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Home My WebLink AboutPAAC Agenda 2-2-17 Public Art Advisory Committee Thursday, February 2, 2017 3:30 PM Lobby Conference Room 410 E Washington St AGENDA Call to order Public discussion of any item not on the agenda Consideration of minutes of the January 5, 2017 meeting Election of Officers for 2017 Request to withdraw the motion made in November: Recommend to the City Council that the Public Art Advisory Committee by-laws be adjusted to increase the number of members by two (from 7 to 9 members). Robert A Lee Recreation Center STEAM Wall Installation – interview with artists 3:40 - Cara Briggs Farmer 4:00 - Jo Myers Walker 4:20 - Kyle Rector and University of Iowa Team Review of Matching Fund Applications 5:00 – Iowa City Downtown District – Betsy Potter 5:15 - Hannah Givler (tentative) Committee announcements or Committee reports Staff reports Adjournment MINUTES PUBLIC ART ADVISORY COMMITTEE JANUARY 5TH, 2016 – 3:30 PM HELLING CONFERENCE ROOM – CITY HALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Sayuri Sasaki Hemann, John Engelbrecht, Ron Knoche, Juli Seydell- Johnson, Tam Bryk NOT PRESENT: STAFF PRESENT: Marcia Bollinger PUBLIC PRESENT: Kumi Morris, Hani Elkadi CALL TO ORDER: Sayuri Sasaki Hemann called Meeting to order at 3:32 pm. PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA: It was stated there were members of the public present who would later introduce themselves. CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 3rd, 2016 Juli Seydell-Johnson moved to approve the November 3rd, 2016 minutes. John Engelbrecht seconded. Motion passed unanimously. ELECTION FOR OFFICERS FOR 2017 Bollinger stated the bylaws declared elections must take place in February and that copies of the bylaws would be distributed during staff report. ROBERT A LEE RECREATION CENTER STEAM WALL INSTALLATION– REVIEW OF REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS Kumi Morris and Hani Elkadi introduced themselves. It was stated that Hani was present to take part in the review process because of his original involvement in the 1993 mural which would be replaced by the STEAM wall installation. It was discussed that photographs of specific details of the murals would be taken to share with the families of deceased students who participated in the mural. Seydell stated hoped the installation would include a feeling of movement and activity and an become an add amenity that would be a fun place for people to stop and see. She stated it should be dynamic and easy to maintain so that it would last the expected 10-15 years. She looked at functionality of each project and saw possibility in all of them. Her main hope was that the art represented the rec center which meant play, fun, kids and families. PRELIMINARY The committee introduced themselves to Morris and Elkadi. The committee decided to go through each application one by one and that they would only judge the applicants for their past experience, medium used and their vision of the project because they did not ask for anything more. The committee decided to narrow down the selection and talk to the qualifying artists. The committee reviewed Cara Brigg’s application. Bryk stated she had a good skill set, would do quality work, she loved the colors, and that it would hold up to the wear and tear of the rec center. However, she believed it lacked interaction and movement but that the artist stated in her proposal that she was willing to take that step. Elkadi stated Cara had a history of public art experience but that her art was more advanced than the space could handle and was concerned the wall could not physically support the weight of the steel. He concluded despite his technical reservations she was among his top two choices. Seydell-Johnson concluded that the idea was to teach a concept and that it needed more play. The committee reviewed Meghan Bishop. Bryk stated her proposal was specific. Elkadi expressed concern that about implementation of the proposal. Seydell-Johnson stated it fit the space well but that it was not at the level of the others. Bollinger concluded it was related more to sensory touch and not much more. The committee reviewed Jo Myers Walker. Bollinger stated her primary medium was plexiglass and that was her intended medium. She stated she was capable of doing it and had an idea of the cost. Elkadi stated Myers Walker impressed him and that she was the second person he wanted to talk to. He stated she knew what interactivity was and that it would be durable. Seydell-Johnson said she liked the substance but that it was boring to look at. Sasaki Hemann inquired about collaboration among participants. Elkadi suggested Myers Walker could join any group to actualize the work. Bryk stated Myers Walker did not proofread her proposal and that it felt a bit thrown together. Bollinger stated that it was in an email and more informal than most. Bryk asked if she didn’t think she was doing a proposal. Bollinger stated she didn’t know. Engelbrecht stated he thought a proposal was her intent. The committee reviewed the University of Iowa team. Bryk said it was more STEM than STEAM and that she enjoyed it but it needed more of an art aspect. Seydell-Johnson said it hit the teaching concepts but not from the art perspective and wondered if it could become more colorful, whimsical and interactive. Elkadi said it had its place but not in the rec center. Bollinger stated that the group had the skill to create the installation with minimal frustration which is an admirable quality but that it needed to be brought down a level. Sasaki Hemann concluded that it did not fit the space or the audience and that it was very scientific and dry. The committee reviewed Allison Heady’s proposal. Engelbrecht stated he was worried about the longevity of it due to the upkeep of the sensors and the fans. Bryk and Elkadi agreed that it seemed fragile. Bryk stated the artist said her longest installation was a week and that the rec center shouldn’t be her test run. Elkadi stated she was a good print maker and does things other people don’t do. Sasaki Hemann concluded that she went to a show of hers and it was mesmerizing and interactive but that the space of the rec center would not fit it well. The committee reviewed Doug Noland’s submission. Marcia said she was unsure he had the skill or background to create and everyone agreed. Seydell Johnson suggested they narrow the applications to two. Bryk inquired as to why. Seydell Johnson responded because they were asking for their time. Seydell Johnson asked if they could use some of the public art fund to offer a $250 honorarium to ask for a sketch or more details of what the artist would do. Bryk said they should decide who they are going to ask and what they are going to ask them or vice versa. The committee decided to let the final applicants know that they were still being considered and to provide more informaiton. The committee decided to ask Cara Brigg’s and Jo to describe more about how interactivity would be incorporated and to provide a sketch. They agreed to ask the U of I team to incorporate more of an art aspect and see if they are willing to work with an artist. The committee decided to meet the first Thursday of February and invite the final three to present their ideas and elaborate. COMMITTEE ANNOUNCEMENTS OR COMMITTEE REPORTS Engelbrecht mentioned Public Space One was doing a temporary group exhibition called “Near Future” in the old Decorum space in January and February. STAFF REPORTS Bollinger asked the members to fill out the census demographic survey provided by the Human Rights Office. She also discussed PAAC membership and passed out a document of the bylaws. She stated the matching fund deadline was February 22nd, asked the committee members to put up/distribute posters as they can and passed out copies. She concluded the meeting by asking committee members to keep encouraging acquaintances to consider applying for the committee vacancies. ADJOURNMENT: Knoche moved to adjourn the meeting. Engelbrecht seconded. Meeting adjourned at 4:23 PM. 4 Public Art Advisory Committee Attendance Record 2016 - 2017 Name Term Expires 2/4 3/3 5/5 8/4 9/15 11/3 1/5 Bodkin Bryk, Tam 01/01/19 x O/E x x O/E x x Brown, Wendy 01/01/20 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Engelbrecht, John 01/01/18 x X x O/E X X X Hemann, Sayuri Sasaki 01/01/18 x X X X X X X -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Knoche, Ron x X X X X X X Seydell-Johnson, Juli X X X X O/E x x Key: X = Present O = Absent O/E = Absent/Excused --- = Not a member