HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-03-16 Public Art Commission Action Minutes
MINUTES
PUBLIC ART COMMISSION
MEETING
Thursday, March 16, 2023
Community Meeting Room & Virtual
7:00 p.m.
Commissioners Participating: Lisa Waltuch, Loren Gordon, Nia Taylor, Hsinya Shen, Ben
Miyaji (virtually)
Commissioners Absent: none
Staff Present: Elise DeMarzo, Public Art Program Director
Nadya Chuprina, Public Art Program Coordinator
CALL TO ORDER – Chair Taylor called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.
AGENDA CHANGES, REQUESTS, DELETIONS – Commissioner Miyaji requested that Item 1 to be
moved to the end of the meeting after Item 4.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS – None.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES - PAC Regular Meeting February 16, 2023 Moved: Vice Chair Waltuch;
Second: Chair Taylor. All in Favor.
STAFF COMMENTS – Staff provided an update on the Meet the Artists event for public art at Boulware
Park that took place virtually March 8. The recorded video is available on the Public Art website and
community members are invited to submit their input to staff. Staff also provided a report and shared
images for the Universal Woman conservation treatment.
ACTION:
2. Fire Station 4 – Staff provided an overview of the artist selection process for public art
associated with the Fire Station 4 construction project, including the layout and architectural
features of the new facility, and areas for potential opportunities for the integration of public art.
A roster of 20 artists from the 2021/23 Prequalified Artist Pool were reviewed by a seven-
member selection panel who recommended Stephen Galloway as the project artist. Staff
recommended that the PAC approve Stephen Galloway as the project artist. Moved:
Commissioner Gordon moved to approve the artist. Second: Commissioner Shen. All in Favor.
3. California Ave District Mural – Staff provided an overview of the artist selection process for
artists to create new long-term temporary murals in the California Ave District in Summer 2023.
Artist Nicole Ponsler was recommended by the selection panel and then selected by the property
owner for the California Ave Central HOA site and artist Olivia Losee-Unger was identified for
the wall of Izzy’s Brooklyn Bagels site. Additionally, the City identified an area for a ground
scape mural to be painted by an artist with the participating of Palo Alto community. Artist Paz
de la Calzada was recommended for this commission opportunity. All recommended artists were
selected from the Palo Alto Muralist Roster. Staff recommended the approval of the three artists
and additional allocation of funds in the amount of up to $20,000 for the ground-plain mural. The
two murals painted on the walls will be maintained by the City for the duration of five years ,
after which the property owner would have a right to keep it and assume maintenance
responsibilities, remove it, or work with the City to commission a new mural on their site. The
street mural project would be a pilot project with a shorter life span and no maintenance
obligations. Motion: Commissioner Gordon made a motion to approve artists Paz de la Calzada,
Nicole Ponsler, and Olivia Losee-Unger, and allocate funding in the amount of up to $20,000.
Second: Commissioner Shen. All in Favor.
Chair Taylor suggested that the Action Item # 1, Election of Chair and Vice-Chair, takes place prior to the
NON-ACTION item # 4, Public Art Commission Priorities Document. No objections from the
Commissioners.
ACTION:
1. Election of Chair and Vice – Chair – Chair Taylor described general duties and responsibilities
of the Chair to the Commissioners. Chair Taylor opened the floor to nominations for the position
of the PAC Chair. Commissioner Miyaji nominated Commissioner Gordon for the Chair.
Commissioner Gordon did not accept the nomination and in turn nominated Commissioner Shen
for Chair. Commissioner Shen accepted the nomination. No other nominations followed. Motion:
Chair Taylor moved to close the nominations. Second: Vice Chair Waltuch. All in Favor. Vote:
Commissioner Shen was elected as the new PAC Chair. Chair Taylor opened the floor to
nominations of Vice Chair. Commissioner Shen nominated Commissioner Gordon for the
position of Vice Chair. Commissioner Gordon accepted the nomination. Chair Taylor nominated
current Vice Chair Waltuch for the Vice Chair position. Vice Chair Waltuch accepted the
nomination but noted she was unable to commit time to working on the PAC Workplan. Motion:
Chair Taylor moved to close the nominations. Second: Commissioner Miyaji. All in Favor.
Vote: Commissioner Gordon was elected as the PAC Vice Chair.
NON-ACTION:
4. PAC Priorities Document – Commissioners discussed a work strategy and the new Chair and
Vice Chair confirmed that they will form an ad-hoc committee to work with staff on the 2023/24
PAC Workplan draft. The draft document will be reviewed and discussed by the entire
Commission at the April meeting before submitted to City Council in May for their review and
approval.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Vice Chair Gordon shared with the PAC about an ongoing exhibition of sculpture
at Stanford University.
CALENDAR: Next PAC Regular Meeting – April 20, 7 pm at City Hall Community Meeting Room.
MEETING ADJOURNED: at 8:07 pm by Commissioner Taylor.