SAN FRANCISCO ARTS COMMISSION
VISUAL ARTS COMMITTEE
Wednesday, December 15, 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    
Nabiel Musleh
Abby Sadin Schnair
Debra Walker

Commissioners Absent:
JD Beltran
Yiying Lu
Janine Shiota

Commissioner Ferras called the meeting to order at 3:12pm.

Commissioner Ferras announced that the two motions for Kim Anno and Paul Madonna’s artworks under item 9, San Francisco International Airport: C3 Connector have been edited to correct a typo in the materials description of the artworks. Ms. Ferras also stated that item 12, Fire Station #35 was tabled, and that public comment would be two minutes in light of the long agenda.

2. General Public Comment
(7:24)

There was no public comment.
 

3. Consent Calendar
(8:45)

1. Motion to approve Untitled, a mural design by artist Twin Walls Mural Company. The mural will be installed on the cul de sac of Burnside Avenue, in District 8. The mural is made up of two parts: the main wall is 626 sq. ft. and the retaining walls are 250 sq. ft. The project is privately funded by individual donations. The artwork will not become part of the Civic Art Collection.

2. Motion to approve Canopy, a mural design by artist Antoine Marnata. The mural will be installed on 24 columns on the 900 block of Iowa St. between 22nd St. and 23rd St. Each column is 35-40 ft in height by 8-10 ft in diameter. The project will be funded by the Green Benefit District, the Power Station, and Clean CA grant, pending award of grant funds. The artwork will not become part of the Civic Art Collection.

3. Motion to approve Untitled, a mural design by artist Joseph “JD” Green / Creativity Explored. The mural will be installed at 240 Van Ness Avenue. The fabricated metal gate will measure 42 ft 8 in. by 11 ft. 8in., which will be the folding gate and canopy and the pedestrian gate will measure 4 ft. 9 in. by 11 ft. 8 in. The project is funded in part by the Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development. The artwork will not become part of the Civic Art Collection.

4. Motion to approve as installed and accession into the Civic Art Collection the artwork entitled Layla Infusion, 2021 by Joe Mangrum. The artwork formerly known as Layla (Accession ID 2001.17) was added to and partially recreated as outlined and approved in RESOLUTION NO. 0712-21-151. The terrazzo artwork is embedded in the sidewalk located on the S.W. corner of Mission Street and 22nd Street. The installation consists of a central panel (roughly 5ft. by 9ft) with a multi-colored amorphic image which is accompanied by 12 black terrazzo strips (each roughly 5ft by 1 ft) in varying gradation on both sides. Overall dimensions are roughly 5 ft. by 45 ft.

There was no public comment.

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

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

4. 78 Haight Street Public Art Design Approval
(10:30)

Lynne Baer of Lynne Baer & Art Projects, Independent Art Advisor, described the public art project at 78 Haight Street. A 7 story, 63-unit, apartment building will be built on the corner of Haight and Octavia Streets, the former location of the central freeway. The selected artwork will be printed on a film applied to the solar panels along the south façade of the building. Artist Kota Ezawa has combined a contemporary view of Octavia Boulevard with a drawing of the Central Freeway that used to stand in its place. The images are stacked vertically and function as a seamless visual scroll from the past to the present. The artwork is meant to celebrate the transformation of the neighborhood while acknowledging its history and to inspire conversations about urban transformation. It is entitled Octavia Boulevard and the Central Freeway (now and then).

There was no public comment.

The Commissioners approved the image design but not the materials. They asked the project managers to return to the committee for material approval once they have a sample of the artwork and to provide other examples of projects using this film over solar panel process.
 

