SAN FRANCISCO ARTS COMMISSION
VISUAL ARTS COMMITTEE
Wednesday, August 17, 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 Chew
Commissioner Keehn, Chair

Commissioners Absent:
Commissioner Silverman
Commissioner Sklar
The meeting commenced at 3:06 p.m.

Commission Keehn announced Item 6B would be tabled.
Commissioner Keehn called for public comment. There was no public comment.

2. Public Comment
Discussion
Commissioner Keehn called for public comment. There was no public comment.

3. Consent Calendar
Action

1. Motion to approve the design of The OMI Mural, a painted mural, by artist Maximilian “Max” Landis Marttila that will be painted on a wall of Lacy’s Barbershop at 101 Broad Street. The painted mural will measure approximately 21 ft. by 32-1/2 ft. The project is funded with a grant from the San Francisco Arts Commission and is sponsored by the Precita Eyes Muralists; the painted mural will not become part of the Civic Art Collection.

2. Motion to approve Design Development deliverables (color palette, text layout and arrow design) for Scott Oliver’s artwork, Points of Departure, for the Masonic Avenue Streetscape Improvement Project.

3. Motion to authorize an increase to ARG Conservation Services’ contract in the amount of $249,000 (from $500,000 to $749,000) to perform fine art conservation services for miscellaneous artworks, including the structural stabilization and treatment for William McKinley, 1904 by Robert Ingersoll Aitken (SFAC Accession No. 1904.2) and the restoration of Whales, 1939 by Robert B. Howard (SFAC Accession No. 1940.10).

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

Motion: Motion to approve consent calendar items.
Moved: Beltran/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

4. SFAC Galleries
Meg Shiffler

Galleries Director Meg Shiffler presented an overview of two upcoming exhibitions being developed for the SFAC Grove Street Window Installation Site.  An exhibit of work by Stephanie Robison will be on view September 23 through December 30, 2016. Robison’s practice revolves around a playful manipulation of materials. Her sculptures and installations often mimic forms everyday forms – from clouds to scaffolding, pillows to umbrellas, in cartoonish forms and colors.  Following Robison an exhibit of work by Eli Thorne will be on view January 13 through March 31, 2017. Thorne explores visual displays of maleness through sculpture, paintings, and drawings that often find inspiration from athleticism, sports culture, and the American West and his experience as trans-male.

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

Motion: Motion to approve artist honoraria in the amount of $2000 for each of the following artists: Stephanie Robison and Eli Thorne. The honorarium is for artist research and development of new installations for the SFAC Grove Street Window Installation Site at 155 Grove Street.
Moved: Beltran/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

5. Jane Warner Plaza
Jill Manton and Andrea Aiello, Executive Director Castro/Upper Market CBD
Action

Castro/Upper Market CBD Executive Director Andrea Aiello presented a public art proposal for Jane Warner Plaza. The temporary art installation entitled The Seed, by the artist collective Aphidoidea. The artwork, in the form of dandelion seeds, consists of six internally illuminated sculptures to be installed in existing planter boxes at the site. The temporary art project will be on view May 2017 to June 2020 and is funded by the Office of Economic & Workforce Development. The Castro/Upper Market CBD is sponsoring the project and has obtained conceptual approval from the required City agencies; Public Utilities Commission, Public Works and the Municipal Transportation Agency.

The Commissioners inquired about technical details regarding lighting and drainage. Ms. Aiello confirmed that the sculptures will be hardwired to existing electrical boxes, the light sequence will be automatically timed and there is sufficient drainage.

Commissioner Keehn called for public comment. Castro/Upper Market CBD board member Brian Gougherty, also Chair of the District Identity and Streetscape Improvement Committee, stated that he and the community are in support of the project.

Motion: Motion to approve the temporary display of The Seed, consisting of six sculptures with lighting, by Aphidoidea, designed for Jane Warner Plaza, located at Castro and Market Streets, pending final permitting from Public Works. The sculptures vary in height between 11 ft., 9 in. and 13 ft., with an approximate diameter of 4 ft., 8in. and are planned for display beginning May, 2017 and completing June, 2020. The project is sponsored by the Castro/Upper Market Community Benefit District and funded by the Office of Economic & Workforce Development.
Moved: Beltran/Chew­­
The motion was unanimously approved

6. San Francisco International Airport
Justine Topfer

A. International Gate Rooms
Action

Project Manager Justine Topfer presented artwork proposals selected for the SFO International Gate rooms by artists Kota Ezawa, Suzanne Husky, Leah Rosenberg and Alice Shaw.  She thanked President Beltran for serving on the selection panel, who stated that the selections were of exceptional caliber.

