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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-05-2007 Public Art Advisory CommitteeAgenda Public Art Advisory Committee Thursday, April 5, 2007 3:30PM Lobby Conference Room Iowa City City Hall 410 E. Washington St. A. Call to order B. Public discussion of any item not on the agenda C. Consideration of the minutes of the February 1, 2007 meeting D. Discussion and recommendation to Council for 2007-2008 Sculptor Showcase projects E. Discussion of Children's Art Tent and the "Art on the Walls" project for Artsfest 25th Anniversary in cooperation with the Summer of the Arts. F. Update on FY07/ FY08 projects • Recreation Center pool wall • Chauncey Swan park G. Committee time/updates H. Adjournment MINUTES PRELIMINARY PUBLIC ART ADVISORY COMMITTEE THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2007 LOBBY CONFERENCE ROOM, CITY HALL Members Present: Mark Seabold, Terry Trueblood, DeLayne Williamson, Chuck Felling, Emily Carter -Walsh (tardy) Members Absent: Emily Martin, Rick Fosse Staff Present: Marcia Klingaman, Brian Boelk, Karin Franklin Others Present: Rod Lehnertz, Gene Anderson, Bob Brooks CALL TO ORDER Seabold called the meeting to order at 3:34 PM. RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL Recommend to remove the Grand Avenue Roundabout site from further Public Art placement consideration. Motion passed 4:0. PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA None CONSIDERATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 5. 2006 MEETING MOTION: Felling moved to approve the minutes as submitted. Williamson seconded the motion. Motion passed 4:0. DISCUSSION OF GRAND AVENUE ROUNDABOUT PROJECT Bob Brooks supplied a report from the University regarding the project. A graphic layout of the utility tunnels and underground infrastructure was presented to the group. A major tunnel with 12-foot mains and steam lines is present under the proposed site. Brooks explained they believe most of the lines are 4 foot below the ground. Rod Lehnertz noted the section of tunnel underneath the proposed site has not been rebuilt, and the main concern is with a 15 KU line that's marginally in the area proposed. A concern Hospital Emergency Room staff have with the proposal is the flow of incoming emergency room patients or visitors and the possible confusion or line of sight visitors may have with a large structure on the roundabout. Utility personnel are concerned with not having immediate access to the underground utilities for maintenance. Lehnertz stated that they would not be willing to have to move part of the structure to gain access. There is also concern by the University of this being a prime target for graffiti. Gene Anderson asked if the tunnel was a walk-through tunnel. Lehnertz and Brooks answered that it was. Iowa City Public Art Advisory Committee Minutes August 3, 2006 Page 2 Seabold added that the tunnel's presence made it a big concern to know the precise weight of the sculpture. Anderson said that he could make some suggestions as how to straddle the pipes economically if the city believes this site is a major purview for enlivening the passage to the Hospital and Colloton Pavilion. He proposed augered caissons could be a reasonable solution to accomplishing this artwork. He noted that one of the items of the format of the competition was that the DOT preferred no visual access of the thoroughfare thru the roundabout. He applauded the idea of something going there and shared his appreciation to the committee for their consideration. Terry Trueblood stated that both he and Rick Fosse were of the opinion hat the site is more suitable for landscaping and that he was sorry the discussions had gone on so long with regards to Anderson's commitment to the project. He stated they are impressed with Gene's work and hope that his proposal could be placed somewhere more suitable. Seabold reiterated to Anderson the committee's interest in his work and asked about the possibility of placing it elsewhere. Karin Franklin shared that site selection is ongoing. MOTION: Seabold moved to remove the Grand Avenue Roundabout site from further Public Art placement consideration. Trueblood seconded the motion. Motion passed 4:0 Anderson. Rod Lehnertz and Bob Brooks left at 3:51 P.M. Emilv Carter Walsh arrived aDDroximately 3:55 P.M. Discussion continued about the landscaping responsibility as members exited with the understanding that the responsibility would be collaborative and discussion would resume at a later date. Karin Franklin noted the lesson learned with this project is to get engineering information early in the consideration process. DeLayne noted that all of the artwork submitted was very large. DISCUSSION OF THE "ART ON THE WALLS" PROJECT FOR