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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02.20.19 BAC Minutes CITY OF BOULDER BOULDER,COLORADO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MEETING MINUTES Name of Board/Commission: Boulder Arts Commission Date of Meeting:February 20,2019 at the Main Boulder Public Library, 1001 Arapahoe Ave. Contact information preparing summary: Celia Seaton,303-441-3206 Commission members present:Mark Villarreal,Felicia Furman,Kathleen McCormick,Erica Joos Commission members absent:Devin Hughes Panel members present:Belgin Yucelen,Leah Brenner Clack,Sarah Braverman,Katharine Reece Panel members absent: Library staff present: Matt Chasansky,Office of Arts&Culture Manager Lauren Click,Coordinator,Grants Mandy Vink,Public Art Program Coordinator David Farnan,Director Celia Seaton,Administrative Specialist City staff present: None Members of the public present;MJ Mitchell(representing Sarah Novotny),Azure Antoinette Robinson,Jacob Griego, Dan Curtiss,Betsy Tobin,Sondra Blanchard,Joy Alice Eisenhauer,Mary Horrocks,Merlyn Holmes,Pesha Rudnick, Marcio De Sousa,Judith Leinen,Peggy Turchette,Edica Pacha,Kate Petley,Jasmine Baetz,and Stephanie Kurth Type of Meeting: Regular Agenda Item 1: Call to order and approval of agenda [0:00:08 Audio min.] The meeting was called to order. Villarreal asked the group for any addendums or changes to the agenda. Furman moved to approve the agenda. McCormick seconded,and all were in favor. Agenda Item 2: Review of Minutes [0:00:49 Audio min.] Item 2A,Approval/Review of January 2019 Meeting Minutes Villarreal asked the commission for changes or addendums regarding these minutes. McCormick noted two suggested changes/adjustments regarding: 1)Item 2A minutes approved at the January meeting and 2)additional phrasing appended to Item 7 discussion indicating her awareness of existing developments that support public art. McCormick moved to approve the August minutes as amended. Furman seconded,and the motion was unanimously approved. Agenda Item 3:Public comment [0.02.35 Audio min.] None Agenda Item 4: Grant Program [0.02.58 Audio min.] A. ACTION:Grant Reports 1. 2018 General Operating Support Final Reports 2. Boulder Community School of Integrated Studies,Understanding Democratic Engagement through Drama, $2,500 Furman expressed her concerns about how Block 1750 is"faring." Joos,who acts as liaison,noted struggle with staying aligned with their mission,offering youth dance opportunities at subsidized rates while grappling with rising rents. Joos noted Block 1750 as a"critical entity"in the area. With continued support,more resource sharing may help navigating the issue of service to underserved demographics within rented space. Furman expressed her delight at their work and mission;she just wants to be sure they have a sustainable framework. McCormick was impressed by the reports and commented on how much work artists were able to accomplish with the grant support. Loved the discussion of the challenges as well. Favors more concise reporting;she often found herself scrolling to find the pertinent pieces. McCormick also suggests artists provide an"upshot"of the work they did,providing bullet list to indicate accomplishments so that the commissioners don't have to synthesize the data of an Excel sheet themselves. Villarreal impressed with all the work these groups have done. Highlights,in his view,include need based tuition and scholarships, collaboration with BVSD Title I and IX schools resulting in huge student opportunities,increased emphasis on female,non-white,and non-binary in staff and performer makeup. He was impressed with the collaboration with other arts organizations,and world-renowned artists coming to Boulder to share their riches. Joos commented that organizations that are helping create the pipelines to advance collaboration and support,such as KGNU-an"under-spoken leader"in the community,She specifically applauded KGNU for their amplification and advocacy for other organizations through marketing. McCormick moved to approve the submitted reports,Furman seconded,and the motion passed unanimously. B. DISCUSSION:Indigenous People's Day Grant Reports—grant reports that were submitted to the Human Relations Commission by recipients of the Arts Commission's enhancement grant were reviewed. Discussion of Patti Bonnet's conflicts and frustrations working through the City of Boulder's permitting process. Villarreal:"it would be nice to have a template"for artists to follow clear steps toward putting up a mural. C. ACTION:Community Project Grant—Individual Applicants • Presentations and Rescoring(a full list of applicants can be found on p.28 of theap cket.) Note that Hughes'scores will not be included as he is not present at the meeting this evening for potential recalibration. Blanchard,Eisenhauer,Novotny,Leinin,Robinson,Turchette,Pacha,Holmes,Petlem, Milewski,Paradise,Baetz,and Tobin-or their representatives-presented;Kurth was the only applicant not in attendance without other representation. • Panel Discussion of Scores:staff announced tie between Tobin and Eisenhauer. Procedure dictated that staff then sorted by score in community priorities,cultural offerings,cultural equity,and proposed outcomes and evaluation strategy. Top four scoring applicants were determined as:Baetz,Robinson, Blanchard,and Eisenhauer. • Commission Approval Villarreal moved that the following applicants are awarded the Community Project Grants:Baetz, Robinson,Blanchard,and Eisenhauer. Joos seconded and the motion was unanimously approved. Agenda Item 5:Public Art Program [1.41.02 Audio min.] A. ACTION:Donation Proposal from Downtown Boulder Partnership—[Bear Hugs/Skye Caroselli/1427 Pearl St.] Commission was asked to consider approval of this donation proposal. The donation timeline provided in the acket provided background. Donor packet included provenance,anticipated maintenance,location,community feedback,selection process,image and budget strategy. Process