JD Beltran, President

Mary Jung

Dorka Keehn, Chair

Jessica Silverman

Barbara Sklar 

 

 

President Beltran

Commissioner Jung

Commissioner Keehn

Commissioner Silverman 

Commissioner Sklar

 

The meeting commenced at 3:03 p.m.

 

Commissioner Keehn announced that Item #11 was tabled. Item #10 was moved to follow Item #4 before continuing with Item #5.

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

1. Motion to approve and accept into the Civic Art Collection, two painted water-jet cut steel panels: The Great Blue Heron, 2017 (6 ft. by 6 ft.); and The California Condor, 2017, (6 ft. by 10 ft.) by Carmen Lomas Garza. The panels were commissioned for and are located at In Chan Kaajal Park at 17th and Folsom Streets.

 

2. Motion to approve and accept into the Civic Art Collection the artwork, No Other Lands Their Glory Know, 2017, by Alice Shaw. The black-and-white photographic image of redwood trees consists of pigmented inks, with gold leaf on wood panel and measures 17-3/4 ft. by 25 ft.; located at the San Francisco International Airport: International Terminal, Boarding Area G, Gate Room 95.

 

3. Motion to approve and accept into the Civic Art Collection the artwork, Mondrian Meets the Beatles, 2017 by Kota Ezawa. The diorama-like construction of The Beatles consists of enamel paint on wooden panel and measures 19-1/2 ft. by 26 ft. by 10-1/2 in.; located at the San Francisco International Airport: International Terminal, Boarding Area G, Gate Room 100.

 

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

 

Motion: Motion to approve consent calendar items.

Moved: Beltran/Silverman

 

 

Civic Art Collection and Public Art Program Direction Susan Pontious presented the project outline for the artwork honoring Maya Angelou at the San Francisco Public Library, Main Library Branch. Ms. Pontious state that this art opportunity part of a legislation introduced by Supervisor Mark Farrell, titled 30 by 20, a legislation that offers different ways of honoring women throughout San Francisco. This includes naming parks, streets, and buildings after women, also art opportunities honoring women. Maya Angelou is the first woman to be honored with a sculpture as a result of this legislation. The sculpture will be sited at the Main Library. Ms. Pontious prepared a presentation showing the possible locations for the artwork. 

 

Ms. Pontious stated that the original project outline did not pass at the November 6, 2017 Full Arts Commission Meeting because the Commissioners felt it was too prescriptive in calling for a figurative statue for Maya Angelou. While the proposed legislation calls out for honoring specific women, it does not prescribe the style (i.e. figurative or non-figurative) such future projects would assume. 

 

Commissioner Keehn clarified that future art projects do not need to be figurative descriptions.

 

Ms. Pontious continued with the Main Library site presentation, stating that the site is actively programmed. The Committee and Ms. Pontious felt the best opportunity would be in the front of the building, adjacent to the grass areas. Commissioner Beltran felt that the front of the Main Library would offer the opportunity for the artwork to be viewed by a majority of people commuting on Larkin Street, especially if text is a part of the artwork.

 

Commissioner Keehn stated it is important to keep the artist selection process as open as possible to let the artists be creative throughout this opportunity. Commissioner Silverman stated it is important to ensure that both men and women apply to the art opportunity. 

 

Ms. Pontious introduced Margaux Kelly, Legislative Aide to Supervisor Farrell. Ms. Kelly stated that Supervisor Farrell and his office are not artists and therefore appreciate the artistic ideas they did not consider. Ms. Kelly mentioned that some of the important items is that the artwork must appear to be a woman from afar, and it will meet the goal of women being able to see women in leadership positions honored throughout San Francisco. Any future art opportunity that is funded through this legislation, the opportunity is completely open-ended and it does not dictate that it is figurative, or any other prescriptive nature. The artwork is to commemorate women as the artists see fit.

 

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

 

Commissioner Keehn stated the motion will move forward with Commissioner Beltran’s corrections to the project outline. 

 

Motion: Motion to approve revised project description for an artwork honoring Maya Angelou to be located at the Main Library.

Moved: Beltran/Silverman

 

 

 

Project manager Zoë Taleporos presented the selected finalists for the San Francisco International Airport: Hyatt Hotel Lobby Wall Public Art Project. The artist selection panel met on November 13, 2017, where panelists were given an overview of the SFO Hotel Wall art opportunity located at the large wall adjacent to the lobby staircase. Ms. Taleporos thanked Commissioner Beltran for serving on the panel. The panelists were presented with qualifications from 24 artists and selected three finalists and one alternate. The artist selection panel selected artists Miya Ando, Ellen Harvey, Annie Vought and alternate Klea McKenna. 

