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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-06-2014 Public Art Advisory CommitteePublic Art Advisory Committee Thursday November 6, 2014 3:30PM **** City Manager's Conference Room **** 410 E. Washington REVISED AGENDA A. Call to order B. Public discussion of any item not on the agenda C. Consideration of the minutes of the July 17, 2014 meeting D. Our Town Grant Application — National Endowment for the Arts Discussions have been occurring over the past couple months regarding the interest of several entities to make an application for the Our Town Grant program. The organizations include the University of Iowa Office of Sustainability, Summer of the Arts, PS1, various UI art faculty and several other art organizations. The application requires that a municipal entity be a sponsor of the grant request. The committee will hear more about the grant application and will be asked to make a recommendation to the City Council to act as a sponsor of the grant application. E. Public Art Challenge - Bloomberg Philanthropies This grant program, just recently announced will blend nicely with the Our Town proposal as well as provide significant funding for Summer of the Arts to host a wide variety of temporary art projects/activities/performances aligned with their 10 year anniversary in 2015. The projects must demonstrate close collaboration between artists or arts organizations and city government. The application must be submitted by the Mayor of the community. At least three cities will be selected to receive $1 million each over two years to cover project -related expenses. The committee will be request to make a recommendation to the City Council to request that the Mayor act as the applicant for the grant application. F. Request for funding for installation of "I am. I will. I'm afraid." UAY Mickey Hampton from United Action for Youth will attend to explain the project and answer questions. G. Consideration of potential projects utilizing FY15 funds H. Updates Century Link Public Art Project, Pedestrian Mall Streetscape Art Project, Murals I. Adjournment MINUTES PUBLIC ART ADVISORY COMMITTEE THURSDAY, July 17, 2014 HELLING CONFERENCE ROOM — CITY HALL Members present Not present: Staff Present: Public Present: CALL TO ORDER Meeting called to order at 3:33pm. PRELIMINARY John Engelbrecht, Mike Moran, Tam Bryk, Rick Fosse, and Brent Westphal Elizabeth Pusack, and Bill Nusser Marcia Bollinger None PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA No new business. CONSIDERATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE MAY 1ST, 2014 MEETING MOTION: Moran moved to approve the June 51", 2014 meeting. Westphal seconded. Motion passed 5:0. DOWNTOWN STREETSCAPE ART PROJECT UPDATE Engelbrecht introduced Geoff Fruin to speak about the Downtown Streetscape Art Project. He discussed that the focus has recently been on the signature art piece that would go on the Pedestrian Mall. He explained that there has been conversation with the subcommittee consisting of John Engelbrecht, Brent Westphal, and Bill Nusser as to what route to take in selecting an artist for this location. Fruin stated that he would like to get feedback from the Public Art Advisory Commission as a whole on the process. He stated that there are currently two paths which have been identified: 1. essentially hand pick an artist that is nationally or internationally known or 2. release a traditional Call for Qualifications. Fruin then passed out packets which contained examples of what could be done in the downtown area with the streetscape plan. Fruin explained the multitude of Public Art opportunities that will hopefully be made available through this Master Plan. He stated that the first opportunity is the major piece intended for Black Hawk Mini Park. Selecting an artist now would be timely so they can then work closely with the design team to ensure that the art piece and the ped mall designs flow together. Fosse shared what the process had been for the Weatherdance Fountain piece when it was commissioned. Members then discussed the different aspects of each path. Moran asked if they knew of any artists who could handle a piece of the magnitude. Bryk stated that she thought the process should be focused on the state of Iowa. She stated that there would be push back if an internationally known artist was handpicked and Iowa artists were not looked at. Engelbrecht made that point that the conversation could change if a partnership with the University of Iowa Art Museum was established. The City could provide the space and the University could bring the artists. Fruin stated that a partnership has not been formalized as to the ownership structure. He stated that it had always been envisioned that the city would own the piece. Fruin then suggested that collaboration should occur and that Iowa artists should be identified. Fruin stated that he would like to see an artist on board by August so that they can start working with the design