HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/10/2011 - City Arts Commission - Minutes(Item 1)
City of Newport Beach
Newport Beach City Arts Commission
Thursday, March 10, 2011 – 5:00pm
Central Library Friends Room
Convened at 5:03pm
Call to Order and Roll Call:
Commissioners Present: Robyn Grant – Chair, Robert Smith – Vice Chair, Carole
Boller, Gil Lasky, Wendy Brooks
Commissioners Absent: Rita Goldberg, Secretary; Chris Trela
Staff Present: Cynthia Cowell, Library Services Director; Jana Barbier, Cultural
Arts Coordinator
Public Present: Nancy Skinner; Brett Rubbico
Public Comments: Nancy Skinner stated that she was opposed
to a Ronald Reagan statue and noted that she was concerned
about placing the statue at Castaways Park. She stated that the
Marine 1/1 Memorial had been a bad influence at Castaways Park
and that to put a second statue in that location would be the worst
thing. Ms. Skinner asked the Arts Commission to refuse to put a
Reagan memorial at Castaways Park and appealed to the Arts
Commission to move the Marine Memorial from the site it’s on.
Commissioner Grant thanked Ms. Skinner for her comments. She
noted that during this meeting she would be appointing three
commissioners to serve on an ad hoc committee for the Reagan
Memorial. Grant suggested forwarding comments to the City
Council and also to the Parks, Beaches and Recreation
Commission for discussion on where the statue would be placed.
Brett Rubbico introduced himself to the commission and noted
that he had opened an art gallery on Old Newport Road. Mr.
Rubbico brought postcards from the gallery depicting the work of
contemporary artist Michael Gallagher – a show which would end
on March 18. He asked for any help possible in making his
gallery known. Discussion ensued as to holding Arts Foundation
meetings at this location.
Carmen Smith discussed the Arts Foundation’s raising funds for
the Arts Commission. She invited everyone to the next
foundation meeting, on March 16 at 6pm at Miriam Smith’s
gallery on Irvine Ave. She stated that she was looking forward to
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the Saturday, June 11 Art in the Park event from 9-2pm at
Mariners Park.
Approval of Minutes: It was MSP (Brooks/Boller) to approve the February 10, 2011
minutes.
Continued Business:
Staff Report /Calendar/Correspondence – Reviewed and filed.
Correspondence/Press – Reviewed and filed.
Committee Updates –
Commissioner Brooks gave an update on the catering aspect of the Newport Beach Art
Exhibition and Sale. Commissioner Boller noted that City staff had produced marketing
materials for this event. She stated that she’d sent a schedule for the show to all of the Arts
Commissioners and had a confirmation from Wendy and Robyn. Carole noted that she’d
confirmed the juror and pianist.
Commissioner Lasky confirmed that plans were going forward with the two selected bands for
the Concerts in the Parks series this summer. Lasky asked for an update from staff.
Commissioner Smith asked if Peter Walker’s office had provided an invoice for the costs
associated with his presenting a lecture on February 1 in Newport Beach, and, asked staff to
follow up.
The Arts Commission discussed the upcoming museum tour to The Huntington Library, Art
Collections and Botanical Gardens on May 4. Staff provided registration forms for this event.
Commissioner Smith announced that he was still working on another public art lecture and
discussed the possibility of a specific artist producing an initial sculpture piece for the Civic
Center. He noted that he was waiting for the Orange County Museum of Art to bring
something to the Arts Commission that they can handle. Commissioner Smith noted that he
had spoken with Public Works Director, Steve Badum who suggested asking Peter Bohlin to
present a lecture next year.
Commissioner Boller reminded everyone to attend the Mike Tauber reception/talk on Monday,
March 14, though she would not be able to attend herself. Tauber’s work was installed by
staff the prior week.
Commissioner Grant brought everyone up to speed on the status of the Lenahan Estate
donation and noted that City staff had retrieved the artwork from the estate and brought it to
her home. She thanked Commissioner Boller and Arlene Cartozian for meeting at her home to
sort through the paintings. Fourteen pieces were selected for keeping. These works would be
technically processed and reframed for display or storage. She noted that approximately 100
pieces of artwork would be available for sale or donation. One painting would be selected as a
gift to the Balboa Yacht Club. Several questions arose as to who would repair the artwork and
what it would cost; where the artwork would be displayed. Commissioner Boller stated that
she knew someone who could restore the art and frame it in UV glass, with acid free mats and
frames. Commissioner Grant asked Boller to talk to her consultant and bring the estimate to
the Arts Commission. Grant had taken a number of photographs of the artwork and would
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forward these to Library Director, Cynthia Cowell and staff. The Arts Commissioners
discussed selling the remaining artwork at the Arts Foundation’s Art in the Park in June.
New Business – Commissioner Grant announced that she had been asked to appoint three
people from the Arts Commission to an ad hoc committee for rating the Requests for Proposals
proffered by public artists for the Reagan Centennial Memorial. Staff noted that the RFP had
been listed on the California Arts Council public art website as well as Spark OC. Inquiries
were to come to the cultural arts coordinator and proposals were to be sent to City Manager,
Dave Kiff by 12pm on Wednesday, March 23. Commissioner Grant appointed Commissioners
Boller, Smith and Trela to this ad hoc committee.
Commissioner Lasky suggested that it would be a good idea to make a motion to move forward
with planning the Shakespeare by the Sea events this summer, even though the event falls
into the next fiscal year. It was MSP (Lasky/Boller) that the Arts Commission approve the
scheduling (with Shakespeare by the Sea) of two Shakespearean plays on July 9 and 10, 2011.
Future Agenda Items – Commissioner Lasky to set up a meeting to discuss funds available for
the Arts Commission to use for this fiscal year, and next.
Commissioner Announcements – None
Adjournment – Meeting adjourned at 6:36p.m.