Visual Arts Committee - April 20, 2022 - Minutes

Meeting Date: 
April 20, 2022 - 3:00pm
Location: 

 SAN FRANCISCO ARTS COMMISSION
VISUAL ARTS COMMITTEE
Wednesday, April 20, 2022
3 p.m.
Remote meeting via video and teleconferencing
________________________________________
Draft Minutes


 

 

1. Call to Order, Roll Call, and Agenda Changes

Commissioners Present:
Suzie Ferras, Chair    
JD Beltran
Mahsa Hakimi
Yiying Lu
Nabiel Musleh
Abby Sadin Schnair
Debra Walker

Commissioner Ferras called the meeting to order at 3:04pm.

Commissioner Hakimi entered the meeting at 3:06pm.


Commissioner Ferras announced that item 8, SFPD Traffic Company and Forensic Services Division, has been tabled.

2. General Public Comment
(0:09:32)

There was no public comment.

3. Consent Calendar
(0:10:45)

 

  1. Motion to approve Construction Document Phase deliverables (Structural Engineering Drawings) for Lava Thomas’ artwork for the Dr. Maya Angelou Sculpture Project.
     

There was no public comment.

Motion: Motion to approve consent calendar.
Moved: Beltran/Schnair

The motion was unanimously approved
Ayes:
Ferras, Beltran, Hakimi, Lu, Musleh, Schnair, Walker

4Van Ness BRT
(0:12:38)

Project Manager Jackie von Treskow presented the completed artwork, Untitled, by Jorge Pardo at the Geary Street Station boarding platforms on Van Ness Avenue between Geary and O’Farrell Streets. Van Ness Avenue is part of Highway 101 and is now the City’s first bus rapid transit corridor. As such, this was a multi-agency project that involved SFMTA and Caltrans, in addition to the Arts Commission. Artist Jorge Pardo was selected in 2013 through a multi-phase artist review process. Pardo is an internationally acclaimed contemporary artist and architect. This artwork consists of two groupings of 13 individual light sculptures sited on the stations north and southbound boarding platforms. The artwork is low maintenance and durable and will transform the platforms during both daytime and nighttime hours.

There was no public comment.

Motion: to approve as installed the completed artwork Untitled, 2022, by Jorge Pardo, painted steel, fiberglass, acrylic and LED light fixtures, located on the Geary Street station boarding platforms for the Van Ness BRT project.
Moved: Beltran/Schnair

The motion was unanimously approved
Ayes:
Ferras, Beltran, Hakimi, Lu, Musleh, Schnair, Walker

5. Transbay Block 3 Park & Alley
(0:25:48)

Project Manager Aleta Lee presented the finalists for the Transbay Block 3 Park & Alley public art project. The art opportunity is at a new park in the East Cut Neighborhood on Beale Street between Tehama and Clementina Streets. The artwork, a sculpture, or series of sculptures will be located in the habitat meadow area of the park. The four artists recommended by the artist review panel to create proposals for this project are Kota Ezawa, Terry Berlier, Mark Baugh-Sasaki, and Cheryl Derricotte. All four artists are based in the Bay Area.

There was no public comment.

Motion: to approve the selected finalists, Kota Ezawa, Terry Berlier, Mark Baugh-Sasaki, and Cheryl Derricotte for the Transbay Block 3 Park & Alley Project, as recommended by the artist review panel. 
Moved: Beltran/Musleh

The motion was unanimously approved.
Ayes: Ferras, Beltran, Hakimi, Lu, Musleh, Schnair, Walker

6. 49 South Van Ness 2D Program
(0:37:32)

Ms. Lee presented the 28 selected artists and samples of their artwork chosen by the artist review panel for potential purchase of artwork for 49 South Van Ness. This is the second iteration of the artwork purchase program for 49 South Van Ness, a new 18 story City office building housing multiple agencies. The first round of artwork purchases was well received by the building inhabitants and all parties were pleased there was enough money in the budget for another round of purchases. After committee approval of these artists, there will be a 49 South Van Ness stakeholder meeting to identify specific artworks for purchase from the shortlist of artists. All the artists selected are or were Bay Area based.

There was no public comment.

