HomeMy WebLinkAboutPAAC Agenda Packet 04-04-19
Public Art Advisory Committee
Thursday, April 4, 2019
3:30 PM
Helling 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 March 7, 2019 meeting
Review of Public Art Matching Fund Applications - attached
Update regarding Public Art Strategic Plan Process and Survey
Committee announcements or Committee reports
Staff reports
Adjournment
If you will need disability-related accommodations in order to participate in this program/event, please
contact Marcia Bollinger, Neighborhood and Development Services at 319-356-5237 or marcia-
bollinger@iowa-city.org. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your
access needs.
MINUTES Preliminary
PUBLIC ART ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MARCH 7, 2019 – 3:30 PM
LOBBY CONFERENCE ROOM – CITY HALL
MEMBERS PRESENT: Vero Rose Smith, Steve Miller, Ron Knoche, Andrea Truitt, Eddie
Boyken, Wendy Brown
NOT PRESENT: Juli Seydell Johnson
STAFF PRESENT: Marcia Bollinger, Morgan Musselman
PUBLIC PRESENT:
PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA
There was no public discussion of any item not on the agenda.
CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 10, 2019 MEETING
Ron Knoche moved to approve the January 10, 2019 minutes. Andrea Truitt seconded. Motion
passed unanimously.
UPDATE REGARDING PUBLIC ART STRATEGIC PLAN PROCESS
Vero Rose Smith told the Committee that she, Steve Miller, Eddie Boyken, and Marcia Bollinger
have developed an input process that they have piloted with an art professionals group at a
meeting the week prior. Rose Smith stated that the meeting went well and that the public art
funding subcommittee was able to identify what will and will not be useful in their future planned
contacts with the public regarding public art and public art funding. Rose Smith stated that she
believes they have deepened relationships between the arts organizations in the community.
Bollinger reviewed the list of attendees. Rose Smith stated that the subcommittee had developed
a process to solicit public input that was meant to be more active, engaging, and fun for
participants, and that they had art professionals go through the process and give their own
feedback on both the questions the subcommittee plans to propose to the public and feedback
on how the professionals believe the public meeting should be orchestrated. Rose Smith stated
that she believes the next art professionals meeting will be more focused specifically on the
discussion of the developing strategic plan for the public art program, rather than just a general
discussion of public art. Bollinger brought copies of the questions asked the art professionals at
the meeting and reviewed the process of how they solicited feedback from attendees. Rose Smith
stated that her main goals for the arts professionals meeting were beta-testing the process of
gaining public input, introducing arts professionals in different modalities to each other to
strengthen those relationships, and introducing the entire process of the strategic plan to these
professionals so that they are better able to contribute once the Committee has a draft for them
to consider. Rose Smith stated that the subcommittee would like to solicit help from the Committee
to staff a table at the Public Library for a few weekends and at the Farmers’ Market once it starts
up again in May, at which passersby will be invited to give feedback on questions similar those
PRELIMINARY
posed at the public meetings. Miller asked what the timeframe for this will be. Bollinger stated that
the table in the Public Library could go up any time in April, and that the table at the Farmers’
Market will be in May when the Market starts up again. Bollinger suggested setting up the table
in the Public Library during the Mission Creek Festival. Bollinger stated that the subcommittee is
looking to have the survey up and running immediately after Spring Break, on Monday, March 25,
and will leave the survey open for about three weeks, which will leave the subcommittee with two
weeks to compile feedback and incorporate it in to the strategic plan draft.
