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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-04-18 Public Art Commission Summary Minutes MINUTES PUBLIC ART COMMISSION MEETING Thursday, April 18, 2019 Palo Alto City Hall Community Meeting Room 7:00 p.m. Commissioners Present: Ben Miyaji, Jim Migdal, Hsinya Shen, Nia Taylor Commissioners Absent: Amanda Ross, Loren Gordon, Ian Klaus Staff Present: Elise DeMarzo, Public Art Program Director Nadya Chuprina, Public Art Program Coordinator Monique leConge Ziesenhenne, Director of Library & Community Services CALL TO ORDER: Chair Miyaji called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. AGENDA CHANGES, REQUESTS, DELETIONS – Chair Miyaji moved the non-action item 3 up as the first item on the agenda. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS – None APPROVAL OF MINUTES: February 21, 2019 PAC Meeting Minutes Moved: Commissioner Migdal; Second: Commissioner Shen. All in favor. STAFF COMMENTS: Staff provided a summary of the Cubberley Stock event held on March 24. The sold-out micro funding dinner event hosted by artist Lexa Walsh and Public Art Program featured presentations by 6 artists and collectives. As voted by the audience artists Martha Sakellariou and Jennifer Lee’s project proposal won the grant award. The artists will collaborate with the Public Art Program to execute their project in Summer 2019. Staff also provided an update of the biannual Public Alchemy community exhibition organized by CASP artists. Over 60 community artists exhibited their artwork, and many took part in the art critiques organized by CASP’s Mel Day. Staff also announced the ongoing recruitment process for the Public Art Summer Intern and Program Assistant positions. SPECIAL PRESENTATION: Commissioner Taylor reported to the Commissioners on the Artist Light and Public Space Artist Talk at Montalvo Arts Center she attended in February 2019. NON- ACTION: 3. 565 Hamilton Avenue - Initial Review for art in private development project associated with the 565 Hamilton Ave. project. Danielle Fox of SLATE Art Consulting introduced herself and her consulting firm to the Commissioners and presented the development project. She spoke about the art project timeline, key architectural and design elements, and the desired goals behind integration of the public artwork. The consultant explained the intended approach to the artist selection process and initial specification for the desired public art element. Given the visual vocabulary of the architecture, the consultant and developer expressed a preference for one or two abstract sculptural works in steel to be sited at a publicly accessible covered area near the corner of Hamilton and Webster Ave. Commissioners reviewed the presented project and made suggestions for appropriate themes and types of artwork. There was some discussion exploring alternative installation locations, materials and stylistic approaches suggesting a more fluid and organic feel and look of the commissioned artwork. There was overall consensus that the work should not blend too much with the building. ACTION: 1. Collection Maintenance – Staff provided an overview of the current soil condition surrounding Bruce Beasley’s Arpeggio V installed at the entrance to Mitchell Park Library and Community Center. While the main sculpture and its concrete foundation is in sound structural condition, over the years the soil around the sculpture settled unevenly causing some shifting of several accent granite blocks. Staff requested that the Commission allocate funds for the ground regrading project in the amount of $9,500. Moved: Commissioner Migdal moved to approve the funds for the maintenance project. Second: Commissioner Shen. All in Favor. 2. Collection Maintenance – Staff presented image slides and provided an overview of previous care treatments and current condition of Mike Szabo’s sculptures Confluence and Arch-Cradle. Both artworks are due for preventative maintenance treatment and cleaning. Staff requested that the Commission allocate funds in the amount of up to $8,000 for the maintenance of artworks. Moved: Commissioner Migdal moved to approve the funds for the maintenance projects. Second: Commissioner Shen. All in Favor. NON-ACTION: 4. Update on Public Safety Building Artwork – Staff provided an update on the design development process of the public art elements by artist Peter Wegner for the new Public Safety Building. Due to budgetary constraints and the construction timeline of the California Garage structure adjacent to the future Public Safety Building, the city determined that it would not be feasible to integrate the LED public art element. The artist is still in contract negotiations for the fabrication and installation of three other approved art elements at the Public Safety Building. ANNOUNCEMENTS – None CALENDAR: Next PAC Regular Meeting – May 16, 2019 at 7 pm. Contemporary Art Fairs in San Francisco – April 25-28, 2019 AFTA Public Art Preconference – June 12-14, 2019 held in Minneapolis MN MEETING ADJOURNED at 8:13 by Chair Miyaji.