 

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

 

Motion: Motion to approve the selected finalists Miya Ando, Ellen Harvey, Annie Vought, alternate Klea McKenna for the San Francisco International Airport: Hyatt Hotel Lobby Wall Public Art Project.

Moved: Beltran/Silverman

 

 

Ms. Pontious presented images of the installed “Comfort Women” Memorial artwork at St. Mary’s Square, titled “Comfort Women’s” Column of Strength. Ms. Pontious stated that the Board of Supervisors passed a resolution approving the Arts Commission’s ability to accept the gift of the sculpture, and accept and expend the gift of the maintenance endowment. The sculpture consists of three bronze figures of young women on a COR-TEN steel column and a single, bronze female figure standing on the ground in front on the column. With this motion, the transfer of title to the City and County of San Francisco will take place. Ms. Pontious stated that the artwork will be accepted into the Civic Art Collection at a later date.

 

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

 

Motion: Motion to approve Final Acceptance per contract of the “Comfort Women’s” Column of Strength, 2017, a sculpture in bronze and COR-TEN steel by Stephen Whyte, as installed in St. Mary’s Square. The sculpture is a gift to the City from the “Comfort Women” Justice Coalition.  With the passage of this motion, title to this artwork will automatically transfer to the City and County of San Francisco under the jurisdiction of the San Francisco Arts Commission. 

Moved: Beltran/Silverman

 

 

San Francisco Arts Commission Galleries Director Meg Shiffler stated that at the October 18, 2017 Visual Arts Committee Meeting, the SFAC Galleries, presented an exhibition that would feature two artists. One artist had already been selected by the SFAC Galleries staff, artist Kenyatta AC Hinkle, and Associate Curator Jackie Im presented her qualifications to the Committee. As the SFAC Galleries staff moved forward with the exhibition, they realized that Ms. Hinkle’s inquiry is very rich and deep, and it would be best to continue the exhibition as a solo exhibition featuring Ms. Hinkle. The exhibition will feature video, performance, and sculpture installations. 

 

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

 

Motion: Motion to approve an honorarium in the amount of $2,500 to Kenyatta A.C. Hinkle. Ms. Hinkle was approved for an honorarium of $3,000 (October Visual Arts Committee and November full Commission meetings) for her participation in a two-person exhibition. The additional amount reflects the change in her participation from a two-person exhibition to a solo exhibition.

Moved: Beltran/Silverman

The motion was unanimously approved
 

 

Program Associate Aleta Lee presented the 2018 Muni Art project. The 2018 project will consist of integrating poetry into the art opportunity. Five local poets and five local artists were selected for the opportunity to use Muni buses as a canvas for their art and poetry.  

 

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

 

Motion: Motion to approve the slate of artists selected for the 2018 Muni Art Program sponsored by SF Beautiful including Donavon Brutus, Mara Hernandez, Tsungwei Moo, Randi Pace and Janet Rumsey, each of whom will have 20 Muni buses to use as a canvas for their artwork which was designed in response to poems by Juan Felipe Herrera, Diane di Prima, Kay Ryan, Brynn Saito and Charif Shanahan from January 1 through April 30, 2018.

Moved: Beltran/Silverman

 

 

Project manager Mary Chou presented images of the installed artworks at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner at 1 Newhall. The recent installation of twelve permanent two-dimensional artworks are on display throughout the building, including a permanent artwork by Merle Axelrad. Ms. Axelrad’s artwork, Sentinel, is a fabric collage framed with Optium for ultraviolet rays protection; some of the fabric was taken from a coat that belonged to a former Chief Medical Examiner. An exterior sculpture of stainless steel by Richard Deutsch, titled Alma, is inspired by sails of a ship built at Hunter’s Point Shipyard.

