SAN FRANCISCO ARTS COMMISSION
VISUAL ARTS COMMITTEE
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
3 p.m.
401 Van Ness Avenue, Room 125
San Francisco, CA 94102

________________________________________

Minutes

 

Visual Arts Committee Members:
JD Beltran, President
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 Sklar
Commissioner Silverman

Commissioners Absent:
Commissioner Keehn, Chair

The meeting commenced at 3:04 p.m.

Commission Sklar announced that public comment would be limited to two minutes per person.

Commissioner Silverman arrived at 3:05pm

2.            Public Comment
Discussion

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

3.            Consent Calendar
Action

1. Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to increase Magna Chrome’s contract from $418,945 to $562,701 (an increase of $143,756) for the fabrication of 65 additional artworks reproductions for Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center.

2. Motion to approve the updated list of artworks for purchase and display inside the new Office of the Chief Medical Examiner:

Sure Blue, Oil on wood panel, 44 in. by 51 in., by Suzy Barnard;

Preferring the poetic, Acrylic, 50 in. by 40 in., by Elaine Coombs;

Rodeo Beach Sunny, Oil on paper, 20 in. by 30 in., by Stanley Goldstein;

Rise-Fall, Acrylic on canvas, 48 in. by 48 in., by Beryl Landau;

Twin Palms, Acrylic on canvas, 24 in. by 24 in., by Beryl Landau;

Mt. Diablo from San Bruno Mountain, Acrylic on canvas, 24 in. by 24 in., by Beryl Landau;

Walking Along, Acrylic on canvas, 24 in. by 24 in., by Beryl Landau;

Gateway, Acrylic on canvas over panel, 36 in. by 24 in., by Alan Mazzetti;

Higher Heights, Acrylic, 48 in. by 44 in., by Alan Mazzetti;

Dune Trail, Photography, 24 in. by 36 in., by Wendell Shin;

Man and His Best Friend, Photography, 20 in. by 30 in., by Wendell Shin;

Dumbarton Bridge – 3, Photography, 32 in. by 40 in., by Donna J. Wan

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

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

4.            “Comfort Women” Memorial Plaque and Signage Text Approval
Susan Pontious and “Comfort Women” Justice Committee Co-Chairs Julie Tang and Lillian Sing
Action

Presentation of the proposed plaque text for the “Comfort Women” Memorial at St. Mary’s Square Extension.

Director of Cultural Affairs Tom DeCaigny opened the conversation by stating the “Comfort Women” Memorial is a proposed gift to the city and stated on today’s agenda, this item would focus exclusively on the memorial plaque text. Director DeCaigny thanked the public and community for the letters and statements submitted to the Arts Commission on this issue.

Ms. Pontious requested the proposed signage text to appear on the screen for everyone to view.

“Comfort Women” Justice Committee (“CWJC”) Co-Chairs Julie Tang and Lillian Sing presented the CWJC’s review of the memorial plaque text. Judge Tang stated how the process allowed for the CWJC to reach out to all the communities, in particular the Japanese American community. Judge Tang emphasized the importance of moving the “Comfort Women” Memorial art installation forward quickly. She stated that average age of the surviving “Comfort Women” is 95.

Commissioner Sklar called for public comment.

On behalf of the “Comfort Women” Justice Coalition, former Congressman Mike Honda thanked and commended the Committee for working diligently on the “Comfort Women” Memorial. Mr. Honda stated that the proposed plaque text is accurate because it describes past actions fairly and reasonably.

Karen Korematsu of the Fred T. Korematsu Institute stated the proposed inscription will create a safer place and set the bar high for human rights issues. Ms. Korematsu is working on adding “Comfort Women” to the public school educational curriculum. 

Cecilia Gaerlan of the Bataan Legacy Historical Society approves of the “Comfort Women” Memorial inscription in its entirety, as it will help educate the public about the challenges of freedom.

Caryl Ito stated, “We are at the final stage of the Memorial’s approval with the proposed transcription which has been improved with some community input and compromise. However, I continue to object to statements that create controversy and disharmony due to historical lack of agreement of what has be done among the impacted nations…Therefore, in the interest of reconciliation and really furthering the compassion and understanding how wars have destroyed humanity and women, that you consider removing the following details that have been disputed as being factual truths: Strike out, the dispute over the numbers of women effected, ‘200,000 women and girls.’ Strike out the sentence, ‘This dark history was hidden for decades until the 1990s when survivors courageously broker their silence.’”

