearing before the Historical Preservation Commission, required because of its Civic Center site. The Historical Preservation Commission unanimously supported the removal of the statue, with the requirement that a plaque be installed explaining why it was removed.
    
   The Arts Commission discussed the matter in some detail, and commended staff for their thorough, well-researched and well-written documentation. In response to a question, Mr. DeCaigny assured the Commission that a robust public process will inform the composition of the plaque. He acknowledged that addressing removal of the statue was not a quick process, but was confident that the public has been appropriately engaged, and he thanked those who have taken the time to come and address the Commission.
    
   The Commission agreed that this was the right decision, and asked about the cost, and about the possibility of a future move to a museum or other institution where it could be seen in a different context. Commissioners noted that while we might forgive the past, we must never forget that it happened.
    
   Public Comment:
    
   Ramon Quintero, an organizer in the Tenderloin, said he was pleased, and the removal of the statue was long overdue. He said that it was important that the community be engaged in the process of determining what goes on the plaque, to prevent repeating the error of excluding the voices of people who have been discriminated against historically. He applauded the Commission for taking this action.
    
   Mari Villaluna said that she was taking in all of the feelings, and that something historic was happening. She thanked the Commission for its October vote, and for rehearing the matter. She said that the Commission was not repeating the history of the 1990's, and that she would make sure no one forgets. She asked that the statue be covered with a tarp until it is taken down, and requested a process for a Native-led committee for the statue's future. She also asked that the plaque remember the community activists and elders, who have been working for decades, not just the past months. She thought this was the best gift for her daughter's second birthday, and thanked the Commission from the bottom of her heart.
    
   Barbara Mumby Huerta, explaining that she was on a break, speaking as an individual and not as Director of Community Investments, submitted the following written statement.
    
   "Hello Commissioners: I stand here, not in my normal, official capacity, but as a private citizen and member of the Native American community and mother. I am here to speak for my Powhatan and Maidu ancestors and the Tlingit and Dene ancestors of my child.
    
   "Almost twenty-five years ago I stood in front of the statue in question and I began to cry. A visceral reaction took over my body, and I was overwhelmed with sadness, fear, helplessness, and anger. It wasn’t until many years later that I gained the full understanding of what I was feeling in that moment: I was experiencing the historical trauma that was woven into the fabric of my being. Research has evolved since then, with some studies revealing that we carry the trauma of thirteen generations in our DNA – for me personally, thirteen generations coincides exactly with the invasion of Europeans upon my East Coast Algonquin ancestors.
    
   "Now I know that what I felt as a young woman were the genetic memories of rape, murder, and theft – of my California native ancestors living in fear of the bounties that were placed upon their heads by the government of this very state. Of the shame, that more often than not, the infusion of white blood into my being was not an act of love, but one of power and conquest.
    
   "Today I stand here grateful for this statue: it was in that moment that I woke up – that I took action – that I began to fight back. I was not going to allow the false narrative of this statue – that we are weak, submissive, conquered, heathens – to define my people or the generations to come.
    
   "And I stand here grateful to each of you – for standing strong, even when you were faced with ugly, dissenting rhetoric. I thank you for your compassion and for being an ally. And know that the removal of this monument to genocide is a step toward healing for our people, both mine and yours. Feel proud to know that the impact of your actions will be profoundly and positively felt for another thirteen generations to come. Thank You."
    
   Deni Leonard explained that she was a member of a small tribe in Oregon, and came to San Francisco in 1977. She discussed research showing significant damage to children from some of their textbooks, and the response of the school district in asking teachers to white-out the discrimination in the texts. She discussed the importance of national legislation in the Native Language Act, allowing those languages to be spoken and taught in public schools, and described some of the successes that came from it. Finally, she thanked the Commission for the integrity it has shown.
    
   Lo She Fong spoke as a friend of Deni's from New Mexico. She suggested that the Commission contact as resources Paloma Flores at the University of California, the Oakland Museum, the Christensen Fund, and Ken Yazi, head of exhibits at the San Francisco Airport. She agreed that the plaque committee should be Native-led.
    
