MEETING OF THE FULL ARTS COMMISSION

Monday, March 7, 2022
2 p.m.
Hybrid Meeting

Draft Minutes 

President Ordeñana called the meeting to order at 2:11 p.m. and announced the hybrid meeting instructions.

President Ordeñana welcomed Commissioner Mahsa Hakimi to her first full Commission meeting and provided information about her background.

President Ordeñana announced items would be taken out of order due to a possible technical glitch that may result in ending the meeting early. He suggested taking items 2, 6, 7 first and then continue with the regular order.

1. Roll Call
(5:51)

Commissioners Present
Roberto Ordeñana, President
Janine Shiota, Vice President
Yakuh Askew
JD Beltran
Charles Collins
Suzanne Ferras
Mahsa Hakimi
Yiying Lu
Nabiel Musleh
Linda Parker Pennington
Abby Sadin Schnair
Marcus Shelby 
Debra Walker
Paul Woolford
Rachael Tanner, ex officio (attending virtually)

Commissioners Absent
Kimberlee Stryker

Staff Present:
Ralph Remington, Director of Cultural Affairs
Coma Te, Director of Communications
Joanne Lee, Deputy Director of Programs
Alyssa Ventre, Commission Secretary

Commission Secretary Alyssa Ventre announced public comment instructions.

President Ordeñana began the meeting reading the Arts Commission’s land acknowledgement statement.

2. AB 361 Legislation Impact 
(10:45)

President Ordeñana introduced the item. He reminded commissioners that the commission approved the motion at their last meeting. He explained that the commission must approve the motion every 30 days in order to continue to meet virtually in the instance that one or more members may need to attend remotely due to covid related reasons. He provided additional background information regarding the AB 361 legislation including its requirements.

Commissioner Beltran, seconded by Commissioner Shelby moved to adopt a resolution setting forth findings required under Assembly Bill 361 that would allow the Arts Commission and its subcommittees to hold meetings remotely according to the modified Brown Act teleconferencing set forth in AB 361. 

There was no public comment.

The motion was unanimously approved:
RESOLUTION NO. 0307-22-047: Motion to adopt a resolution setting forth findings required under Assembly Bill 361 that would allow the Arts Commission and its subcommittees to hold meetings remotely according to the modified Brown Act teleconferencing set forth in AB 361.


6. Committee Reports and Committee Matters
(14:55)
 

1. Executive Committee
   (15:00)
   
   President Ordeñana reported that the committee met in February in closed session regarding Director Remington's’ first performance evaluation. They voted not to disclose any items in the closed session.
   
   There was no public comment.
    
2. Civic Design Review Committee
   (17:06)
   
   Commissioner Schnair reported that the February meeting reviewed two projects. She highlighted the Yerba Buena Island Westside Bridges Project. 
   
   There was no public comment.
    
3. Community Investments Committee
   (20:55)
   
   Commissioner Collins reported that the Community Investments Committee considering change in the day of the month. He said there was a good discussion with Deputy Director Lee. He noted because of notice requirements the motion will be placed on the April full Commission agenda. He added that there were a number of items in the consent calendar regarding grant approvals.
   
   There was no public comment.
   
    
4. Visual Arts Committee
   (23:15)
    
   1. Report from the Visual Arts Committee regarding activities of the Committee and the Program.
      
      Commissioner Ferras shared an overview of the agenda items from the February committee meeting. She also shared images of each project.
      
      There was no public comment.
      
      Commissioner Beltran added that former SFAC artist, Woody de Othello, was selected for the 2022 Whitney Biennale.
       
   2. Mission Creek Park Expansion Public Art Project
      
      Commissioner Ferras noted this was a housekeeping item as the name of the artist was left off of the motion last month. She added that new motions with the artist name was included in the consent calendar.
      
      Commissioner Beltran, seconded by Commissioner Shiota the motion.
      
      There was no public comment.
      
      The motion was unanimously approved.
      
      RESOLUTION NO. 0307-22-048: Motion to rescind the following resolutions:
      
      RESOLUTION NO. 0207-22-041: to approve the selected finalist (to be announced at meeting) for the Mission Creek Park Expansion Public Art Project, as recommended by the artist review panel.
      