Robert Rusky stated the Commission should approve the text with exception of stating “so-called ‘Comfort Women’” and replace the term with “euphemistically called.”

Another comment from the public stated that the “Comfort Women” should be included in history and education curriculum.

Karen Kai stated how important it is to recognize justice and to acknowledge that the “Comfort Women” stories were hidden from history until the 1990s. Ms. Kai appreciated the heartfelt effort of the text.

Sandy Mori stated that everything in the text should be factual and reconciliation is the main focus.

Judith Mirkinson of the National Lawyers Guild stated that the 200,000 “Comfort Women” was an amount estimated in the 1990s, but currently is estimated to be around 500,000. Ms. Mirkinson stated that the plaque text should state “hundreds of thousands.”

Henry Der stated that it is important to respect, honor, and recognize the “Comfort Women.” Mr. Der stated that the text is a great compromise but that the numbers are important for people to understand the magnitude of this dark history and the courage it took for women to break their silence. 

Commissioner Beltran stated that there are two areas that she suggests the Commissioners review due to language. Commissioner Beltran reviewed the definition of “so-called” and asked the Commissioners to either eliminate that term or simply revise it. The second area revolved around the number of “Comfort Women” stated on the plaque text. Since the number of women involved is an estimate, the plaque should not name a specific number.

On behalf of the CWJC, Judge Tang stated that the Coalition accepts the Commissioners request to change “so-called” to “euphemistically called” and eliminate “over 200,000” to “hundreds of thousands.” Director DeCaigny stated that because these are singular word changes, the Committee could pass a motion with these small changes.

Commissioner Sklar stated she wanted to see these changes added to the motion and requested that the newly revised text (excluding the opening quotation), be read aloud before passing the motion.

Ms. Pontious read the text as revised:

This monument bears witness to the suffering of hundreds of thousands of women and girls, so-called ‘Comfort Women,’ who were sexually enslaved by the Japanese Imperial Armed Forces in thirteen Asian-Pacific countries from 1931 to 1945. Most of these women died during their wartime captivity. This dark history was hidden for decades until the 1990s, when the survivors courageously broke their silence. They helped move the world to declare that sexual violence as a strategy of war is a crime against humanity for which governments must be held accountable.This memorial is dedicated to the memory of these women, and to the crusade to eradicate sexual violence and sex trafficking throughout the world.

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

Motion: Motion to approve the text as revised for the identification plaque for the “Comfort Women” Memorial, entitled Women’s Column of Strength, designed by Steven Whyte. The memorial is an intended gift to the City from the “Comfort Women” Justice Coalition to be installed in St. Mary’s Square Extension.
Moved: Beltran/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

The "Comfort Women" Memorial identification plaque text was revised once more at Full Commission on February 6, 2017. The text reads as follows:

This monument bears witness to the suffering of hundreds of thousands of women and girls, euphemistically called "Comfort Women," who were sexually enslaved by the Japanese Imperial Armed Forces in thirteen Asian-Pacific countries from 1931 to 1945. Most of these women died during their wartime captivity. This dark history was largely hidden for decades until the 1990s, when the survivors courageously broke their silence. They helped move the world to declare that sexual violence as a strategy of war is a crime against humanity for which goverments must be held accountable. This memorial is dedicated to the memory of these women, and to eradicating sexual violence and sex trafficking throughout the world. 

5.            Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture – MoreLab
Jill Manton and Matthew Passmore
Action

President Beltran recused herself as a board member of Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture.

Director of Public Art Trust and Special Initiatives Jill Manton introduced MoreLab Founder and artist Matthew Passmore for the presentation of the final design of a sculpture entitled, Tied/Untied by MoreLab, for the Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture. Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture Events and Operations Director Patrick Hajduk was also introduced for his support on the project.

Ms. Manton stated it was important to bring this project to the Commission because the artwork will be located on both state historic property and property under the jurisdiction of the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department. The artwork by MoreLab is privately funded and is a temporary project.

