SAN FRANCISCO ARTS COMMISSION
VISUAL ARTS COMMITTEE
Wednesday, March 15, 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:
Commissioner Chew
Commissioner Keehn, Chair
Commissioner Silverman

Commissioners Absent:
President Beltran
Commissioner Sklar

The meeting commenced at 3:05 p.m.

Commissioner Keehn announced that Item #8 and #9A were tabled.

2. Public Comment
Discussion

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

3. Oak Plaza Art Canopies
Jill Manton and Artist David Delgado
Action

Director of Public Art Trust and Special Initiatives Jill Manton introduced Michael Yarne of Build:Public and artist David Delgado to present updates on the Oak Plaza Art Canopies project.

Mr. Yarne reminded the Commissioners that One Oak, a new residential tower being developed to open in 2019, is a private development but the proposed artwork will be on city property. The for-profit development company, Build:Public, is working with Snøhetta at the One Oak development. Mr. Yarne stated that a large component of the art design is to mitigate wind, especially in coordination with Section 148, the reduction of ground-level wind currents in C-3 Districts.

Mr. Delgado, who is collaborating with artist Dan Goods on the Oak Plaza art canopies, presented a project update to the Commissioners. The two designers are artists-in-residence at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and have used the NASA resources to help create a kinetic canopy design that will celebrate the complexity of the wind that travels through San Francisco. Mr. Delgado explained that the design is a metaphor for how trees reduce the impact of the wind. Mr. Delgado presented a number of studies and videos to show how their design concept has developed since their initial concept previously presented to the Committee. Since conceptual design, they have developed a scheme that provides a simpler and visually less cluttered approach to creating a torsion wave.

The updated design now features a long central support beam to which a series of wind responsive blades attach. Bearings treated for both wet and salty environment allow for smooth movement of the blades in response to the wind. The artists are exploring using a “V” pattern for both the shape of the blades as well as the shape created by over-all form of the canopy.  They are also exploring adding an edge to the flat blades for added dimension, use of perforation to both help achieve the required 50-75% transparency and add aesthetic interest, and finally use of color or pattern on the blades.

The artists plan to layer three canopies next to each other to accentuate the movement of the wave. The color palate of the plaza will be used for the color and material scheme of the artwork. The color scheme options include either a bronze metallic surface or rich earth tones. The material of the boards will be a light weight material, such as aluminum. Mr. Delgado shared that the support beams will be installed around the building about 20-25 feet above the ground. The goal is to have people experience the perception of lightness from below, as well as how the color of the boards will create patterns of design.

Commissioner Silverman wants to ensure the canopies do not become too much about the design requirements at the expense of the artistic component. She would also appreciate an artwork title that can serve a more artistic expression for the canopies. Mr. Delgado and Mr. Yarne stated they are willing to change the current title, Oak Plaza Art Canopies.

Commissioner Chew added that the corner is very windy and wanted to know if the artwork can handle high wind speeds. Mr. Delgado stated that wind sensors were placed on top of a nearby building to test the wind speeds. He also mentioned that the wires that connect all of the blades together will regulate the total motion, including keeping the blades from twisting in high wind.

Commissioner Keehn appreciated the movement of the artwork and the potential material and color choices. She had some questions about the aesthetic components including the extra canopy that is not wrapped around the building with the rest of the canopies, and also the lack of artistic design to the support posts and the ends of the canopies. Commissioner Silverman suggested that the posts could possibly be the same material as the canopies in order to get a more artistic design approach. Mr. Delgado stated that he and Mr. Goods did tests to see the canopies interactions together and the movements created a beautiful yet complex range of motion. He said the additional, separate canopy will react to the wind coming in from a different direction. He also added that he will continue to work on integrating the posts and how the canopy design terminates on each end, as the Commissioners provided good feedback for his team to move forward.

Commissioner Silverman really liked Mr. Delgado and Mr. Goods’ approach to focusing on the view underneath the canopies, which will create changing patterns as the sculpture moves in the wind.

Commissioner Keehn stated the motion would move forward with the understanding that the artists will continue to redefine the design of the support poles and the end portion of the canopies.

