HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-07-16 Public Art Commission Summary Minutes
MINUTES
PUBLIC ART COMMISSION
MEETING
Thursday, July 16, 2020
Virtual teleconference via Zoom
7:00 p.m.
Commissioners Present: Ben Miyaji, Loren Gordon Nia Taylor, Hsinya Shen, Ian
Klaus
Commissioners Absent: Amanda Ross, Jim Migdal
Staff Present: Elise DeMarzo, Public Art Program Director
Nadya Chuprina, Public Art Program Coordinator
Kristen O’Kane, CSD Director
CALL TO ORDER: Chair Miyaji called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
AGENDA CHANGES, REQUESTS, DELETIONS – None
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS – None
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: June 18, 2020 PAC Meeting Minutes Moved: Commissioner Taylor;
Second: Vice Chair Gordon. All in favor.
STAFF COMMENTS: Staff announced the ongoing recruitment of officers for the Public Art
Commission with the submission deadline on July 21, 2020. Staff also provided an update on the
installation of the public art elements for the Junior Museum and Zoo. Staff announced the ongoing
virtual community outreach led via coUrbanize and encouraged commissioners and members of
community to provide input regarding the future of public art in the California Ave district. Staff also
announced the upcoming removal of the temporary installation by FreelandBuck in King Plaza and the
installation of a new installation by Paz de la Calzada scheduled for early August. Staff reported on the
restoration treatment for Greg Brown’s mural at the USPS office in downtown Palo Alto. Staff updated
the commissioners on completion of the Black Lives Matter temporary mural painted by 16 Bay Area
diverse artists and collectives on Hamilton Ave in front of City Hall.
ACTION:
1. Cultural Equity –Staff recommended that the Commission approve funds in the amount to
$6,000 to engage an art consultant to work with the Public Art Commission and staff and provide
racial equity consulting and outreach campaign support in the sector of public art with the
underlying goal of enhancing equity and inclusion and access to public art opportunities in Palo
Alto for artists and art organizations of color. Moved: Commissioner Shen moved to approve
funding to engage the consultant and support greater cultural and racial equity. Second:
Commissioner Taylor. All in Favor.
2. Temporary Public Art at the Palo Alto Art Center – Staff provided a summary of the
collaborative project initiative between the Public Art Program and the Palo Alto Art Center and
Art Center Foundation to exhibit a series of large-scale artworks by Susan O’Malley along
Embarcadero Road. Staff requested that the Commission approves funding in the amount up
to$10,000 to support the project. Moved: Vice Chair Gordon moved to approve funding in the
amount of $10,000 for the temporary project. Second: Commissioner Taylor. All in Favor.
NON-ACTION:
3. Discussion regarding upcoming Council Agenda Items related to Public Art– PAC Chair led
a follow-up discussion regarding the City Council report on Boards and Commissions and
proposed changes to the number of Public Art Commission members, as well as budget
discussions. PAC unanimously expressed a concern over the proposed downsizing of the number
of Public Art Commissioners and discussed ways to provide input to City Council at the
Council’s second reading of the proposed changes to the PAC ordinance.
ANNOUNCEMENTS – None.
CALENDAR: Next PAC Regular Meeting – August 20, 2020 at 7 pm via Zoom.
MEETING ADJOURNED at 8:18 pm by Chair Miyaji.