Mr. Passmore stated that Tied/Untied consists of swooping railroad tracks that form a nautical knot in the process of being tied. The design of the artwork is intended to reference the nautical history of Fort Mason, Mr. Passmore stated the scale of the tall loop has a height of 15 ft. and the shorter loop has a height of 6 ft.

Mr. Passmore stated that MoreLab will probably not use actual railroad track. They will create their own track using COR-TEN steel instead. There will also be a ground lighting system using amber-colored LED lights.

In regards to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), Ms. Pontious and Ms. Manton previously met with Mr. Passmore and Mr. Hajduk to discuss options for different barrier and surface treatments under the piece to distinguish there is a boundary around the art, as well as ways to avoid the COR-TEN steel staining the ground.

Ms. Pontious stated that a tactile barrier in the form of a change in surface treatment is probably not enough for ADA compliance where there is an overhead obstruction. Mr. Hajduk mentioned that they are engaged in a conversation with the Recreation and Parks Department to discuss ADA compliance around the artwork.

Mr. Hajduk stated that they have engaged with the neighboring associations, National Park Services, and community to get public comment regarding the temporary artwork. 

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

Commissioner Sklar said the motion, if approved, would be pending ADA compliance.

Motion: Motion to approve a temporary sculpture installation, titled Tide/Untied, by artists MoreLab. The sculpture will be comprised of COR-TEN steel rail which will stand at 15-1/2 ft. by 13-1/2 ft. by 34 ft. and will be on exhibit at the entrance of Fort Mason Center for a duration of seven years, commencing July 2017 through July 2024. The artwork is commissioned by Fort Mason Art and Culture Center and will not become part of the Civic Art Collection.
Moved: Chew/Silverman
The motion was unanimously approved

6.            Art on Market Street Kiosk Poster Series
Zoë Taleporos
Action

Project Manager Zoë Taleporos presented the final poster designs for Deborah Aschheim’s Art on Market Street Kiosk Poster Series. The series, titled The Zeitgeist, is the first of three poster series commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Summer of Love. Ms. Taleporos stated that the artist’s drawings are based on images culled from the University of California, Berkeley and Santa Cruz archives. They feature individuals, organizations and events that demonstrate the intersection of politics and experimental social utopias that defined the Summer of Love in San Francisco. The series will be on display mid-February through mid-May 2017. 

Commissioner Chew asked if the individual portrayed in the poster representing The Diggers was Peter Coyote. He suggested including the names of people in the poster text if they are identifiable. Ms. Taleporos stated that she would contact the artist to learn more about the people in portrayed in the series and provide credits if necessary.

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

Motion: Motion to approve the final poster designs for Deborah Aschheim’s Art on Market Street Kiosk Poster Series, The Zeitgeist, on view February 13 – May 12, 2017.
Moved: Silverman/Beltran
The motion was unanimously approved

7.            Willie Woo Woo Wong Playground
Zoë Taleporos
Action

Ms. Taleporos presented the public art project outline for Willie Woo Woo Wong Playground. She noted that the current site has several courts, children’s play areas, and a clubhouse that hosts after school programs and numerous other activities. Capital improvements to the site will include new courts, an expansion of the play areas, and a renovation of the clubhouse. Ms. Taleporos stated that the artwork opportunity for this site has been identified as a mural located in the clubhouse assembly area. Two walls are viable options to receive a mural; one wall is 850 square feet and the other is 610 square feet. The selected artist will have the opportunity to select the wall that best suits their design.   The mural will be executed in a paint such as Keim or other mineral based paint to ensure durability.

Ms. Taleporos stated that the artist will be selected from a shortlist of candidates from the 2017/18 Prequalified Artist Pool and the StreetSmARTS murals pool. An artist selection panel will review the shortlist and directly select one artist for the commission based on past work. 

Commissioner Chew volunteered to serve on the artist selection panel.

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

Motion: Motion to approve the public art project outline for Willie Woo Woo Wong Playground.
Moved: Beltran/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

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

Ms. Taleporos presented the 64 additional artworks selected inclusion in the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center Two-Dimensional Artwork Program. Ms. Taleporos stated that 230 framed reproductions printed on aluminum were installed in the hospital’s public waiting rooms and corridors last year. After consultation with hospital staff, additional corridors were identified as spaces available for artwork.

