SAN FRANCISCO ARTS COMMISSION
VISUAL ARTS COMMITTEE
SPECIAL MEETING
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
3 p.m.
401 Van Ness Avenue, Room 125
San Francisco, CA 94102

________________________________________

 Minutes

 

Visual Arts Committee Members:
JD Beltran
Gregory Chew
Dorka Keehn, Chair
Jessica Silverman
Barbara Sklar

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

Commissioners Present:
President Beltran
Commissioner Keehn, Chair
Commissioner Silverman

Commissioners Absent:
Commissioner Chew
Commissioner Sklar

The meeting commenced at 3:07 p.m.

Commissioner Keehn announced that Item # 17 would be severed.

2.            Public Comment
Discussion

Richard Rothman stated that he hoped the Arts Commission could find funding to help conserve the murals at Coit Tower.

3.            San Francisco International Airport
Justine Topfer, SFO Design Team
Action

Project Manager Justine Topfer introduced the SFO Design Team to present the architectural and design overview for the San Francisco International Airport Terminal 1 Redevelopment Project. The Design Team noted the major areas undergoing renovations, detailed the construction phases, and introduced the main design concept of “Bay Area Naturalism.” The Design Team pointed out 12 opportunities identified for public including landmark points, moments along the boarding, mezzanine, and arrival areas, a light installation, and a suspended artwork. Ms. Topfer referred to the public art project outline, discussed the artwork goals, budget and artist selection schedule. 

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

Motion: Motion to approve the public art project outline for the San Francisco International Airport Terminal 1 Redevelopment Project.
Moved: Silverman/Beltran
The motion was unanimously approved

4.            Noe Valley Town Square
Mary Chou, Wowhaus
Action

Project Manager Mary Chou presented the Conceptual Design deliverables by the artist team Wowhaus for the new Noe Valley Town Square. She stated that two versions of the design were displayed on the Arts Commission’s website for public comment: Design #1(revised original), and Design #2 (owls with hearts). During the public comment period Ms. Chou received 24 comments that were largely in favor of Design #1(revised original). She stated that the staff recommendation is to proceed with Design #1(revised original).

Commissioner Keehn called for public comment. 

A Noe Valley resident spoke against both designs by Wowhaus.

Commissioner Silverman stated that a lot of time had been spent on the design revision process and that Wowhaus had done a good job of hearing the concerns of the community.

Motion: Motion to approve Garden Guardians Conceptual Design #1 (revised original), by the artist team Wowhaus for the new Noe Valley Town Square.
Moved: Beltran/Silverman
The motion was unanimously approved

5.            California Arts Council Veterans Initiative Grant Public Programs
Rachelle Axel for Meg Shiffler
Action

Director of Public and Private Partnerships Rachelle Axel presented the upcoming SFAC Galleries’ public programs supported by a California Arts Council Veterans Initiative Grant. She noted that the Arts Commission’s move to the Veteran’s Building and a national movement to engage veterans in the arts had inspired the programs. Ms. Axel presented the work of Drew Cameron, Aaron Hughes, and Krista Denio who will contribute to the programs.

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

Motion: Motion to approve honoraria payments of $500 to Drew Cameron, $250 to Aaron Hughes, and $400 to Krista Denio for their contributions to SFAC Galleries’ Veterans Initiative Grant public programs in June and July, 2016.
Moved:Beltran/Silverman
The motion was unanimously approved

6.            StreetSmARTS
Zoë Taleporos
Action

Program Associate Zoë Taleporos reported that the StreetSmARTS Murals Program will now be administered by the Public Art Program. She described the program as a partnership between the Arts Commission and San Francisco Public Works that pairs artists with private property owners to create murals on their buildings. The goal of the program is to deter ongoing vandalism. Ms. Taleporos explained that a Request for Qualifications was issued and 130 artists responded. An artist selection panel convened to review the submissions, selecting 30 artists to be included in the StreetSmARTS Murals Pool. Ms. Taleporos noted that this Pool will be used to select artists for future mural projects. She then presented samples of work by the artists selected for the Pool.

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

Motion: Motion to approve the following artists for the StreetSmARTS Murals Pool as recommended by the Artist Selection Panel. The pool will be valid for a two year period, expiring at the end of Fiscal Year 2018:

Michael Bartalos
Vibrata Chromodoris
Eddie Colla
George Crampton Glassanos
Paz de la Calzada
Nancy Elliot
Brett Flanigan
Michelle Fleck
Amos Goldbaum
Crystal Hermann
Jesse Hernandez
Jason Jagel
David Kim
Sarah Lee
Kara Maria
Joshua Mays
Cameron Moberg
Brendan Monroe
Lydia Nichols
Eric Norberg
Sirron Norris
Javier Rocabado
Josue Rojas
Jessica Sabogal
Jenny Sharaf
Tenold Sundberg
Twin Walls Mural Company
Jenifer Wofford
Lena Wolf
David Young

