MEETING OF THE FULL ARTS COMMISSION
Monday, December 4, 2017
2:00 p.m.
City Hall Room 416
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place

Minutes

President Beltran called the meeting to order at 2:05 p.m.

1. Roll Call
    
   Commissioners Present
   JD Beltran, President
   Roberto Ordeñana, Vice President
   Charles Collins
   Simon Frankel
   Dorka Keehn
   Abby Sadin Schnair
   Marcus Shelby
   Janine Shiota
   Barbara Sklar
   Lydia So
   Kimberlee Stryker
   Paul Woolford
    
   Commissioners Absent
   Mary Jung
   Sherene Melania
   Jessica Silverman
   Rich Hillis, ex officio
    
    
2. Approval of Minutes
   Public Comment:
   Ann Treboux submitted the following written statement:
    
   “THE NOVEMBER 6, 2017 SFAC DFAFT MINUTES POSTED ON DECEMBER 1, 2017. THIS IS IN VIOLATION OF 67.25 OF THE SUNSHINE ORDIANACE. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THE DRAFT MINUTES POSTED LATE. 33 ORDERS OF DETERMANATION FROM THE SF BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAVE ISSUED AGAINST THE SF ARTS COMMISSION FOR ISSUES RELATED TO THE SUNSHINE ORDINANCE.
    
   “SHARON PAGE-RITCHIE WENT ON VACATION AND FORGOT TO POST THE DRAFT MINUTES.
    
   “I NOTED IN THE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS OF THE NOVEMBER 6 MEETING, SEVERAL SPEAKERS CLAIMED ISSUES WITH THE ACCURACY OF THEIR COMMENTS IN THE MINUTES.”
    
    
   There was no further public comment, and the minutes were unanimously approved as follows.
    
   RESOLUTION NO. 1204-17-354: Motion to approve November 6, 2017 Minutes.
    
3. General Public Comment
   Ms. Treboux submitted the following written statement:
    
   “I ATTENDED THE NOVEMBER 7, ADVISORY MEETING. AT THE CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, I READ FROM A 150 WORD STATEMENT. ANN TRICKEY, SCREAMED THAT, “I HAD TO LEAVE AND THAT I COULD NOT SAY THAT UNDER PUBLIC COMMENT'. I SAID, FIVE TIMES, “YOU ARE ABRIDGING MY PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU NEED TO RESET THE CLOCK”.
    
   “TRICKEY RAN OUT. WHILE SHE WAS GONE, I READ MY STATEMENT IN ITS' INTIRETY AND GAVE IT TO A COMMITTEE MEMBER.
    
   “TIRCKEY RETURNED TWICE WITH SECURITY GUARDS. I WAS TOLD TO LEAVE, “OTHERWISE I WOULD BE ARRESTED”. I DID NOT LEAVE. WHEN THE SECURITY GUARD PUT HIS HANDS ON ME, I CALLED BILL GRAHAM THE DIRECTOR OF SECURITY.
    
   “THE AUDIO OF THE MEETING REFLECTS MY READING OF THE 150 WORD SUMMARY AND MY HANDING IT OVER TO BE, “INCLUDED IN THE BODY OF THE MINUTES”.
    
   “MY STATEMENT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MINUTES THIS REPRESENTS THE MOST SERIOUS VIOLATION OF THE SUNSHINE ORDINANCE.”
    
    
   There was no further public comment.
    
4. Director’s Report
   Mr. DeCaigny reported on the fifth Illuminate SF Festival of Light, from Thanksgiving through January 1, celebrating light installations throughout San Francisco; several were commissioned through the 2%-for-art Public Art Program. He added that the festival is supported by SF Travel, and named some of the artworks included, including Sites Unseen projects facilitated by Commissioner Keehn. President Beltran noted that a similar festival in Amsterdam is a real travel destination.
    
   Mr. DeCaigny reported on the Pioneer Monument, explaining that the Collections team has submitted a comprehensive report to the Historic Preservation Commission with a formal request for a certificate of appropriateness as the next step in the process. That Commission is tentatively scheduled to hear the request at their February 7 meeting. He promised to keep the Arts Commission informed.
    
   Mr. DeCaigny reminded everyone that the first Monday in January, 2018 is a holiday, January 1, so the next meeting of the full Commission will be on January 8.
    
   He reported that Supervisor Ronen is proposing legislation regarding cultural districts, related to recently passed state legislation.
    
   He reminded the Commission about planning for the upcoming Commission and staff daylong retreat, incorporating both a discussion on the strategic plan and a half-day training on racial equity. He explained that, like the 2011 retreat, this would be a public meeting, and he thanked staff for working on the scheduling.
    
   Finally, he noted the passing of Anne Wu, dancer, choreographer and playwright, of Chinese Performing Arts of America; and Jeffrey Betcher, founder and editor of Bayview Footprints, who dedicated himself to community organizing, and community gardening, in the Bayview.
    