ARTSFEST 20TH ANNIVERSARY IN COOPERATION WITH SUMMER OF THE ARTS Klingaman discussed DaLayne Williamson's suggestion of debris artist David Williamson. She poke with him and he appreciated the offer, but will not be available this summer. He may be able to participate in the future. The idea being that this committee would sponsor an event or event artist as part of Artsfest. She spoke a number of times with Katie Roche, director of Summer of the Arts, and she suggested the idea of projecting art on the walls as an art project. Roche underlined that she herself would not be able to put the time needed into this type of project, but there was a possibility of two artists on the Artsfest committee getting involved. Klingaman noted her involvement would be more on the administrative side, and perhaps help select a theme. All images would be digital photographs that would be projected on walls downtown. Some of the thematic ideas presented were Children's Art, Faces of Iowa City, Historical Art or Architecture of the City. The Faces of Iowa City idea, would involved setting up 3-4 Iowa City Public Art Advisory Committee Minutes August 3, 2006 Page 3 photography locations downtown where the public could have their photos taken a few weeks prior to the festival, and subsequently project those images. Franklin offered the possibility to project images from the Senior Center across the street to Dawn's Beads building. And Walsh offered the idea of projecting on parking structures. Klingaman noted that the images would be projected in the evening, from approx. 8-10 P.M. and that the approval from the building owners would be necessary. Seabold asked if a series of screens could be used in the high traffic area, hung from the tops of buildings to offer art above the heads of viewers. Walsh said any gauze -like lightweight material would be economically acceptable. Klingaman said that a screening process would need to be developed. Franklin suggested using art classes for the material so that they could engage the public and prescreen the art (by teachers) at the same time. Chuck Felling suggested the Alternative High School. Klingaman said the next step would be getting a call for art out and work out the logistics of the project. Franklin noted the time frame is tight for getting the logistics of the scrims and permission from both sides of the street, projectors and how all the art will be reviewed, and time for publicity. Williamson suggested a one -week or short time frame that pictures would be taken to limit the amount of time spent collecting photographs while still engaging the public. Klingaman and Seabold noted two projectors are currently available for use, and more could be leased for the project. Providing security for the projectors would also be part of the consideration. Walsh suggested projecting on the pole banners, but placement for the projector may be a problem. Klingaman noted that the surface doesn't have to be flat. Many communities have projected on uneven surfaces and it only added to the artistic element of the project. Klingaman asked who would be interested in being a part of the project. Emily Walsh consented to involvement. Chuck Felling said he would be available for specific tasks, but not organizational involvement. Mark Seabold moved discussion to a potential public art project involving young people. The suggested project would be similar to one he experienced 25 years ago as a child that made a big impression. The proposal was to ask Artsfest Artists to contribute works to a reduced price booth that would offer art for sale to kids only at the $5-10 range. Franklin said they could send a letter to the artists telling them this project was the way they were trying to engage kids, asking them to submit a small work with a price limit of $5. Felling noted the Senior Center might also have some pieces to offer. Klingaman said she would speak with Katie Roche about their options. Franklin noted it would be a great way to engage kids, and offered to administer the partnership. Seabold mentioned their involvement would be renting the tent and saying 'sponsored by the public art committee.' DISCUSSION OF POTENTIAL PUBLIC ART PROJECTS FOR THE REMAINDER OF FY07 Franklin explained the current state of the public art budget and distributed a project list. Currently $93,870.34 is available with another $50,000 earmarked for July 07. She suggested Iowa City Public Art Advisory Committee Minutes August 3, 2006 Page 4 the committee think about a project or projects that might encumber this money since removal of the roundabout project from consideration. Any neighborhood projects would be subsequent. Trueblood had two suggestions, one being something highlighting Creekside Park visible from Muscatine Rd, and asked