SAN FRANCISCO ARTS COMMISSION
VISUAL ARTS COMMITTEE
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
3 p.m.
401 Van Ness Avenue, Room 125
San Francisco, CA 94102
________________________________________

Minutes
 

Visual Arts Committee Members:
JD Beltran, President
Gregory Chew
Dorka Keehn, Chair
Jessica Silverman
Barbara Sklar

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

Commissioners Present:
President Beltran
Gregory Chew
Dorka Keehn, Chair
Jessia Silverman
Barbara Sklar

Commissioners Absent:
Jessica Silverman

The meeting commenced at 3:03 p.m. Commissioner Keehn chaired the meeting.

2. Public Comment
Discussion

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

Commissioner Keehn announced that the following items would be heard out of order:

Item 12 moved to Item 5;
Item 11 moved to Item 6;
Item 13 moved to Item 11;
Item 7 moved to Item 12;
Item 8 moved to Item 13.

Commissioner Keehn called for public comment regarding the changes to the agenda.  There was no public comment.

3. Consent Calendar
Action
Explanatory Documents: Item # 1; Item #2; Item #3; Item #4; Item #5: and Item #6 

1. Motion to approve the design of Xochiltquetzal, a mosaic mural, by artist Susan Cervantes that will be installed on the façade and sidewalk entry of Precita Eyes located at 2981 24^th Street. The project is sponsored by an Individual Artist Commission from the Arts Commission; the mosaic mural will not become part of the Civic Art Collection.

2. Motion to approve the design of Athens Avalon Greenspace 99 Steps, a mosaic mural, by artist Iran Narges that will be installed on a stairway at the intersection of Athens Street and Avalon Avenue which connects Avalon Avenue and Valmar Terrace. The mural will be placed on the risers of the stairway; 99 steps that are each 54 in. wide by 5 in. high. The project is funded with a Community Challenge Grant and is sponsored by the San Francisco Parks Alliance and Public Works; the mosaic mural will not become part of the Civic Art Collection.

3. Motion to approve the design of Liminal Space - Crossing, an artwork designed by artist Summer Lee that will be installed in Ross Alley. The artwork will consist of ten outdoor projectors to be installed along the walls of the alley, projecting a LED water effect along the length of the alleys’ sidewalk path. The project is funded with a Community Challenge Grant and is sponsored by the Chinese Culture Foundation; the installation will not become part of the Civic Art Collection.

4. Motion to approve the design of Sunrise, a mosaic artwork, designed by Mike Gaspay that will be installed on the pedestrian bridge stairwell at 750 Kearny, between Washington and Clay streets. The mural will consist of mosaic tiles installed in a gradient sunrise pattern on the central and sidewalls of the staircase. The project is funded with a Community Challenge Grant and is sponsored by the Chinese Culture Foundation; the mosaic mural will not become part of the Civic Art Collection.

5. Motion to approve the design of Ocean Ave, a painted mural, designed by Roberto Gonzalez and Antoine Marnata will be installed on a retaining wall at Ocean and Geneva Avenues. The artwork will measure 20 ft. by 80 ft . The project is funded with through the Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development, a Community Challenge Grant and private funds. The project is by the Ocean Avenue Association and 1am Gallery; the painted mural will not become part of the Civic Art Collection.

6. Motion to retroactively approve and accept into the Civic Art Collection, the artwork Cayuga Portal, 2013 by Eric Powell. The artwork consists of two painted steel entry gates installed at Cayuga Playground: The main gate at Cayuga Avenue is 12 ft. by 14 ft. by 7 in.; and the gate at the Alemany Boulevard entrance is 9 ft. by 4 ft. by 2 in. The final installation of the artwork was previously approved by Resolution No. 0909-13-218.

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

Motion: Motion to approve consent calendar items.
Moved: Sklar/Beltran
The motion was unanimously approved

4. McNair Evans at City Hall
Meg Shiffler
Action

Galleries Director Meg Shiffler presented a proposal for a solo exhibition, by the artist McNair Evans, at San Francisco City Hall in the spring of 2016.  The exhibition is entitled In Search of Great Men and will feature journalistic photographs of his travels across the country journaling an “American experience”. Ann Jastrab of Rayko Photo Center will guest curate the exhibit, choosing from over 1000 of the artists’ photos.

