Visual Arts Committee - June 15, 2022 - Minutes

Meeting Date: 
June 15, 2022 - 3:00pm
Location: 

 SAN FRANCISCO ARTS COMMISSION
VISUAL ARTS COMMITTEE
Wednesday, June 15, 2022
3 p.m.
Remote meeting via video and teleconferencing
________________________________________
Draft Minutes


 

 

1. Call to Order, Roll Call, and Agenda Changes
Commissioners Present:
Suzie Ferras, Chair    
JD Beltran
Mahsa Hakimi
Yiying Lu
Nabiel Musleh

Commissioners Absent:
Abby Sadin Schnair
Debra Walker

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


Commissioner Ferras announced the following agenda changes.

A typo in the motion for item 3.1 of the agenda where the word “approve” was omitted. The correct motion is “Motion to approve Lakeside Landing Stage, a mural design by Mike Ritch. The mural will be installed on 2504 Ocean Ave in District 7. The mural measures approximately 5 ft. by 20 ft. The project is funded by a Community Challenge Grant. The artwork will not become part of the Civic Art Collection.”

Item 7, San Francisco International Airport: Harvey Milk Terminal 1 – Meet and Greet, is tabled.

The motion for item 8 was amended and the wording “pending the approval of Caltrans” was added. The amended motion reads “Motion to approve Design Development Phase deliverables (revised design) and Construction Document Phase deliverables (Structural Engineering Drawings) by FutureForms for the Potrero Gateway Project pending approval from Caltrans.”

2. General Public Comment
(0:08:36)

Public Comment:
Anne Treboux stated her desire that Anne Trickey be fired for the federal copyright infringement cases Mx. Trickey filed against Ms. Treboux in Oakland, CA and New York, NY; both of which were dismissed with prejudice. Ms. Treboux shared details of the case and alleged that Mx. Trickey lied, falsified documents, and wasted SF taxpayer money.

3. Consent Calendar
(0:13:23)

 

  1. Motion to approve Lakeside Landing Stage, a mural design by Mike Ritch. The mural will be installed on 2504 Ocean Ave in District 7. The mural measures approximately 5 ft. by 20 ft. 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/Hakimi

The motion was unanimously approved
Ayes:
Ferras, Beltran, Hakimi, Lu, Musleh


4. 2022 Art on Market Street Kiosk Poster Series
(0:15:31)

Program Associate Craig Corpora presented the final designs by Kayan Cheung-Miaw and Vida Kuang for the third installment of the 2022 Art on Market Street Kiosk Poster Series. The artists created 6 designs, four of which will be printed in four languages: Traditional Chinese, English, Spanish and Tagalog. Each poster can be read as a standalone comic or together as a complete story.

In the artists’ project narrative, they state: “the Chinatown we know may not exist soon. Even before the pandemic, Chinatown had many empty storefronts while hungry developers waited close by. Tenants were vulnerable to displacement due to lack of protection and economic instability. The pandemic also escalated the dehumanization of the AAPI communities through racist scapegoating.

Drawing on real life stories from tenants, youth, and elders, each poster presents hand drawn vignettes, highlighting the stories of Chinatown’s denizens. The visual narratives foreground themes of love, caring across generations, survival, and resistance to displacement, and collectively demonstrate how Chinatown residents have contributed to the rich cultural and social legacy of San Francisco.”

There was no public comment.

Motion: to approve the six final designs by Kayan Cheung-Miaw and Vida Kuang for the 2022 Art on Market Street Kiosk Poster Series.
Moved: Beltran/Hakimi

The motion was unanimously approved
Ayes:
Ferras, Beltran, Hakimi, Lu, Musleh


5. 2023 Art on Market Street Kiosk Poster Series
(0:20:36)

Mr. Corpora presented the selected finalists for the 2023 Art on Market Street Kiosk Poster Series as recommended by the review panel on Monday, June 13, 2022. The finalists are Rina Ayuyang, Peter + Maria Hoey, Mari Naomi, Breena Nunez, Minnie Phan, and Triple Dream Comics. Like the previous year, the 2023 series is an all-Comic narrative on the theme of San Francisco. Four artists or artist teams are chosen each year and each artist(s)’ poster series is on display for three months.

The commissioners asked Mr. Corpora about the possibility of adding QR codes to the posters so the public can learn more about the artist and the program and about the archiving and purchasing of the posters. Mr. Corpora responded that some artists are incorporating QR codes but that currently the SFAC website does not have the capacity to be linked to the QR code. Mr. Corpora stated that a smaller archive print of each poster is made and accessioned into the Civic Art Collection and an electronic record made that is added to the kiosk on the SFAC webpage. Additionally, images of each poster are shared on the Art Commission’s social media platforms. Mr. Corpora shared that the artist retains their copyright for the works they create for this program and can sell limited edition prints of their posters. Previously the Arts Commission had offered the posters that were in the kiosks for sale after they came off exhibit, but the program was underutilized and discontinued.