All of the proposals presented from each artist are in keeping with their current practices. Kota Ezawa’s piece, entitled Mondrian Meets the Beatles, will be graphic layering of plywood cutouts with an image of the Beatles juxtaposed over an artwork by Mondrian. Suzanne Husky’s piece, entitled Close Encounters with the California Sublime, features an altered painting of an image by landscape painter William Keith. Leah Rosenberg’s piece, entitled Everywhere, a Color, will be an abstract map of San Francisco based upon colors collected in and around San Francisco. Lastly, Alice Shaw’s piece, entitled Not Other Lands Their Glory Know, will be a black and white photographic image of a redwood grove with gold leaf.  The final artworks will be roughly in 20 ft. by 25 ft.

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

Motion: Motion to approve the selected artists, Kota Ezawa, Suzanne Husky, Leah Rosenberg and Alice Shaw for the San Francisco International Airport, International Terminals, Gate rooms A and G opportunities as recommended by the San Francisco International Airport IT Gate room Selection Panel.
Moved: Beltran/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

Motion: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with Kota Ezawa for an amount not to exceed $135,000 for an artwork at the International Terminal, Gate rooms, San Francisco International Airport.
Moved: Beltran/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

Motion: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with Suzanne Husky for an amount not to exceed $135,000 for an artwork at the International Terminal, Gate Rooms, San Francisco International Airport.
Moved: Chew/Keehn
The motion was approved

Motion: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with Leah Rosenberg for an amount not to exceed $135,000 for an artwork at the International Terminal, Gate Rooms, San Francisco International Airport.
Moved: Beltran/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

Motion: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with Alice Shaw for an amount not to exceed $135,000 for an artwork at the International Terminal, Gate Rooms, San Francisco International Airport.
Moved: Beltran/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

THE FOLLOWING ITEM WAS TABLED

B. Terminal 1 Redevelopment Project
Action
Explanatory Documents: Project Outline
Presentation Time: Approximately 7 minutes

Presentation of the public art project outline for the San Francisco International Airport Terminal 1 Redevelopment Project.

Motion: Motion to approve the public art project outline for the San Francisco International Airport Terminal 1 Redevelopment Project.

C. Peephole Cinema Project
Action

Ms. Topfer presented the Final Design Development for artworks (short films) by Laurie O’Brien, Kota Ezawa and Signe Baumane for the Peephole Cinema project at San Francisco International Airport, Terminal 1, Boarding Area B.  She reminded the Committee that the artists are part of the first iteration, of which there will be three over a four year timeline of the project, as Terminal 1 is being redeveloped.  All films were viewed with the exception of one by Kota Ezawa which will be presented for final approval at a future Committee meeting. Additionally, Ms. Topfer has contracted local designer and sign painter Jeff Canham to hand paint the wall graphics surrounding the peepholes.

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

Motion: Motion to approve the films, Emilia The Typist and Jack's City, by Laurie O’Brien for the Peephole Cinema project at San Francisco International Airport, Terminal 1, Boarding Area B.
Moved: Beltran/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

THE FOLLOWING ITEM WAS AMENDED

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

Motion: Motion to approve the films, ABC of Travel and The Purpose of Travel, by Signe Baumane for the Peephole Cinema project at San Francisco International Airport, Terminal 1, Boarding Area B.
Moved: Beltran/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

7. Traffic Company and Forensic Science Division
Marcus Davies
Action

Project Manager Marcus Davies presented the project outline for the new Traffic Company and Forensic Science Division building, located at the intersection of Evans Avenue and Toland Street. The building will be shared by the San Francisco Police Department’s Traffic Company and Forensic/CSI Division. Due to the security of the building, there will be little publicly accessible areas. The opportunities for artworks have been identified as the plaza at the building’s southwest corner and a concrete wall banding the façade and entry of the building at street-level. The plaza project will be budgeted at $350,000, and the concrete band and entry at $775,000. A Request for Qualifications (“RFQ”) will be posted in late September and the selected artists should be under contract in early 2017.

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

Motion: Motion to approve the public art project outline for the Traffic Safety and Forensic Science Division building.
Moved: Beltran/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

8. Rossi Pool
Marcus Davies
Action

Mr. Davies presented the selected finalists for the Rossi Pool Improvement Project: Owen Smith; Nikki McClure; Kelly Ording; and alternate Lordy Rodriguez. The artists will all develop conceptual proposals for the project with the exception of Nikki McClure who has decided not to continue in the selection process due to prior commitments. As a result, Lordy Rodriguez will be a finalist.

