SAN FRANCISCO ARTS COMMISSION
VISUAL ARTS COMMITTEE
Wednesday, May 19, 2021
3 p.m.
Remote meeting via video and teleconferencing
________________________________________
Minutes

 

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

Commissioners Present:
Suzie Ferras, Chair
Yiying Lu
Abby Sadin Schnair
Janine Shiota
Debra Walker

Commissioners Absent:
JD Beltran
Nabiel Musleh

Commissioner Ferras called the meeting to order at 3:02pm.

Commissioner Ferras announced Item #7 San Francisco International Airport: C3C Secure Connector will be tabled.
 

2. General Public Comment
(6:48)

Public Comment:

Program Associate Tara Peterson read the following statement from Oscar Melara and Kate Connell of bookandwheel.org:
“We strongly support re-locating Invocation by Pepe Ozan to Palega Park in the Portola District.

Many residents of the Portola and surrounding neighborhoods share Latinx heritage with Ozan. Between a quarter and a third of residents in the Portola (27%) are Latinx and the percentage of Latinx children is higher (29% at nearby E. R. Taylor Middle School). The park is used by children of all cultural backgrounds. It goes without saying that children benefit from seeing their own culture reflected formally in their surroundings.

As Portola residents and members of the diasporic community of Mission artists, we moved to the Portola 25 years ago and began to seed public art in the same ways we practiced as a community in the Mission. We remember Pepe Ozan and his immediate community of artists and would welcome the migration of "Invocation" to the Southeast, to a location where residents of the surrounding neighborhoods, who make active use of the Park, can enjoy it.”

Program Associate Tara Peterson read the following statement from The Portola Arts & Beautification Committee:
“The Arts & Beautification Committee (ABC) of the Portola Neighborhood Association is a group of art-minded neighbors and artists who work to beautify and support art projects throughout the Portola. We have commissioned murals in the Portola, and are currently working with local artist Dana Albany on a mosaic bench, as well as a youth focused poster contest with local artist Gabriela Hernandez.

The Portola's Palega Recreation Center once had a public art sculpture that had to be removed for safety reasons. Many years have passed with no replacement.  We appreciate that Invocation had been offered to Portola and would love the opportunity for the piece to find a home at Palega. The Portola needs more public art and Invocation is the perfect piece for the vacant pedestal at Palega.”

Alex Hobbs, a designer and member of the Portola Neighborhood Association Board, called in support of moving the Invocation sculpture and relocating it to Palega Park. Hobbs believes the first time it was brought before the community people were still parting with the grandeur of the sculpture that was there and not giving the importance of this sculpture the merit it deserved. Palega Park is located just a few blocks from freeway 280 which occupies historic Islais Creek so this place is far more suited for it rather than its current location, "we would love to have it as part of our home."

Phillip Hua, an artist who lives in the Portola, is in support of moving Pepe Ozan’s sculpture to the Palega Rec Center. He stated that the neighborhood would appreciate a sculpture like this and has been really underserved in terms of public art. The neighborhood has been galvanized to beautify its corner of San Francisco, has fundraised to create murals, and this would be a great addition to this neighborhood.

Lisa Magruder, an artist in the Portola Neighborhood and chair of the Art and Beautification Committee with the Portola Neighborhood Association, is in support of moving Invocation to Palega Park. Magruder owns a studio in the neighborhood and teaches children’s arts classes. Ms. Magruder stated that it is important for kids to have art in their community and Palega Park is an area where many children go. She believe it creates a sense of ownership/pride in their community and helps them interact with the world around them when they have and discuss the art around them.

Sarah Burke has been in the Portola neighborhood for about 5 years and states that it is a very diverse place and home to a lot of people who work with their hands. Therefore, she thinks it is an appropriate place for the Invocation sculpture. Ms. Burke state that its current location is very unapproachable, under a freeway. It would be nice for children and people to be able to see and approach the sculpture and the sculpture to receive the energy it deserves. The neighborhood has a shared Latin heritage with the artist and has an empty space at Palega Park.

Dana Albany, an artist who lives in the Portola neighborhood, stated that Pepe Ozan was a mentor and a friend. Ms. Albany stated that the sculpture deserves attention and to be in a prominent location. She remembers when Ozan was making the sculpture, creating the half man half bird Mesoamerican eagle, a mythological being honoring Indigenous people and feels it is time for the sculpture to "fly and soar into a new home at Palega Playground."

Morgan Raimond was Pepe’s assistant on building and installing the sculpture at its current location. He would really like to see it at Palega Park and would like to offer his assistance with the moving.

Maggie Weis, the chair of the Portola Neighborhood Association, fully supports the move of Invocation to Palega Park. Weis stated that the neighborhood misses the original sculpture in the park but Invocation speaks powerfully to the present, past and the future. Weis thinks it’s the perfect location to inspire conversation around Indigenous people, difference, getting along, respect for one another, looking forward, looking back.

Commissioners Walker and Shiota asked for a report at the next Visual Arts Committee meeting about the background and original location of the sculpture Invocation by Pepe Ozan. Susan Pontius stated that the conditions of the sculpture’s original location has changed and it does need to be moved so the item will be put on the agenda for the next meeting and a full staff report given.

