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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/14/2013 - City Arts Commission - Minutes City of Newport Beach Newport Beach City Arts Commission Thursday, March 14, 2013 – 5:00pm Central Library Conference Room Convened at 5:02pm 1) Call Meeting to Order: Chairperson Smith called the meeting to order. 2) Roll Call: Commissioners Present: Chairperson Robert Smith, Secretary Carole Boller, Arlene Greer, Gilbert Lasky, Caroline Logan. Commissioners Absent: Chris Trela, Vice Chair Rita Goldberg Staff Present: Councilperson Nancy Gardner; Library Director Cynthia Cowell Public Present: Jim Mosher; Sarah Wilkinson; Bill Ficker 3) Public Comments: Mr. Mosher stated that he appreciated seeing the use of titles next to Arts Commissioner names in the minutes. He then commented on the Lone Sailor sculpture being considered and offered his opinion that whether the sculpture was bronze or not, Newport Beach was not a Navy city and that the sculpture didn’t fit with the city. Mr. Mosher also suggested not using Castaways Park for a new sculpture installation, but rather a nature park at the American Legion. Mr. Ficker stated that he was pleased that the City had an Arts Commission. Councilperson Gardner encouraged the Arts Commissioners to take up the challenge of decorating Council Chambers with art. Mr. Mosher asked if the City Arts Commission would have information as to describing the sail at the new Civic Center. 4) Approval of Minutes: It was MSP (Logan/Greer) to approve the February 14, 2013 Minutes with the following changes: Councilperson Gardner corrected the minutes, indicating that she had been referred to as Mayor rather than Councilperson. 5) Current Business: A. Consent Calendar 1. Cultural Arts Activities – Staff provided updated report for Cultural Arts Activities in March, 2013. 2. Correspondence and Press – Staff passed around current correspondence to the Commission. B. Items for Review and Possible Action – 1. Recommendation to City Council to enter into a Loan Agreement on a sculpture by Sarah A. Wilkinson Titled “Uprooted II” for placement in the new Civic Center: Commissioner Smith provided background information on Sarah A Wilkinson’s 2 sculpture “Uprooted II” and noted that the work had been discussed in February. Secretary Boller noted that she had enjoyed visiting Ms. Wilkinson’s home with her committee where they had reviewed “Uprooted II”. She stated that the piece was originally shown in Australia and provided differing views of the sculpture; and noted that the size was 7’ long x 6’ wide x 20” high and weighed 135 pounds. Boller then presented a PowerPoint describing the sculpture in great detail (hard copy attached to March Minutes). Discussion ensued regarding maintenance requirements and the artist discussed that the sculpture would require very little. Commissioner Logan stated that she liked the oxidized work. Chair Smith offered that this was a very nice piece to start with and that Assistant City Manager Badum and the architects for the Civic Center had reviewed the potential sites and liked them all. Boller explained that the three commissioners on the Art in Public Spaces Ad Hoc Committee were recommending that City Council accept the piece at the March 26 City Council Meeting; and that the piece be installed by May 4. Sarah A. Wilkinson discussed the art piece, explaining that the name “Uprooted II” was in reference to natural disasters which have uprooted the natural habitat. She also explained that the work was designed to illustrate how communities are pulled apart through disaster. Commissioners discussed the press being interested in the work. It was MSP (Boller/Logan) for “the Arts Commission to take on loan “Uprooted II” by Sarah A. Wilkinson and ask City Council for $750, which would potentially be applied to a purchase price of $25,000 for a year; and make a recommendation to accept the piece, for installation by May 4. 2. Report on “Lone Sailor” sculpture and recommendation on proceeding: Secretary Boller explained that the City had received an offer from a donor to pay for a replica of a sculpture called “Lone Sailor” for installation in Newport Beach (Castaways Park was suggested). Boller explained that there were 12 copies of the sculpture in existence (though she noted that the owner thought this would be the only copy on the west coast); she noted that the policy for Art in Public Places stipulates that only originals could be accepted. Commission Chair Smith suggested not going forward with acceptance of this donation. It was MSP (Boller/Logan) not to recommend acceptance of the Lone Sailor sculpture donation. 