   Commissioner Shelby added sadly that jazz saxophonist Mel Martin, a champion of the music scene and a mentor to him, had died unexpectedly in November.
    
   There was no public comment.
    
5. Committee Reports and Committee Matters
   1. Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee—Sherene Melania, Chair
      1. In the absence of Commissioner Melania, Vice President Ordeñana reported that at the last meeting of the Committee, directors of all six of the Cultural Centers had given really thorough reports on the work they are doing, the communities they are serving and the audiences they are engaging. Arts Commission staff gave an overview on the Centers' performance and plans. The Committee appreciates all the great work the Centers are doing.
          
         There was no public comment.
          
   2. Civic Design Review Committee—Kimberlee Stryker, Chair
      1. Commissioner Stryker reported that the Committee had reviewed three projects at Phase 2, and she presented images of the Margaret Hayward Playground renovation. She reported that the Committee was impressed with the work done by the Public Works architects with the extremely sloped site, and with the good materials that should hold up well.
          
         Commissioner Stryker acknowledged the expertise and hard work of the Commissioners and staff, noting that the Committee had had an intense year with many unusually long meetings, reviewing projects from a variety of departments, even including the Coroner. She singled out each of her Committee colleagues for their contributions, and she looked forward to working with them all in the new year. President Beltran praised the leadership of Commissioner Stryker, and the stellar work of the Committee.
          
         There was no public comment.
          
   3. Visual Arts Committee—Dorka Keehn, Chair
      1. Commissioner Keehn reported that the new building for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner had been opened. She praised it as a great building, and reported that it included twelve different types of artworks, largely two-dimensional except for one large exterior sculpture. She described the work as very interesting, including a fabric collage inspired by local scenery.
          
         Commissioner Keehn thanked her fellow Committee members for their work, including serving on lots and lots of panels, and she thanked staff for their work, including several items not usually part of the Committee's work.
          
         Commissioner Keehn presented the following motion to approve murals, directing the Commission's attention to the images posted with the agenda. The Commission discussed the motion. Mr. DeCaigny explained that the Commission was being asked to approve them because of their public funding from a Community Challenge Grant, even though many will be on private property and they will not become part of the Civic Art Collection. In response to questions, he explained that Friends of the Urban Forest, the responsible entity, understands the requirements of the California Art Preservation Act ("CAPA") and the Visual Artists Rights Act ("VARA").
          
         There was no public comment, and the motion was unanimously approved as follows.
          
      2. RESOLUTION NO. 1204-17-355: Motion to approve the following mural designs by the listed artists for Lily Street Living Alleys Mural Project. The painted murals will be installed along Lily Street, Page Street and Buchanan Street, as listed below. The project is funded with a Community Challenge Grant, and is sponsored by Friends of the Urban Forest; the murals will not become part of the Civic Art Collection.
         Highway to Green, by artist Giuseppe Percivati, 27 ft. by 5-1/2 ft., along a residential wall at 219 and 221 Lily Street
         Radiant Bloom, by artist Bryana Fleming, 17 ft. by 27-1/2 ft., along a residential garage wall at 294 Page Street
         Flower Resistance, by artist Giuseppe Percivati, 10 ft. by 24-1/2 ft., along a residential garage wall and door at 350 Lily Street
         Kwanzan, by artist Giuseppe Percivati, 14 ft. by 30 ft., at 380 Webster Street, along a retaining wall at the John Muir Elementary School playground (the Western end of the 400 block on Lily Street). The mural has been approved by the San Francisco Unified School District.
         Nature’s Creation, by artist Giuseppe Percivati, 7 ft. by 12 ft., along a residential garage door at 406-408 Buchanan Street
          
          
         Finally, Public Art Program Director Susan Pontious acknowledged the efforts of the Commissioners in serving on many panels this year, one or even two a week.
          
         President Beltran, acknowledging the work of the Committees, noted that the actions of the Commission literally shape the City's landscape and legacy, with great public art and public buildings.
          
6. Consent Calendar
   There was no public comment, and the Consent Calendar was approved unanimously as follows.
    
   RESOLUTION NO. 1204-17-356:
   Approval: RESOLVED, that this Commission does hereby adopt the following items on the Consent Calendar and their related Resolutions:
    
   1. RESOLUTION NO. 1204-17-357: Motion to approve the Civic Design Review Meeting Minutes of October 23, 2017.
       
   2. RESOLUTION NO. 1204-17-358: Motion to approve the Community Arts, Education and Grants Committee Meeting Minutes of November 14, 2017.
       
   3. RESOLUTION NO. 1204-17-359: Motion to approve the Visual Arts Committee Meeting Minutes of November 15, 2017.
       
      Visual Arts Committee Recommendations (November 15, 2017)
       
   4. RESOLUTION NO. 1204-17-360: 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.
       
   5. RESOLUTION NO. 1204-17-361: 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.
       
   6. RESOLUTION NO. 1204-17-362: 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.
       
   7. RESOLUTION NO. 1204-17-363: Motion to approve revised project description for an artwork honoring Maya Angelou to be located at the Main Library.
       