   Thomas Robert Simpson of AfroSolo quoted Martin Luther King: "How long? Not long, . . . the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." He said that he couldn't imagine thirteen generations. He recalled the young black woman in Carolina who climbed the flagpole and removed the Confederate flag. This meant a lot to him, and he imagined this will mean a lot to others. He said it was always the right time to do the right thing, and asked when the statue could come down.
    
   Another speaker thanked the Commission on behalf of her ancestors, her daughter and herself.
    
    
   Commissioner Sklar complimented everyone, saying this is how the process should work. She added that thirteen generations is a long time and the speakers did proud to the community.
    
   There was no further public comment, and the motion was unanimously approved as follows.
    
   RESOLUTION NO. 0305-18-057: Motion to remove and place in storage the “Early Days” sculptural group from the Pioneer Monument (James Lick Monument) by Frank Happersberger, located on Fulton Street between Larkin and Hyde streets. This action is taken after completion of the process described in Section 7 of the Guidelines of the Civic Art Collection of the City and County of San Francisco, regarding “Deaccession, Removal, Alteration and Destruction Policies and Procedures,” upon determination that removal of the artwork is appropriate under the criterion of “significant adverse public reaction over an extended period of time.” As the Pioneer Monument is sited within the Landmarked Civic Center Historic District, removal of the artwork requires the approval of the Historic Preservation Commission. On February 21, 2018, the Historic Preservation Commission approved the required Certificate of Appropriateness authorizing the removal of “Early Days” with the condition that a plaque be placed at the site describing why the sculpture was removed.
    
6. Committee Reports and Committee Matters
   1. Civic Design Review Committee—Kimberlee Stryker, Chair
      1. Commissioner Stryker reported that the Committee reviewed three projects, including a community-based public stair, the Southeast Power Plant, and a small street block near the Contemporary Jewish Museum, by Mildred Howard. In response to questions, she explained that this last project was a contribution to public space with private funding, replacing what had become unserviceable there. Director of Special Projects Jill Manton explained that the project had not gone to Civic Design Review because it was considered an artist-designed streetscape, not artwork, and consists of paving, lighting, landscaping and seating rather than fine art sculpture per se.
          
         There was no public comment.
          
   2. Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee—Sherene Melania, Chair
      1. In the absence of Commissioner Melania, Commissioner Collins referred the Commission to the Consent Calendar, and reported that the Committee appreciated seeing how the addback funds were distributed.
          
         There was no public comment.
          
   3. Visual Arts Committee—Dorka Keehn, Chair
      1. Commissioner Keehn reported that the Committee approved a project at San Francisco Airport for the lobby of the hotel to be leased by Hyatt: a green map mosaic of hand-cut glass and stone, highlighting open spaces in the Bay Area. The Committee also reviewed an outdoor aluminum sculpture, 35 feet tall, by Kohei Nawa, based on zero gravity; three abstract forms by Gay Outlaw, and the first major commission for Woody De Othello, who typically works in ceramic: three large bronzes.
          
         There was no public comment.
          
7. Consent Calendar
   President Beltran explained that she serves on the board of directors of Fort Mason and would need to recuse herself from consideration of item 9, Special Projects Grants as regards the Fort Mason Center for Arts and Culture. Vice President Ordeñana explained that the Queer Cultural Center rents space from his employer, the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center, and he would need to recuse himself from consideration of item 9, Special Projects Grants, as regards Queer Cultural Center.
    
   President Beltran left the meeting room at 3:17 p.m. There was no public comment, and the Commission approved the following motion unanimously, with the recusal of President Beltran.
    
   RESOLUTION NO. 0305-18-089: Motion to approve the recommendation to award a grant in the 2018-2019 cycle of Special Projects Grants (“SPX”) to Fort Mason Center for Arts and Culture to support the 2018 San Francisco International Arts Festival honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a grant agreement with the organization for an amount not to exceed $40,000.
    
    
   President Beltran returned to the meeting room at 3:18 p.m., and Vice President Ordeñana left the room.
    
   There was no public comment, and the Commission approved the following motion unanimously, with the recusal of Vice President Ordeñana.
    
