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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-08-28 Public Art Commission Summary Minutes IS POSTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54954.2(a) OR SECTION 54956 PUBLIC ART COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, August 28, 2024 Community Meeting Room & Virtual 7:00 p.m. Commissioners Participating: Loren Gordon, Hsinya Shen, Tara de la Garza, Harriet Stern, Ben Miyaji, and Lisa Waltuch joined remotely in accordance with the “just cause” policy under AB2449. Commissioners Absent: Amber Smith City Council Participating: None Staff Present: Elise DeMarzo, Public Art Program Director, CSD Amanda Deml, Assistant Director, CSD Nadya Chuprina, Public Art Program Coordinator, CSD CALL TO ORDER – Chair Gordon called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.Commissioner Stern joined the meeting at 7:03 p.m. AGENDA CHANGES, REQUESTS, DELETIONS – None. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS – None. STAFF COMMENTS – Staff updated the commissioners on the recent re-installation of a permanently sited sculpture by artist Susan Zoccola titled Passage at the intersection of E. Charleston & Montrose Ave to replace the artwork previously destroyed in a car accident. The replacement sculpture was fabricated and installed in accordance with the original specifications as approved by the City. Staff also made an update on ongoing fresco protection measures taking place at the Roth building undergoing a comprehensive rehabilitation project to re-open as the Palo Alto History Museum. Staff announced an upcoming Midtown Ice Cream Social event scheduled for September 8, 1-4 pm at Hoover Park. Public Art Commissioners will be attending and staffing a table. ACTION: 1. Code:ART 2025 – Staff provided an overview of the next edition of Code:ART interactive media art festival scheduled for October 16-18, 2025. Guided by the Code:ART 2023 public feedback and visitor surveys, the event received an overwhelmingly positive support from approximately 13,000 festival goers who expressed a desire to experience greater impact art installations over a longer period. Staff has been exploring bringing a 3-D immersive projection mapping project to be displayed on the façade of the Palo Alto City Hall building. Staff consulted a projection mapping production company to provide an estimate that would include all pre- and production services, rental equipment including appropriate projectors, artists fees for the creation of original site-specific content, set-up and break-down, labor and staffing for each night of the event for a period of ten nights. Should the PAC support the use of Public Art Funds for the use of the Code:ART 2025 projection mapping project, the funding request would need to be approved by City Council as part of the mid-year budget transfer. Staff will need to launch a formal solicitation bid as soon as possible in order to identify the right vendor to produce a projection mapping project. Staff showed two videos with various examples of projection mapping projects to the commissioners. There was some discussion among the commissioners about the positive economic impact to the downtown district a large-scale projection artwork displayed for ten nights could make. There were some clarifying questions about the source of funding and whether there is adequate funding available in the Public Art Fund. With approximately $2M in the Fund, staff confirmed that there is funding available to cover costs associated with the request.Council Liaison Burt encouraged the staff and commissioners to secure support from the Downtown Business Association and explore potential partnership opportunities with Caltrain to encourage more festival visitors from the Bay Area. Motion: Commissioner Miyaji moved to approve the use of private development generated in-lieu funds in the amount of up to $300,000 to support a major 3-D projection mapping project on the facade of City Hall that would be featured during Code:ART 2025 and continue through the following weekend. Second: Vice Chair Shen. Motion passed 5-1 (Commissioner Stern – No). 2. Code:ART 2025 – Staff shared a vision for the upcoming Code:ART 2025 to feature a prominent interactive media art installation placed in Lytton Plaza and four Urban Intervention projects placed in various locations in downtown for a period 72 hours. Staff recommended that the PAC approve allocation of funds in the amount of up to $70,000 from the Art in Public Places CIP for the major installation in Lytton Plaza and four additional artworks in various locations. Motion: Chair Gordon moved to approve the funds. Second: Commissioner Miyaji. All in Favor. 3. Donation of Artwork – Staff recommended that the PAC accept a donation of artwork by CASP artist Darryl Dieckman offered by the artist to the City of Palo Alto as part of the Cubberley Artist Studio Program. The CAPS guidelines require that participating artists donate one of their artworks created during their residency to the City. Staff read the artist’ statement for the offered piece and presented digital images for the Commission review. Motion: Commissioner de la Garza moved that the PAC accept the donation of artwork by CASP artist Darryl Dieckman into the City’s Public Art Collection. Second: Commissioner Stern. All in Favor. COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, OR FUTURE ITEMS: None CALENDAR: Next PAC Regular Meeting – September 19, 7 pm (hybrid) at City Hall Community Meeting Room. MEETING ADJOURNED: at 7:59 pm by Chair Gordon.