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

Motion: Motion to approve an honorarium payment in the amount of $4,000 to McNair Evans for the research and development of his exhibition, In Search of Great Men, opening at San Francisco City Hall in the spring of 2016.
Moved: Beltran/Sklar
The motion was unanimously approved

Motion: Motion to approve a curatorial honorarium in the amount of $2,000 to Ann Jastrab for the research and development of the McNair Evans exhibition, In Search of Great Men, opening at SF City Hall in the spring of 2016.
Moved: Beltan/Sklar
The motion was unanimously approved

THE FOLLOWING ITEM MOVED FROM ITEM 12 TO ITEM 5

5. Van Ness Avenue Bus Rapid Transit – Jorge Pardo
Justine Topfer
Action

Project Manager Justine Topfer refreshed the Commissioners memory regarding the artist Jorge Pardo’s conceptual design for the Van Ness Bus Rapid Transit (“VN-BRT”); three large-scale, lit sculptures that abstractly represent redwood trees. She relayed shared concerns of staff and the offices of Supervisor Scott Weiner and the Mayor that the COR-TEN sculptures felt heavy, aggressive and out of place in the vicinity of the Beaux Arts Civic Center. Staff proposed that Pardo create an additional conceptual design, requesting a different aesthetic direction; citing specific previous works that are more playful in color, striking in form, and prominent in scale. She cited several artworks from the artist’s portfolio, including Penelope, that are simultaneously playful, sophisticated, and bring forth an element of the unexpected.

President Beltran reiterated her hope that if the artist was given more specific guidelines that another design might better evoke an identity for the VN-BRT, in keeping with the importance of Van Ness as a major City thoroughfare. She stated her opinion that the current design fades into the environment. The Committee suggested that staff work with other stakeholders to gauge any level of concern regarding the sculptures as a distraction. Commissioner Sklar cited that the previous art projects such as Park Avenue in New York is successful example of large scale sculptures on a major thoroughfare and may be a source of inspiration or a model to work from.

Program Director Susan Pontious further stated, the works cited from his existing portfolio better abide with Federal Transit Administration (“FTA”) guidelines, serving as a functional lighting element and would affordably gain visibility with their scale and height if done similarly to his previous work. Ms. Pontious stated she feels his existing portfolio more playful, elegant and sophisticated and finds the proposed design too static, sitting on a plinth.

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

Motion: Motion to rescind RESOLUTION NO. 0915-15-222 approving the Conceptual Design Phase deliverables by Jorge Pardo for the Van Ness Avenue Bus Rapid Transit.
Moved: Beltran/Keehn
The motion was unanimously approved

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

Motion: Motion to rescind RESOLUTION NO. 0915-15-223 authorizing the Director of Cultural Affairs to increase Jorge Pardo’s contract from $25,000 to $830,000 (an increase of $805,000) to include Design Development, Construction Documents, Fabrication, Transportation and consultation during Installation, for the Van Ness Avenue Bus Rapid Transit due to a contract modification to increase the artist’s scope of work.
Moved: Sklar/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

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

Motion: Motion authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to increase Jorge Pardo’s contract, previously approved by Resolution No. 0909-13-216, from $25,000 to $35,000 (an increase of $10,000) for the Van Ness Avenue Bus Rapid Transit public art project, due to a contract modification for an additional conceptual design.
Moved: Beltran/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

THE FOLLOWING ITEM MOVED FROM ITEM 11 to ITEM 6

6. Moscone Expansion Project: Howard Street and West (Park) Bridge Sculptures
Marcus Davies
Action

Project Manager Marcus Davies presented the selection panel results for the Moscone Expansion Project Howard Street and West (Park) Bridge sculpture opportunities, explaining that Christine Corday was the high-ranking artist for the Howard Street sculpture location and that the panel had unanimously decided to reject the three artist proposals for the West (Park) Bridge. He added that as a result of this decision, the staff recommendation is to re-open the Request for Qualifications/Proposals (“RFQ/P”) for the West (Park) Bridge to allow for additional recruitment and to reconvene the selection panel to renew the selection process.

