SAN FRANCISCO ARTS COMMISSION
VISUAL ARTS COMMITTEE
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
3 p.m.
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 70
San Francisco, CA 94102

________________________________________

Minutes

1. Roll Call

Commissioners Present:
President Beltran (Arrived at 4:35 p.m.)
Commissioner Chew
Commissioner Keehn, Chair
Commissioner Silverman (Excused at 4:58 p.m.)
Commissioner Sklar

      The meeting commenced at 3:02 p.m.

2. Public Comment
Discussion

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

3. Consent Calendar
Action

1. Motion to retroactively approve and accept into the Civic Art Collection the artwork Passage, 2010, by Kent Roberts. The sculpture measures 60 inches high by 696 inches long by 120 inches wide and consists of stainless steel and concrete.  The artwork was commissioned (Resolution No. 0202-09-038) for and is on permanent display at the Moscone Recreation Center. The artwork was dedicated on October 23, 2010.
    
2.  Motion to retroactively approve and accept into the Civic Art Collection the artwork Abundance, 2011, by Wowhaus. The silver fish sculpture measures 168 inches high by 72 inches long by 42 inches wide, and the vermilion rockfish sculpture measures 36 inches high by 60 inches long by 30 inches wide. Both sculptures consist of glass mosaic tile, concrete and steel. The artwork was commissioned (Resolution No. 0504-09-114) for and is on permanent display at the Ortega Branch Public Library. The artwork was dedicated on September 10, 2011.
    
3. Motion to retroactively approve and accept into the Civic Art Collection the artwork Bird II, 1995, by Rupert Garcia. The work measures 35-1/2 inches high by 46-1/2 inches long, and consists of chalk pastel on paper. The artwork is an original but unrealized proposal for the ceramic tile mural titled Bird Technology that was commissioned for the San Francisco International Airport and accepted into the Civic Art Collection in 2000 (SFAC Accession No. 2000.16).
    
4. Motion to retroactively approve and accept into the Civic Art Collection the artwork Roots and Veins, 2006, by Johanna Poethig and Julio Cesar Morales. The installation consists of 12 sand-blasted glass panels in the building entry featuring a branch design and text from Juvenile Hall Youth; eight painted soffits and low-relief sculpted plaster composed of poetry and delicate plant-forms surrounding the doorways in each of the eight dayrooms; and seven Plexiglas light boxes with silkscreened illustrations in the multi-purpose room. The artwork was commissioned (Resolution No. 0305-01-094) for and is on permanent display at the San Francisco Juvenile Justice Center.

5. Motion to approve the artwork titled Spiral of Gratitude, 2014 by Shimon Attie (aka Scott Attie, Attie Art Projects) with Vale Bruck, as installed in the lobby of the Public Safety Building at Third and Mission Rock streets. The artwork consists of a 16-1/2 ft. long by 10 ft. diameter glass cylinder suspended from a skylight and the cylinder is inscribed with a ceramic fritted poem by Vale Bruck.  Other elements of the artwork include: metal, custom lighting and paint, and bas relief text on cast concrete blocks on the entry lobby’s rear wall. The artwork was dedicated on April 16, 2015.
    
6. Motion to approve the artwork titled First Responder Plaza, 2014 by Paul Kos, as installed in the south plaza of the Public Safety Building at Third and Mission Rock streets. The artist-designed plaza features three icons – a spruce tree, a bell and a star. Suspended from a painted metal arch at the center is a 21,060 lb. cast bronze bell, that rings three times daily at noon.  The installation also includes a carved seven-pointed black granite star, with surrounding granite pavers and landscaping, including a Serbian spruce tree. The artwork was dedicated on April 16, 2015.
    
7. Motion to approve the mural design, Patterns, by Bryana Fleming to be painted on a mural site located at 1596 Hudson Street, San Francisco. The mural is a project of the Arts Commission’s StreetSmARTS Program, funded by the Department of Public Works.

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

Motion: Motion to approve consent calendar items.
Moved:  Silverman/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

4. David Best – Tenth Anniversary Commemorative Sculpture Project at Patricia’s Green
Jill Manton and Tomas McCabe, Burning Man
Action

Director of Public Art Trust and Special Initiatives Jill Manton presented the final design by David Best for a temporary sculpture to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the opening of Patricia’s Green to be installed from June 7, 2015 until July 1, 2016, inclusive of installation and de-installation time.