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

Motion: Motion to approve the Schematic Design of the Oak Plaza Art Canopies by artists David Delgado and Dan Goods to be installed in the public sidewalk along Oak Street near the corner of Van Ness Avenue, commissioned for the Oak Plaza Development Project by Build Inc. in fulfillment of the 1% for Art requirement in private development.
Moved: Chew/Silverman
The motion was unanimously approved

4. SFAC Galleries – Tiny Bubbles exhibition
Meg Shiffler and Guest Curator Steven Wolf
Action

San Francisco Arts Commission Galleries Director Meg Shiffler introduced guest curator Steven Wolf to the Commissioners. Mr. Wolf discussed that Tiny Bubbles exhibition was developed around a conversation about the City’s art collection, specifically focusing on the Homage to Zane Grey by Roy De Forest, a painting in the Civic Art Collection that is being borrowed from the San Francisco International Airport for this exhibition. Mr. Wolf stated that Roy De Forest did his own unique style of work in what Mr. Wolf is calling a “bubble world,” meaning the artist created work inspired by a personal universe of imagery. Each of the artists, including De Forest, have done work in their own “bubble world” and will be showcased in the Tiny Bubbles exhibition.

Ms. Shiffler stated that the opening date of the exhibition is in transition due to a conflicting date with the one-year anniversary of the re-opening of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. She was hoping to align the opening of Tiny Bubbles with the Roy De Forest exhibition at the Oakland Museum of California (opening April 29, 2017) but Ms. Shiffler said that she is considering moving the opening to first week of May.

Commissioner Keehn said that Tiny Bubbles will be a really fun exhibition. Mr. Wolf said it will be fun but also a political reflection of what is happening today.

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

The revised motion was unanimously approved as follows:

Motion: Motion to approve the following honoraria to artists for the development of works that will be included in the exhibition Tiny Bubbles in the SFAC Main Gallery set to open to the public on May 3, 2017: Willow Pappageorge $500; Raymond Lawrence Riley $600; James Siebold $1200; Megan Reed $400; V. Vale $400; Porpentine Charity Heartscape $2000; Lisa Hanawalt $400; and Kate Rhoades $800.
Moved: Silverman/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

5. Southeast Wastewater Treatment Plant (SEP) – Headworks Building
Mary Chou with Artist Norie Sato
Discussion

Project Manager Mary Chou introduced artist Norie Sato to present the preliminary artwork concept design at the Southeast Wastewater Treatment Plant (“SEP”), Headworks Building. Ms. Chou stated that they are seeking feedback from the Commissioners and will return to the Visual Arts Committee for approval of conceptual design after additional work with the architects is completed and public comments are considered. The feedback from the Commissioners will support Ms. Sato’s next step with the public art project.

Ms. Sato engaged the Commissioners with her experiences at the Headworks Building and learning about the waste water treatment process and her opportunity to spend time in the Bayview community. It was very important to Ms. Sato to incorporate the neighborhood into the project and represent the community in the artwork.

Ms. Sato stated that she was given the opportunity to extend her artwork beyond the corner; the entire piece is now 400 feet long along Evans and Rankin Streets. The artwork is a series of perforated panels with profiles of people from the Bayview community, highlighting the importance of people as part of the project and facility. Ms. Sato stated that the artwork is mostly viewed as one drives along Evans Street, and the artwork changes depending on directionality. In front of the panels is a series of three-dimensional fins in different colors on each side of the fin. Ms. Sato stated that it is possible that for the wall along Rankin, the fins could visually expand and collapse, creating volumes of folding and unfolding views. She also presented an alternative design of the wall where the top edge is slanted at either end in order to break up the rigidity of the rectangular form. Ms. Sato shared that there is a company, Zahner, that can fabricate custom panels for the wall.

Commissioner Keehn stated that the artwork is conceptually strong and she really enjoys the poetic aspect and how it would become understandable to people as they drive by. Ms. Sato stated that artwork is very changeable which gives the artwork a little bit of mystery and sense of discovery.

Commissioner Keehn asked if there will be lighting on the piece at night so that the artwork has a presence both day and night. Ms. Sato agreed that lighting at night is important, but feasibility depends on the lighting of the plant and that aspect is still under development.

Commissioner Chew asked about the imagery of the heads/faces in the artwork. Ms. Sato stated she will use actual people but try to get as many archetypes of people as possible. She may collage faces together. The faces are not meant to be individually recognizable, they are meant to be a representation of the community. Ms. Sato stated she may put a photo booth in the library to collect images.

Ms. Chou added that the Arts Commission staff is developing an arts master plan for the whole campus with the Public Utilities Commission. This includes art opportunities for the visitor center, a gateway piece, and more.