3. Consent Calendar
(26:06)
 

1. Motion to approve the temporary display of the Scattered Home banner project by artist Vida Kuang on the exterior fencing and windows of the Willie Woo Recreation Center in Chinatown from early June, 2021 through August 31, 2021, pending approval from the Recreation and Park Commission. The display consists of a single audio portrait banner sized 82” x 58” of an intergenerational single room occupancy tenant in Chinatown and includes a voicemail number with bi-lingual audio vignette of the person depicted.
    
2. Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with ARG Conservation Services in the amount of $200,000 to perform as-needed fine art conservation maintenance services for miscellaneous artworks in the Civic Art Collection.

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

The motion was unanimously approved
Ayes: Ferras, Lu, Shiota, Schnair, Walker

4. 2022 Art on Market Street Kiosk Poster Series
(29:30)

Program Associate Craig Corpora presented the selected finalists for the 2022 Art on Market Street Kiosk Poster Series as chosen on Wednesday, May 12, 2021. The finalists are: Triple Dream Comics (Mel Hilario, Katie Longua, Lauren Davis), A.C. Esguerra, Vida Kuang and Kayan Cheung-Miaw, Deborah Lee, Frederick Noland, Tanna Tucker, and Gaia Weiss. The 2022 series is an all Comic narrative on the theme of San Francisco.

There was no public comment.

Motion: to approve Triple Dream Comics (Mel Hilario, Katie Longua, Lauren Davis), A.C. Esguerra, Vida Kuang and Kayan Cheung-Miaw, Deborah Lee, Frederick Noland, Tanna Tucker, and Gaia Weiss as finalists for the 2022 Art on Market Street Kiosk Posters Series, as recommended by the Artist Review Panel.
Moved: Shiota/Schnair

The motion was unanimously approved
Ayes: Ferras, Lu, Shiota, Schnair, Walker

5. Herz Recreation Center
(42:25)

Project Manager Marcus Davies gave an update on the locations of public art at Herz Recreation Center, include the facade panel adjacent to the building's entrance, and the north and/or south elevation of the building's gymnasium wall(s). The RFQ, to be issued on May 24, 2021, has been written to accommodate proposals addressing one, two, or all three of these locations provided they remain within the total artist contract amount.

Commissioner Schnair noted that the Civic Design Review Committee encourages the idea of a 3D artwork by the door location. Mr. Davies said they would include that information in the artist orientation process.

There was no public comment.

6. San Francisco International Airport: C3C Secure Connector
(50:13)

Public Art Program Manager Aleta Lee presented the Construction Document phase deliverables of Paul Madonna’s artwork for the San Francisco International Airport C3C secure Connector wall between Terminals 2 and 3. “Here You Are, You Are Here” a five paneled artwork with a reflective interactive message. The artwork consists of three layers, a substrate layer of aluminum di-bond along with two layers of glass. This process gives the 2D artwork a 3D aspect.

Commissioner Walker asked for more details on printing process. Mr. Madonna stated that the iridescent ink will be printed on the back of the top layer of glass, the second layer of glass has the foreground house illustrations printed on the front and the third layer has the sky/background printed on the aluminum di-bond. The three layers are adhered together with a wet adhesive process with compression.

There was no public comment.

Motion: to approve the Construction Document Phase deliverables (Artwork Mock-up and Structural Engineering Drawings) by Paul Madonna for the SFO C3C Secure Connector Wall.
Moved: Schnair/Shiota

The motion was unanimously approved
Ayes: Ferras, Lu, Shiota, Schnair, Walker

THE FOLLOWING ITEM WAS TABLED
7. San Francisco International Airport: C3C Secure Connector
Action

Staff Presenter: Aleta Lee

Discussion and Possible action: to approve the Construction Document Phase deliverables (Artwork Mock-up and Structural Engineering Drawings) by Carter-Lynch (Carter-Lynch LLC) for the SFO C3C Secure Connector Wall.

8. Alameda Creek Watershed Center
(1:13:48)

Project Manager Jackie von Treskow presented the Construction Document Phase deliverables (material sample) by Walter Kitundu (Kitundo Studio, LLC) for the Alameda Creek Watershed Center. The sculpture is being fabricated by Vector Custom Fabricating in Chicago, Illinois. The sculpture consists of welded steel tubing that is coated using a Tnemec paint system, with tempered, laminated architectural glass insets of images from the watershed that will be collected in forthcoming site gatherings with the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe and local Sunol residents. Mr. Kitundu will consult closely with the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe when making the final image selections for the artwork.

Ms. von Treskow stated she will bring samples of the selected artwork images and sound recordings back to VAC for review.

There was no public comment.

Motion: to approve the Construction Document Phase deliverables (material sample) by Walter Kitundu (Kitundu Studio, LLC) for the Alameda Creek Watershed Center.
Moved: Shiota/Schnair

The motion was unanimously approved
Ayes: Ferras, Lu, Shiota, Schnair, Walker

9. New Business and Announcements
(1:21:55)

There was no New Business and Announcements from the Commissioners. There was no public comment.

10. Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 4:27pm.

TP 5/28/2021 3:06pm
Approved 6/7/2021

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.