HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-04-15 Public Art Commission Summary Minutes
MINUTES
PUBLIC ART COMMISSION
MEETING
Thursday, April 15, 2021
Virtual teleconference via Zoom
7:00 p.m.
Commissioners Present: Ben Miyaji, Loren Gordon, Nia Taylor, Ian Klaus, Hsinya
Shen
Staff Present: Elise DeMarzo, Public Art Program Director
Nadya Chuprina, Public Art Program Coordinator
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 - PAC Special Meeting Minutes March 17, 2021, Moved: Vice Chair
Gordon, Second: Commissioner Taylor. All in Favor. PAC Meeting Minutes March 18, 2021. Moved:
Vice Chair Gordon, Second: Commissioner Taylor. All in Favor.
STAFF COMMENTS - Staff updated the Commissioners on the recently installed ArtLift Microgrant
projects. Staff shared visuals and announced an April 16 deadline for the last round of applications. Staff
also updated the commissioners on the virtual Artist Talk with eight Temporary Mural artists held on
April 7. Staff also announced the ongoing recruitment for the City’s Boards and Commissions, including
3 vacancies for the Public Art Commission with the application deadline on April 6, 2021. Staff made an
announcement for a new City-wide website and announced a completed installation of two permanent
public art projects in private development by artist Gordon Huether on Hanover Avenue in Palo Alto.
ACTION:
1. Equity Focused Public Art at King Plaza – Commissioners discussed the resources available to
potential artists through the Human Relations Commission and other outlets, expectations of the
research and artwork development portion of the artist call, and the allocation of funds to launch
the program. Staff provided a timeline for previous discussions and key take-aways to-date,
shared a recommended by PAC path to establish King Plaza as the permanent site and platform
for ongoing rotating artworks addressing racial equity, as well as key criteria for the artwork.
Staff offered the following considerations for PAC discussion and approval: name of the
program; focus of the call for artist and projects; expectation for research and community
engagement; and project budget allocation for stipends for 3 finalists, research and production of
artwork. Commissioners Taylor and Gordon shared updates from HRC planning community
meetings they attended. Commissioners deferred the decision on the three first considerations.
Commissioners inquired with staff on a feasible timeline for the launch of the call for artists and
agreed on a target date of June 1,2021 for the call launch. Chair Miyaji made a motion to approve
funding in the amount of up to $50,000 to fund the program, including costs for the stipends for 3
selected finalists to create conduct research and create specific proposals, as well as funding of
the first project (in-depth research and community engagement, and production / fabrication of
the temporary artwork. Moved: Commissioner Taylor moved to approve the funds in the
amount of up to $50,000. Second: Commissioner Shen. All in Favor.
NON-ACTION:
2. Commissioner Handbook Adopted by City Council – Commissioners discussed the recently
adopted Commissioner Handbook, reviewed the new annual work plan template and how the
2020-21 adopted PAC priorities could be shared with City Council in the new format. Staff will
work with Commissioners Klaus and Shen to submit the PAC goals and priorities in the workplan
format and return to the PAC at the May meeting to finalize the work plan.
,
ANNOUNCEMENTS – none
CALENDAR: Next PAC Regular Meeting – May 20, 2021 at 7 pm via Zoom.
MEETING ADJOURNED at 8:23 pm by Chair Miyaji.