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

6. Art on Market Street Kiosk Poster Series, 2017
Zoë Taleporos
Action

Project Manager Zoë Taleporos presented the project outline for the 2018 Art on Market Street Kiosk Poster Series. The 2018 Poster Series theme is Sanctuary City. Ms. Taleporos stated that San Francisco declared itself a sanctuary city in 1989, with the intention of providing access to municipal services to all residents. With a renewed interest as San Francisco as a sanctuary city, the goal of the 2018 Poster Series theme will focus on what sanctuary city means in today’s political climate.

Ms. Taleporos stated that work in this series may include stories of immigration, immigrant contributions to the cultural landscape of San Francisco, perspectives from the children of immigrants, Native American perspectives on immigration, and profiles of individuals or organizations who work to defend immigrant rights.

Commissioner Chew suggested that it would be important to connect with the Immigrant Rights Commission.

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

Motion: Motion to approve the Project Outline for the 2018 Art on Market Street Kiosk Poster Series.
Moved: Silverman/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

7. Willie Woo Woo Wong Playground
Zoë Taleporos
Action

Ms. Taleporos presented Julie Chang as the selected artist for the Willie Woo Woo Wong Playground Public Art Project as recommended by the artist selection panel. The artist selection panel met March 8, 2017, where panelists were given an overview of the site and the capital improvement project, focused on the play area, courts, and the clubhouse. Ms. Chang was selected to create a mural in the clubhouse.

Ms. Taleporos stated that the artist may choose between two walls within the clubhouse. While one wall is a more prominent art opportunity with visibility from the street through glass doors, a smaller, less prominent wall may be more desirable to the artist given the limited project budget. Ms. Taleporos noted that the panel expressed interest in seeing a mural on the larger wall, and also indicated a desire to have the artist focus on bold shapes in colors.

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

Motion: Motion to approve the artist Julie Chang for the Willie Woo Woo Wong Playground Public Art Project as recommended by the Artist Selection Panel.
Moved: Chew/Silverman
The motion was unanimously approved

Motion: Motion to authorize the Director of Cultural Affairs to enter into contract with Julie Chang for an amount not to exceed $23,951 for design and installation of an artwork at Willie Woo Woo Wong Playground.
Moved: Chew/Silverman
The motion was unanimously approved

THE FOLLOWING ITEM WAS TABLED

8. Garfield Pool
Zoë Taleporos
Action

Presentation of the public art project outline for Garfield Pool.

Motion: Motion to approve the public art project outline for Garfield Pool.

9. San Francisco International Airport

THE FOLLOWING ITEM WAS TABLED

A. SFO International Terminal REACH
Marcus Davies
Action

Motion: Motion to approve the public art project outline for the SFO International Terminal REACH project.

B. SFO Terminal 1 Redevelopment Artist Pool
Justine Topfer
Action

Project Manager Justine Topfer presented the selection results of the SFO Terminal 1 Redevelopment Artist Pool. Ms. Topfer stated that after posting the Request for Qualifications in October 2016, the Arts Commission staff received 608 submissions, and 103 applicants were selected. The SFO Terminal 1 Redevelopment Artist Pool will serve about 12 projects in Terminal 1 for the coming years.

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

Motion: Motion to approve the following artists’ inclusion in the SFO Terminal 1 Prequalified Artist Pool as recommended by the Artist Selection Panel:

Carlo Abruzzese
Etel Adnan 
El Anatsui 
Miya Ando 
James Angus 
Antlre (Hannah Sitzer)
Kathy Aoki 
Kathryn Arnold 
Johnna Arnold 
Miguel Arzabe 
McArthur Binion 
Nancy Blum 
Spencer Brown 
Sarah Cain 
Jim Campbell 
Thom Faulders and Andre Caradec
Ed Carpenter 
Nick Cave 
Jennifer Cecere 
Kevin Cooley 
Teresita Fernández
t.w.five
Chris Fraser 
Dixie Friend Gay 
Emily Fromm 
Future Cities Lab
Stephen Galloway 
Ann Gardner 
Cliff Garten 
Gavin Brown's Enterprise (Mark Handforth)
Megan Geckler 
Jeffrey Gibson 
Brad Goldberg 
Neil Goss 
John Grade
Diane Andrews Hall 
Dana Hart-Stone 
Dana Hemenway 
Amy Ho 
Paul Housberg 
Bill Washabaugh (Hypersonic) and Jeff Lieberman (Plebian Design)
Cynthia Innis 
Miki Iwasaki 
Johanna Jackson 
Jason Jagel 
Christopher Janney 
Chris Johanson 
Sheila Klein 
Paul Kos 
Amy Landesberg 
Jaehyo Lee
Mark Lere 
Rob Ley 
Donald Lipski  
Susan Logoreci 
Luftwerk Studio (Petra Bachmaier and Sean Gallero)
Mario Madayag 
Kara Maria 
Patrick Marold 
Dan Mather 
Sanaz Mazinani 
Alicia McCarthy 
Andreanne Michon 
Jason Middlebrook 
Masako Miki 
Robert Minervini 
Christian Moeller 
Sarah Morris 
Ruben Ochoa 
Shaun O'Dell 
Michele Oka Doner 
Sean Olson 
Penny Olson 
Kelly Ording 
Rita McBride and Mamiko Otsubo
Alison Pebworth 
Tahiti Pehrson 
R & R Studios (Roberto Behar and Rosario Marquardt)
Erwin Redl 
Mark Reigelman II 
Meghann Riepenhoff 
Clifford Ross 
Ron Moultrie Saunders 
Thomas Sayre 
Ang Tsherin Sherpa 
Leslie Shows 
Michael Singer Studio (Michael Singer, Jason Bregman, and Jonathan Fogelson)
Tracey Snelling
Heather Sparks 
Doug Starn and Mike Starn
Arthur Stern 
Tony Tasset 
Brian Tolle 
Amy Trachtenberg 
Camille Utterback 
Annie Vought 
Catherine Wagner 
Po Shu Wang 
Peter Wegner 
Catherine Widgery 
Griff Williams 
Lena Wolff 
Janet Zweig

Moved: Silverman/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

C. SFO Long Term Parking Garage Project
Susan Pontious and Justine Topfer
Action

Civic Art Collection and Public Art Program Director Susan Pontious and Ms. Topfer presented the public art project outline for the San Francisco International Airport Long Term Parking Garage. Ms. Pontious stated that although the architectural design is still in development, the most recent plans offer at least two art opportunities. The main opportunity would be a glass façade on the new parking garage, located at the elevator lobbies on each garage floor. The second opportunity would be the glass on the connector bridge to the new SFO AirTrain station. A potential third opportunity would be on the parking garage wall, adjacent to the open parking lot.

Ms. Pontious stated that the SFO Terminal 1 Redevelopment Artist Pool will be used to select artists for the Long Term Parking Garage art opportunities.

Commissioner Keehn stated the third option would be visible from the AirTrain. 

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 Long Term Parking Garage Project.
Moved: Silverman/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

D. SFO Airport Hotel Project
Mary Chou
Action

Ms. Chou presented two new updates to the project outline for the SFO Airport Hotel. The original approval of the project outline took place at the February 15th Visual Arts Committee Meeting. The first update to the outline includes the curatorial approach for artwork selection at the SFO Airport Hotel. The selection will follow the principles guiding the design of the hotel, focusing on three specific attributes of the San Francisco Bay Area: The Bay Area’s natural landscape and landmarks, dramatic topography, and unique neighborhood culture.

The second update is regarding the location of the suspended artwork in the SFO Airport Hotel. The project outline previously listed two possible locations and after further review of the two sites, the Arts Commission staff prefer the location above the restaurant. Ms. Chou stated this location provides more flexibility for an artist, and offers visibility of the artwork in the dining area as well as from the bar and the stairway from level four to level three.

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

Motion: Motion to approve curatorial framework for selection of artworks for SFO Airport Hotel.
Moved: Silverman/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

10. Noe Valley Town Square
Mary Chou
Action

Ms. Chou presented images of the installed artwork by Wowhaus for Noe Valley Town Square. The bronze owl sculptures, titled Garden Guardians, are greatly enjoyed by the community.

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

Motion: Motion to approve the installation of the bronze sculptures Garden Guardians, 2016 by Wowhaus at Noe Valley Town Square.
Moved: Silverman/Chew
The motion was unanimously approved

11. New Business, Old Business, and Announcements
Discussion

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

12. Adjournment
Action

The meeting adjourned at 4:28 pm

posted AT 3/29/17 2:41 pm
approved 4/3/17

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.