The images were selected by a panel who reviewed 133 artworks from applicants to previous Arts Commission projects, and chose 64 new pieces for inclusion in the collection.  The work is anticipated to be installed in Fall 2017.

Since some of the images contained Chinese writing, Ms. Taleporos confirmed with a translator that the language was non-offensive.

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

Motion: Motion to approve the following artworks for reproduction and installation at the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center as recommended by the Selection Panel:

Lennell Allen: Ocean Beach at Noriega #285; Ocean Beach at Pacheco #165

Radcliff Bailey: Between Two Worlds

Jennifer Bain: Paradise

Louisiana Bendolph: Triangles (After Annie E. Pettway)

Mary Lee Bendolph: Get Ready

Chris Brown: Corner

Lynette Cook: Chinatown-Donaldina Cameron Alley; Out to Dry; Rigging the Line; Study of Stripes

Elaine Coombs: Daybreak 3; For What Comes Next

Binh Danh: El Capitan, Yosemite, CA May 22, 2012; Yosemite Falls, March 8, 2012

Peter de Lory: Couple Yosemite Falls 1990s

Sara Ferguson: Angel Island, CA

Frances Freyberg Blackburn: Big Basin; Iris River, Japan

Annie Galvin: 7 Hills

Stanley Goldstein: Field and Fence; Marin Field; Panhandle Park

Phillip Hua: Don’t Forget Your Bonds; Magnolia (with Tiffany)

Diane Jacobs: Moon Cloud Hillside; Mt. Hood and Summer Sun

Hiroyo Kaneko: Bathing #50, Bathing #2

Lisa Levine: 28 Days of Water; Vertical Waters

Joann Lindelof: Waiting for a Ride

Hung Liu: Luzao (Stove)

Cybele Lyle: Blue Crush; Blue Grain

Paul Madonna: AOC555; AOC599

Vanessa Marsh: Landscape #1; Landscape #8; Landscape #21; Landscape #22

Nikki McClure: To Market To Market

Robert Minervini: As the Wick Burns (Still Life with California Endangered Species); United by Fate (Still Life with California Endangered Species)

Naoki Onodera: Ocean Beach; Pool Party; Ukiah

Kelly Ording: Arronax; Ovid

Maria Park: CN2_5

Eric Rewitzer: 10am; Good Morning Sunset; Mavericks

Lance Rivers: Bridge

Regina Stadnik: Deviled Eggs, Making Mushroom Soup

Miriam Stahl: Odetta; Tool Lending Library; Untitled

Jason Tannen: Two Shirts

June Yokell: Another Day; Bolinas Bay; Pink Marsh; Walking on My Own

Moved: Beltran/Silverman
The motion was unanimously approved

Motion: Motion to pay the following artists an honorarium of $1,500 per image in return for license to the City to make limited edition reproductions and up to $400 for scanning costs. Their artworks will be on display in public waiting rooms and corridors at the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center:

Lennell Allen
Radcliff Bailey
Jennifer Bain
Louisiana Bendolph
Mary Lee Bendolph
Chris Brown
Lynette Cook
Elaine Coombs
Binh Danh
Peter de Lory
Sara Ferguson
Frances Freyberg Blackburn
Annie Galvin
Stanley Goldstein
Phillip Hua
Diane Jacobs
Hiroyo Kaneko
Lisa Levine
Joann Lindelof
Hung Liu
Cybele Lyle
Paul Madonna
Vanessa Marsh
Nikki McClure
Robert Minervini
Naoki Onodera
Kelly Ording
Maria Park
Eric Rewitzer
Lance Rivers
Regina Stadnik
Miriam Stahl
Jason Tannen
June Yokell

Moved: Beltran/Silverman
The motion was unanimously approved

9.            San Francisco International Airport: Consolidated Administrative Campus – Phase 1
Susan Pontious
Action

Ms. Pontious reported that the proposal by Marc Fornes/THEVERYMANY was recommended for the SFO Consolidated Administrative Campus, Phase 1 Building Public Art Project by the artist selection panel. Ms. Pontious reported that the panel reviewed proposals by four artists: Marc Fornes/THEVERYMANY, Adriane Colburn, Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle, and Tim Prentice/David Colbert.