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

Motion: Motion to approve the selected finalists Owen Smith, Nikki McClure, Kelly Ording, and alternate Lordy Rodriguez, as recommended by the Rossi Pool Public Art Selection Panel to develop conceptual proposals for the Rossi Pool Improvement Project.
Moved: Beltran/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

9. Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center
Zoë Taleporos
Action

Program Associate Zoë Taleporos presented the artwork of the selected finalists for the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center Pediatric Emergency Department Mural and Exam Room Art Project. One of the finalists will be selected for all of the project opportunities which include: a large entrance mural; murals outside the entrances to five exam rooms; and several framed reproductions printed on aluminum.

She reminded the Committee that the project had originally been initiated by Hospital staff who mistakenly circumventing the Arts Commission’s jurisdiction and that as part of the project transition to the Arts Commission, the Commission had approved having Sirron Norris be one of the three finalists for this project (RESOLUTION NO. 0606-16-179).

Ms. Taleporos reported that an artist selection panel recently convened to determine the two additional project finalists. They reviewed the qualifications of ten artists selected by Arts Commission staff from the 2015/16 Prequalified Artist Pool, the 2015/16 Two-Dimensional Artwork Registry, and the 2016/17 StreetSmARTS Murals Pool. The panel selected Michael Bartalos, Annie Galvin, and alternate Misako Miki.

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

Motion: Motion to approve the following finalists and alternate for the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center Pediatric Emergency Department Mural and Exam Room Art Project as recommended by the Artist Selection Panel: Michael Bartalos, Annie Galvin, Sirron Norris and alternate Misako Miki.
Moved: Beltran/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

10. Southeast Wastewater Treatment Plant (SEP) – Headworks Building
Mary Chou
Action

Commissioner Keehn provided a brief summary of the approval status with Civic Design Review (“CDR”) Committee regarding the Headworks Building of the PUC’s Southeast Wastewater Treatment Plant (SEP) project, located in Bayview Hunters Point.  She stated the overall project had been reviewed by CDR, however, the art locations identified by the architects were placeholders and the goal is to have the selected artist work with the architects to create an artwork integrated with the wall façade. She also stated that she invited PUC to present their story and vision of the improved SEP at VAC next month so that staff can develop a curatorial vision for the public art program at the plant.

Project Manager Mary Chou presented the public art project outline for the SEP Headworks Building. As background, she explained that the Headworks Building is one project within a series of improvements at the SEP, which will be conducted in two phases over twenty years. For Phase I, staff and the PUC have identified the first major opportunity on the new wall façade at the Headworks building, which starts at the main truck entrance to the plant, at the corner of Evans and Rankin, and continues down Evans for approximately 800 - 1000 linear feet.

She explained the design of the building is approaching 65% completion and the SFAC would like to engage an artist as soon as possible to work with PUC’s design team and stakeholders on integrating art on the wall façade.  Due to the fast-track schedule, rather than post an RFQ, staff proposes using the 2015/16 Pre-Qualified Pool, with approval for a one-time use of the Pool for this project which exceeds the Pool’s approved budget threshold of $500,000.. Staff will also include artists who have been on pre-qualified lists for past projects that may be appropriate for this opportunity. Commissioners expressed concerns in expanding the current cap of $500,000 and that the quality and caliber of the artist in the existing pools may not be sufficient. Ms. Chou recommended a Commissioner participate in the Qualification Panel process to establish the short list of artists to be presented to the panel.

Senior Project Manager Jennifer Lovvorn stated that because the Headworks design is already at 65%, it is necessary to fast track the artist selection so as to not miss out on the opportunity to have an artist work with the architects while they are still in design phase which will allow for the artwork to be integrated into the design of the wall facade. She stated that SFAC will be working with PUC and the community to develop an art master plan for the SEP for both phases of the project that will include a range of artwork opportunities, and include significant outreach to local artists.

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

Motion: Motion to approve the public art project outline for the Headworks Building of the Southeast Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Moved: Beltran/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

Director Tom DeCaigny acknowledged the great partnership with PUC and stated that the community benefits of this project as a whole are to be commended.

11. New Business, Old Business, and Announcements
Discussion

President Beltran announced she has a film on view at the Peephole Cinema in Orange Alley.

12. Adjournment
Action

The meeting adjourned at 4:22 p.m.

JDC 8/29/16

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.

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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.