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

 

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

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

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

Commissioner Shiota announced the tabling of the following items; item 3 Consent Calendar Sub-item 9, item 4 Rossi Pool second motion, item 8 Judah Landscape and item 9 Herz Recreation Center.

2. General Public Comment

Public Comment:
John Christian, Executive Director of the Archdiocese of San Francisco Real Property Support Corporation, submitted a written statement to be read at the meeting. It read in part that he is authorized to pursue an acquisition of the fallen Junipero Serra statue, presuming the statue is relatively intact and is prepared to engage in a conversation to explore a transfer of this artwork to the Archdiocese of San Francisco. The archdiocese would like to conserve the statue and place it at another site if possible. Mr. Christian stated that they would like to be considered a stakeholder in the Monuments and Memorials Advisory Committee and have submitted an application. They are looking to solicit appropriate direction in this process and hope for an opportunity to view the statue to assess condition.

3. Consent Calendar

 

1. Motion to approve the design of Portola Petals Of Growth, a mosaic design by artist Dana Albany. The mosaic will be installed on two benches at the Felton St. Parking Lot, on 25 Felton St. at San Bruno. The work will measure approximately 48 in. x 128 in. (bench 1) and 48 in, x 228 in. (bench 2). The project is funded by the Portola Neighborhood Association (PNA) and Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD). The mosaic work will not become part of the Civic Art Collection.
    
2. Motion to approve the design of Living Flowers of the Sea, a mural design by artists Mike Ritch. The mural will be installed at 2626 Ocean Ave., across from the Muni track crossing at Lagunitas Dr. The work will measure approximately 10 ft. x 70 ft. The project is funded by a Participatory Budgeting Funding grant. The mural will not become part of the Civic Art Collection.
    
3. Motion to approve the design of Music Improvisation, Afro Party in the Bayview, Untitled mural designs by artists Rhonel Roberts, Afatasi the Artist, and Claudio Talavera-Ballon, respectively. The murals will be installed on concrete barriers (K-rails) along Evans Ave., Hunters Point Blvd., and Innes Ave. All three works in total will measure approximately 3 ft. x 350 ft. The project is funded by the Shipyard Trust for the Arts. The murals will not become part of the Civic Art Collection.
    

4. Motion to approve the design of three mural designs by artists Ira Watkins, Malik Senefru, and Tanya Herrera. The murals will be installed on concrete barriers (K-rails) along Evans Ave., Hunters Point Blvd., and Innes Ave. The three artists’ murals will measure approximately 3 ft. x 100 ft. The repeating SFAAACD design will measure approximately 3 ft. x 1650 ft. The project is funded by the San Francisco. African Arts and Cultural District. The murals will not become part of the Civic Art Collection.
    

5. Motion to approve the following arts professionals as panelists for public art review panels:
   Justin Hall, Associate Professor, Graduate Comics, California College of the Arts
   Katherine (Kate) Rhoades, Artist
   Angelica Rodriguez, Gallery Coordinator, Mission Cultural Center
   Shirin Makaremi, Curator & Director, Incline Gallery
   Alejandro Meza, Events and Media Coordinator, Mission Cultural Center
    
6. Motion to rescind RESOLUTION NO. 1102-20-183 which authorized the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with Suzanne Husky for an amount not to exceed $135,000 for an artwork at San Francisco International Airport: Harvey Milk Terminal 1 Meet and Greet Area.
    
7. Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to amend Suzanne Husky’s contract to decrease the contract amount from $135,000 to an amount not to exceed $115,000 (a decrease of $20,000) for an artwork at San Francisco International Airport Harvey Milk Terminal 1. The decrease reflects a change in scope whereby Artist will no longer manage installation of the artwork under her contract.
    
8. Motion to amend RESOLUTION 0301-21-060 to reflect the correct prices of the following artworks approved for purchase and display at San Francisco International Airport’s Kadish Gallery:  
   Garry Winogrand, Klamath River, California, gelatin silver print, 14” x 11”, 1964, $9,500
   Garry Winogrand, Los Angeles International Airport, gelatin silver print, 14” x 11”, 1964, $21,000
   Lee Friedlander, Alameda, California, gelatin silver print, 11” x 14”, 1967, $9,500
   
   THE FOLLOWING ITEM WAS TABLED
9. Motion to approve the Construction Document Phase deliverables for Alison Saar’s artwork for the San Francisco International Airport’s Terminal 3 Connector Project.  
    

There was no public comment.