   RESOLUTION NO. 0305-18-090: Motion to approve the recommendation to award a grant in the 2018-2019 cycle of Special Projects Grants (“SPX”) to Queer Cultural Center, fiscal sponsor for the San Francisco Trans March, to provide support for event production during the annual Pride celebration, and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a grant agreement with the organization for an amount not to exceed $15,000.
    
    
   Vice President Ordeñana returned to the meeting room at 3:19 p.m.
    
   There was no public comment, and the remainder of the Consent Calendar was approved unanimously as follows.
    
   RESOLUTION NO. 0305-18-058:
   Approval: RESOLVED, that this Commission does hereby adopt the following items on the Consent Calendar and their related Resolutions:
    
   1. RESOLUTION NO. 0305-18-059: Motion to approve the Executive Committee Meeting Minutes of January 29, 2018.
       
   2. RESOLUTION NO. 0305-18-060: Motion to approve the Civic Design Review Committee Meeting Minutes of February 12, 2018.
       
   3. RESOLUTION NO. 0305-18-061: Motion to approve the Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee Meeting Minutes of February 13, 2018.
       
   4. RESOLUTION NO. 0305-18-062: Motion to approve the Visual Arts Committee Meeting Minutes of February 21, 2018.
       
      Civic Design Review Committee Recommendations (February 12, 2018)
       
   5. RESOLUTION NO. 0305-18-063: Motion to approve the Tompkins Stair Project located on Tompkins Avenue and Putnam Street in Bernal Heights which consists of colored tile pattern on the stair risers and an adjacent landscape plan.
       
   6. RESOLUTION NO. 0305-18-064: : Motion to approve Phases 1, 2, and 3 of the Stevenson Street Improvements Project.
       
   7. RESOLUTION NO. 0305-18-065: Motion to approve Phase 3 of the Southeast Plant (“SEP”) Power Feed and Primary Switchgear Upgrades Project.
       
   8. RESOLUTION NO. 0305-18-066: Motion to approve Phase 1 of the Southeast Plant Health Center Expansion Project contingent upon 1) a deep study of the gateway entrance that includes section illustrations; 2) refining and simplifying the building façade, especially how it relates to the sun and use of glass; and 3) implementing rhythm to refine the massive rectangular building façade.
       
      Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee Recommendations (February 13, 2018)
       
   9. RESOLUTION NO. 0305-18-067: Motion to approve recommendations to award six grants totaling $133,000 in the 2018-2019 cycle of Special Projects Grants (“SPX”) to the following organizations and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into grant agreements with each organization for amounts not to exceed those listed:
       
      Richmond District Neighborhood Center, $10,000, to provide a neighborhood art walk that celebrates the cultural heritage of Chinese, Irish and Russian immigrants in District 1.
       
      Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association, $30,000 to provide community engagement through ongoing arts-related programming in District 5.
       
      Noe Valley Chamber Music, $15,000 to provide three public performances and sixteen classes at three San Francisco Unified School District (“SFUSD”) schools in support of classical music programming for youth in District 8.
       
      Intersection for the Arts, fiscal sponsor for Uphill Arts, $56,000 to provide best practices in arts education to explore issues around vandalism and street art in support of the citywide anti-tagging program for youth, Where Art Lives.
       
      Community Initiatives, fiscal sponsor for the San Francisco Dyke March, $15,000 to provide support for event production during the annual Pride celebration.
       
      American Indian Film Institute, fiscal sponsor for American Indian Contemporary Arts, $7,000 to provide support for the 21st Annual Native Contemporary Arts Festival at Yerba Buena Gardens.
       
   10. RESOLUTION NO. 0305-18-068: Motion for the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a 2018-2019 grant agreement with The Tides Center, fiscal sponsor for LeaderSpring, for an amount not to exceed $40,000 to design and facilitate an integrated initiative to strengthen a cohort of black-led arts organizations, board members, key community members and occasionally, external municipal partners.
        