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

Motion: Motion to approve the final design by David Best for the Tenth Anniversary Commemorative Sculpture Project at Patricia’s Green sponsored by the Arts Commission and Burning Man Project and to authorize its installation from June 7, 2015 until July 1, 2016.
Moved: Silverman/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

5. Proposed Temporary Sculpture – Jean-Michel Othoniel 
Jill Manton and Agnes Faure, Gallery 836m
Action

Ms. Manton and representatives from Gallery 836m presented a proposal by the artist Jean-Michel Othoniel to temporarily install a sculpture entitled La Rose des Vents in the flowers beds in front of the Conservatory of Flowers September 26, 2015 until January 14, 2016.The project is privately funded in part by the French American Cultural Society.

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

Motion: Motion to approve the temporary installation of a sculpture entitled La Rose des Vents by French artist Jean-Michel Othoniel to be placed at the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park from September 16, 2015 until January 14, 2016 at no cost to the City.
Moved: Silverman/Sklar
The motion was unanimously approved

6. Studio 1 Project
Justine Topfer, David Szlasa (artist), Paul Chasan, San Francisco Planning Department
Action

Project Manager Justine Topfer introduced Paul Chasan from the Living Innovation Zone (“LIZ”) Initiative. He stated that the programming of Studio 1 will be the first interdepartmental project, which will be sponsored by the Arts Commission, the Mayor’s Office of Innovation, and the San Francisco Planning Department, and he is excited for the opportunity.

David Szlasa artist and creator of Studio 1, a mobile art studio gave a brief overview of the history of the project and the upcoming programming. The mobile gallery had been previously viewed at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Bay Area Now 7, August, 2014 with the intent for the project to become a micro-residency center and serve as an alternative model for reliable and sustainable space for Bay Area artists. For this iteration the mobile gallery will be placed at proposed locations along Market Street, including NEMA and Mechanics Plaza, June 8, 2015 until August 8, 2015. The following artists will be featured: Andrea Bergen; Sheldon Smith; Shinichi Iova-Koga; David Szlasa and Sara Shelton Mann; Jessie Huitt; Katrina Rodabaugh; and Jose Navarrete.

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

Motion: Motion to approve the design and installation of the temporary art project, Studio 1, a programmed mobile art studio, to be installed from June 8, 2015 until August 8, 2015 at two locations on Market Street: 1401 Market Street (NEMA) and Mechanics Plaza. The project is part of the Living Innovation Zone (“LIZ”) initiative, and is sponsored by the San Francisco Arts Commission, the Mayor’s Office of Innovation, and the San Francisco Planning Department.
Moved: Silverman/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

7. Daggett Park
Marcus Davies
Action

Project Manager Marcus Davies presented design developments for a sculpture by Adriane Colburn for Daggett Park, located on 16th Street at 7th Street. He reminded the Committee that the original proposal was three free-standing, two-dimensional renderings of bears in water-jet cut stainless steel. The artist has since revised her design to include an image of one largerbear form comprised of five individual elements made of water-jet cut stainless steel. The design work within the forms that make up the bear references flora and fauna native to the Mission Bay area. The artwork will also include bronze line work embedded in the ground plane that takes its shapes from early mapping of Mission Creek and Mission Bay’s shoreline.

Mr. Davies added that the artist had created a proposal that could be enjoyed from a number of vantage points, including the residential units surrounding the park and its sculpture plaza. He then played the artist’s animation of shadows cast by the sculpture throughout the year, adding that this shadow casting was carefully considered by Ms. Colburn. Mr. Davies also noted that reclaimed granite curbing, provided by the SF Department of Public works, will be used in the landscaping around the artwork. Final design will be reviewed for ADA requirements and all entrapment hazards will be eliminated before Final Design phase deliverables are brought back to the Committee.

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

Motion: Motion to approve the Design Development phase deliverables by Adriane Colburn for an artwork for Daggett Park.
Moved: Silverman/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

8. Alameda Creek Watershed Center
Mary Chou
Action

Project Manager Mary Chou, gave a project update and presented a newly proposed location for the sculpture by Mark Brest van Kempen for the Alameda Creek Watershed Center. The location of the sculpture was originally intended for the entryway to the building. However, since the  larger landscape project had been cancelled (due to unfeasible budget increases due to technical and engineering needs) the architects have proposed to relocate the entryway piece into the landscape at a secondary garden entrance.

Ms. Chou explained that although the concept of the artwork has remained the same, design changes are still being considered. Changes may include the shape and connection of the sculpture’s supporting stands as well as using gabion to contain the central core of the artwork.

The staff and Committee approved of the newly proposed location but agreed that the design will need to be reviewed before final approval.