   8. RESOLUTION NO. 1204-17-364: Motion to approve the selected finalists Miya Ando, Ellen Harvey, Annie Vought, and alternate Klea McKenna for the San Francisco International Airport: Hyatt Hotel Lobby Wall Public Art Project.
       
   9. RESOLUTION NO. 1204-17-365: 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.
       
   10. RESOLUTION NO. 1204-17-366: 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.
        
   11. RESOLUTION NO. 1204-17-367: 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 twenty 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.
        
   12. RESOLUTION NO. 1204-17-368: 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 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 mounted on Sintra®, 32 in. by 40 in., by Donna J. Wan
        
   13. RESOLUTION NO. 1204-17-369: 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 India 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.
        
   14. RESOLUTION NO. 1204-17-370: 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 that meet at a single point at the center of the sculpture. Each component is perforated and is composed of individual pieces of round stainless steel rod, spaced evenly. The sculpture is approximately 22 ft. tall with three legs that each come to a point, each supported by 18 in. diameter concrete piers that extend 24 in. above the ground; all are tied footed in 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.
        
   15. RESOLUTION NO. 1204-17-371: 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.
        
       Civic Design Review Committee Recommendations (November 27, 2017)
        
   16. RESOLUTION NO. 1204-17-372: Motion to approve Phase 2 of the Margaret Hayward Playground Renovation Project contingent upon: 1) following the Committee’s recommendation to eliminate fritted glass on the sun shade façade because it is not necessary for bird safety; 2) adopting the Committee’s endorsement of a playful visual for the fence; 3) exploring the possibility of using International Orange as the accent color; 4) bringing up the cast concrete of the bench seating to 42 inches; 5) studying continuing the selected tiles to the bottom of the water fountain wall; 6) addressing the channel of the roof edge; and 7) integrating the Committee’s planting suggestions.
        
   17. RESOLUTION NO. 1204-17-373: Motion to approve Phase 2 of the Maxine Hall Health Center Renovation and Seismic Upgrade Project contingent upon: 1) including a plaque which describes the artwork and reproduction; 2) moving forward with Option 1 of the Graphic Wall; 3) painting the handrails; 4) moving forward with the preferred option of clear anodized aluminum window detailing for the shotcrete wall; and 5) integrating the Committee’s planting suggestions.
        
   18. RESOLUTION NO. 1204-17-374: Motion to approve Phase 2 of the Garfield Center Project contingent upon: 1) further study of the entrance canopy design; and 2) studying the darker mullion color for both wings (particularly if the Natatorium could use a structurally glazed system) or, alternatively, studying dark mullions on the Clubhouse and medium gray on the Natatorium.
        
7. New Business and Announcements
   Mr. DeCaigny called the attention of the Commission to the printed version of the Treasure Island Arts Master Plan, and he thanked Director of Special Projects Jill Manton and all the staff who worked on it. He noted that the first three calls for artists have gone out, and the panel process is underway. He noted that Treasure Island projects will appear on future agenda and encouraged Commissioners to keep the Master Plan for reference on those projects. He invited Ms. Manton to give a brief update. She explained that 495 artists had responded to the calls for three large sculpture projects, and that staff had narrowed that to a pool of 37, and nine finalists have been selected by panel review. The Visual Arts Committee and the Treasure Island Development Authority will have to approve them. She noted that many of the artists are new, and President Beltran added that the opportunities appealed to several very well-known names. In response to a question, President Beltran named the sites for the artworks: the waterfront, the plaza in front of the visitors center and the Yerba Buena hilltop park.
    
   Mr. DeCaigny referred to the Commission's newsletter and invited everyone to the first pop-up Street Artists markets in the Veterans Building.
    
   President Beltran encouraged everyone to see the work by Isaac Julien at Fort Mason, which received a full-page review in the San Francisco Chronicle; the show will be up until mid-January.
    
   She reminded everyone of the tree-lighting ceremonies in City Hall later in the day, and in the Civic Center Plaza the next day, and she announced that she will miss the January 8 meeting of the Commission because her electronic artwork with partner Scott Minneman will be on display at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
    
   There was no further news or announcements, and there was no public comment.
    
8. Adjournment
   There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 2:50 p.m.
    

posted 12/15/17, 5:45 p.m. spr
approved 1/8/18

 

Language Accessibility

Translated written materials and interpretation services are available to you at no cost. For assistance, please notify Commission Secretary Sharon Page Ritchie, 415-252-2256, sharon.page_ritchie@sfgov.org.

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，Commission Secretary Sharon Page Ritchie, 415-252-2256, sharon.page_ritchie@sfgov.org.

Materiales traducidos y servicios de interpretación están disponibles para usted de manera gratuita. Para asistencia, notifique a Commission Secretary Sharon Page Ritchie, 415-252-2256, sharon.page_ritchie@sfgov.org.

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 Commission Secretary Sharon Page Ritchie, 415-252-2256,sharon.page_ritchie@sfgov.org.