involved review by Office of Arts and Culture and applicable city staff,acquisition criteria review by Standing Selection Panel(SSP),and review by the Arts Commission. Piece would be owned as opposed to the majority of currently loaned works(which are vulnerable to sudden removal.) Donor considerations include private funding,durable material,signaling of artistic presence on Pearl. Negative feedback from SSP included concerns that the scale is not appropriate to site as well as that the piece reiterates existing Mall style,duplicating nearby artwork already geared to be child-friendly. "Well crafted but does not meet artistic merit criteria." SSP's final vote showed 4/4 not in favor,feeling that this high-profile location should be reserved for the City's commissioning process. There were two from the SSP who felt that they could support accepting this piece in a different more appropriate location. Vink also presented the petition and evidence of written support letters accepting this piece which bad been circulated to local businesses. Discussion followed concerning whether the process was followed correctly and how this proposal interfaces with the Community Cultural Plan. Furman,member of the SSP,felt she was asked to judge the piece on the criteria and it was very clear to her that these criteria previously set by commission and council hadn't been met. Seemed a step backward as opposed to forward,felt it made us look like any other downtown area with the"safe"bronze theme antithetical to the"bold,experimental"aspirations of Boulder. Also felt it was aggressive to place the piece in the mall already,"cheeky." Villarreal doesn't wish to"diminish the enthusiasm"of the community,viewing similarities to the community mural project. At the same time,he doesn't believe Pearl Street needs more bronze, or more animals. Joos feels that the businesses'approval is not comparable to the gelling of neighbors who advocated for art in their home community. She noted her sense of disconnect to space;Starbucks is not even local;she views a disconnect. McCormick noted concerns about the potential precedent set of Downtown Boulder choosing a piece of art and then persuading everyone else of its appropriateness. Aesthetics aside,she sees it as a "control issue." Villarreal expressed his desire for continued dialogue with Pearl Street Mall business community. Joos:"we need to toe our line with the values that we have been building." She pointed to the proposal's statement on diversity highlighting the piece as the one piece not on loan among a mall of loaned works;this doesn't embody the spirit of diversity that the commission intended to encourage. Joos noted her sense that the bear is a "whitewashed,elitist"symbol already planted in a city wherein not a single piece representing the Arapaho people stands anywhere along Arapahoe Avenue. Villarreal proposed that the commission table the discussion for a future meeting.Chasansky invited commissioner questions for whatever additional information might be helpful to making their decision. B. ACTION:Main Library Bathroom Renovation Project Finalists Approval This review pertains to the original commission(installation planned June 2019),previewed in theap cket. Artists selected as finalists are Chris Huang and Monica McElwain. Presentation indicated the physical space that this artwork will fill in the renovated restrooms,with the stalls incorporating sections pulled from the original work showcased on the main wall. Criteria included iriherent artistic quality,specific response to site(context),ability to maintain and install,temporary nature,diversity(in perspectives,approaches,audience,artists,and art types),and uniqueness. Commission was asked for any advice or recommendations for the success of this project. Furman made a motion that the process was properly conducted and recommend that artists Chris Huang and Monica McElwain advance to the City Manager for final approval,via contracting. Joos seconded,and the motion was unanimously approved. Agenda Item 6: Commission Business [2.57.30 Audio min.] A. In appreciation of Felicia Furman—Villarreal,along with commission and staff,thanked Furman for her extensive and gracious supportvolunteering as a member on the Boulder Arts Commission. McCormick made a motion of recommendation to City Council to make the new board appointment for Commissioner Furman's position effective April 16,2019;Arts Commission recommends the delay due to the sequencing of the grants decisions being almost complete,and as commissioner Furman has been involved in this sequence since it started,for the sake of continuity,the commission would like to have commissioner Furman complete this sequence of awards. Villarreal seconded,and the motion was unanimously approved. Agenda Item 7:Matters from Staff [3.04.18 Audio min.] A. DISCUSSION:Questions About the Manager's Memo-Chasansky welcomed questions by email. B. Grant Scoring Inquiry—Click noted a previous issue raised by a commissioner regarding the potentially distracting ability of panel members to see each other's scores and comments during the scoring process. Staff asked commission and panel whether they recommend having this feature turned off for the next grant decision. The decision was to keep it as is for now with a plan to revisit in the future. C. Update on the Commissioner Appointment—Chasansky noted that interview dates have not yet been set by City Clerk,however the application deadline has passed. The new commissioner appointment will occur at the March 191h City Council meeting. Agenda Item 10:Adjournment [3.13.07 Audio min.] There being no further business to come before the commission at this time,the meeting was adjourned. Date time and location of next meeting: The next Boulder Arts Commission meeting will be at 6 p.m.on Wednesday,March 20,2019,in the Boulder Creek Room at the Main Library, 1001 Arapahoe Ave.,Boulder,CO 80302. APPROVED BY: ATTESTED: F Board Chair Board Secretary Date Date