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

THE FOLLOWING MOTION WAS AMENDED

Motion: Motion to approve new location of entryway artwork by Mark Brest van Kempen for the Alameda Creek Watershed Center.
Moved: Sklar/Silverman
The motion was unanimously approved

9. Central Subway

A. Chinatown
Mary Chou
Action

Ms. Chou presented the revised conceptual designs for Tomie Arai’s artwork for the Chinatown Central Subway Station. She reminded the Committee that they and the community had reviewed and agreed that the overall design for the head house had been too dense with photographic imagery. The artist reviewed the feedback and reduced the number of elements and simplified the palette which resulted in a more open, flowing and narrative design. Both the Committee and staff agreed that the new design presented was successful. 

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

Motion: Motion to approve the Conceptual Design for Tomie Arai’s artwork for the Chinatown Central Subway Station.
Moved: Sklar/Silverman
The motion was unanimously approved

B. Union Square/Market Street Station Concourse
Jennifer Lovvorn
Action

Senior Project Manager Jennifer Lovvorn presented the Construction Document Phase deliverables by Erwin Redl (dba Paramedia LLC) for the Central Subway Union Square/Market Street Station Concourse.

The Committee reviewed an artwork installation mock-up and animation for the proposed LED lighting sequence for the artwork. The Committee felt the mock-up did not sufficiently represent the user experience.They expressed concerns that neither the correct perspective of the LED light panels nor the ambient light levels had been accurately portrayed. Ms. Lovvorn stated that the lighting sequence and levels would be adjusted in-situ and that she was seeking approval of the pattern concept. However, the Committee decided they needed more complete representation of how the design pattern would be experienced.

Ms. Lovvorn stated she would relay the feedback to the artist and come back to the Committee at a later date with a revised mock-up and animation.

Commissioner Keehn called for public comment.  Karla Jones expressed concerns about the long term maintenance and associate costs required on this project and questioned if the artwork will be considered passé in five to ten years’ time.

THE FOLLOWING MOTION WAS TABLED

Motion: Motion to approve the Construction Document Phase deliverables (Artwork Installation Mock-up and LED program animation) by Erwin Redl (dba Paramedia LLC) for the Central Subway Union Square/Market Street Station Concourse.

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

Ms. Topfer presented Jorge Pardo’s conceptual design for the Van Ness Bus Rapid Transit. (“VN-BRT”) The design included three large scale sculptural lighting structures, typical of his practice. Each would consist of 3 layers: core lamps, interior color steel elements, and an exterior layer of corten steel

Ms. Topfer stated that although the layered approach is appealing there are concerns from both staff and the VN-BRT team regarding aesthetics and maintenance.Aesthetically, Corten steel may be too heavy of a choice, obscuring too much of the interior elements and not in consideration of the architectural station designs. Various maintenance concerns were also cited including their cleaning, accessibility to lights and vandalism abatement. Staff had suggested that concerns be relayed to the artist and to work with Pardo through the design development phase to refine the exterior elements and ADA compliance.

The Committee further commented that the artworks weren’t appropriate for Van Ness Avenue, given that it is a prominent Beaux Arts thoroughfare and historic district. The Committee questioned Pardo’s choice of Corten steel, and requested that Pardo consider the multitude of user experiences: as a pedestrian, BRT user, vehicular driver and surrounding office views – all offer various vantage points. The Committee concurred with all of the staff concerns and ultimately felt that there were too many to move on to the design development phase.

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

THE FOLLOWING MOTIONS WERE TABLED

Motion: Motion to approve the Conceptual Design Phase deliverables by Jorge Pardo for the Van Ness Avenue Bus Rapid Transit.

Motion: Motion to authorize 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, 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.

11. Ocean Ave Public Plaza: Historical Photography Project – Wowhaus
Justine Topfer
Action

Ms. Topfer presented Wowhaus’s final designs for the Ocean Ave Public Plaza Historical Photography Project. She reminded that in addition to Kelly Ording’s project for Unity Plaza,Wowhaus has created a tableau of historic photographs which will be printed on porcelain enamel tiles and installed in the risers of a connector stair case. Wowhaus sourced the images directly from community members and the library archives and provide cultural and historical references to the neighborhood.

Ms. Pontious stated that the plywood backing for the tiles, as shown in the plans, should be reconsidered and that backer board should be considered. Ms. Topfer stated that plans had been reviewed and approved by Department of Public Works. She also noted that City College will be responsible for the maintenance of the work and that it won’t be entering the Civic Art Collection.

