HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-01-12 Public Art Commission Summary Minutes
IS POSTED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION
54954.2(a) OR SECTION 54956
PUBLIC ART COMMISSION
January 12, 2024
Downtown Library
1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
ANNUAL PAC RETREAT
MINUTES
Commissioners Present: Loren Gordon, Ben Miyaji, Nia Taylor, Lisa Waltuch, Hsinya
Shen
Staff present: Elise DeMarzo, Public Art Program Director
Nadya Chuprina, Public Art Program Coordinator
Denise Laxen di Zazzo, PAP and CASP Communications
Coordinator
Kristen O’Kane – CSD Director
Amanda Deml – CSD Assistant Director
CALL TO ORDER – The meeting was called to order at 1:01 PM by Chair Shen.
ADDITIONS, CHANGES, REQUESTS, DELETIONS – None.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS – None.
NON-ACTION:
Commissioners started the Retreat with an icebreaker activity. Staff then provided a detailed
overview of the Public Art Program funding structure and budgets, provided an outline of
existing public art projects in municipal and private development, as well as temporary projects
currently on display, and ongoing and earmarked collection care and projects. Commissioners
and staff then discussed the expansion of the murals program to the downtown and midtown
districts. Commissioners and staff conversed about the takeaways from the two recently
concluded King Artist Residencies, including the decision to print a set of community quotes
and exhibiting them in King Plaza since artist Kirti Bassendine did not present a proposal for
temporary artwork at the conclusion of her residency. Commissioners also discussed the launch
of a new call for the third round of the King AIR residency. Commissioners discussed a new
round of ArtLift Grants that would focus on utility boxes across various commercial corridors
and neighborhoods of Palo Alto. Staff and Commissioners then reviewed the accomplishments
of Code:ART 2023 and discussed opportunities for expanding the event budget and scale of
installations for the next Code:ART set for 2025. Chair Shen led an overview of the PAC
municipal code and roles of Public Art Commissioners. Staff and Commissioners then reviewed
the PAMP goals grid and discussed potential appropriate public art opportunities in line with
the PAMP recommendations. Commissioners and staff reviewed the currently adopted PAC
priorities and made minor updates to the objectives draft document to be approved by the PAC
at the upcoming regular meeting:
1. Building Community Priority: Develop public art that encourages engagement,
belonging, and community participation, and that promotes shared experiences in and
around Palo Alto neighborhoods and commercial corridors.
2. Social Justice Priority: Develop public art projects that will continue to advance
empathy, cultural inclusion and celebration, and social, racial, and gender equity.
3. Public Art Education Priority: Widen and strengthen education and advocacy for public
art, including through the roll-out and implementation of the California Ave District
Master Plan and the Baylands Art Plan, and PAMP long-term goals, while responding to
current issues and supporting a wider network of artists.
Commissioners identified the following projects and initiatives as working priorities: expansion
of the Temporary Murals Program to downtown and midtown Palo Alto in Summer 2024;
launch of the next King Artist Residency round; re-commencement of the next round of ArtLift
Grants to commission local emerging artists to paint up to 20 utility boxes across Palo Alto in
Summer – Fall 2024, commissioning temporary murals at Cubberley Community Center and Fire
Station 5, commissioning a large scale temporary digital mural at the California Ave Parking
Garage, and initiating the planning of Code:ART 2025 with expanded budgets, scales of
installations, and potential inclusion of projection mapping projects.
No action was taken.
Meeting adjourned at 5:02 pm by Chair Shen