Ms. Pontious stated that Mr. Fornes’ proposal is inspired by jet streams and air movement. Comments from the public during the display period indicated that people enjoyed the color of the proposed artwork and how it filled the space.

Ms. Pontious stated that criticism from the artist selection panel was the color choice and the artist stated that he would accommodate the color changes.

As a member of the selection panel, Commissioner Beltran stated the proposal conceptually and aesthetically fills the space, but the panel would like more muted colors and the artist understands that color is personal to people who inhabit space.

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

Motion: Motion to approve the selected artist Marc Fornes/THEVERYMANY and proposal for the SFO Consolidated Administrative Campus – Phase 1 Building Public Art Project, pending approval of the Airport Commission.
Moved: Chew/Beltran
The motion was unanimously approved

Motion: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with artist Marc Fornes/THEVERYMANY for an amount not to exceed $400,000 for design, fabrication, transportation and installation consultation of an artwork for the SFO Consolidated Administrative Campus – Phase 1 Building, pending approval of the Airport Commission.
Moved: Beltran/Silverman
The motion was unanimously approved

President Beltran excused herself from the meeting at 4:23pm.

10.          1500 Mission Street
Susan Pontious
Action

Ms. Pontious presented the project outline for the 1500 Mission Street Office Building. This new project is being built by a private developer. It will include a building that will be turned over to the City to house city departments such as the Department of Public Works, Department of building Inspection and the Planning Department.

Director DeCaigny mentioned that the city portion of this project will generate $4 million in art enrichment.

Ms. Pontious explained there are several available spaces for art enrichment. These include the extension entry, the atrium lobby, and other first floor walls.

There will be a recruitment for three large opportunities and specific request to qualifications will be administered to select artists. There will also be smaller opportunities that will use the 2017/2018 Prequalified Artist Pool.

Ms. Pontious also stated that current plans call for a digital screen in an area called “the Gallery.” She stated that she has told the client that the Arts Commission would not commit art enrichment funds to install or maintain the screen, but if it is installed, the Arts Commission would be interested in contributing content.

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

Motion: Motion to approve project outline for the 1500 Mission Street Office Building.
Moved: Silverman/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

11.          Moscone Expansion, Enclosed Pedestrian Bridge
Marcus Davies
Action

Project Manager Marcus Davies presented Construction Document Phase deliverables from Leo Villareal for the Moscone Expansion Project. Mr. Davies discussed the changes in project design from a previous presentation to the Commission.

One of the changes is due to lowering the bridge ceiling. This will require shortening the length of the light rods suspended from the bridge ceiling. This is necessary to maintain the safety of the piece when equipment and people are moving along the bridge. The spacing between the rods has not changed.

Mr. Davies mentioned there is an addition of glass doors at both ends but the rods will continue past the doors.

The last change Mr. Davies discussed with the Commission is that the ceiling contouring of the bridge is less pronounced. Although the rods will hang in a more rigid rectangle, it does not impact the artwork overall. 

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

Motion: Motion to approve Construction Document Phase deliverables by Leo Villareal for an artwork for the Moscone Expansion Project.
Moved: Silverman/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

12.          New Business, Old Business, and Announcements
Discussion

Commissioner Sklar called for public comment. There was not public comment.

13.          Adjournment
Action

The meeting adjourned at 4:33pm

posted AT 2/1/17 2:25 pm 
approved 2/6/17 - update to "Comfort Women" memorial item

Notices

Translated written materials and interpretation services are available to you at no cost.

For assistance, please notify Alyssa Torres, alyssa.m.torres@sfgov.org, 415-252-2219.

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如需協助，Alyssa Torres, alyssa.m.torres@sfgov.org, 415-252-2219.

Materiales traducidos y servicios de interpretación están disponibles para usted de manera gratuita. Para asistencia, notifique a Alyssa Torres, alyssa.m.torres@sfgov.org, 415-252-2219.

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 Alyssa Torres, alyssa.m.torres@sfgov.org, 415-252-2219.