Motion: Motion to approve consent calendar items 1-8.
Moved: Walker/Beltran

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

4. Rossi Pool

Program Associate Craig Corpora presented the Revised Design Development Phase deliverable (final design) by Owen Smith for the Rossi Pool public art project.  Rossi Recreation Center is a renovation of an existing building located at 600 Arguello and Anza. Owen Smith’s Design Development Phase deliverable (final design) was approved at the February 17, 2021 VAC meeting. Smith’s painting was to be scanned and the image printed on 4ft. by 8 ft. dye-sublimated aluminum panels to create the mural with an overall dimension of approximately 8 ft. high by 63 ft. wide. However, since that meeting fabrication and installation cost proposals exceeded the original estimates, so the project must be reduced in scale to stay within budget. The artist kept his imagery but decreased the size of the mural, centering it between two doorways on either side of the pool.

The Commissioners felt that  simply reducing the original design, which resulted in straight edges on either side of the mural, gave the mural a less integrated look and were too abrupt. They asked for more of a considered transition, even if it meant losing some height, to add some width to the artwork. The motion was provisionally approved based on further review of the revised design by Arts Commission staff and Commissioner Beltran.

There was no public comment.

Motion: Motion to approve the Revised Design Development Phase deliverable (final design) and Construction Document Phase deliverables (materials sample) by Owen Smith for the Rossi Pool Public Art Project with the provision that the artist revise the edges of the piece to make it look more integrated. The new design will be reviewed internally with Arts Commission staff and Commissioner Beltran.
Moved: Beltran/Schnair

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

THE FOLLOWING MOTION WAS TABLED:
Motion: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to increase Owen Smith’s contract from $58,000.00 to an amount not to exceed $63,000.00 (an increase of $5,000.00) for the Rossi Pool Public Art Project. The increase will cover the cost of fabrication of the work.

 

5. Animal Care Facility

Project Manager Jackie von Treskow presented images of the final artwork, A Celebration of Interspecies Friendships, 2021, nine two-dimensional printed birchwood sculptures and one glass panel, by Favianna Rodriguez for the Animal Care Facility located at 1419 Bryant Street. The artwork celebrates the diversity and beauty of all living things inspired by the belief that all creatures deserve dignity, respect and the opportunity for peaceful life. The interior wood artworks were fabricated by Magnolia Editions and the exterior glass artwork was fabricated by Dorothy Lenehen glass.

There was no public comment.

Motion: Motion to approve as installed the completed artwork A Celebration of Interspecies Friendships, 2021, nine two-dimensional printed birchwood sculptures and one glass panel, by Favianna Rodriguez for the Animal Care Facility.

Moved: Beltran/Musleh

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

6. San Francisco International Airport: C3C Secure Connector

Project Manager Aleta Lee gave a brief overview of the project and introduced each of the three artists presenting their Design Development Phase deliverables (final design) for each of their artworks (5 ft. x 40ft. each) in the San Francisco International Airport C3C Secure Connector between Terminal 2 and Terminal 3.

Artist Kim Anno presented the design for her artwork, Long Arc of Day, which consists of 6 three layered panels of aluminum and glass depicting historical imagery of San Francisco.

Artist team Carter-Lynch (Stacey Carter and Derek Lynch) presented the design for their artwork, Continuous City, a two layered panels of aluminum dibond and glass depicting layered images of the City from the past and present.

Artist Paul Madonna presented the design for his artwork, Here You Are, Are You Here, a palindrome glass mural which consists of 5 three layered panels of aluminum dibond and glass depicting hand drawn imagery of San Francisco.

The Commissioners praised all three works and appreciated how well they complimented each other.

There was no public comment.

Motion: Motion to approve Design Development Phase deliverables (final design) by Kim Anno for the SFO C3C Secure Connector Wall Project.

Motion: Motion to approve Design Development Phase deliverables (final design) by Carter-Lynch (Carter-Lynch LLC) for the SFO C3C Secure Connector Wall Project.

Motion: Motion to approve Design Development Phase deliverables (final design) by Paul Madonna for the SFO C3C Secure Connector Wall Project.

Moved: Beltran/Schnair

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

7. San Francisco International Airport: Kadish Gallery

Project Manager Zoë Taleporos presented 13 additional artworks to add to the list of photographs approved for purchase at the February 17, 2021 VAC meeting for the Ruth Kadish Gallery at San Francisco International Airport Courtyard 3 Connector between Terminals 2 and 3. This will bring the total photographs purchased for this location to 53 and will increase the number of photographs in the Janet Delaney Public Matters series and the archive of images from the “Harlem of the West” book. They will be displayed on a rotating basis in the gallery with complimentary exhibitions of contemporary artworks curated by SFO Museums.

