SAN FRANCISCO ARTS COMMISSION
VISUAL ARTS COMMITTEE
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
3 p.m.
401 Van Ness Avenue, Room 125
San Francisco, CA 94102
________________________________________

Minutes

Committee Members: JD Beltran, Greg Chew, Dorka Keehn, Jessica Silverman, Barbara Sklar

1.            Roll Call

Commissioners Present:
President JD Beltran
Commissioner Greg Chew
Commissioner Dorka Keehn, Chair
Commissioner Jessica Silverman, arrived 3:06 p.m.
Commissioner Barbara Sklar

The meeting commenced at 3:02 p.m.

2.            Public Comment

Commissioner Keehn called for public comment. There was no public comment.

3.            SFAC Galleries
Meg Shiffler
Discussion

Galleries Director Meg Shiffler reviewed SFAC Galleries strategic plan alignment objectives and discussed how the implementation of programs will be affected by circumstances related to resources and capacity, especially in anticipation of the new gallery space opening in January 2016.  She noted that although the objectives remain the same, no staffing or programmatic funds have been added this fiscal year. Therefore, pending additional resources, only exhibition-related public programs will take place;  youth educational tours will not take place; two (instead of three) exhibitions will be planned for City Hall for 2016;  there will not be any additional open calls for juried exhibits except the already scheduled exhibit Chain Reaction; a curatorial fellowship program will not take place; plans for a gallery store are on hold; the gallery will not be open during evening events at the Herbst Theatre; and adjustments to the exhibition schedule may become necessary.

Director Tom DeCaigny asked the Committee for input regarding the future of programmatic priorities. The Committee discussed their concerns about the degree to which programs will need to be scaled back.  The Committee suggested researching ways to secure resources and leverage partnerships to underwrite the costs of exhibitions and other public programs.

Commissioner Keehn called for public comment. There was no public comment.

Ms. Shiffler reminded the Committee that the grand opening of the new Galleries space will take place on January 22, 2016 from 6-9 p.m. 

4.            Precita Eyes Mural at Laguna Honda Hospital
Susan Pontious
Action

Program Director Susan Pontious presented plans to expand the mural Celebrating 150 Years of Compassionate, Dedicated Service to the Community at Laguna Honda Hospital. Precita Eyes Muralists have applied for funding from District 7’s Participatory Budgeting Grant to extend an additional 150 feet of the mural to the 200 foot mural already approved and near completion. The project is supported by Laguna Honda Hospital and the Midtown Terrace Association. Ms. Pontious explained that the mural project has been community driven and is a self-funded project.  She reminded the Committee that all mural reviews that come before the Committee are being tracked by staff but staff is not involved in the artist selection process.

Commissioner Keehn called for public comment. There was no public comment.

Motion: Motion to approve the site proposed for the expansion of the mural, Celebrating 150 Years of Compassionate, Dedicated Service to the Community, by artists Elaine Chu and Yukako Ezoe Onodera at Laguna Honda Hospital located at 375 Laguna Honda Boulevard. If artists are successful in obtaining funding for the project, they will return for mural design approval as per the Arts Commission’s guidelines at a later date.
Moved: Sklar/Beltran
The motion was unanimously approved

5.            Huntington Park: Restoration and Conservation of Fountain of the Tortoises and Dancing Sprites
Allison Cummings
Staff Report

Senior Registrar Allison Cummings presented images and an overview of the recently completed restoration projects at Huntington Park in the Nob Hill neighborhood. Fountain of the Tortoises, reproduction circa 1900 of original by Giacomo Della Porta, marble and bronze (SFAC Accession Number 1954.18) and Dancing Sprites, circa 1942 by Henri Leon Greber, bronze (SFAC Accession Number 1942.1) both underwent significant conservation to sculptural elements and complete replacement of plumbing systems. The project had been funded through the Nob Hill Association along with the support of Public Works (“PW”) and in coordination with other park renovations which included new turf and lighting.

Commissioner Keehn called for public comment. There was no public comment.

6.            1500 Mission Street: Preliminary Plan
Susan Pontious
Discussion

Ms. Pontious presented the preliminary development plans for 1500 Mission Street and potential locations for public art project opportunities. She explained that the project will be a mixed private and public funded development and will generate art enrichment funds through both the 1% and 2% for art requirements, anticipated to total six million dollars.  Possible sites may include:  the corner of South Van Ness and Mission Street; the central pedestrian corridor; the atrium lobby and the permit center. The project is expected to begin in 2017-2018.

Commissioner Keehn called for public comment. There was no public comment.

7.            John O'Connell High School
Susan Pontious
Action

Ms. Pontious introduced Marisha Farnsworth, Hallie Chen and Craig Hollow, who are seeking approval of a sculpture installation designed for John O’Connell High School. The design was a collaborative effort that involved the high school students.. The sculpture was designed to be a playful bike rack, installed in front of the school.

Director Pontious and the Committee raised concerns about liability because the proposed design could be considered an enticing structure upon which children would climb and play.The Committee decided that PW should be the authority on the safety of the proposed design.  The designers were encouraged to obtain approval by PW before returning for Arts Commission approval.

THE FOLLOWING ITEM WAS TABLED

Motion: Motion to approve a sculpture installation, designed by Marisha Farnsworth, Hallie Chen and Craig Hollow, located in front of John O’Connell High School on Folsom Street. The project is funded through a grant from the non-profit Kaboom and the Super Bowl 50 Fund.

Commissioner Keehn called for public comment.  Craig Hollow thanked the Committee for their input and their consideration.

8.            New Business, Old Business, and Announcements
Discussion

Commissioner Keehn called for public comment.

President Beltran stated that the National Endowment for the Arts had just announced increased budgets for the coming year.

Director DeCaigny announced that the Arts Commission received a $35,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to help artists access affordable housing. The Commission will re-grant the funds through a competitive process in order to connect artists to existing City resources with the support and partnership of the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development.

Commissioner Keehn thanked and congratulated the staff and the Committee for their accomplishments in 2015.

9.            Adjournment
Action

The meeting adjourned at 4:11 p.m.

JDC 12/29/15
JDC 1/04/15, Item #8 edited

Notices

Translated written materials and interpretation services are available to you at no cost.
For assistance, please notify Jenn Doyle Crane, jennifer.crane@sfgov.org, 415-252-2224.

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，Jenn Doyle Crane, jennifer.crane@sfgov.org, 415-252-2224.

Materiales traducidos y servicios de interpretación están disponibles para usted de manera gratuita.
Para asistencia, notifique a Jenn Doyle Crane, jennifer.crane@sfgov.org, 415-252-2224.

Ang mga materyales na nakasalin sa ibang wika at ang mga serbisyong tagapagsalin sa wika ay walang bayad. Para sa tulong, maaring i-contact si a Jenn Doyle Crane, jennifer.crane@sfgov.org, 415-252-2224.