Having served on the selection panel, Commissioner Keehn expressed disapointment with the panel results, stating that she preferred the proposal for Howard Street by Yinka Shonibare over the proposal by Christine Corday’s. She felt that the selection was a missed opportunity to contribute to the diversity of the Civic Art Collection, and that it overemphasized the potential maintenance needs of the artwork while underemphasizing the possibility that the pricing of the sculpture could provide an ongoing maintenance endowment for its future care. Commissioner Keehn also mentioned that the panel appeared to favor the site-specific proposals over the purchase of existing artwork, which she felt was inconsistent with the intention of the original RFP/Q and the results of first selection panel.

President Beltran suggested that future panels be clearly informed of the goals of the Civic Art Collection and the Arts Commission’s expectations regarding maintenance and site-specificity.

The Committee then asked if there is existing policy regarding the selection of international artists. Ms. Pontious explained that because staff capacity and administrative resources are limited, international artists are typically only considered for a project if they have gallery representation within the United States. She also explained that this would not be allowed in the case of projects funded by the Federal Transit Administration (“FTA”).

Ms. Pontious added that all artists responding to the Moscone RFQ/P were given the option of either offering existing artwork or developing a site-responsive piece as their proposal, and that neither approach was a factor in the scoring criteria. Mr. Davies reiterated that a preference for site-specificity arose in the discussion and deliberations of the panelists and was not favored in any way by the panel process.

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

Motion: Motion to approve the selected artist Christine Corday’s conceptual proposal for the Moscone Expansion Project Howard Street sculpture opportunity, as recommended by the Moscone Expansion Project Sculpture Selection Panel.
Moved: Beltran/Sklar
Opposed: Keehn

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

Motion: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with artist Christine Corday for the design and implementation of an artwork in an amount not to exceed $1,450,000 for the Moscone Expansion Project Howard Street sculpture opportunity.
Moved: Beltran/Chew
Opposed: Keehn

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

Motion: Motion to accept the Moscone Expansion Project Sculpture Selection Panel’s recommendation to reject the finalists’ proposals for the Moscone Expansion Project West (Park) Bridge sculpture opportunity and to accept a staff recommendation to reopen the Request for Qualifications to allow for additional recruitment and to convene a new selection panel.
Moved: Beltran/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

Director Tom DeCaigny commended staff and the panel for raising questions about maintenance and conservation.

THIS FOLLOWING ITEM WAS TABLED

7. UN Plaza Living Innovation Zone Project
Jill Manton and Paul Chasen
Action

Presentation of a temporary installation entitled Chime Forrest, a sound sculpture, proposed by the Living Innovation Zone for the United Nations Plaza.

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

Motion: Motion to approve the temporary installation of UN Plaza LIZ sound sculptures, which is a project of the Living Innovation Zone, in the United Nations Plaza from late March 2016 through April 2018.

8. San Francisco International Airport

A. Terminal 1, Interim Boarding Area B– Peephole Cinema Project
Justine Topfer
Action

Ms. Topfer presented the graphic design for the Peephole Cinema Project at San Francisco International Airport (“SFO”), Terminal 1, Boarding Area B.  She stated the graphic designer and artists had all been asked to respond to a quote by Hans Christian Anderson; “To move, to breathe, to fly, to float, to gain all while you give, to roam the roads of lands remote, to travel is to live.”  The design references the Bay Area landscape as viewed from an airplane window and the quote dances along a horizontal scene of mountain tops with varying heights, in which six peepholes will be placed. The varying heights were selected to conform to requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), children and the general public. She reminded the committee that three artists have each been commissioned to create two, one minute films.

Ms. Topfer then presented the storyboards and sample animations for two films by Signe Baumane (for two of the six peepholes). Ms. Baumane’s samples were both in keeping with her signature style.
 
Commissioner Keehn called for public comment. There was no public comment.