There was no public comment.

Motion: to approve finalists Rina Ayuyang, Peter + Mary Hoey, Mari Naomi, Breena Nunez, Minnie Phan, and Triple Dream Comics for the 2023 Art on Market Street Kiosk Posters Series, as recommended by the Artist Review Panel.
Moved: Beltran/Musleh

The motion was unanimously approved
Ayes:
Ferras, Beltran, Hakimi, Lu, Musleh


6. San Francisco International Airport: Mayor Ed Lee Plaque
(0:43:40)

Project Manager Aleta Lee presented the completed Mayor Ed Lee plaque artwork by Antonio Mendez for the San Francisco International Airport, International Terminal Departure Hall on Aisle 7. Ms. Lee stated that this artwork is under the purview of the San Francisco International Airport and will not become part of the Civic Art Collection. The artwork measures 5 feet by 5 feet, includes a bas relief image of the Mayor and a text panel, and was installed in late April. Mayor Ed Lee’s family was very pleased with the work and was involved throughout the fabrication process.

There was no public comment.

Motion: to approve as installed the completed plaque artwork Mayor Ed Lee Bas Relief Portrait, 2022, bronze, by Antonio Mendez for the San Francisco International Airport, International Terminal Departure Hall.
Moved: Beltran/Lu

The motion was unanimously approved
Ayes:
Ferras, Beltran, Hakimi, Lu, Musleh

THE FOLLOWING ITEM WAS TABLED

7.  San Francisco International Airport: Harvey Milk Terminal 1 – Meet and Greet
Action


Staff Presenter: Aleta Lee
Explanatory Document: Final Design 
Presentation Time: Approximately 5 minutes

Presentation of the Design Development Phase deliverables (revised design) by Suzanne Husky for the San Francisco International Airport: Harvey Milk Terminal 1 – Meet and Greet Area.

Discussion and Possible Action: to approve Design Development Phase deliverables (revised design) by Suzanne Husky for the San Francisco International Airport: Harvey Milk Terminal 1 – Meet and Greet Area.

8. Potrero Gateway
(0:50:54)

Ms. Lee gave a brief description of the Potrero Gateway project and introduced the artist team FutureForms to share the revised artwork design. Public Works has partnered with the Arts Commission for a public artwork installation on Caltrans property under the US101 freeway overpass along 17th street. The artwork will be owned by Caltrans and maintained by the Dogpatch and Potrero Hill Green Benefit District.


The artists shared changes to the project site, including a different color palette, smaller sidewalk dimensions, and shifting wall configurations and fences, which required the initial artwork proposal to evolve. The artwork now consists of four sculptures grouped in two pairs, on the east side of the overpass and one on the west side. The sculptures will be placed within the planters on plinths. Each sculpture is unique with its own scale and configuration. The sculptures are intended to be heavier and more rounded at the base and lighter at the top. The spheres are all different finishes of stainless steel or will be painted with metallic Tnemec paint color.

The commissioners asked about the maintenance and climb ability of the sculptures. The artists shared that the materials should be easily cleaned, especially the lower sections, but are also being designed to be taken apart for easier deep cleaning in the future. Additionally, each sculpture can withstand a few hundred pounds of weight on them if a person were to climb the artwork.


There was no public comment.

Motion: to approve Design Development Phase deliverables (revised design) and Construction Document Phase deliverables (Structural Engineering Drawings) by FutureForms for the Potrero Gateway Project pending approval from Caltrans.
Moved: Musleh/Hakimi

The motion was unanimously approved
Ayes:
Ferras, Beltran, Hakimi, Lu, Musleh


9.  Herz Recreation Center
(1:09:04)

Project Manager Marcus Davies presented Sanjay Vora’s proposal for the Herz Recreation Center Public Art Project as recommended by the artist review panel. Vora describes his proposal as being “a reflection of what was, is and will be in the spaces of the Herz Recreation Plaza and surrounding neighborhoods.” The proposed artwork is comprised of 36 colorful and uniquely paint like triangular tiles and 36 triangular mirror polished stainless-steel tiles that will have both a composite visual painted image interspliced amongst actual reflections of the viewers, the plaza and the park.  The artwork will be both experiential and interactive. The materials will be further studied and developed during the design development phase.


Mr. Davies clarified that the budget listed in the motion is correct and the one listed in the panel summary was a typo.

