HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-11-19 Public Art Commission Summary Minutes
MINUTES
PUBLIC ART COMMISSION
MEETING
Thursday, November 19, 2020
Virtual teleconference via Zoom
7:00 p.m.
Commissioners Present: Ben Miyaji, Loren Gordon, Nia Taylor, Ian Klaus joined the
meeting at 7:15 pm, Hsinya Shen joined the meeting at 7:23 pm
Commissioners Absent:
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: September 24, 2020 PAC Special Meeting Minutes Moved: Commissioner
Taylor; Second: Vice Chair Gordon. All in Favor.
STAFF COMMENTS: Staff reported to the Commissioners about the kick off of the ArtLift Microgrant
project. Applications from local artists and creatives are accepted and reviewed on an ongoing basis. Staff
asked for any commissioners interested in serving on the selection panel. Staff also reported on the
completed maintenance treatments for Confluence and Arch-Cradle by artist Mike Szabo and shared
images of the artworks before and after treatments.
ACTION:
1. New Acquisition of Artwork –Staff presented the information and image of the artwork titled
Unapproachable Landscapes I by former CASP artist Yishu Wang offered for donation into the
City’s public art collection. The screen print offered for donation was created by the artist during
her residency at Cubberley. Moved: Vice Chair Gordon moved to accept the donation of artwork
into the City’s collection of public art. Second: Chair Miyaji. Commissioner Taylor – aye. All in
Favor.
NON-ACTION:
2. Race and Equity Public Art – Commissioners discussed the City Council referral to the PAC to
develop a permanent artwork on King Plaza to recognize the City’s priorities to advance cultural,
racial and social equity. Staff presented images of the plaza and talked the commissioners through
challenges and opportunities of the site. Due to allowable weight restrictions and inability to
permanently bolt into the plaza, staff listed alternative opportunities for integration of artwork,
including utilizing the fountain planter, or the façade of the City Hall building for ongoing public
art programming featuring rotating artworks in a banner format. Commissioners noted the
importance of a broader public and stakeholder input and the need for a bigger conversation as
the PAC works on preparing the recommendations for City Council. Commissioners discussed
the need to conduct further research to understand pros and cons, and cost implications of
permanent vs. temporary artwork and consider the process further to ensure the commissioned
artwork(s) are relevant to the community, impactful and meaningful. Staff will provide interim
information reports to City Council, continue the discussion at the next PAC meeting and
potentially conduct a special PAC meeting dedicated to the item of Race and Equity Public Art at
King Plaza.
3. Temporary Murals Update – Staff updated the PAC on the artist selection panel that identified
8 local artists to create original site-specific artworks to be digitally printed and temporarily
places across 8 various locations in downtown and California Ave district in Palo Alto. Artists
Robin Apple, Damon Belanger, Liz Hickok, Lauren Berger, Jorge Camacho, Katharine Lui,
Carrie Lederer and art duo t.w.five were awarded the commissions. Staff shared examples of the
artists’ previous artworks with the PAC.
ANNOUNCEMENTS – None
CALENDAR: Next PAC Regular Meeting – December 17, 2020 at 7 pm via Zoom.
MEETING ADJOURNED at 8:01 pm by Chair Miyaji.