HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-04-18 Public Art Commission Summary Minutes
IS POSTED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION
54954.2(a) OR SECTION 54956
PUBLIC ART COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, April 18, 2024
Community Meeting Room & Virtual
7:00 p.m.
Commissioners Participating: Loren Gordon, Ben Miyaji, Hsinya Shen, Lisa Waltuch
Commissioners Absent: Nia Taylor
City Council Participating: None
Staff Present: Elise DeMarzo, Public Art Program Director
Nadya Chuprina, Public Art Program Coordinator
Amanda Deml, CSD Assistant Director
CALL TO ORDER – Chair Shen called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
AGENDA CHANGES, REQUESTS, DELETIONS – Non-action item 4 was removed of the current
agenda and tabled until another meeting in the future.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS – None.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES – March 21, 2024 PAC regular Meeting Moved: Commissioner Miyaji;
Second: Chair Shen. All in Favor.
STAFF COMMENTS – Staff updated the Commission on the CASP Open Studios event on April 13,
2024 with over 150 members of the public attending. Staff also provided an update on the community
meeting with artist Cameron Moberg on April 17 held at Imagination Lab School at Cubberley.
Community members attended the meeting to provide input about Cubberley that will inform the artist’s
design process. Staff will continue to gather community input via social media and email.
ACTION:
1. Fire Station 5 Mural – Staff provided an update about the artist selection process for a muralist
to paint a temporary mural on the roll-up door at Fire Station 5 located at 600 Arastradero Road
and recommended that the PAC approve Bodeck Luna as the project artist. The artist was selected
by a selection panel comprised of the Fire Station staff, local artists, community members, and a
Public Art Commissioner who reviewed a roster of 35 artists in the pre-approved muralist roster.
The artist was selected based on the applicant’s statement and overall strength of visual samples
of previously completed artworks. Once approved by the PAC the artist will start his research and
community engagement to inform this design development. The finalized design will be
presented to the PAC for approval. The tentative timeline for painting the mural onsite in July
2024. Motion: Commissioner Miyaji moved to approve Bodeck Luna as the project artist for the
Fire Station 5 mural project. Second: Commissioner Waltuch. All in Favor.
2. Collection Care – Staff provided a summary of the commission history and previous
maintenance and conservation treatments for the kinetic sculpture Homage to Silence by artist
Jerome Kirk created in 1981 and located near the corner of Embarcadero and Newell Roads. Staff
recommended that the PAC allocate funds in the amount of up to $3,700 for maintenance and
conservation treatment of the sculpture. The treatment would be provided by Preservation Arts art
conservators and take place onsite in the end of May 2024. Motion: Vice Chair Shen moved to
approve funding in the amount of $3,700 for the conservation treatment of Homage to Silence by
Jerome Kirk. Second: Commissioner Waltuch. All in Favor.
3. Collection Care – Staff provided commissioning history of public art to be integrated into the
new Public Safety Building. Three site-specific artworks by artist Peter Wegner will installed at
the new facility in June 2024. The artworks, two interior and one exterior, will need to be
protected in place while some final construction activities take place. Staff recommended
allocation of funds in the amount of up to $11,910 for custom protection systems for artworks to
be designed, fabricated, and assembled onsite by Atthowe Fine Art Services. Motion: Vice Chair
Shen moved to approve the requested funds for custom protection systems for artworks by artist
Peter Wegner for the Public Safely Building at 250 Sherman Ave. Second: Commissioner
Miyaji. All in Favor.
NON-ACTION ITEMS
4. ArtLift Grants: Utility Box Edition – Staff provided informational update on the Utility Boxes
project. The call for Palo Alto and Bay Area artists was open in February and closed on March
31, 2024. 120 artists submitted their applications. A selection panel comprised of the City’s
Public Works staff representative, PAC Commissioner, local artists and art professionals will
review 102 applications to identify 20 finalists to be selected to paint 20 utility boxes around Palo
Alto. Each selected artist will be awarded a $1,000 stipend. Selected artists will be presented to
the PAC at a future meeting. Painting will take place during Summer – Fall 2024.
COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, OR FUTURE ITEMS: Commissioner Miyaji
shared with the Commission that April was named the Arts Month by California Arts Council.
Commissioner Miyaji encouraged commissioners to call up their local state representatives to advocate
for continuous support and funding of the arts in California.
CALENDAR: Next PAC Regular Meeting – May 16, 7 pm (hybrid) at City Hall Community Meeting
Room.
MEETING ADJOURNED: at 7:40 pm by Chair Gordon.