HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/11/2012 - City Arts Commission - 01 Draft Minutes
City of Newport Beach
Newport Beach City Arts Commission
Thursday, September 13, 2012 – 5:00pm
Central Library Conference Room
Convened at 5:03pm
1) Call Meeting to Order:
Commissioner Smith called the meeting to order. He noted that Commissioner Greer was on
vacation. Commissioner Smith welcomed Caroline Logan, whom he had met previously at the
Laguna Arts Festival. He asked Commissioner Logan to say a few words. Caroline Logan
noted that she had spent several years in Paris, and has several advanced degrees in art and
other subjects. Caroline noted that she has been on the board of directors for Speak up
Newport for a long time and that she is very happy to be part of the Arts Commission.
2) Roll Call:
Commissioners Present: Robert Smith, Christopher Trela, Carole Boller, Rita Goldberg, Gil
Lasky, Caroline Logan
Commissioners Absent: Arlene Greer
Staff Present: Mayor Nancy Gardner; Cultural Arts Coordinator Jana Barbier;
Library Services Manager Tim Hetherton
Public Present: Hoyle Kim, Coordinator, Korean American Forum of California
3) Public Comments: Mr. Kim explained that he was representing the Korean American
Forum (KAFC) of California and that, in a nutshell, he was there to briefly explain what the topic
“Comfort Women” meant. Mr. Kim explained that Hilary Clinton had talked about the Comfort
Women ‘holocaust’, wherein up to 200,000 Korean women were physically and sexually
brutalized by the Japanese military during World War II.
Mr. Kim had originally emailed Mayor Gardner about donating a memorial monument to the
City of Newport Beach. He explained that this donation was not politically-based, that it was a
non-political topic designed to educate the public, and that justice for the Comfort Women was
long overdue. Of the 200,000 women brutalized, only 60 are alive today, and these women are
in their late 70s and 80s. The KAFC endeavors to see justice done for these women and their
objective is to state the facts about human and women’s rights and educate the public. The
KAFC is looking for moral support, and would like to find a location in the City for this
monument. All costs and protocols would be paid by his organization. Mr. Kim explained that
public events could be coordinated to increase awareness of the Comfort Women atrocity. One
final comment Mr. Kim made was that he understood that Newport Beach had a sister city in
Okazaki, Japan. He noted that the first monument was placed in Okinawa. Mr. Kim had filled
out an exhibition application, geared more for exhibiting artists, and noted that the installation
might qualify more as a monument than as an art installation.
Commissioner Smith responded to Mr. Kim that this was a concrete example of why the city’s
policies on public art should be revised to differentiate between an art installation and a
monument. Chair Smith explained to Mr. Kim that the commission is in the process of rewriting
several of the policies related to art. Smith suggested assigning the subject of a donated
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monument to the Art in Public Spaces Committee, and explained that the challenge would be to
consult with the Parks, Beaches and Recreation Committee on procedures for accepting
donations of monuments.
Commissioner Boller asked if the Comfort Women topic was related to Newport Beach on a
personal level. Mr. Kim responded no, but that the chair of the KAFC was a Newport Coast
resident; additionally, Mr. Kim’s territory was in Newport Beach and Orange County and he was
looking into various locations for installations.
Discussion ensued and Commissioner Goldberg suggested that Mr. Kim produce a
documentary on this subject in collaboration with the Newport Beach Film Festival.
Under Public Comments, as a separate topic, Mayor Gardner asked if the Arts Commission
had considered holding upcoming events at the Port Theater in Corona del Mar.
4) Approval of Minutes:
It was MSP (Boller/Lasky) to approve the August 9, 2012 Minutes. Motion passed unanimously.
5) Current Business:
A. Consent Calendar
1. Cultural Arts Activities – Staff provided an updated report and recommended viewing
the current Central Library exhibition “In Our Own Words”, a set of 8 essays written by
Newport Mesa Literacy learners for the year-long “Searching for Democracy” program.
2. Correspondence and Press – Staff passed around current correspondence and press.
At this time Janet Ray, board member for the Balboa Performing Arts Theater
Foundation, arrived at the meeting and distributed invitations to the Arts Commission to
attend the Balboa Beach Music Fest on October 13. Mrs. Ray noted that there would
be a VIP party down by the pier at 5:00pm.
Additionally, Chairperson Smith then noted that City staff had made arrangements for
the Arts Commission to attend a preliminary tour of the Civic Center and Park on
October 4 at 4:30pm. Commissioner Smith discussed his thoughts about the tour, the
building and park, and what he expects to accomplish.
B. Items for Review and Possible Action – None
C. Monthly Reports –
1. Art in Public Spaces/Historical Preservation Committee – Commissioner Smith stated
that he did not have an actual report, but noted that he’d made a change in the
subcommittees, and had appointed Commissioner Logan to the Art in Public Spaces
subcommittee, while Commissioner Trela would serve on the Publicity Committee.
2. Fine Arts Committee – Commissioner Boller noted that Commissioner Logan would be
serving on the Fine Arts subcommittee; and that the group would be reviewing the art
and artists wanting to exhibit at City venues when Commissioner Greer returned.
3. Performing Arts Committee – No report
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4. Museum Tours – Commissioner Goldberg noted that the Cleopatra Exhibition at the
California Science Center was coming up on Tuesday, October 2 if any commissioners
would still like to sign up.
5. Arts Foundation Liaison Committee – Commissioner Logan noted that she’d had the
pleasure of sitting in for Commissioner Greer at a recent Arts Foundation meeting,
where the group had a well-rounded discussion and also elected their officers.
6. Publicity Committee – Commissioner Trela stated that he was tracking Arts Commission
events and putting publicity notices in a binder, as Commissioner Goldberg had
requested. He asked staff to include him on publicity notices sent by the library
marketing specialist.
7. Budget Committee – Commissioner Lasky deferred this report until the following
meeting.
8. Cultural Arts Grants Committee – It was noted that the Cultural Arts Grant applications
are due on September 28.
Discussion ensued regarding updating current City Council policies related to art. Mayor Gardner
noted that a committee would be formed to review potential policy changes. Ideas for changes
would then be reviewed by the City Manager’s Office and by City Council for approval.
6) City Arts Commission Announcements or Matters Which Members Would Like Placed
on a Future Agenda for Discussion, Action or Report (Non-Discussion Item) –
Commissioner Smith requested that the City Grant Account (8254) in the amount of $40,000 be
included on the October 11 Arts Commission meeting agenda.
7) Public Comments on Non-Agenda Items – None
8) Meeting Adjourned 5:45pm – It was MSP (Lasky/Logan) to adjourn the meeting