Motion: to approve the following artists for the potential purchase of artwork for 49 South Van Ness, as recommended by the 49 South Van Ness artist review panel: 
  Kim Anno
  Deborah Aschheim
  Tara Daly
  Binh Danh
  Mel Davis
  Janet Delaney
  Cheryl Derricotte
  Vincent Escareno
  Nina Fabunmi
  Sheila Ghidini
  Victoria Heilweil
  Kenyatta Hinkle
  Sahar Khoury
  Ray Koh
  Carrie Lederer
  Derek Lynch
  Paul Madonna
  David Maisel
  Christopher Martin
  Sean McFarland
  Carmen McNall
  Elizabeth Jimenez Montelongo
  Sarah Newton
  William Rhodes
  Chloe Roth
  Claudio Talavera-Ballon
  David Wilson
  Tanya Wischerath
Moved: Beltran/Schnair

The motion was unanimously approved.
Ayes: Ferras, Beltran, Hakimi, Lu, Musleh, Schnair, Walker

7. San Francisco International Airport Harvey Milk Terminal 1 Underpass Lighting Project
(0:50:34)

Project Manager Marcus Davies presented the revised design for the Andrea Bowers light sculpture installation at San Francisco International Airport Harvey Milk Terminal 1, spanning the curbside Arrivals area adjacent to the roadway. The artwork is made of neon and motorized lighted balls inspired by the Castro Theater marque. It functions as a wayfinding/place finding element as well as functional lighting in a dark space. Mr. Davies presented a change to the design where the center marque neon text section has been shifted back toward the building façade to accommodate a required ceiling mounted blade sign and to allow that blade sign a 6-inch unobstructed view on all sides.

There was no public comment.

Motion: to approve the Revised Design Phase deliverables (updated design) by Andrea Bowers (DBA Radical Patience Inc.) for the San Francisco International Airport: Harvey Milk Terminal 1 Underpass Lighting Project.
Moved: Beltran/Schnair

The motion was unanimously approved.
Ayes: Ferras, Beltran, Hakimi, Lu, Musleh, Schnair, Walker

 

THE FOLLOWING ITEM WAS TABLED
8. SFPD Traffic Company and Forensic Services Division
Action

Staff Presenter: Marcus Davies

Discussion and Possible Action: to approve the Revised Design Phase deliverables (updated design) by Susan Narduli for the San Francisco Police Department Traffic Company and Forensic Services facility.

9. Staff Report
(1:02:35)

Director of Civic Art Collection and Public Art Mary Chou shared that there are currently two open calls for artists. The 2023 Art on Market Street Kiosk Posters Series, Comics 2.0 is an opportunity for artists to create graphic narratives centered around San Francisco, the deadline for applications is May 17, 2022.

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commissions’ City Distribution Center at 2000 Marin Street call for artists to create an artwork integrated into the façade of the parking garage at the new campus. The deadline has been extended to June 3, 2022.

Ms. Chou also shared that the art proposals from selected finalists Miguel Arzabe, Natalya Burd, and Sanjay Vora for the Herz Recreation Center public art project are now posted on the SFAC website and onsite at Coffman Pool, in the lobby at 1700 Visitacion Valley Avenue for public comment. The public comment period is through May 1, 2022.

Ms. Chou thanked Zoe Taleporos for all her work and multiple contributions to the Public Art Program during her twelve-year tenure at the San Francisco Arts Commission and wished her luck at her new position leading the Public Art Program for the City of Berkeley.

Ms. Chou announced that Project Manager Jackie von Treskow has been promoted to Public Art Senior Program Manager and congratulated her. With Ms. Taleporos’ departure and Ms. von Treskow’s promotion there are two vacant project manager positions with Public Art. The Public Art Program Manager job is now posted on the City’s jobsite.