Amended Motion: to approve only the image of the design of the artwork Octavia Boulevard and the Central Freeway (now and then) by Kota Ezawa to be installed at 78 Haight Street, located at the corner of Haight Street and Octavia Boulevard. The artwork is funded by city, state, and federal credits. Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corp (TNDC) will be responsible for ongoing maintenance. The work will not become part of the Civic Art Collection. Final design approval pending review and approval of material samples.
Moved: Schnair/Musleh

The motion was unanimously approved
Ayes Ferras, Musleh, Schnair, Walker
 

5. Francisco Park Temporary Installation
(30:29)

Project Manager Perry Wexelberg from 450 Architects described the temporary installation of a chrome heart sculpture by artist Laura Linebeck at Francisco Park, a new 4.5 park in the Russian Hill Neighborhood. The park was built on the City’s first reservoir and the sculpture’s location will help denote the boundary of the historic reservoir. The sculpture will be installed adjacent to the ADA accessible path in the steep topography of the site allowing it to be enjoyed from various levels and angles throughout the park and surrounding streets.

There was no public comment

Motion: to approve the temporary installation of #heartsinsf, a sculpture by Laura Linebeck created in 2015 as a part of the Hearts in San Francisco program sponsored by the San Francisco General Hospital Foundation. The sculpture will be installed in Francisco Park for a period of one year, from January 5, 2022 to January 6, 2023. The Francisco Park Conservancy will be responsible for the maintenance and care of the sculpture. The artwork will not become part of the Civic Art Collection.
Moved: Schnair/Walker

The motion was unanimously approved
Ayes Ferras, Musleh, Schnair, Walker

6. 2022 Chinese New Year Temporary Sculpture Installation
(39:45)

Director of Public Art Trust and Special Initiatives Jill Manton presented the three temporary Tiger sculptures in honor of 2022 Chinese New Year, Year of the Tiger. Ms. Manton described the project as a continuation of last year’s successful temporary installation of three ox sculptures in the same locations at Civic Center Plaza, Portsmouth Square and Union Square for the Year of the Ox. The three tigers are designed by local artist Stephanie Mufson and measure 4.5 ft. high by 4.5 ft. wide by 6 ft. long.

The Commissioners asked Ms. Manton to explore the possibility of extending the installation for longer than a month.

There was no public comment.

Motion: to approve the temporary installation of three tiger sculptures designed by artist Stephanie Mufson to be placed in Civic Center Plaza, Portsmouth Square and Union Square respectively from January 22, 2022 until February 28, 2022 in honor of Chinese New Year/Year of the Tiger, which are sponsored by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce based upon their submission of all required paperwork and documentation, pending approval of the Recreation and Park Commission.
Moved: Schnair/Musleh

The motion was unanimously approved
Ayes Ferras, Musleh, Schnair, Walker

7. 49 South Van Ness
(46:28)

Senior Program Manager Mary Chou stated that following completion of installation of the permanently sited artworks at 49 South Van Ness, there are funds remaining from the original art enrichment allocation to allow for additional art at the site. With the support of the client agencies, the program will proceed with the video art project previously planned for the building, and the purchase of additional two-dimensional artworks for display on the walls. Ms. Chou presented the video art project plan for 49 South Van Ness, and reminded Commissioners that this plan had been previously approved by the Visual Arts Committee before the project was put on hold. Ms. Chou stated that an RFQ will be released early next year to commission up to 10 either new or existing videos, each approximately 3-5 minutes in length, for view on the existing video screen at the front of the building twice a day. Additionally, a new RFQ will be released early next year to purchase up to 30 new 2D artworks. 

There was no public comment.

Commissioner Musleh was suggested as the commissioner for the video art panel.

8. 2022 Art on Market Street Kiosk Poster Series
(54:26)

Program Associate Craig Corpora introduced the first installment of the 2022 Art on Market St poster series, which is devoted exclusively to comics/sequential arts, by Oakland cartoonist Frederick Noland.

Mr. Noland’s poster series, San Francisco Black History, focuses on African American contributions to San Francisco culture and history. He states that: “Blacks have been a part of San Francisco since before California’s annexation and were instrumental in The Gold Rush, were cultural catalysts in The Barbary Coast and created the soundtrack to the Gay Liberation Movement, however these stories are often overlooked.” Mr. Noland’s goal with the poster series is to reverse the erasure of Blacks from San Francisco history. Each poster focuses on a different person and their contributions. Poster subjects include William Alexander Leidesdorff, Mary Ellen Pleasant, and Sylvester.