about the current state of the alleyway art project possibilities in the Ped Mall. Franklin explained the discussion with the owner of the current Wells Fargo building, and the one across the alley downtown. The owner is very interested in this idea, but the timeframe would be according to the redevelopment schedule, which is 2 years away. Felling suggested consideration of a project in the Chauncey Swan Park. Trueblood said now that the new windows at the Rec Center are installed, the east or west wall of the swimming pool are prime visual areas for a mural of some kind. The mural would be seen from the interior and exterior of the building. One factor to consider is the acoustic material on the upper areas of the wall. Another suggestion he had for a project is something involving park signage. He highlighted Chauncey Swan among other parks that could use more artistic signage. Emily Carter Walsh feels the focus should be maintained on the parks and moving away from the down town area. Seabold really liked the idea of the mural at the Rec Center. Franklin summarized that the Alleys Downtown would be the hardest to attack right now. When the redevelopment happens in a few years, it may be easier. Creekside and Chauncey Swan would be part of (art) commissions and the call would go out. Creekside would probably involve that neighborhood association. Chauncey Swan would be mostly involving this committee and the Pool project would be collaboration with Parks and Recreation. Park signage would also be collaboration between the Parks and Rec commission and this body. Franklin stated that with the monies available, 2 projects might be possible. Discussion of the mural possibility continued with a focus on understanding the needs of the materials in the humid environment, and a consultation with a muralist may be necessary to understand if the acoustic panels need to be removed, or if they could be painted over, and what materials would provide good protection from the environment. The committee decided on pursuing the mural project at the Recreation Pool wall, and something at the Chauncey Swan Park. Next meeting will focus on creating parameters for the call to artists. PUBLIC AWARENESS Klingaman discussed the Public Art in Private Spaces project. She noted it didn't get much publicity from the press. She suggested they would go ahead with another press release and noted the deadline of April 30th with the idea of committee reviews taking place in May. Those selected would receive a certificate from the City of Iowa City in recognition of their displaying of art. Walsh suggested rotating pictures of the private art on the city website. The rotating sculpture downtown is part of this. Seabold noted out of order that Mark Newcollins is a video artist, and he would be a good contact to speak with about the art on the walls. Iowa City Public Art Advisory Committee Minutes August 3, 2006 Page 5 COMMUNITY SURVEY Franklin noted the problem is that the focus of the survey is not apparent. What we want to achieve with the survey seemed to be, 1. How much people know about the public art program, and 2. If they have any thoughts or preferences as to where/what the focus of public art is. Glimpse has been very popular, and another idea is doing a scavenger hunt during Arts Fest to highlight the locations of public art. Trueblood asked if the survey would be done in-house or by another group. Franklin stated it would be in house, and probably appear on water bills or online, and would be non -scientific. Trueblood explained that the Parks Department is on the verge of a large-scale community survey and a few questions about public art could be added to the survey. Franklin also stated that an interactive element to the website is in development, and this would be very useful for this type of engagement. Klingaman said she needed more direction on the information the committee wants, and Seabold directed her to awareness, understanding people's level of awareness of public art, possibly fundraising, and more engagement. Committee Time Klingaman noted the deadline for Poetry in Public is Feb. 2nd and the grade school and junior high submission quality seems higher than last year. Franklin said that John Beasley came in and asked about the relocation of Irving Webber statue. He suggested a site closer to the library. The committee directed her not to pursue relocation of this statue, as it seems unnecessary. ADJOURNMENT Motion: Walsh moved to adjourn, Felling seconded, the motion passed 5:0 Meeting was adjourned at 4:57 P.M. Minutes were submitted by Elizabeth Kennedy. s/pcd/minutes/pubarV2-01-07paac.com O �C O �C 00 c1 01 00 O O O O O — �+O .--1 � O —4 O O .--q O W 0 0 0 0 0 s c o � CC r3 O .Cy D U cl eq 0 ; 1�oE= cl zWUAW��E=� II II II 4 x C 0