Following a request by Commissioners at the previous Visual Arts Committee meeting, Ms. Chou shared some key program goals with the committee. Ms. Chou would like to build capacity for artists interested in creating public art through artist workshops, mentorship opportunities, artist networking opportunities, and possibly increasing opportunities for temporary art. She would also like to increase education and outreach of artworks in the Collection and is looking forward to working with Communications Director Coma Te on this goal. Ms. Chou stated that the capital budget for care of the Civic Art Collection has decreased over the last several years and Ms. Chou would like to work to increase funds for the management and conservation of the Collection. Ms. Chou also stated that a goal is to review internal processes and procedures to see if we can both create efficiencies in our processes and increase staffing within the program. In addition to these goals, Ms. Chou stated that an important effort is working with the Monuments and Memorials Advisory Committee in the development of guidelines to review existing monuments and memorials in our Collections, as well as the consideration of new monuments and memorials.

Commissioner Schnair asked for an update about ArtCare and their ability to help with collections care funding.

Senior Registrar Allison Cummings shared that ArtCare was on hiatus during the pandemic but is in the process of restarting. Ms. Cummings suggested asking Communications Director Coma Te for an update at the next meeting.

Commissioner Beltran asked for a copy of Ms. Chou’s program goals report. 

Following a request by Commissioners at the previous Visual Arts Committee meeting, Senior Registrar Allison Cummings gave a report about the Mother’s Building at the San Francisco Zoo. The Mother’s Building was built in 1925 as part of the Fleishhacker pool recreation center and gifted to the city. In the 1930’s, as part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), the interior murals and exterior mosaics were added to the building. The Mother’s Building was one of the largest all women artist projects in the WPA program and had the first mosaics commissioned by the WPA in the country. The building was incorporated into the SF Zoo property and used as a welcome center and gift shop for many years. When the main entrance of the zoo moved to the Great Highway side of the zoo property, the building was deemed seismically unsafe and was closed.

The building is under multiple agencies with the building itself under the jurisdiction of the Recreation and Parks Department (RPD) with the San Francisco Zoo as the tenant of the building, while the murals inside the building and the exterior mosaics are under the jurisdiction of the San Francisco Arts Commission. In 2014 and 2015, the Arts Commission worked with RPD and the Zoo on an assessment of the entire building. As a result of this assessment, $400,000 was put forth by the city (part from RPD and part from Former Supervisor Tang’s office) to complete emergency stabilization of the building. However, there is currently no funding for the complete restoration of the building and its artwork. Additionally, the artwork restoration cannot happen until the architectural restoration is complete.

Ms. Cummings stated that there is renewed interest in this project with community and City support. RPD Capital Planning staff developed a plan for potential new use of the Mother’s Building and announced the initiation of an Economic Feasibility Study for the project at the March 17th Recreation and Parks Commission meeting. On April 4th, an initiative to Landmark the building was introduced at the Board of Supervisors’ Land Use Committee meeting by Supervisor Melgard and the committee passed a resolution directing the Planning Department, RPD, and the Historic Preservation Commission to begin the Landmarking process. Ms. Cummings offered to have a presentation from Richard Rothman and Jane Tobin regarding the potential re-use of the Mother’s Building.

Commissioner Walker asked to have a presentation of the plan for re-use and the needs of the building. Commissioner Ferras thanked Richard Rothman for his continued advocacy of the Mother’s Building.

There was no public comment.

10. New Business and Announcements
(1:20:50)

Commissioner Ferras announced that Art Walk SF will be kicking off their first Saturday Art Walks in a different San Francisco neighborhood each month with their Balboa Village (between 35th & 39th Avenues) Art Walk on Saturday May 7, 12pm-5pm.

Commissioner Beltran announced that Southern Exposure will be holding their 2022 benefit art auction both in person and online at SoEx Gallery on Saturday, April 23.

Commissioner Walker shared that the Hunter’s Point Shipyard and Islais Creek Open Studios will be held Saturday, April 30 through Sunday, May 1, 2022.


There was no public comment.

11. Adjournment
(1:51:29)

The meeting adjourned at 4:36pm

 

TP 4/28/2022 2:52pm


Notices

Translated written materials and interpretation services are available to you at no cost.
For assistance, please notify Tara Peterson, tara.peterson@sfgov.org, 415-252-2219.

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 Tara Peterson, tara.peterson@sfgov.org, 415-252-2219.

Materiales traducidos y servicios de interpretación están disponibles para usted de manera gratuita. Para asistencia, notifique a Tara Peterson, tara.peterson@sfgov.org, 415-252-2219.