      RESOLUTION NO. 0207-22-042: to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with the selected finalist (to be announced at meeting) for an amount not to exceed $535,000 for the design, fabrication, transportation, and consultation during installation of an artwork for the Mission Creek Park Expansion Public Art Project.
       

7. Consent Calendar
(33:54)

President Ordeñana introduced the consent calendar items.

Commissioner Ferras provided a disclosure relating to the Clement Street Merchants Association item. She said she working with the group to organize and plan the art walk. She said she will not be receiving any funds or compensation for this work. She said that the merchant group she is associated with, Balboa Merchant Association, will not be included in the art walk.

Commissioner Walker, seconded by Commissioner Beltran moved to approve, as presented.

There was no public comment.

The motion was unanimously approved.

RESOLUTION NO. 0307-22-049:
Approval: RESOLVED, that this Commission does hereby adopt the following items on the Consent Calendar and their related Resolutions:

1. RESOLUTION NO. 0307-22-050: Motion to approve the Civic Design Review Committee Meeting Minutes of February 14, 2022.
2. RESOLUTION NO. 0307-22-051: Motion to approve the Executive Committee Meeting Minutes of February 28, 2022.
3. RESOLUTION NO. 0307-22-052: Motion to approve the Visual Arts Committee Meeting Minutes of February 16, 2022.
   
   Civic Design Review Committee Recommendations (February 14, 2022)
    
4. RESOLUTION NO. 0307-22-053: Motion to approve Phase 3 of the Yerba Buena Island Westside Bridges Retrofit Project.
    
5. RESOLUTION NO. 0307-22-053: Motion to approve Post-Phase 3 of the Southeast Treatment Plant Biosolids Digester Facilities Project with the following contingency: digester tank paint design and landscape plaza design will be approved in an informal meeting with up to two commissioners.
   
   Community Investments Committee Recommendations (February 8, 2022)
    
6. RESOLUTION NO. 0307-22-054: Motion to approve recommendations to award 13 Special Project Grants, funded by District Supervisor Add-Backs and Mayoral enhancements, to the following organizations and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into grant agreements with each organization for amounts not to exceed the following at this time:
    
   1. 1. District 1 – Clement Street Merchants Association (Fiscal Sponsor: Richmond District Neighborhood Center Inc.), $17,000 over two years to support a neighborhood and community-focused art walk in a District 1 commercial corridor.
      2. District 2 and 3 – San Francisco Historical Society, $100,000 over one year to support the development of programs focused on the history of the City of San Francisco.
      3. District 4 – ArtSpan, $30,000 over one year to support a new part-time staff member to develop community arts activities in the sunset neighborhood.
      4. District 5 – Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association (Fiscal Sponsor: Intersection for the Arts), $42,500 over two years to support the administrative infrastructure and capacity building of the organization.
      5. District 5 – Mission Art 415, Inc., $45,000 over one year to support creating art on exterior surfaces and dining parklets under a lead artist’s mentorship.
      6. District 9 – San Francisco Latino Parity and Equity Coalition (Fiscal Sponsor: Galeria Studio 24), $300,000 over two years to support the hiring of four (4) fellows to develop partnerships with the San Francisco Latino Parity and Equity Coalition and the Latino Task Force Coalition.
      7. District 9 – Galeria Studio 24, $225,000 over two years to support a mini-grant program to artists in the Mission.
      8. Citywide – Theatre Bay Area, $40,000 over two years to support arts services to artists and theatre organizations to assist the field in reopening.
      9. Citywide – Arts for a Better Bay Area (Fiscal Sponsor: SOMArts), $40,000 over two years to support arts services and an annual convening for artists and arts organizations.
      10. Citywide – American Indian Film Institute, $42,500 over two years to support the production costs for the 47th annual American Indian Film Festival.
      11. Citywide – The Cultural Conservancy Sacred Land Foundation, $42,500 over two years to support the development of community arts, media, and resource sharing opportunities through Native arts exhibitions of Native artists.
      12. Citywide – Uphill Arts (Fiscal Sponsor: Independent Arts & Media), $112,000 over two years to support an arts-based curriculum for youth to address issues and outcomes of illegal tagging and unsanctioned graffiti.
      13. Citywide – Arts Education Alliance of the Bay Area (Fiscal Sponsor: Intersection for the Arts), $30,000 over one year to support organizational infrastructure and a half-day mini conference on promising practices in arts-based afterschool programming for youth.