 

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

 

Motion: Motion to approve and accept into the Civic Art Collection, the following twelve artworks as installed. Each original artwork was purchased for the new Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Two-Dimensional Artwork Program. All artworks are located inside the building located at 1 Newhall:  

Sure Blue, 2015, oil on wood panel, 44 in. by 51 in., by Suzy Barnard;

Preferring the Poetic, 2015, acrylic on panel, 50 in. by 40 in., by Elaine Coombs;

Rodeo Beach, 1985, oil on paper, 19-3/4 in. by 27-1/2 in., by Stanley Goldstein;

Rise-Fall, 1984, acrylic on canvas, 48 in. by 48 in., by Beryl Landau;

Twin Palms, 2010, acrylic on canvas, 24 in. by 24 in., by Beryl Landau;

Mt. Diablo from San Bruno Mountain, 2009, acrylic on canvas, 24 in. by 24 in., by Beryl Landau;

Walking Along, 2012, acrylic on canvas, 24 in. by 24 in., by Beryl Landau;

Gateway, 2016, acrylic on canvas over panel, 36 in. by 24 in., by Alan Mazzetti;

Higher Heights, 2016, acrylic on wood, 48 in. by 44 in., by Alan Mazzetti;

Dune Trail, 2016, c-print photograph, 24 in. by 30 in., by Wendell Shinn;

Man and His Best Friend, 2009, photograph, 20 in. by 30 in., by Wendell Shinn;

Dumbarton Bridge (#3), 2014, photograph on mounted on Sintra®, 32 in. by 40 in., by Donna J. Wan.

Moved: Beltran/Sklar

 

Motion: Motion to approve and accept into the Civic Art Collection the artwork Sentinel, 2017 by Merle Axelrad as installed. The fabric collage measures 96 in. by 68 in. and depicts a nature scene of two cranes in the former marshland of Indian Basin in a realistic style. The artwork was commissioned for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and is located inside the main entry of the building at 1 Newhall.

Moved: Beltran/Silverman

 

Motion: Motion to approve and accept into the Civic Art Collection the artwork Alma, 2017 by Richard Deutsch as installed. The stainless steel sculpture is composed of two curved components which are shaped in the form of a ship’s sails. Each sail is composed of individual pieces of round stainless steel rods. The sculpture is approximately 22 ft. tall with three legs, each supported by 18 in. diameter concrete piers that extend 24 in. above the ground; all are supported by a triangular concrete foundation that measures approximately 20 ft. by 20 ft. The artwork was commissioned for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and is located outside the main entry of the building at 1 Newhall.

Moved: Beltran/Silverman

 

 

Project manager Justine Topfer presented the final design development documents for artwork by Clare Rojas for the Central Subway: Chinatown Station, Crosscut Cavern Wall Public Art Project. Ms. Topfer stated that Ms. Rojas’ artwork is based on a cathedral quilt pattern and utilizes a diverse range of fabrics that are digitally printed onto ceramic tile. Ms. Rojas is working with Magnolia Editions in Oakland to create the ceramic mural that will be installed in April 2019. 

 

Ms. Pontious asked if the artwork will include grout. Ms. Topfer responded that it would.

 

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

 

Motion: Motion to approve the final design development documents and construction document phase deliverables for Clare Rojas’ artwork, title to be determined, for Central Subway: Chinatown Station.

Moved: Silverman/Beltran

 

 

Motion: Motion to approve the final mold for the bust of former Mayor Gavin Newsom by Bruce Wolfe. The bust is an intended gift to the City by ArtCare, a nonprofit organization.

 

 

Commissioner Keehn announced that Sites Unseen launched artist Hank Willis Thomas’ first permanent public art installation on November 9, 2017. The recent art installation is now in active use and is located in Annie’s Alley. Commissioner Keehn stated that the artist talk on November 9, 2017 was intellectually rigorous and heartfelt. 

 

Commissioner Beltran announced that Matthew Passmore’s artwork, Tied/Untied, is now installed at Fort Mason Center for Arts and Culture. The landmark sculpture is located at the entrance of Fort Mason, and is comprised of COR-TEN steel rail. Commissioner Beltran stated that there are must-see exhibitions at Fort Mason Center, including several video installations by artist Isaac Julien: Playtime on view in Gallery 308; KAPITAL on view in the SFMOMA Artist Gallery; Better Life (Ten Thousand Waves) on view in the Gray Box Gallery, San Francisco Art Institute Fort Mason Campus; and also, a San Francisco Art Institute exhibition, Inversion/Isolation on the outside wall of the Swell Gallery. 

 

Ms. Chou announced that Sonic Dreamscape by Bill Fontana, located at the San Francisco Public Library, North Beach Branch, has been turned off for approximately one year. Mr. Fontana’s artwork includes an audio component and starting next month, the current speakers will be replaced with directional speakers. The artwork will be ready to present at the December 20, 2017 Visual Arts Committee Meeting. Commissioner Beltran emphasized that the directional speakers focus strictly in the range they are placed.

 

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

 

 

The meeting adjourned at 3:55 p.m.

 

 

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.