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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-03-20 Public Art Commission Summary Minutes IS POSTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54954.2(a) OR SECTION 54956 PUBLIC ART COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Thursday, March 20, 2025 Community Meeting Room & Virtual 7:00 p.m. Commissioners Participating: Hsinya Shen, Harriet Stern, Amber Smith, Loren Gordon, Lisa Waltuch (joined the meeting at 7:03 pm), Ben Miyaji joined the meeting remotely at 7:02 pm under “AB-2449 Just Cause” provision. Commissioners Absent: Tara de la Garza City Council Participating: None Staff Present: Elise DeMarzo, Public Art Program Director, CSD Nadya Chuprina, Public Art Program Coordinator, CSD Amanda Deml, Assistant Director, CSD 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 – February 20, 2025 PAC Regular Meeting Minutes: Moved by Vice Commissioner Gordon; Second by Commissioner Smith; All in Favor. STAFF COMMENTS –Staff updated the PAC about ongoing application process for the Public Art Program summer internship position with the submission deadline on March 28. Staff also reported on the completion of restoration of two Greg Brown murals, including Garbage Collector and Boy Fishing in downtown Palo Alto and shared before and after images. ACTION: 1. King AIR – King Artist-in-Residence Alma Landeta joined the PAC meeting remotely to introduce their conceptual design for a temporary artwork to be exhibited on King Plaza. For their residency, Landeta focused on the lived experiences of the LGBTQAI+ community members residing and working in Palo Alto and beyond with the goal of sparking conversations about inclusion, equity, a sense of belonging while bringing Palo Alto’s diverse communities together through better understanding and compassion. The design, informed by months of research and community engagement, celebrates the Palo Alto LGBTQ+ communities, highlighting their life experiences. Landeta shared digital renderings of the conceptual design: the sculpture will be made of rolled stainless steel with black contour drawings one the exterior. At the center of the installation there will be a bench with a payphone serving as a receiver for visitors to hear audio from anonymous messages from the Queeries Hotline. The proposed sculpture seeks to create a space where individual voices combine into a collective narrative. The reflective figures will invite visitors to see themselves as part of the ongoing conversation, showing how shared experiences build resilience and strengthening connection. The artist then played a sound clip as an example of media content integrated in the artwork. Commissioners asked clarifying questions about the timeline and maintenance plans for the installation. Motion: Commissioner Miyaji moved to approve the conceptual design for the temporary artwork by King artist-in-residence Alma Landeta. Second: Chair Smith All in Favor. 2. Allocation of Funds for Maintenance – Staff provided the history of preciously completed maintenance and repair treatments for Albuquerque, a permanently installed large-scale sculpture by Gale Wagner, located on Embarcadero Road. The sculpture, created in 1982 and last refurbished by a painting contractor in 2017, received a comprehensive condition report by Preservation Arts in 2025. The conservators’ report outlined its current condition, including visible areas of deterioration and failing painting system, due to exposure and damage from mechanical impact from lawn maintenance equipment, and provided recommendations for an overall repainting of the sculpture. The project would need to take place onsite with the area fenced off and canopied to protect the artwork from the elements and temperature fluctuations and performed by an experienced painting contractor under close supervision of the art conservators. The project will be funded out of the Public Art Maintenance budget and take place in early fall. Staff recommended the allocation of funds in the amount of up to $37,000 for the conservation treatment and repainting of Albuquerque by Gale Wagner. Moved: Commissioner Stern moved to approve the allocation of funds in the amount of $37,000 for the maintenance project. Second: Commissioner Smith. All in Favor. COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, OR FUTURE ITEMS: Staff made an announcement about the upcoming California Licensing Coalition hearing Assembly Bill 456 on April 7. CALENDAR: PAC Regular Meeting – April 17, 2025, at 7 pm. MEETING ADJOURNED: at 7:58 pm by Commissioner Gordon.