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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-11-16 Public Art Commission Summary Minutes MINUTES PUBLIC ART COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING Thursday, November 16, 2017 City Hall Community Meeting Room 250 Hamilton Ave 7:00 p.m. Commissioners Present: Jim Migdal, Ben Miyaji, Loren Gordon, Hsinya Shen, Nia Taylor Commissioners Absent: Amanda Ross, Mila Zelkha Staff Present: Elise DeMarzo, Public Art Program Director Rhyena Halpern, CSD Assistant Director Nadya Chuprina, Public Art Program Coordinator CALL TO ORDER: Chair Migdal called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. AGENDA CHANGES, REQUESTS, DELETIONS – None. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS – None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: October 19, 2017 PAC Regular Meeting Minutes Moved: Ben Miyaji; Second: Jim Migdal. All in favor. STAFF COMMENTS: Staff announced that Toby Atticus Fraley’s Artwork Forge temporary project was successfully installed on King Plaza earlier in November. The opening event attracted a number of the Art Center Project Look Docents and members of the public who enjoyed interacting with the newly installed artwork. The project is averaging 150 artworks dispensed per week. ACTION: 1. 693/689 Arastradero Road – Final Review for art in private development project associated with the Bowman School project. Mary Beth Ricks of Bowman School and Jon W. Daseking of Pacific Peninsular Architecture presented the project background, its goals, initial input from the Commission, and spoke about the artist selection process. Ricks then presented the art proposal by artist Kamau Amu Patton, shapes and symbols comprised of text, cut in stainless steel and embedded into the new sidewalks leading up to and large circular concrete area in front of the buildings. The project architect presented the plan of the new school buildings and talked about the placement and installation method of the artwork onsite and addressed Commissioners’ questions about accessibility, durability and maintenance requirements. Moved: Vice Chair Miyaji moved to approve the art plan for the Bowman School. Second: Commissioner Gordon. All in favor. 2. De-Accession of Artworks – Staff recommended the Public Art Commission approves the deaccession of Digital DNA by Adrianna Varella and Nilton Maltz, located in Lytton Plaza as outlined in the City’s Deaccession Policy. Staff provided an updated report with the detailed overview of the artwork commissioning and maintenance history and associated costs, and presented considerations for the deaccession of Digital DNA, including: the condition of the artwork cannot be reasonably guaranteed; the artwork requires excessive maintenance and has faults in the materials and repair is impractical or unfeasible; the artwork has deteriorated, and repair or remedy is impractical or unfeasible; and no suitable site is available for relocation or exhibition. Staff then updated the Commissioners on the communications with the artists and prospects of removal the artwork from its current location. Staff provided summary of the public input that was gathered since the Commission’s approval to proceed with the deaccession evaluation process in August 2017. Community members Ruth Robinson and Barbara Berman from the Raging Grannies community group addressed the Commission asking to consider keeping Digital DNA in in the City Collection despite its deteriorated condition and shared with the PAC a public letter from the artist told from the point of view of the sculpture. Adrianna Varella’s attorney addressed the PAC putting a request to postpone the decision about deaccessioning the artwork until the artist could be in Palo Alto. Friends of Lytton Plaza Le Levi addressed the PAC expressing concerns about the degree of deterioration of the artwork caused by its unsuitable placement outdoors and encouraged the PAC to remove the artwork from its current location. After taking into consideration staff report and public input, the Commissioners thanked the community for contributing to this decision making process, and clarified with staff on the art removal process ensuring that the artist has the first right to backer-acquire the piece. Moved: Vice Chair Miyaji moved to approve the deaccession of Digital DNA by Adrianna Varella and Nilton Maltz, located in Lytton Plaza as outlined in the City’s Deaccession Policy. Second: Chair Migdal. All in favor. 3. De-Accession of Artworks - Staff recommended the deaccession of Go Mama by Marta Thoma, currently sited on California Avenue. Staff presented an updated detailed report outlining the updated maintenance and conservation history and costs, and provided a list of criteria considerations for deaccession of the artwork, including: The condition of the artwork cannot be reasonably guaranteed; the artwork’s structural condition may pose a threat to public safety; the artwork has faults in the design and repair may be impractical or unfeasible; significant changes to the design of the site have occurred which affect the integrity of the Artwork; and no suitable site is available for relocation or exhibition. Staff reported on its ongoing discussion with the artist and her fabricator to refurbish the sculpture and enhance its stability. The artist submitted a stabilization proposal which was reviewed in consultation with the City’s engineering team. It was determined that further structural details are needed in order to fully evaluate the current structural condition of the piece and identify a feasible solution to reinforce the footing of the sculpture. Staff provided a compilation of public input gathered in consideration of the deaccession evaluation process. Moved: Commissioner Taylor moved to approve the deaccession of Go Mama located on California Avenue. Second: Commissioner Gordon. All in favor. 4. Bike Boulevards Pilot Project – Staff provided an overview of the project scope, selection process and presented renderings of the two final proposals shortlisted by the selection panel for the Bike Boulevards / Art Crosswalks pilot project to be integrated at the Louis / Fielding raised intersection. Commissioners reviewed conceptual design proposals by Damon Belanger and Tiffany Stakem discussed their artistic merit, safety and appropriateness to the site. Moved: Chair Migdal moved to select and approve conceptual design titled Go With the Flow for four intersections by artist Damon Belanger. Second: Commissioner Shen. All in favor. 5. Downtown Parking Garage – Staff recommended the approval of artist Amy Landesberg as the project artist for the downtown parking garage project. Staff provided overall background information on the development project of the new Downtown Parking Garage to be constructed in Fall 2019. Staff utilized the prequalified pool of artists to select twenty artists that were brought to the panel for consideration. The panel reviewed the artist pool and shortlisted four finalists to give presentations detailing their previous work, approach to design development, and their interest in this particular project. Artist Amy Landesberg was the highest ranked artist. Moved: Chair Migdal moved to approve artist Amy Landesberg as the project artist for the downtown parking garage. Second: Commissioner Taylor. All in favor. 6. Junior Museum and Zoo - Staff recommended the approval of artwork design concept by artist Charles Sowers for the JMZ project. Staff updated the Commissioners on the project background, artist selection process, community and stakeholder outreach and provided input. Artist Charles Sowers worked in consultation with the design team to develop a conceptual proposal and design for the project. Sowers’ proposal for pendulum swings that activate sails or fins above the roofline of the building was strongly supported by the design team. The project construction of the new facility is scheduled to begin in 2018 with the expected opening in May 2020 pending permitting and available funding. Moved: Chair Migdal moved to approve conceptual proposal by artist Charles Sowers for the Junior Museum and Zoo. Second: Commissioner Shen. All in favor. NON-ACTION: 7. Joint Meeting with Council – Staff and Commissioners discussed an outline and strategy for the presentation to Council scheduled to take place on December 4, 2017. ANNOUNCEMENTS – None. FOR YOUR CALENDAR: Joint Meeting with Council – December 4, 2017 at 6 p.m. Next PAC Regular Meeting – January 18, 2017 at 7 p.m. MEETING ADJOURNED at 8:57 PM by Chair Migdal.