Motion: Motion to approve the Design Phase deliverables (storyboards and sample animations) by Signe Baumane for the Peephole Cinema project at San Francisco International Airport, Terminal 1, Boarding Area B.
Moved: Beltran/Sklar
The motion was unanimously approved

THE FOLLOWING ITEM WAS TABLED

Motion: Motion to approve the Design Phase deliverables (mock-up) by Kota Ezawa for the Peephole Cinema project at San Francisco International Airport, Terminal 1, Boarding Area B.

B. San Francisco International Airport: International Terminals, Boarding Areas Aand G, Gate Rooms
Justine Topfer
Action

Ms. Topfer presented an outline for new projects at the International Terminals, Boarding Areas A and G, Gate Rooms. She explained, in 1999 artworks had been commissioned for nine of the thirteen gate rooms. Since that time, resources have been pooled from remaining funds from projects at Terminal 3, the Secure Connector and other SFO funding to commission new artworks for the project, each with a budget of $135,000. The goal will be to commission four artworks for the remaining gate rooms and to select Bay Area artists from the prequalified pools.

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

Motion: Motion to approve the project outline for San Francisco International Airport: International Terminals, Boarding Areas A and G; Gate Rooms A6, G92, G95 and G96.
Moved: Sklar/Beltran
The motion was unanimously approved

C. Terminal 1
Susan Pontious
Discussion

Ms. Pontious updated the Committee that redevelopment plans for Terminal 1 are expected to initiate major art opportunities. In anticipation of the development of a project outline for Terminal 1, she and selected staff will visit the San Diego, Los Angeles International and San Jose airports for inspiration and fact finding research. The project architects will present the full development plans to both the Visual Arts and Airport Steering Committee in May, 2016.

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

D. Airport Collections: Yin and Yang, 1992
Susan Pontious
Discussion

Ms. Pontious reported that the sculpture, Yin and Yang, 1992, by Robert Arneson (SFAC Accession No. 2003.5) will be returned to SFO for future installation. She explained, in the midst of renewing and negotiating a new Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with SFO and the Port, SFO felt that reinstalling the sculptures along the Embarcadero under the Ports’ jurisdiction could be seen as a diversion of FTA funds and requested their return to the Airport. An outdoor location may be possible at the new administration building being planned for SFO. 

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

9. Public Utilities Commission: Storm Drain Murals
Jennifer LovvornAction

Ms. Lovvorn presented the six final designs by Jenifer K. Wofford for the PUC Storm Drain Mural Project.  The artist further refined the series of images that illustrate an antipollution message by featuring Bay animals guarding the storm drains from various types of garbage. The designs will be printed on an environmentally safe, sidewalk sticker foil that conforms to the texture of the sidewalk. The murals will be placed at sidewalk locations in front of six storm drains in the Mission Bay neighborhood.  The murals will be installed at the end of March and will remain on display for up to one year pending permit approval by Public Works.   
Commissioner Keehn called for public comment. There was no public comment.

Motion: Motion to approve the Final Designs by Jenifer K. Wofford for her series of six murals for the PUC Storm Drain Mural Project.
Moved: Beltran/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

10. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner – Entry Lobby
Mary Chou
Action

Ms. Lovvorn presented on behalf Mary Chou. She presented the Design Development deliverables by Merle Axelrad for an artwork in the entry lobby at the new Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (“OCME”). She reminded the committee that the selection panel had provided feedback to the artist requesting that the original proposal composition be reconsidered as one piece instead of a diptych. The artwork will be a large-scale, 96 in. by 68 in., quilted fabric collage. It will be framed and protected behind seamless ultra-violet blocking Optium plexi-glass and will be installed in a 3 in. deep niche. The OCME staff has responded positively to the design developments.