   11. RESOLUTION NO. 0305-18-069: Motion to approve the following panelists to serve, as selected by staff, on SFAC review panels for the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 fiscal years:
       Nathaniel Earl Cameron, Jr. (aka Nate Cameron), Co-Founder/Vice President of Operations, Them People Productions
       Parastou Rahman Mashhadi (aka Pari Rahman), designer, Designature Life
       Carolyn Johnson, Associate Director, Commercial Real Estate, East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation
       Yan Anita Broaddus (aka Anita Wong), artist
       Camellia Rodriguez-SackByrne, Co-founder and Co-organizer, Neighborhood Performance Project; Program and Initiatives Manager, Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees
       Torange Yeghiazarian, Founding Artistic Director, Golden Thread Productions
       John Keith Hennessy, artist, Circo Zero
       Laura Eliasieh, Project Research Curator, San Jose Museum of Art
       Pablo Andres Cristi, Department Chair, Visual Art, Oakland School for the Arts
        
       Visual Arts Committee Recommendations (February 21, 2018)
        
   12. RESOLUTION NO. 0305-18-070: Motion to approve the mural design of Old Wall Giving New Life (working title) by artist Margarita Soyfertis. The mosaic mural will be on an exterior wall at 750-754 Washington Street, facing Wentworth Place. The mosaic mural will measure approximately 10 ft. x 12 ft. The project is funded by the Community Challenge Grant and is sponsored by the Chinatown Community Development Center; the painted mural will not become part of the Civic Art Collection.
        
   13. RESOLUTION NO. 0305-18-071: Motion to approve the mural design of Landscape Escape by artist Sirron Norris. The painted mural will be on three exterior walls at the end of Ils Lane, at the rear of 808 Kearny, 838 Kearny, and 53 Columbus Streets. The painted mural will measure approximately 25 ft. x 12 ft., 20 ft. x 12 ft., and 30 ft. x 15 ft. The project is funded by the Community Challenge Grant and is sponsored by the San Francisco Community Land Trust; the painted mural will not become part of the Civic Art Collection.
        
   14. RESOLUTION NO. 0305-18-072: Motion to approve the mural design of Backyard Forest by artist Giuseppe Percivati. The painted mural will be on the back wall of the Page Street Community Garden on Lily Street, directly west of 415 Lily Street. The painted mural will measure approximately 25 ft. x 9 ft. The project is funded by the Community Challenge Grant Living Alleys Program and is sponsored by the Friends of the Urban Forest; the painted mural will not become part of the Civic Art Collection.
        
   15. RESOLUTION NO. 0305-18-073: Motion to approve the mosaic mural design for the Miraloma Southern Gateway Project by artists Aileen Barr and Colette Crutcher. The mosaic mural will be on a stairway leading to the Miraloma Playground on the 200 block of Bella Vista Way, between Dorcas Way and Avoca Alley. The mosaic mural will be on a stairway that has 35 steps with a width of eight feet, and 20 steps with a width of seven feet. The mosaic mural will also be on the retaining wall at 50 in. x 18 ft. and an upper wall at 8 ft. x 12 ft. The project is funded by the Community Challenge Grant Living Alleys Program and is sponsored by the Miraloma Elementary School; the mosaic mural will not become part of the Civic Art Collection.
        
   16. RESOLUTION NO. 0305-18-074: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to increase Joseph Kosuth Studio’s contract from $25,000 to an amount not to exceed $662,200 (an increase of $637,200) for completion of design, fabrication, transportation and consultation on installation for the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium.
        
   17. RESOLUTION NO. 0305-18-075: Motion to rescind Resolution No. 0205-18-049, approving the contract with artist Nikki McClure (McClure & Scott Manufacturing, LLC) for an amount not to exceed $320,000 for design, fabrication, transportation, and installation consultation of an artwork for the Ambulance Deployment Facility.
        
   18. RESOLUTION NO. 0305-18-076: Motion to approve the selected finalists Michael Bartalos, Mona Caron, Rupert Garcia, Jetro Martinez and Favianna Rodriguez for the Animal Care Facility public art project as recommended by the artist selection panel.
        
   19. RESOLUTION NO. 0305-18-077: Motion to approve the following finalists for the Geneva Powerhouse Public Art Project: Alison Pebworth, Hughen/Starkweather (Amanda Hughen and Jennifer Starkweather), Hank Willis Thomas, and alternate Sanford Biggers, as recommended by the artist selection panel.
        
