SAN FRANCISCO ARTS COMMISSION
VISUAL ARTS COMMITTEE
Wednesday, November 17, 2021
3 p.m.
Remote meeting via video and teleconferencing
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Minutes

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

Commissioners Present:
Suzie Ferras, Chair    
JD Beltran
Nabiel Musleh
Abby Sadin Schnair
Janine Shiota
Debra Walker

Commissioners Absent:
Yiying Lu

Commissioner Ferras called the meeting to order at 3:03pm.

Commissioner Musleh entered the meeting at 3:09pm.

2. General Public Comment
(6:10)

There was no general public comment.

3. Consent Calendar

(7:44)

1. Motion to approve Outer Mission Island Mosaic Project, a mosaic design by artist Kim Jensen. The mosaic boulders will be installed on a median strip located at Mission St. at Whipple. The mosaic boulders will measure 8 to 9 ft. high. The project is funded by a Community Challenge Grant. The artwork will not become part of the Civic Art Collection.

There was no public comment.

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

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

4. Potrero Gateway Park
(9:58)

Project Manager Zoe Taleporos presented the Design Development Documents by Futureforms for an artwork at Potrero Gateway Park. The original proposed work consisted of galvanized steel plant wells, which would allow plant roots to grow into the ground. The sculptures were to be bolted to the retaining wall and soil, plantings, irrigation, and lighting were to be provided by Public Works. However, new factors, such as the inclusion of ADA accessible curb ramps and changes to the retaining walls didn’t accommodate the original design concept without violating ADA code.

The revised designs are freestanding sculptures that retain the same look and feel as the original planters. The sculptures will range in height from 6 ft. 9 in. to 9 ft. 1 in. and widths from 3 ft. 6 in. to 7 ft. 1 in. For the San Bruno side, the works will sit atop cast concrete plinths. For the Vermont St. side, Public Works will integrate the artwork foundation into the middle retaining wall.

There was no public comment.

Motion: to approve the Design Development Documents (revised artwork placement and attachment system) by Futureforms for an artwork at Potrero Gateway Park.
Moved: Beltran/Walker

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

5. Southeast Community Center—Alex Pitcher Room
(25:24)

Project Manager Jackie von Treskow presented the Construction Document Phase deliverables by Kenyatta A. C. Hinkle for the Southeast Community Center—Alex Pitcher Room. The mural will measure approximately 13 ft.  tall by 61 ft. wide and will consist of thirty-six 42 in. by 88 in. aluminum panels onto which Kenyatta’s approved artwork design will be printed using a dye sublimation process. Panels will have a matte finish, which is ideal for brightly lit Alex Pitcher Room. The full-size material sample captures the rich color, texture, and detail of the original work.

There was no public comment.

Motion: to approve Construction Document Phase deliverables (material sample, engineering drawings) by Kenyatta A. C. Hinkle (KACH Studio) for the Southeast Community Center—Alex Pitcher Room.

Moved: Beltran/Schnair

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

6. Alameda Creek Watershed Park
(36:02)

Ms. von Treskow presented the Final Design Development Phase deliverables by Walter Kitundu for the Alameda Creek Watershed Center. Walter Kitundu’s project consists of both a sound installation integrated into the Center’s gardens, as well as a sculpture in the form of a Golden Eagle located on a plaza at the main entrance of the gardens.

The sculpture consists of welded steel tubing coated with a Tnemec paint system, and tempered, laminated architectural glass insets. Over this past summer, a series of watershed walks were hosted at the project site during which members of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe and local Sunol residents collected photographs, which have been used or referenced in the final images selections of the glass panels.

Final images were selected by Walter in conversation with, and with the approval of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe. Careful thought not only went into each image chosen, but where in the sculpture it is placed.

There was no public comment.

Motion: to approve Final Design Development Phase deliverables (glass image selections and layout, audio sample) by Walter Kitundu (Kitundu Studio, LLC) for the Alameda Creek Watershed Center.

Moved: Beltran/Schnair

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

7. San Francisco International Airport: C3 Connector
(47:40)

Project Manager Marcus Davies presented the completed artwork Flourish by Alison Saar for the San Francisco International Airport, C3 Connector. The work consists of three, painted steel sculptures standing approximately 6 ft. to 8 ft. tall atop a 2 ft. high continuous plinth and will be highly visible from the busy departures curb, as well as the interior connector space.

According to the artist, sculpture speaks to displacement and inclusion and is a story about the adversity that migrants and refugees often face upon arrival.  It is also a portrait of perseverance and resilience that welcomes new arrivals and reminds us of the richness that thrives from diversity as well as collective experience.

There was no public comment.

Motion: to approve as installed the completed artwork Flourish, 2021, painted steel, by Alison Saar for the San Francisco International Airport, C3 Connector.

Moved: Beltran/Schnair

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

8. Staff Report
(54:22)

Deputy Director Joanne Lee reported on current open calls. 

The San Francisco Arts Commission Galleries will select four artists to spend 10-weeks with the San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) conducting research around its history, programs, services, and inner workings. The residencies will culminate in the creation of a work or body of work that is responsive to the artist’s experience at the SFPL. The deadline to apply is Friday, December 3, 2021.

The San Francisco Arts Commission invites artists and artist teams residing in the US to submit qualifications for the Transbay Block 3 Park & Alley Public Art Project. The future park will be a one-acre open space, framed by two mixed use developments and new alleyways. The Arts Commission is looking to commission a sculpture or series of sculptures located in or along the habitat meadow. An additional alternative for consideration may be art elements attached to the Stewardship building façade. The deadline to apply is Monday, December 13, 2021.

Ms. Lee also updated the Committee and on the continued partnership with the Ramaytush Ohlone and American Indian community in San Francisco. With the Commission’s approval of the Ramaytush Ohlone Land Acknowledgment, we will begin reading the Land Acknowledgment at the beginning of the next Visual Arts Committee meeting in December.

There was no public comment.

9. New Business and Announcements
(58:42)

There was no new business and announcements.

There was no public comment.

10. Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 4:03pm
 

CC 12/02/2021 11:05am
approved 1/10/2022

Notices          

Translated written materials and interpretation services are available to you at no cost.
For assistance, please notify Craig Corpora, craig.corpora@sfgov.org, 415-252-2249.

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 Craig Corpora, craig.corpora@sfgov.org, 415-252-2249.

Materiales traducidos y servicios de interpretación están disponibles para usted de manera gratuita. Para asistencia, notifique a Craig Corpora, craig.corpora@sfgov.org, 415-252-2249.