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

Motion: Motion to approve Design Development deliverables by Merle Axelrad for the fabric collage mural in the entry lobby at the new Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Moved: Sklar/Beltran
The motion was unanimously approved

THE FOLLOWING ITEM WAS MOVED FROM ITEM 13 TO ITEM 11

11. Art on Market St Kiosk Poster Series – Lauren Bartone
justine Topfer
Action

Ms. Topfer presented Lauren Bartone’s six final designs for her Art on Market Street Kiosk Poster Series, SF New City Atlas. Ms. Barton collected trash over the course of several months which she transformed into interpretive maps. The maps are intended to explore issues tied to social experiences in the city: the workplace, transportation, public spaces, cultural life and social needs.

Director DeCaigny noted his feeling that many of the original artworks developed out of the Art on Market program could be considered for acquisition by Civic Art Collection and repurposed cross-programmatically. It was noted that there have been instances such as the Ian Hubert series reproduced for General Hospital and the series by Lordy Rodriguez reproduced for SFO, as well as instances where the original artworks for the series have been accessioned.

Commissioner Sklar left the meeting at 4:26 p.m.

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

Motion: Motion to approve the final poster designs for Lauren Bartone’s Art on Market Street Kiosk Poster Series, SF New City Atlas, April 11 – July 4, 2016.
Moved: Beltran/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

THE FOLLOWING ITEM WAS MOVED FROM ITEM 7 TO ITEM 12

12. Public Art Network Best Practices Guidelines
Susan Pontious
Action

Ms. Pontious sits on the Public Art Network National Council and stated they had been tasked with developing a code of ethics regarding best practices in the field of public art. She presented the recently written and adopted Public Art Network Best Practices Guidelines and requested that the Committee be a national leader and be among the first to adopt the guidelines.

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

Motion: Motion to adopt and comply with the Public Art Network Best Practices Guidelines, and to incorporate them by reference into the San Francisco Arts Commission’s Civic Art Collection Guidelines.
Moved: Chew/Beltran.
The motion was unanimously approved

THE FOLLOWING ITEM WAS MOVED FROM ITEM 8 TO ITEM 13

13. Civic Art Collection: Recent Vandalism Abatement
Jennifer Correia
Staff Report

Project Manager Jennifer Correia gave a brief overview of recently completed abatement projects of the Civic Art Collection from December 2015 to February 2016. Vandalized and treated artworks include Padre Junipero Serra (1713-1784) (SFAC Accession No. 1907.2) and William McKinley (SFAC Accession No. 1904.2) in Golden Gate Park; Saint Francis (SFAC Accession No. 1973.27) in the former Candlestick Park site; Simon Bolivar (SFAC Accession No. 1984.7) and Ashurbanipal (SFAC Accession No. 1988.11) in the Civic Center area; Native Sons (SFAC Accession No. 1897.1) and Lotta’s Fountain (SFAC Accession No. 1875.1) along the Market Street Corridor.

Directory DeCaigny inquired in which way are the majority of vandalism reports received by the Arts Commission. Ms. Correia stated roughly 70 percent of complaints are received via City’s 311 services and the remaining reported through interagency contacts such as Recreation and Parks Department, as in the case of many monuments in Golden Gate Park. 

Ms. Pontious also noted that the conservation plan to place a fence around the William McKinley monument is currently on hold due to jurisdictional questions with the planning department regarding final approval. She added that constant graffiti is still an issue and that the fence would ultimately be removable.

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

14. New Business, Old Business, and Announcements
Discussion

President Beltran announced, After Dark at the Exploratorium, March 3, 6-10 p.m.

There will be an artist reception for new works commissioned for the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital on March 5, 2016.

Director DeCaigny thanked longtime City partners for their service and dedication; recently retired Airport Director John Martin for his work and assistance in developing the Civic Art Collection at SFO; and recently resigned Director of the San Francisco Port of San Francisco Monique Moyer. Both had been strong champions of the arts Commission over the years and wonderful City partners.

Armistead Maupin is the 2016 recipient he Mayors Art Award on March 29, 2016 with a public event at a later date.

Steven Oliver is the 2016 recipient the ArtCare Award.

President Beltran left at 4:38p.m.

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

15. Adjournment
Action

The meeting adjourned at 4:39p.m.

JDC 2/25/16

Notices

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For assistance, please notify Jenn Doyle Crane, jennifer.crane@sfgov.org, 415-252-2224.

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