HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-05-16 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, May 16, 2024
Community Meeting Room & Virtual
7:00 p.m.
Commissioners Participating: Loren Gordon, Ben Miyaji, Hsinya Shen, Tara de la Garza,
Harriet Stern, Amber Smith, Lisa Waltuch joined at 7:06 pm.
Commissioners Absent: None
City Council Participating: Patrick Burt
Staff Present: Elise DeMarzo, Public Art Program Director
Nadya Chuprina, Public Art Program Coordinator
Amanda Deml, CSD Assistant Director
CALL TO ORDER – Chair Gordon called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
AGENDA CHANGES, REQUESTS, DELETIONS – None.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS – None.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES – April 18, 2024 PAC regular Meeting Moved: Vice Chair Shen Second:
Commissioner Miyaji. Abstained: Smith, Stern, and de la Garza. Approved: Gordon, Shen, Miyaji.
Failure to Approve the Minutes.
STAFF COMMENTS – Staff welcomed new commissioners Amber Smith, Harriet Stern and Tara de la
Garza and congratulated on their appointments by City Council. Staff provided an update and shared
images of the installation of the Poetry Wall mural in midtown Palo Alto as a temporary artwork printed
on recyclable aluminum material.
NON-ACTION:
1. Public Art in Private Development – Art Consultant Jennifer Eastern joined the meeting
remotely to present an informational update on the conceptual design for public artwork for the
3200 Park Blvd development project. Based on additional interviews with the Chew family and
archival research artist Kyungmi Shin implemented some revisions to the original design. These
updates were presented for the Commission review and feedback. Additionally, the developer
engaged Volume, Inc to design the interpretive history display, funded by a separate budget for
historic interpretive signage. Overall, Commissioners supported the updated art design and
appreciated its deeper historic context telling a compelling story of the cannery, but asked the
applicant team to be mindful of ensuring that the representation of women and the broader
cannery community remains part of the project imagery.
2. ArtLift Grants: Utility Box Edition – Staff provided an update on the artist selection process
for the utility box ArtLift Grant opportunity. The selection panel reviewed 102 artists to identify
20 finalists. Staff worked with all the selected artists to confirm their availability for the project
and assigned a project location to each artist. Painting onsite is expected to take place between the
end of July and October 2024.
3. Annual Work Plan for Council – Chair Gordon shared with the Commissioners the purpose and
format of the annual work plan created by the PAC for the City Council review and approval.
The work plan provides on overview of recently completed, ongoing and planned projects,
commissions, and special events in relation to the approved PAC priorities. Staff clarified that the
timeline for submitting the work plans seems to be in flux this year as the Council is evaluating
the format for the work plans. Chair Gordon along with Vice Chair Shen and Commissioner de la
Garza agreed to serve on the ad hoc committee to draft the new plan. Staff will get back to Chair
on the exact timeline for completing and submitting the work plan. Council Member Burt
encouraged the PAC to provide any feedback in relation to the established format of the plan
document and how it could be improved in writing to Council. Vice Chair Shen suggested that
the commissioners might appreciate a joint meeting with PAC and City Council to present the
work plan and provide more context about ongoing projects.
COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, OR FUTURE ITEMS: Vice Chair Shen shared
with the Commissioners that she attended a recent Policy and Services Committee meeting along with the
Public Art Program staff to make an informational presentation about the public art commissioning
process in municipal, private, and temporary projects.
CALENDAR: Next PAC Regular Meeting – June 20, 7 pm (hybrid) at City Hall Community Meeting
Room.
MEETING ADJOURNED: at 7:53 pm by Chair Gordon.