There was no public comment.

Motion: Motion to approve the list of artworks for purchase and display at San Francisco International Airport’s Kadish Gallery as recommended by the artist review panel:
Ricardo Alvarado, Band playing at Flat Party, archival pigment print, 20” x 24”, date unknown, $400
Janet Delaney, “Cookies not Contras,” Peace, Jobs and Justice Parade, (from Public Matters, 1982-1988), archival pigment print, 9” x 9”, 1986, $1,500
Janet Delaney, Dominique DiPrima on Stage (from Public Matters, 1982-1988), archival pigment print, 9” x 9”, 1985, $1,700
Janet Delaney, The Carnaval Ride (from Public Matters, 1982-1988), archival pigment print, 9” x 9”, 1985, $1,500
Janet Delaney, Young Couple at Carnaval (from Public Matters, 1982-1988), archival pigment print, 9” x 9”, 1984, $1,500
David Johnson, Dancing in a Fillmore Flat, archival pigment print, 20” x 24”, C.1940s, $400
David Johnson, Dancing at a Fillmore Nightclub, archival pigment print, 20” x 24”, C.1940s, $400
David Johnson, Rhythm Records, 1980 Sutter Street, archival pigment print, 20” x 24”, 1947, $400
Wesley Johnson, Bar Patrons Outside the Club Flamingo, archival pigment print, 20” x 24”, C.1940s, $400
Wesley Johnson, Earl Grant on Organ, Junius Simmons on Guitar, Blue Mirror, archival pigment print, 20” x 24”, 1956, $400
Unknown Photographer, A 1951 jam session inside Bop City, archival pigment print, 20” x 24”, 1951, $400
Unknown Photographer, Deborah Saunders King Collection, Saunders King with One of His Many Hollow-Body Guitars, archival pigment print, 20” x 24”, C.1970s, $400
Unknown Photographer, Singer Sweetie Mitchell, Saxophonist Sammy Simpson, and Unknown Band at an Unknown Fillmore Club, archival pigment print, 20” x 24”, C.1950s, $400

Moved: Beltran/ Musleh

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

THE FOLLOWING ITEM WAS TABLED

8. Judah Landscape
Action

Staff Presenter: Marcus Davies

Discussion and Possible action: to approve revised design development documents for Jesse Schlesinger’s sculptures for the Judah Streetscape Public Art Project

THE FOLLOWING ITEM WAS TABLED

9. Herz Recreation Center
Action

Staff Presenter: Marcus Davies

Discussion and Possible action: to approve the Project Outline for the Herz Recreation Center public art project.

10. Yerba Buena Island: Westside Bridge Retrofit Project (Treasure Island)

Civic Art Collection and Public Art Program Director Susan Pontious presented the Westside Bay Bridge Retrofit Project on Yerba Buena Island. The project will create ~40,000 square feet of retaining walls on the island that will be visible across the bay from the City. She suggested that the Arts Commission help the contractor find a design consultant (artist) to work with to modify the design so the retaining walls blend better with the environment and are less visible through architectural treatments rather than an artwork or mural. The art design would need to be done by July 1, 2021 and the design consultant would be contracted directly with the construction contractor. The Arts Commission would recommend some artists from their pre-approved artist pool whose work aligns with this type of project and who can work on a short timeline. This would not become part of the Civic Art Collection. Liz Hirschhorn, Assistant Development Program Manager of the Treasure Island Development Authority and Dave Dickinson, consultant to the San Francisco Transportation Authority, also talked on the project, its’ conditions and future plans for the space.

The Commissioners agreed that Ms. Pontious should coordinate with the various agencies on the design team to meet and discuss all the requirements of the project.

There was no public comment.

11. New Business and Announcements

Commissioners Beltran commended Commissioner Walker on her work in advocating for the Arts budget. She stated there was a budget appropriations meeting today at the Board of Supervisors and they have approved a $24 million budget that will be made up of general funds to backfill the missing amount from the loss of hotel funds to move to the full board.

There was no public comment.

12. Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 5:33pm.

TP 3/25/2021 2:03pm
Approved 4/5/2021

Notices          

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For assistance, please notify Tara Peterson, tara.peterson@sfgov.org, 415-252-2219.

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