The posters will be installed in early January and be up until the end of March.

There was no public comment.

Motion: to approve the seven final designs by Frederick Noland for the 2022 Art on Market Street Kiosk Poster Series.
Moved: Schnair/Musleh

The motion was unanimously approved
Ayes Ferras, Musleh, Schnair, Walker

9. San Francisco International Airport: C3 Connector
(59:33)

Project Manager Aleta Lee presented photographs of the completed artworks at San Francisco International Airport: C3 Connector. The three artworks are installed in the same corridor side by side and each artwork measures 5 ft. by 40 ft. Continuous City by Carter-Lynch is a two layered work with black and white historical images collaged together on aluminum composite and a surface layer glass panel printed with colorful current architecture of the city. Long Arc of Day by Kim Anno is a layered work of glass layers and aluminum composite with hand painted glass layers and a sand blasted surface. Here You Are/Are You Here by Paul Madonna is layered artwork that includes a hand drawn panoramic illustration of the Excelsior District of San Francisco and “Here You Are Are You Here” in iridescent ink.

There was no public comment.

Motion: to approve as installed the completed artwork Continuous City, 2021, glass and aluminum composite, by Carter-Lynch (dba Carter-Lynch LLC) for the San Francisco International Airport, C3 Connector.

Amended Motion: to approve as installed the completed artwork Long Arc of Day, 2021, pigment, glass and aluminum composite, by Kim Anno for the San Francisco International Airport, C3 Connector.

Amended Motion: to approve as installed the completed artwork Here You Are / Are You Here, 2021, glass and aluminum composite, by Paul Madonna for the San Francisco International Airport, C3 Connector.
Moved: Schnair/Musleh

The motion was unanimously approved
Ayes Ferras, Musleh, Schnair, Walker

10. Ocean Beach Climate Change Adaptation Project
(1:09:33)

Ms. Lee presented the project plan for the Ocean Beach Climate Change Adaptation Public Art Project. The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission is leading a multiagency effort to implement key initiatives of the Ocean Beach Master Plan to protect the integrity of SFPUC wastewater assets including the Lake Merced Tunnel, the Westside Pump Station and the Ocean side Treatment Plant. This project is focused on the section of Ocean Beach along the Great Highway south of Sloat Blvd and north of Skyline Blvd. This work includes creating a seawall to protect the tunnel, restoration of beach and sand dune habitat, re-purposing land for a multi-use trail, roadway and intersection improvements, and replacement of the Sloat Restroom. Part of this project will involve the construction of a new public plaza which will be the location for a new public artwork. The new artwork should be inspired by or respond to climate change, made of durable materials and be able to withstand harsh weather conditions. The scale of the artwork may range from a focal large-scale sculpture to a grouping of smaller human-scale sculptures. The new artwork should also be visually compatible with the surrounding areas including the planned mural by Jet Martinez and the Mary Fuller sculptures at Westside Pump Station. The artwork budget (including artist design, fabrication, transportation and 10% contingency) is $300,000. The RFQ will be posted in the new year.

There was no public comment.

Commissioners Ferras, Schnair and Walker all showed interest in serving on the panel for this project.

Motion: to approve the Project Plan for the Ocean Beach Climate Change Adaptation public art project.
Moved: Musleh/Walker

The motion was unanimously approved
Ayes Ferras, Musleh, Schnair, Walker

11. Ambulance Deployment Facility
(1:24:53)

Project Manager Marcus Davies introduced artist Michael Bartalos to present the final artwork design of the gate and fencing for the Ambulance Deployment Facility at 2241 Jerrold Avenue in the Bayview district. Mr. Bartalos took the commissioners through design revisions that were required by unforeseen as built conditions along the site fencing that the art panels will connect to. All revisions have been reviewed and approved by the Fire Department. The fence consists of painted black steel elements and a second layer of brushed stainless steel, both backed by a security mesh the length of the whole fence. Mr. Bartalos shared the changes in design of each section of fencing; most sections have decreased in size, but one has increased, causing design elements to be deleted, moved, or simplified. The elements all relate to the Fire Department, first aid, health care, and ambulances. A key describing all the design elements will be included in the signage at the site. 

