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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-01-19 Public Art Commission Action Minutes MINUTES PUBLIC ART COMMISSION MEETING Thursday, January 19, 2023 Community Meeting Room & Virtual 7:00 p.m. Commissioners Participating: Lisa Waltuch, Ben Miyaji, Loren Gordon, Hsinya Shen Commissioners Absent: Nia Taylor City Council Participating: Greg Tanaka, Council Member Staff Present: Elise DeMarzo, Public Art Program Director Nadya Chuprina, Public Art Program Coordinator CALL TO ORDER – Vice Chair Waltuch called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. AGENDA CHANGES, REQUESTS, DELETIONS – Staff suggested that the PAC review Non-Action Item 6 after Action Item 1. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS – Council Member Tanaka joined the PAC meeting at 7:06 and addressed the Commissioners to introduce himself, commend the PAC on their service, and encourage Commissioners to welcome more community engagement-based art. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - PAC Regular Meeting November 17, 2022 Moved: Commissioner Miyaji; Second: Commissioner Gordon. All in Favor. STAFF COMMENTS – Staff provided an update on the open call for walls encouraging property owners to contact Public Art Program staff if they wish to offer their walls for the temporary murals pilot program. Staff also notified the PAC about the status of artist applications for the Muralist Roster closing on January 30. ACTION: 1. Adoption of Resolution – Commissioners reviewed the resolution authorizing the use of teleconferencing for the Public Art Commission meetings during Covid-19 state of emergency. On September 16, 2021, the Governor signed AB 361, a bill that amends the Brown Act, effective October 1, 2021, to allow local policy bodies to continue to meet by teleconferencing during a state of emergency. Moved: Commissioner Gordon moved to approve the resolution authorizing the use of teleconferencing for the Public Art Commission meetings. Second: Commissioner Miyaji. All in Favor. 6. Public Art in Private Development – Initial Review of the 3200 Park Boulevard (former Fry’s Site) development project. Staff introduced the project and applicant project team to the PAC. Tim Steele presented the development project summery, including historic images, current views and renderings of the planned construction. Public Art Consultant Jennifer Easton provided an overview of the historic context and cultural significance of the project site, and presented various public art opportunities considered by the team, including potential locations for placement of art, appropriate themes and types of work, and showed visual examples of artwork by various artists that may be considered for this project. Due to limited public space, the project team is currently considering splitting the total art budget 50/50 to commission a site-specific artwork and provide in-lieu contribution to the Public Art Fund. Community member and Historic Resources Commissioner Alisa Eagleson-Cieslewicz addressed the PAC members to express desire for a site-specific public art that would engage and educate the public about the cultural and historic significance of the Fry’s site. Community member Terry Holzer joined the PAC meeting remotely and addressed the Commissioners to reinforce the importance of that site for the Palo Alto community. Commissioners thanked the project team for their informative presentation, followed up with some clarification questions about the site, and encouraged them to consider incorporating public art that would celebrate themes of cultural diversity and unique history of the project site and its nearby community. 2. Code:ART 2023 - Staff provided an update on the artist selection process for the major media artwork to anchor the Code:ART 2023 festival. Held on October 12-14, 2023 the event will activate Palo Alto’s plazas, alleys, and public spaces through interactive light, sound, and motion art installations. 38 applications were submitted in response to the call for artists. A selection panel comprised of Commissioner Loren Gordon, Dr. Edward Shanken, Liz Hickok, Darren Numoto, and Elizabeth Sullivan identified three finalists who were then offered a stipend to create site-specific conceptual proposals for the Major Media Artwork. Los Angeles-based artist Nate Mohler’s proposal was selected by the panel for the commission. Motion: Commissioner Miyaji made a motion to approve artist Nate Mohler as the project artist. Second: Commissioner Shen. All in Favor. 3. Collection Care – Staff provided an update on the physical condition of a permanent artwork titled Cloud Forest by artist Roger Stoller installed at the entrance of Mitchell Park Library and recommended that the PAC approve funding in the amount of up to $3,200 for the maintenance treatment of the piece. Moved: Commissioner Shen moved to approve the maintenance funds. Second: Commissioner Miyaji. All in Favor. 4. Collection Care – Staff updated the PAC on the condition of a permanently installed artwork titled Universal Woman by artist Nathan Oliveira installed at the Art Center sculpture garden and recommended that the PAC allocate funding in the amount of up to $3,200 for its maintenance treatment. Moved: Commissioner Gordon made a motion to allocate maintenance funds. Second: Commissioner Shen. All in Favor. 5. Acquisition of Artwork – Staff provided an overview and presented images of two artworks offered for donation by Cubberley Studio Program Artists Tara de la Garza and Robin Mullery and recommended that the PAC accept the artworks to the City’s Permanent Art Collection. Moved: Commissioner Miyaji moved to accept an artwork titled Softly, Filling Holes, 2020 by CASP artist Robin Mullery and artwork titled Segmentum Collum Judleoni, 2018 by CASP artist Tara de la Garza into as gifts to the City’s public art collection. Second: Commissioner Gordon. All in Favor. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Staff announced the upcoming installation of temporary artwork by King Artist- in-Residence Rayos Magos on King Plaza scheduled for January 25. CALENDAR: Next PAC Regular Meeting – February 16, 7 pm (hybrid) at City Hall Community Meeting Room. MEETING ADJOURNED: at 8:40 pm by Vice Chair Waltuch.