   20. RESOLUTION NO. 0305-18-078: Motion to approve the selected artist Ellen Harvey (Ellen Harvey Studio LLC) and conceptual proposal for the San Francisco International Airport: Grand Hyatt Hotel Lobby Wall project.
        
   21. RESOLUTION NO. 0305-18-079: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with artist Ellen Harvey (Ellen Harvey Studio LLC) for an amount not to exceed $400,000 for design, fabrication, transportation, and installation consultation of an artwork at the San Francisco International Airport: Grand Hyatt Hotel Lobby Wall project.
        
   22. RESOLUTION NO. 0305-18-080: Motion to approve the selected artist Kohei Nawa (The Pace Gallery LLC) and conceptual proposal for a sculpture for the San Francisco International Airport: Grand Hyatt Hotel Outdoor Sculpture project as recommended by the artist selection panel.
        
   23. RESOLUTION NO. 0305-18-081: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with The Pace Gallery LLC for an amount not to exceed $600,000 for design, fabrication, transportation, and installation consultation of the sculpture for the San Francisco International Airport: Grand Hyatt Hotel Outdoor Sculpture project, entitled Ether, proposed by Kohei Nawa.
        
   24. RESOLUTION NO. 0305-18-082: Motion to approve the selected artist Mary Gay Outlaw and conceptual proposal for three sculptures entitled Bird Plane House, Shell, and Intersection for the San Francisco International Airport: Terminal 1, South Courtyard project as recommended by the artist selection panel.
        
   25. RESOLUTION NO. 0305-18-083: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with Mary Gay Outlaw for an amount not to exceed $750,000 for design, fabrication, transportation, and installation consultation for three sculptures proposed for San Francisco International Airport: Terminal 1, South Courtyard.
        
   26. RESOLUTION NO. 0305-18-084: Motion to approve the selected artist Woody De Othello and conceptual proposal for three sculptures entitled Timekeeper, Light, and Turn for the San Francisco International Airport: International Terminal, Boarding Area G project as recommended by the artist selection panel.
        
   27. RESOLUTION NO. 0305-18-085: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with Woody De Othello for an amount not to exceed $500,000 for design, fabrication, transportation, and installation consultation for three sculptures proposed for San Francisco International Airport: International Terminal, Boarding Area G.
        
   28. RESOLUTION NO. 0305-18-086: Motion to approve commissioning Untitled by Alison Saar, the second-ranked proposal under consideration for the San Francisco International Airport: International Terminal, Boarding Area G, for an alternate site to be determined at the San Francisco International Airport for an amount not to exceed $500,000.
        
   29. RESOLUTION NO. 0305-18-087: Motion to approve the public art project outline for Fire Station #35.
        
   30. RESOLUTION NO. 0305-18-088: Motion to approve the art plan for Mint Plaza, a project funded by the Public Art Trust.
        
8. New Business and Announcements
   President Beltran announced new Committee assignments, and she and Mr. DeCaigny thanked those Commissioners who have served as chairs, acknowledging how much work it is.
    
   Commissioner Keehn announced the celebration of the fifth anniversary of the Bay Lights, and was pleased it wasn't raining, as it had been on the night the lights were first lit.
    
   President Beltran announced the upcoming World's Fair Nano.
    
   There was no further news or announcements, and there was no public comment.
    
9. Adjournment
   There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 3:24 p.m.
    

posted 3/19/18, 8:00 p.m. spr
approved 4/2/18

 

Language Accessibility

Translated written materials and interpretation services are available to you at no cost. For assistance, please notify Commission Secretary Sharon Page Ritchie, 415-252-2256, sharon.page_ritchie@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 Sharon Page Ritchie, 415-252-2256, sharon.page_ritchie@sfgov.org.

Materiales traducidos y servicios de interpretación están disponibles para usted de manera gratuita. Para asistencia, notifique a Commission Secretary Sharon Page Ritchie, 415-252-2256, sharon.page_ritchie@sfgov.org.

Ang mga materyales na nakasalin sa ibang wika at ang mga serbisyong tagapagsalin sa wika ay walang bayad. Para sa tulong, maaring i-contact si Commission Secretary Sharon Page Ritchie, 415-252-2256,sharon.page_ritchie@sfgov.org.