Moved:Beltran/Silverman
The motion was unanimously approved

Motion: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with artists from the StreetSmARTS Murals Pool to create murals on private property for an amount not to exceed $8,000. The StreetSmARTS Murals Program is funded by San Francisco Public Works and private property owners. The murals will not become part of the Civic Art Collection.
Moved: Silverman/Beltran
The motion was unanimously approved

7.            Central Subway
Jennifer Lovvorn
Action

Senior Project Manager Jennifer Lovvorn reported that a Request for Proposals was issued for the fabrication of Catherine Wagner’s artwork for Central Subway Yerba Buena/Moscone station. Bidders were required to submit samples of translating the artist’s design into granite that were then evaluated by a panel. Ms. Lovvorn then presented the fabrication sample by the selected bidder, Carlson Arts, LLC. Once the fabricator is placed under contract, they will have an opportunity to do further development of the translation technique.

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

Motion: Motion to approve Carlson Arts, LLC as the selected fabricator for artist Catherine Wagner’s Central Subway Yerba Buena/Moscone station public art project, as recommended by the Artwork Fabricator Selection Panel, and to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to modify Catherine Wagner LLC’s contract to increase the amount from $312,470 to $817,721 (an increase of $505,251) in order to assign the fabrication scope of work by Carlson Arts, LLC to the Catherine Wagner LLC’s contract.
Moved: Beltran/Silverman
The motion was unanimously approved

8.            General Hospital Acute Care Building
Jennifer Lovvorn
Action

Ms. Lovvorn reported that the General Hospital Acute Care Building staff expressed interest in placing corridor murals and exam room art in the Pediatric Emergency Department. She presented the project outline that detailed the locations of the art opportunities, budget, and artist selection timeline. A short list of artists from the StreetSmARTS Murals Pool and the 2015/16 Prequalified Artist pool will be presented to an artist selection panel that will choose finalists to produce proposals for the site. Ms. Lovvorn noted that the hospital staff had initially started the process of selecting an artist on their own, unaware of the Arts Commission’s role and procedures. Since the artist selected by hospital staff had already produced a design proposal, he will be included as a finalist for the opportunity.

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

Motion: Motion to approve the project outline for the General Hospital Acute Care Building Pediatric Emergency Department Murals and Exam Room Art.
Moved: Beltran/Silverman
The motion was unanimously approved

9.            San Francisco International Airport

A. International Gate Rooms
Justine Topfer
Action

Ms. Topfer presented the selected finalists for the San Francisco International Airport Gate Rooms. She stated that an artist selection panel recently reviewed 164 portfolios of artists that responded to a Request for Qualifications. Of the 164, the panel selected eight to create proposals for four artwork opportunities. Ms. Topfer then presented examples of previous work by the eight finalists: Kim Anno, Kota Ezawa, Suzanne Husky, Chris Johanson, Shaun O’Dell, Leah Rosenberg, Alice Shaw, and Hank Willis Thomas.

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

Motion: Motion to approve the following artist as finalists for the San Francisco International Airport Gate Rooms as recommended by the Artist Selection Panel: Kim Anno, Kota Ezawa, Suzanne Husky, Chris Johanson, Shaun O’Dell, Leah Rosenberg, Alice Shaw, and Hank Willis Thomas.
Moved: Beltran/Silverman
The motion was unanimously approved

B. Terminal 1, Interim Boarding Area B
Justine Topfer
Action

Ms. Topfer presented Kota Ezawa’s Design Development phase deliverables for the Peephole Cinema project at San Francisco International Airport, Terminal 1, Boarding Area B. The project is an animated video depicting the Apollo 11 moon landing event of 1963. The video is one of two by the artist that will be displayed in the Peephole Cinema.

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

Motion: Motion to approve the Design Development phase deliverables by Kota Ezawa for the Peephole Cinema project at San Francisco International Airport, Terminal 1, Boarding Area B.
Moved: Beltran/Silverman
The motion was unanimously approved

10.          Outdoor Large Scale Sculptures Pool
Jill Manton
Action

Director of Public Art Trust and Special Initiatives Jill Manton presented the selected artists for the Outdoor Large Scale Sculptures Pool.  She stated that an artist selection panel recently reviewed 24 portfolios of artists that responded to a Request for Qualifications. Of the 24, the panel selected five to be included in the Pool that will be used for temporary public art projects in City parks and plazas. Ms. Manton added that since the pool had a limited number of artists, she will conduct additional artist outreach for upcoming opportunities.