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

Motion: Motion to approve the Final Design Phase deliverables by Wowhaus for the Ocean Avenue Public Plaza: Historical Photography Project.
Moved: Silverman/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

12. San Francisco International Airport –Temporary Boarding Area B
Susan Pontious, Justine Topfer
Action

Ms. Topfer presented a proposed program outline for an art program at Temporary Boarding Area B at San Francisco International Airport (“SFO”). She reminded the Committee that Terminal 1 will undergo a complete remodel, during which time the temporary Boarding Area B will be in place. The project outline highlights seven project opportunities: a large scale mural by the check-in gate; artist designed seating in the “recompose” area; a vinyl installation in a connector corridor; video screening in a peephole format;sculpture purchase for a childrens’ area;paintings purchase; and aluminum panel images in the baggage area.The majority of the projects opportunities will be able to be relocated after the project is complete.

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

Motion: Motion to approve San Francisco International Airport: Temporary Boarding Area B Art Program Outline
Moved: Silverman/Sklar
The motion was unanimously approved       

13, SFAC Galleries Strategic Plan Alignment
Meg Shiffler
Discussion

SFAC Galleries Director Meg Shiffler made a detailed presentation of the progress of the SFAC Galleries efforts towards programmatic alignment with the Arts Commission’s strategic plan. The presentation included details of achievements and aggregated facts of the Galleries history. Ms. Shiffler also shared a schedule of upcoming programs including, but not limited to a veterans-themed exhibition, the return of the artist-curated Chain Reaction, a mid-career survey for local mi-career artists, juried opportunities and efforts to expand publicly accessible events.

At the completion of the presentation, the following questions were posed back to the Committee: Do you see a clear alignment of the program with the agency strategic plan? Are there gaps or additional strategies that could advance the goals of the SFAC? How would Commissioners like to be engaged in further strategic development and planning processes? She asked that the Commissioners be in dialogue with her regarding their thoughts and looked forward to their responses. The Committee thanked Ms. Shiffler for the thorough presentation and looked forward to future conversations.

The Committee discussed future programming ideas.

President Beltran suggested providing space to displaced arts organization. She also suggested that the Chain Reaction exhibition include artists who have received individual artist grants.

Director DeCaigny mentioned the possibility of a juried exhibition opportunity for individual artist grantees; however Commissioner Keehn disagreed and stated she is not in favor of juried exhibitions. Director DeCaigny said that the SFAC Galleries serves as outward face of the Arts commission and that the new space will also serve as a meeting space. The arts community will have access through curated and juried opportunities. 

Commissioner Silverman is enthusiastic about the 2017 Sister Cities exhibition and offered to connect the SFAC Galleries with Silverlens Galleries in Manila. She further stated that Bay Area connections will be key to promotion of such projects. She also offered an introduction to Important Projects Gallery.  Commissioner Beltran mentioned that the Galleries be in touch with Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center in regards to the Manila Sister City project.

Commissioner Sklar suggested that the SFAC Galleries should think about developing relationships with the commercial galleries in the hope of cross promotional opportunities.

Commissioner Silverman left at 4:58 p.m.

Commissioner Keehn called for public comment. Karla Jones asked when the building was set to open and what the anticipated operating hours will be. Director DeCaigny replied that the building will open in January 2016 and that new operating hours are being considered. However, the actual operating hours are yet determined.  Once fiscal resources are identified the future activation of the space will be considered in coordination with Herbst Theater.

14. New Business, Old Business, and Announcements
Discussion

Stephen Worsley, founder of Coit Tower Depression Preservationists, expressed his displeasure of the management of Coit Tower, stating that 25 percent of Coit is under-utilized and that Coit Tower should be donated back to the citizens of San Francisco.

President Beltran encourages staff to visit the various Master of Fine Arts Graduate exhibitions on display in the Bay Area. She also noted the success of the recent art fair, Art Market San Francisco 2015.

15. Adjournment
Action

The meeting adjourned at 5:03 p.m.

JDC 5/28/15

Notices

Translated written materials and interpretation services are available to you at no cost. For assistance, please notify Jenn Doyle Crane, jennifer.crane@sfgov.org, 415-252-2586.

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, Jenn Doyle Crane, jennifer.crane@sfgov.org, 415-252-2586.

Materiales traducidos y servicios de interpretación están disponibles para usted de manera gratuita. Para asistencia, notifique a Jenn Doyle Crane, jennifer.crane@sfgov.org, 415-252-2586.

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 a Jenn Doyle Crane, jennifer.crane@sfgov.org, 415-252-2586.