There was no public comment.

Motion: to approve the artist Sanjay Vora and proposal for the Herz Recreation Center Public Art Project, as recommended by the artist review panel.

Motion: to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with Sanjay Vora for an amount not to exceed $173,500 for the design, fabrication, transportation, and consultation during installation of an artwork for the Herz Recreation Center Public Art Project.

Moved: Beltran/Hakimi

The motion was unanimously approved
Ayes:
Ferras, Beltran, Hakimi, Lu, Musleh


10. Approval of Artist Finalists
(1:17:12)

Civic Art Collection and Public Art Program Director Mary Chou presented a proposal to streamline the artist selection panel process by eliminating the practice of presenting artist finalists for review and approval by the Visual Arts Committee and Full Commission. While it has been the practice to bring the finalists for review, it is a courtesy and not a requirement. There is a resolution on record that allows this step to be skipped. Since both the Visual Arts Committee and the Full Commission only meet once a month, waiting for approval can delay the artist orientation and proposal development by over a month which is challenging for staff and artists as project timelines become progressively aggressive and truncated and adds to the difficulty of scheduling panels and meeting deadlines. Ms. Chou reiterated that since a commissioner serves as a panel member for each panel, there is already committee involvement and knowledge of this step. This would not change the next step in the process and the selected finalist would still be presented and approved at both the Visual Arts Committee and Full Arts Commission meetings.

Commissioner Ferras asked for the original reasoning behind the practice if it was not required. Ms. Chou stated that she believed it had developed to keep Commissioners informed on the rare occasions that a commissioner was unable to serve on a panel. Ms. Chou proposed to maintain this part of the practice, that if a commissioner was unable to serve on a panel for some reason, then that item would be presented at the Visual Arts Committee and Full Commission.

Commissioner Musleh worried about the inability for commissioners to comment on this stage of the process if it is no longer brought before the committee. Ms. Chou reiterated the commissioner and community involvement in the panel process as well the ability for all the commissioners to review all the proposals and comment as the public can take place during the posted public comment period of the proposal review.

Commissioner Hakimi stated that while she understands the extra strain of the current process, she also appreciates that it allows all the commissioners of various backgrounds and experiences to comment on the finalists proposals at the committee meeting, allowing the selected panel commissioner for that project to hear other points of views and comments before the final selection panel.


Commissioner Ferras stated that there were pros and cons to changing the process. She understands the difficulty the current process adds to the timeline but wanted to point out the loss of exposure that the finalists get from their proposals being presented at the committee meetings if that step is removed.

The Commissioners stated that they would like to discuss this more to make sure they really understand the pros and cons of this administrative change and asked the item to be brought again to the next meeting. Ms. Chou said she would make a diagram of the process and bring more information to the discussion at the next meeting but reiterated it was a discussion and not a voting item.


Director of Cultural Affairs Ralph Remington reiterated that this is not a voting item, it is an administrative process so while more discussion can occur there is not an outcome of a vote.

There was no public comment.

11. Staff Report
(1:44:33)

Ms. Chou shared an update on the Monument and Memorial Advisory Committee which had their fourth meeting yesterday, June 14. This committee is an initiative between the Human Rights Commission, the Recreation and Park Department and the San Francisco Arts Commission under a Mayoral directive. The committee has been meeting since January of 2022 and the recordings of past meetings are available on the SFAC website. The next part of the process includes a survey and two community meetings to gather input from the general public about this process and their thoughts on the monuments and memorials in the Civic Art Collection. This information will be used with the committee’s work to generate a report with revised guidelines and recommendations on how to move forward by early 2023. The report will be provided to the Visual Arts Committee for their review and approval prior to presentation for final approval by Full Commission.

Ms. Chou shared that the open call for artists for the SFPUC’s CDD at 2000 Marin Street has been extended until August 26, 2022, due to an extended timeline for the project.

Ms. Chou announced two open positions in the SFAC Galleries: Director of Galleries and Public Programs and Galleries Program Associate.

There was no public comment.

12. New Business and Announcements
(1:49:43)

There was no new business and announcements.

There was no public comment.

13. Adjournment
(1:50:50)


The meeting adjourned at 4:53pm
 

TP 6/23/2022 2:08pm


Notices

Translated written materials and interpretation services are available to you at no cost.
For assistance, please notify Tara Peterson,
tara.peterson@sfgov.org, 415-252-2219.

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如需協助 Tara Peterson, tara.peterson@sfgov.org, 415-252-2219.

Materiales traducidos y servicios de interpretación están disponibles para usted de manera gratuita.
Para asistencia, notifique a Tara Peterson,
tara.peterson@sfgov.org