team for the ped mall. Engelbrecht then asked if the next step is for the commission to identify names of artists. Fruin agreed that that would be the next step and also that he would contact the University of Iowa Art Museum to solicit names as well. BENCHMARKS PROJECT UPDATE Engelbrecht stated that this project was mostly complete. He made the committee aware that the benches are now open for a public vote for their favorite ones. In addition, Engelbrecht stated that he was unsure of what the future of this program would be since the University of Iowa Credit Union will no longer be funding it. KIDZ TENT UPDATE Bollinger made the group aware that this year the Kidz Tent saw record breaking numbers with about $480 made. Bollinger then thanked the committee for all of their help and support. IOWA SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES PROJECT Bollinger introduced Nick Benson from the Sustainable Communities Project through the University of Iowa. Benson explained a little bit about the Iowa Sustainable Communities Project and that there are a number of projects happening in Iowa City this year. One is a public art project in which students will be working with faculty to complete a project in Iowa City. Last year, the public art portion of this project occurred in Washington, Iowa in which a mural was painted. Benson stated that they were at the very beginning phases of identifying a project for Iowa City, and he passed out a basic project concept. The project would entail students and faculty working in the neighborhoods of Iowa City and would learn about their history and any stories neighbors wanted to tell. This would be either recorded voices or videotaped, and would become smaller public art projects within the neighborhood. Then these smaller neighborhood projects would culminate into a larger piece for Downtown. MURAL PROJECT 2014- MERCER PARK LOCATION The Committee then moved to selecting an artist for the Mercer Park mural location. The original artists selected decided not to participate in the project. Bollinger and the committee then ran through all of the potential proposals for this location. After discussion the Committee decided on Jesa Townsend's second version as their first choice and Mike Stenerson as the second choice. Engelbrecht made a motion and Fosse seconded. MOTION: Engelbrecht moved that: 1) Jesa Townsend's second proposal be selected for the Mercer Park location and that 2) Mike Stenerson would be selected in the event that Jesa Townsend would be unable to do the Mercer Park location. Fosse seconded the motion. Motion passed 4:0. FY15 PUBLIC ART FUNDING —PROCESS ALLOCATION OF FUNDS AND THE YOTOPIA MURAL PROJECT Engelbrecht then welcomed and introduced Veronica and Megan to the committee meeting. Veronica, the owner of Yotopia, presented the proposed mural and what she would like to see for her business on the ped mall. She then introduced Megan who is the artist of the proposed mural. Fosse stated that something needs to happen with this location as it is commonly targeted for graffiti. The Committee stated that they liked the proposal for the wall. The Committee then expressed concerns about the two additional helpers that Megan would need to help her complete the mural on time. Megan stated that she did not have any specific artists to help her in mind. Engelbrecht stated that he knew of a couple artists that would be good helpers. Megan and the committee agreed that they would be ideal. The committee collectively agreed that there was a larger concern with funding overall. Westphal asked what the committee had for a budget for FY15. Bollinger stated that for FY15 the committee has been allocated $12,000. The committee agreed that they would be more comfortable with a price match as opposed to funding the whole project. Bryk stated that she was comfortable with funding $2,000 of the project. Fosse suggested that the funds could cover 30% of the costs not to exceed $2,000. The committee agreed that they all felt comfortable with that amount. The committee the suggested that Veronica starts fundraising in the store and on the ped mall to pay for the rest of the project. MOTION: Fosse moved that the committee commit to funding 30% of the project not to exceed $2,000 Bryk seconded the motion. Motion passed 4:0. Engelbrecht then moved that the committee finish discussing allocation of FY15 funding at the next meeting. Bryk seconded the motion. ADJOURNMENT Fosse motioned and Westphal seconded a motion to adjourn at 5:02 PM. Minutes created by Ashley Zitzner. Public Art Advisory Committee Attendance Record 2013 - 2014 Name Term Expires 12/5/13 2/6/14 3/6/14 4/10/14 5/1/14 6/5/14 7/17/14 Bodkin Bryk, Tam 01/01/16 O/E O/E O/E O/E O/E X X En elbrecht, John 01/01/15 X X X X X X X Westphal, Brent 01/01/17 X X X X X O/E X Nusser, Bill 01/01/17 O O/E O X X O O Pusack, Elizabeth 01/01/15 --- --- X X O X O Fosse, Rick X X X X O/E X X Moran, Mike X O/E X X X X X Key: X = Present O = Absent O/E = Absent/Excused --- = Not a member