There was no public comment.

Motion: to approve the final artwork design by Michael Bartalos for the San Francisco Fire Department Ambulance Deployment Facility.
Moved: Musleh/Walker

The motion was unanimously approved
Ayes Ferras, Musleh, Schnair, Walker

THE FOLLOWING ITEM WAS TABLED
12. Fire Station #35
Action

Staff Presenter: Marcus Davies
Explanatory Documents: Images of completed artwork
Presentation Time: Approximately 3 minutes 

Presentation of the completed artwork by Walter Hood for Fire Station 35.

Discussion and Possible action: to approve as installed the completed artwork Bow, 2021, by Walter Hood, wood, aluminum, glass, painted steel, located at the Embarcadero and Harrison Street for the Fire Station #35 Project.

13. Moscone Expansion Project – Sarah Sze
(1:38:07)

Mr. Davies presented images of the completed artwork Double Horizon by artist Sarah Sze located on the Howard Street west pedestrian bridge that spans 5^th Street connecting the north and south Yerba Buena Gardens for the Moscone Expansion Project. The artwork stands about 6 ½ ft. tall and weighs approximately 11,000 lbs. Ms. Sze describes the artwork as “created from a single boulder split open like a geode to reveal a pixelated image of the sky embedded within the stones interior. The same image is mirrored in the pavers on the walkway as if the rock, functioning as a printmaking stamp, has fixed the image in place by gravity and pressure.” 

There was no public comment.

Motion: to approve as installed the completed artwork Double Horizon, by Sarah Sze, 2018, granite, resin, pigments, concrete pavers, located on the Howard Street west pedestrian bridge for the Moscone Expansion Project.
Moved: Schnair/Musleh

The motion was unanimously approved
Ayes Ferras, Musleh, Schnair, Walker

14. Herz Recreation Center
(1:44:05)

Mr. Davies presented the selected finalists for the Herz Recreation Center Public Art Project located at Sunnydale and Hahn Avenue in Visitation Valley along the back/southern side of McLaren Park. The two possible artwork locations available are the outdoor entry wall and the indoor gymnasium North or South walls. The three artists recommended by the panel are Miguel Arzabe, Natalya Burd, and Sanjay Vora.

There was no public comment.

Motion: to approve the selected finalists, Miguel Arzabe, Natalya Burd, and Sanjay Vora for the Herz Recreation Public Art Project, as recommended by the artist review panel.
Moved: Schnair/Walker

The motion was unanimously approved
Ayes Ferras, Musleh, Schnair, Walker

15. Southeast Treatment Plant Construction Fence
(1:51:46)

Project Manager Jackie von Treskow presented the completed artwork Clear the Air by Malik Seneferu installed on the Southeast Treatment Plant Construction Fence along Evans Avenue between Rankin and Phelps Streets. This is Mr. Seneferu’s first commission with the agency. The mural seeks to reinforce the importance of community and family and using past experiences to clear the air and help build a better future. The mural consists of 10 panels, 400 ft. long. The artwork features 80 unique blue ink trees that reflect on the relationship between the tree and the black figure. Each panel depicts an African mask at either end with eight trees between them and a background motif referencing the Sankofa. Mr. Seneferu partnered with the San Francisco Chapter of the Links, Rise Academy and Aquarium by the Bay to offer virtual workshops to over 80 youths where he taught them how to draw the elements in his design and discussed their connection to the environment around them.

There was no public comment.

Motion: to approve Clear the Air, 2021, a temporary artwork by Malik Seneferu, as installed on the Southeast Treatment Plant Construction Fence along Evans Avenue between Rankin and Phelps Streets.
Moved: Schnair/Walker

The motion was unanimously approved
Ayes Ferras, Musleh, Schnair, Walker

THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT 5:10PM DUE TO LOSS OF QUORUM.

TP 12/21/2021 4:30pm
approved 1/10/2022
 

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 a Tara Peterson, tara.peterson@sfgov.org, 415-252-2219.