REVIEW DRAFT PUBLIC ART SURVEY
The subcommittee provided a draft of the public art survey to the Committee members. Rose
Smith stated that the subcommittee drafted this survey by looking at many other surveys of this
nature that other similar cities had created. Knoche stated that he would edit some of the
questions regarding funding to provide more of an explanation of the types of taxes provided as
possibilities, or to make these questions more general overall. Bollinger stated that the
subcommittee is planning to take those questions off the survey. Rose Smith stated that she likes
the idea of adding definitions and that she thinks it’s important to talk about how public art is
funded, but that maybe the survey format is not the best method of doing so. Miller asked what
format would be more appropriate. Rose Smith suggested having a more specialized survey that
would be distributed later. Bollinger stated that funding will ultimately be addressed in the strategic
plan and that they could rely on general public feedback. Bollinger stated that she doesn’t know
if any funding recommendations are going to be made in the strategic plan because there is a
difference between the plan and what will result from it, and generating funding alternatives is
part of that later process. Knoche stated that the Committee also has very little control over how
it is ultimately funded and that while they can recommend what they think the right amount of
funding is, but the funding component is up to Council and City management in the end. Bollinger
added that the motivation behind the strategic plan is primarily informing Council what the
Committee would use any extra funding toward. Rose Smith asked the Committee if they thought
the question regarding general funding sources should be removed from the survey along with
the question regarding specific taxes. Truitt responded that she believes the funding sources
question could be combined with the tax base question. Miller stated that they could add a generic
“public taxes” option to the sources question. Truitt stated that she believes having a question
about funding in the survey is important. Bollinger suggested having a question asking
respondents if they would be willing to pay higher taxes to fund the public art program.
Brown asked if the last question on the survey—“I’d like to be involved with public art in the
following ways”—is meant to get people to just think about different ways they could be involved
with public art or if it is to solicit volunteers, and, if the latter, that we should have a field that allows
people to provide their contact information. Rose Smith responded that the question was meant
to encourage active thinking about the many ways they could be involved with public art. Bollinger
stated that she thinks responses for this question could help the Committee form and prioritize
more relevant projects. Miller asked if they should provide the opportunity for respondents to give
their contact information if they would like to be more involved. Bollinger stated that on the website
for the strategic plan, www.icgov.org/publicartplan, which is where the survey will be posted, there
will be an opportunity for people to sign up to receive updates and that this could also be an
opportunity for people to reach out. Rose Smith stated that she believes for the sake of data
security and practicing good research methods, they should not collect personal information of
respondents in the survey. Bollinger and Truitt voiced their agreement. Rose Smith stated that
she believes the Committee should come up with a plan for public dissemination of results. Miller
asked if the survey results will be available in time for the second public meeting. Bollinger
responded that they should, because that meeting isn’t until May 9. Bollinger stated that Thomas
Agran had suggested including a question about children and their involvement in the arts. Truitt
suggested working it into a previous question rat her than adding a new question. Brown
suggested adding a question about neighborhood playground programs or other Party in the Park
programming, which is aimed toward children. Knoche suggested adding it to the question
regarding the role of public art, adding “engage children and/or families” or something similar as
an option. Bollinger stated that if Committee members have any more suggestions about what to
ask in the survey, to let her know within the next week.
Bollinger stated that part of the strategic plan process is going through old plans, such as the
bylaws and the Iowa City Public Art Program general informational packet that has been compiled
over the years. Bollinger asked Committee members to review these items between now and the
next meeting on April 4 so that they could be updated and utilized in the strategic plan. Brown
asked with the informational packet was first created. Knoche responded the most current version
was adopted by City Council May 16, 2000. Rose Smith stated that considerations of budgets,
the safety and lifetime of the object in the care of the City, inventory systems, and long-term
management plans should be built into the strategic plan. Rose Smith suggested forming a
subcommittee next month that can continue working on these documents in terms of their
incorporation into the strategic plan and in more general terms of their relevance to the program
outside of the strategic plan.
COMMITTEE ANNOUNCEMENTS OR REPORTS:
Bollinger stated that the Snelson sculpture is slated to be moved within the next few months.