3. AB 1234 Ethics Training – Rescheduled – Report on Mandatory Attendance: Library Director Cowell explained that the AB 1234 mandatory ethics training workshop was rescheduled to March 28 at the old Council Chambers at 10:00am, and noted that the workshop could also be completed online. 4. Report on Albert Paley Artwork and Recommendation on Proceeding: Chair Smith reported on the Albert Paley artwork and mentioned discussing the topic with the Orange County Museum of Art. He discussed the history of attempting to accept various public artworks through the museum. C. Monthly Reports – 1. Art in Public Spaces/Historical Preservation Ad Hoc Subcommittee – Report already given. 2. Fine Arts Ad Hoc Subcommittee – The Newport Beach Art Exhibition and Sale was discussed by Secretary Boller. She noted that she’d sent an assignment sheet to the 3 Arts Commissioners for April 13. Boller also noted that the scheduled juror would not be available for the event, and that she had asked David Lee, adjunct professor at Chapman University to be the juror. She explained that Mayor Pro Tem Hill would be giving out the awards during the event. Commissioner Greer also discussed the Hilbert Exhibition, which was coming up soon. Greer noted that Mr. Hilbert would be giving a presentation on his collection at the California Museum of Art in Pasadena in March. Greer also noted that commissioners had discussed giving a reception for Mr. Hilbert, probably during the second art installation cycle. 3. Performing Arts Ad Hoc Subcommittee – Commission Lasky reported that the Performing Arts Ad Hoc Subcommittee had met and selected three performers, parks and dates for the concerts in the parks series. Additionally, Shakespeare by the Sea was scheduled for July 20 and 21 with “King John” and “All’s Well that Ends Well” respectively. 4. Museum Tour Ad Hoc Subcommittee – Vice Chair Goldberg was absent, and staff asked Commissioner Logan, who’d attended the Norton Simon Museum Tour, to report on her experience. Logan reported enjoying the day very much. 5. Arts Foundation Liaison Ad Hoc Subcommittee – Commissioner Greer reported that the Foundation would be hosting a ‘night at the gallery’ on March 19 from 5:30-6:30 at the Irvine Museum. James Irvine Swinden would be the host, and Greer reminded those Commissioners attending to be on time. Commissioner Greer also reported that the Art in the Park event would take place on October 12 at the Civic Center. 6. Publicity Ad Hoc Committee – No report 7. Budget Ad Hoc Committee – No report 8. Cultural Arts Grant Ad Hoc Committee – Commissioner Greer noted that Cultural Art Grantees were in the midst of their programs for 2013-14, and that she would plan to attend as many events as possible. 9. Master Plan Ad Hoc Committee for Visual & Public Art Installations – Commissioner Logan noted that the subcommittee had been working on a “mission statement” and that part of this was to be thinking at all times about the City as a whole in identifying locales for visual and performing arts. Logan noted that she and Secretary Boller would be taking the lead on visual art, and Vice Chair Goldberg would take the lead on performing arts. Logan noted that they might meet with staff to identify a list of things to consider. Commissioner Boller noted that she had also met with the Art in Public Spaces/Historical Preservation Ad Hoc Subcommittee to assess the new Council Chamber wall sites. She asked if staff would find out about hangers that could be attached to the top of the walls in Council Chambers to accommodate art. Available security for art was also discussed. Commissioner Boller requested that art in Council Chambers be included in the next agenda. Boller also asked about getting ‘work parking permits’ for her, Logan and Goldberg. Additionally, Boller requested buying a new library database called “Ask Art”, as she 4 uses this program regularly to research artwork and thought the program should be available for members of the community, and as a resource for the public. 6) City Arts Commission Announcements or Matters Which Members Would Like Placed on a Future Agenda for Discussion, Action or Report (Non-Discussion Item) – Library Director Cowell updated the Arts Commission on progress to date at the Civic Center and Library expansion. She explained that the wall was near to coming down close to April 1, and that the grand opening, speeches, and ribbon cutting for the two buildings would take place on Saturday, May 4. 7) Public Comments on Non-Agenda Items – None 8) Meeting Adjourned 6:20pm - It was MSP (Boller/Greer) to adjourn the meeting.