Visual Arts Committee Recommendations (January 19, 2022)

7. RESOLUTION NO. 0307-22-055: Motion to approve the selected finalist Rigo 23 (Ricardo Gouveia) for the Mission Creek Park Expansion Public Art Project, as recommended by the artist review panel.
    
8. RESOLUTION NO. 0307-22-056: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with the selected finalist Rigo 23 (Ricardo Gouveia) for an amount not to exceed $535,000 for the design, fabrication, transportation, and consultation during installation of an artwork for the Mission Creek Park Expansion Public Art Project.

Visual Arts Committee Recommendations (February 16, 2022)

9. RESOLUTION NO. 0307-22-057: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to increase the contract with artist Hiroshi Sugimoto (DBA Door Four LLC) from $1,750,000 to $1,787,500 (an increase of $37,500) for the design, fabrication, transportation and consultation during installation of an artwork for the Yerba Buena Island Hilltop Park, as recommended by the Treasure Island Art Steering Committee.
10. RESOLUTION NO. 0307-22-058: Motion to approve Crossroads of Flight, a mural design by artist Cece Carpio, Miguel Perez, and Josue Rojas. The mural will be installed on 681 Florida St. between 18th and 19th St. in District 9. The mural is a triptych, measuring: 75 ft. 4 ½ in, by 11 ft. 1/2 in.; 81 ft. 10 ½ in by 11 ft. 1/2 in.; 58 ft. 5 in. by 44 ft. 11 in. The project is funded by the Mission Economic Development Agency and the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation. The artwork will not become part of the Civic Art Collection.
11. RESOLUTION NO. 0307-22-059: Motion to approve the Project Plan for the Portsmouth Square Improvement public art project.
12. RESOLUTION NO. 0307-22-060: Motion to approve Final Design Development Phase deliverables by Lava Thomas for the Dr. Maya Angelou Sculpture Project.
13. RESOLUTION NO. 0307-22-061: Motion to approve as installed the completed artwork Bow, 2022, by Walter Hood, wood, aluminum, glass, painted steel, located at the Embarcadero and Harrison Street for the Fire Station #35 Project.
14. RESOLUTION NO. 0307-22-062: Motion to approve the selected artists Nancy Cato and Ata'ataoletaeao McNealy (Fatasilima) for the Southeast Treatment Plant Construction Fence temporary art program, as recommended by the artist review panel.
15. RESOLUTION NO. 0307-22-063: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into a contract with the selected artists Nancy Cato and Ata'ataoletaeao McNealy (Fatasilima) for an amount not to exceed $22,000 each for the Southeast Treatment Plant Construction Fence temporary art program.
     

3. Approval of Minutes
(37:42)

Commissioner Parker Pennington, seconded by Commissioner Woolford moved to approve the February 7, 2022 minutes.

There was no public comment.

The motion unanimously approved.

RESOLUTION NO. 0307-22-064: Motion to approve the February 7, 2022 minutes.


4. General Public Comment 
(40:00)

There was no public comment.
 

5. Director’s Report
(41:28)
 
Director Remington acknowledged the two-year anniversary of the shelter-in-place order. He thanked the SFAC staff who performed disaster service work.

Director Remington highlighted a number of February events including the February 15 SFAC Annual Convening, the February 16 San Francisco Community Music Center groundbreaking ceremony, February 17 REBOUND – Arts Equity and Recovery series, the February 19 Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Artist Power Center launch, the February 17 Monuments and Memorials Advisory Committee meeting, the February 24 Dream Keeper Initiative Dreaming Forward: Advancing Prosperity for San Francisco’s Diverse Black Communities event and the February 25 Earl Gage Jr. mural unveiling at Rosa Parks Elementary school attended by Director of Community Investments Denise Pate.

Director Remington noted some exciting upcoming events which included a ribbon cutting for Fire Station 35 at Pier 22 ½ on March 10 featuring a commissioned public art piece entitled Bow by Walter Hood. He also shared that Director of Public Art & Civic Collection Mary Chou will be representing the SFAC at the Van Ness Bus Rapid Transit Project’s Lighting Sculpture Illumination ceremony to highlight the new landmark public lighting sculpture by artist Jorge Pardo on Van Ness Avenue between Geary and O’Farrell streets. He noted the ribbon cutting ceremony will take place on April 1.