Bollinger showed the plans of the site to which the sculpture is being relocated to Committee
members. Miller noted that the sculpture will be elevated upon relocation, like many of Snelson’s
sculptures. Rose Smith asked about the lighting that will be used. Bollinger responded that she is
unsure if there is adequate funding to install the lighting completely, but that they will be able to
run a conduit and set up how the lighting will ultimately be installed. Rose Smith stated that the
day-to-day care and maintenance and updated valuations of acquisitions such as this should be
included in the strategic plan.
STAFF REPORTS:
Rose Smith asked if there were any updates regarding the City Hall lobby project. Bollinger
responded that she has been in contact with Tim Adams, who has been making progress on the
project and that he is planning to come to Iowa City to install the hangers at some point, and that
he is working with Kumi Morris on the specifics of that. Bollinger stated that Adams will come in
again after that to install the panels. Bollinger stated that she expects to receive some photos of
Adams’ progress on the project and that, upon the Committee’s reception of these photos, they
can decide whether enough progress has been made to warrant paying Adams the second portion
of his payment.
Bollinger stated that the meeting to decide Poetry in Public finalists will occur after Spring Break.
Bollinger encouraged Committee members to continue publicizing the public art matching funds,
as the Committee still has $7,000 available. Bollinger stated that the Committee should start to
focus on the projects they have already committed funds to as well.
Brown asked after the status of the Farmers’ Market project. Bollinger responded that the artist
has not received any funding as of now because Bollinger has been unable to remain in touch
with her and has not yet signed the agreement. Bollinger stated that most of the funding for that
project has come from the Farmers’ Market and that the Committee provided $1,000 of leftover
matching funds.
Bollinger stated that the Committee had also voiced a desire to work with Cara Briggs Farmer on
a placemaking project at Creekside Park. Bollinger stated that the design work for the park has
been completed because it is currently under construction. Rose Smith asked for an update on
the Chadek Green placemaking project. Bollinger responded that Briggs Farmer’s piece has not
been installed yet, but will be once the weather allows in the spring.
Rose Smith stated that for the next meeting, the Committee should be thinking about the role they
want to play in the strategic plan, as far as types of things they believe the Committee should do,
what they’re doing well already, what they’d like to expand on, what they would like to stop doing
in terms of administrative responsibility, etc.
Bollinger stated that Tuesday, March 12 is the public hearing for the budget and that Rose Smith
already sent a letter to the Council thanking them for hearing the initial recommendation to
increase the public art budget and to inform them the Committee is working on a strategic plan.
ADJOURNMENT:
Knoche moved to adjourn. Brown seconded. Meeting adjourned at 4:30 p.m.
Public Art Advisory Committee
Attendance Record
2018-2019
Name
Term
Expires
6/7
7/12
8/2
9/6
10/4
11/1
12/6
1/10
3/7
Wendy
Brown 01/01/20 x x x x x x O/E O/E x
Erin
Fitzgerald 01/01/20 x x x x x -- -- -- --
Ron
Knoche x x x x x x x x x
Juli
Seydell-
Johnson
x x x x x x x x O/E
Vero
Rose
Smith 01/01/21 O/E x O/E x x x x x x
Steve
Miller 02/01/21 O/E x x x x x x x x
Andrea
Truitt 01/01/22 -- -- -- -- -- -- x x x
Eddie
Boyken 01/01/22 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- x x
Key:
X = Present
O = Absent
O/E = Absent/Excused
--- = Not a member
Time Project Name Applicant email address
Amount of
Project
Amount of
grant request
3:35 Carnival Parade Loyce Arthur llartllart@gmail.com $4,000 $2,000
3:45 Luchadores Immigrants In Iowa Miraiam Alarcon Avila mariam@mariamalarconavila.com $4,000 $2,000
4:00 SOA Building Mural Lisa Barnes lisa@summerofthearts.org $4,000 $2,000
4:15 Primary Assembly Jason Snell snell.jason@gmail.com $3,681.68 $1,800
4:30 {r}amp Vero Rose Smith veronica-smith@uiowa.edu $3,200 $1,600
4:45 The Food Stand John Engelbrecht john@publicspaceone.com $3,585 $1,875
5:00 Public Chamber Music In IC Sarah Hill et al sarhil@gmail.com $5,890.72 $2,000
Grow Alex Herrick alexherrick019@gmail.com $1,042 $521
$13,796
Project Name: The Iowa City Community Carnival Parade and Dance Event Project
Location or Address: Downtown Iowa City
Applicant Name: Loyce L Arthur
Applicant Address: 2165 Port Talbot Place Coralville Iowa
Phone Number: 3195414534
Email Address: llartllart@gmail.com
Total Project Cost: $4000
Proposed Project Date(s): May 1st - 31st, 2019
Funding source(s) outside of this matching fund program: Summer of the Arts, the University of
Iowa’s Division of Performing Arts, Community in-kind partners including the Dream Divas, World of
Bikes, the Bike Library, and Interdance.