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

Motion: Motion to approve the following artists for inclusion in the Outdoor Large Scale Sculptures Pool as recommended by the Artist Selection Panel. The Pool will be used for the loan of sculptures for outdoor exhibitions in City parks and plazas:

Ars Citizen
Bruce Beasley
Jimmy Chion
Joey Enos
HYBYCOZO

Moved: Silverman/Beltran
The motion was unanimously approved

11.          Fire Station #5
Marcus Davies
Action

Project manager Marcus Davies presented the selected artist for an artwork at Fire Station #5. Mr. Davies said that an artist selection panel convened on April 26th to review the conceptual proposals by three finalists: Bernadette Jiyong Frank, Ron Moultrie Saunders, and Amanda Weil. After review and discussion, the panel unanimously voted for Bernadette Jiyong Frank. Mr. Davies then showed images of the artist’s proposal and past work.

Commissioner Keehn asked President Beltran, who participated on the panel, to describe the rationale for selecting the artist. President Beltran stated that of the three finalists, Frank’s proposal was the most connected to the neighborhood and suited to the particular architectural constraints of the building.

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

Motion: Motion to approve Bernadette Jiyong Frank’s conceptual proposal for an artwork at Fire Station #5, as recommended by the Artist Selection Panel.
Moved: Silverman/Beltran
The motion was unanimously approved

Motion: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with artist Bernadette Jiyong Frank for the design and implementation of an artwork for Fire Station #5 in an amount not to exceed $90,380.
Moved: Silverman/Beltran
The motion was unanimously approved

12.          Moscone Expansion Project
Marcus Davies
Action

Mr. Davies presented the Design Development phase deliverables by Leo Villareal for the enclosed pedestrian bridge artwork as part of the Moscone Expansion Project. He noted that the artist’s original design had ended at the bridge passageway. However, the artist and stakeholders wished to see the artwork continued into the building to have a more fluid look from the exterior view and a seamless quality from the interior experience. Mr. Davies stated that the artwork would have to be extended by 15 feet in order to achieve this effect. Given the budget constraints for additional materials, the artist is proposing to widen the spacing between the artwork’s hanging rods. The rod’s lengths will be shortened to allow for a consistent clearance across the bridge . The new proposal will maintain 9 feet in height. Mr. Davies said that the artist felt this approach to expanding his artwork will not alter its intended effect.

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

Motion: Motion to approve the Design Development phase deliverables by Leo Villareal for the enclosed pedestrian bridge artwork as part of the Moscone Expansion Project.
Moved:Beltran/Silverman
The motion was unanimously approved

13. Van Ness Bus Rapid Transit
Justine Topfer
Discussion

Ms. Topfer presented Jorge Pardo’s new Conceptual Design for the Van Ness Bus Rapid Transit Project. The artwork consists of 26 painted steel, fiberglass, and polycarbonate forms grouped at the North and Southbound stations at Van Ness Avenue and McAllister Street. Each station will have a grouping of 13 sculptures that will be lit at night. Ms. Topfer stated that because of their location in front of City Hall, the sculptures will be presented to the Historic Preservation Commission (“HPC”) for approval.

Commissioner Keehn stated that she was enthusiastic about these locations and supported presenting the artwork to the HPC.

Director of Cultural Affairs Tom DeCaigny suggested confirming the final design of the bus station and safety barrier design as those details could alter the artist’s design.

Ms. Topfer introduced Jorge Pardo to speak about his design. Mr. Pardo stated that the artwork compliments the architecture of Civic Center and felt the locations were appropriate.

The Commissioners spoke in favor of the design and felt it would prominently identify the transit line.

Ms. Topfer stated that the design will be displayed in a public location near the project site and on the Arts Commission’s website for public comment. After that, the Conceptual Design will return to the Committee for approval in the upcoming months.

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

THE FOLLOING ITEM WAS SEVERED FROM THE AGENDA

14. Moscone Parking Garage
Jessica Shaefer, Sites Unseen, Inc.
Discussion

Informational presentation of the revised mural designs by Barry McGee for the Moscone Parking Garage.

15.          New Business, Old Business, and Announcements
Discussion

Mr. Davies reported that the sculpture Zephyros by Rebar Art and Design Studio at Palega Playground had been critically compromised due to a shearing of bolts at the baseplate. Because of this the sculpture was removed and temporarily placed in storage. He stated that a forensic investigation is underway to determine the cause of the bolt failure and the feasibility of an eventual reinstallation.

16.          Adjournment
Action

The meeting adjourned at 4:53p.m.

ZT 6/9/2016 4:45 pm

Notices

Translated written Amaterials and interpretation services are available to you at no cost.
For assistance, please notify Zoë Taleporos, zoe.taleporos@sfgov.org, 415-252-3215.

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，Zoë Taleporos, zoe.taleporos@sfgov.org, 415-252-3215.

Materiales traducidos y servicios de interpretación están disponibles para usted de manera gratuita.
Para asistencia, notifique a Zoë Taleporos, zoe.taleporos@sfgov.org, 415-252-3215.

 

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 Zoë Taleporos, zoe.taleporos@sfgov.org, 415-252-3215.