Director Remington gave an updated on the SFAC Main Gallery. He noted that the Main Gallery will resume regular gallery hours starting on March 9. He also announced that the current show, Taking Place: Untold Stories of the City and Black Magic will be extended until April 23.  He shared some Gallery events including a mindfulness workshop with 3.9 Collective and a special event in Chinatown with Summer Mei Ling Lee on March 12.

Director Remington shared that the Historic Preservation Commission voted unanimously on February 16 to recommend to the Board of Supervisors local landmark designation of the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts.

Director Remington provided an HR update which included an introduction of Community Investments Program Officer Andrea Porras. He shared that SFAC has a number of open positions including the Capital Project Manager and Capital Project Analyst, the Community Investments Program Associate, the Community Investments Senior Program Officer and the Public Art Senior Program Manager. He reminded commissioners that Director of Public and Private Partnerships Rachelle Axel celebrated her last day at the Arts Commission on March 4.

Director Remington shared information about an article in the San Francisco Chronicle about Grants for the Arts (GFTA). He recognized the support that the Community Investments team provided to GFTA to execute contracts and assisted with review of their guidelines. He thanked the staff for their support and gave a shoutout to Deputy Director Joanne Lee and Director of Community Investments Denise Pate.

Director Remington reminded commissioners about the upcoming Form 700 and Ethics & Sunshine declaration form deadline on April 1, 2022.

Director Remington shared the passing of former Arts Commissioner Jeannene Przyblyski. He asked to take a moment of silence in her memory, as our thoughts are with her family, friends and colleagues.

Commissioners added their sentiments honoring Ms. Przyblyski. They also thanked SFAC staff for their hard work during the pandemic and gave a shoutout to Director Remington. They also gave a shoutout to our former staff Robynn Takayama and Rachelle Axel.

Commissioner Tanner added that she is happy to support the Arts Commission and looks forward to working with the commissioners.

There was no public comment.
 

8. New Business and Announcements
(1:08:00)

Commissioner Parker Pennington shared some recent events including Art of the African Diaspora at Richmond Art Center and an exhibition at Cafe Alma.

Commissioner Collins shared news about Tsherin Sherpa being represented at the Biennale. He also recognized the Arts Hub launch.

Commissioner Schnair said she hoped the commissioners got an invitation to the opening of the Southeast Community Center.

Commissioner Beltran shared her recent experience attending the SF Symphony. She encouraged all to support the Symphony and live performances. She also acknowledged Commission Secretary Ventre for her work in successfully supporting the technical aspects of the commission meetings over the last two years.

Commissioner Hakimi said she is honored to be on the commission and noted that she was sworn in before the meeting. She said she is looking forward to supporting the Arts Commission. She noted that the pandemic created a blank canvas and there is a lot of work to do in supporting emerging artists.

Commissioner Musleh added that it was nice to see everyone in person and looks forward to upcoming meetings.

Commissioner Parker Pennington requested to take a group photo.

Commissioner Ordeñana thanked the staff for their hard work over the last two years. He also gave a shout out to Commission Secretary Ventre, Director Remington and the commissioners. He noted that the Arts Commission will continue to hold hybrid meetings to provide an opportunity for members of the public to join virtually.

There was no public comment.
 

9. Adjournment

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 3:31 p.m.
 

Posted 3/21/2022, 2:30 p.m., adv

 

Archives Available
A recording of this meeting will be available online after the meeting at the following address: https://sfgov.org/arts/audio-archive-8.

Language Accessibility

Translated written materials and interpretation services are available to you at no cost. For assistance, please notify Commission Secretary Alyssa Ventre, 415-252-2255, Alyssa.ventre@sfgov.org.

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，Commission Secretary Alyssa Ventre, 415-252-2255, Alyssa.ventre@sfgov.org

Materiales traducidos y servicios de interpretación están disponibles para usted de manera gratuita. Para asistencia, notifique a Commission Secretary Alyssa Ventre, 415-252-2255, Alyssa.ventre@sfgov.org