Provided a brief description of the proposed project : This project is part of a new effort to attract
as many people as possible to the 2019 Iowa City Community Carnival parade, May 31st. We are
structuring the parade as a series on short dance concerts culminating in a flash-mob event. A team of
artists will be creating items to visually link all the groups to one another with decorated music carts,
wagons and golf carts that head up different sections of performers. Stilt walkers will lead the parade
and a local acrobatic group will perform up and down the route. Costumed performers, created this
Spring, will lead each section and then come together as flash-mob dance leaders. We will also work
with local bike shops to get together a group of bikers who will decorate their bikes for the parade and
perform a ring-around-the rosy routine during the flash-mob.
Explain how this project is defined as 'public art' and demonstrate how the art will be located
in an area open and freely available to the public: I have always considered the Carnival project as
a public performance art event. The route of the parade is throughout downtown Iowa City and open to
anyone that wants to participate as audience or performers/marchers.
If the project is a physical installment, provide details regarding size, weight, medium,
materials and installation in any of the following formats:
site plan, JPEGS, models or renderings, a narrative if necessary:
Explain specifically what the matching fund will pay for: The funds will pay for the stilt walker
group, a lead project artist & a lead musician, supplies & materials.
Describe the intended audience for this project and what efforts you will make to benefit the
broader Iowa City community: We recruit parade participants through the SOTA website, advertise
for the general public to join the parade, and outfit people to join the parade on the day of the event.
The parade kicks off the Iowa Arts Festival and we expect to attract families to the parade and anyone
coming to the 2 concerts later that evening.
Describe your partners in this project and what role they will play (financial assistance,
providing space, technical assistance, other): As producers of the Iowa Arts Festival, SOTA will
provide funds for art supplies as well as in-kind support for administration of the parade overall, and
advertising and promotion. The Division of Performing Arts provides a space to make costumes and
carnival items, as well as student and staff volunteer artisans to make the costumes and funds for
materials and supplies. Community partners such as World of Bikes, the Bike Library, and 6 local dance
groups, including the Dream Divas and the Interdance Dance Festival coordinators will promote and
advertise the event with customers and members.
Explain how you will gauge a successful outcome of this project: Success will be measured by the
number of participants in the parade as well as the number of people on hand to see it. It is also
expected that the success of this year’s event can be recreated next year with more participants and a
larger parade.
Project Name: Public Art Installation of Luchadores Immigrants In Iowa during the Semana Cultural
Latina, (Latino Cultural Week) Iowa City.
Project Location or Address: Iowa City Pedestrian Mall
Applicant Name: Miriam Alarcón Avila
Applicant Address: 460 Roberts Ferry Rd, Tiffin, IA.
Phone Number: 3194001907
Email Address: miriam@miriamalarconavila.com
Total Project Cost: 4000
Proposed Project Date(s): August 19 to 25 of 2019
Funding source(s) outside of this matching fund program:
Several voluntary hours of work
Personal funding
Iowa arts council grant
Provided a brief description of the proposed project :
In an effort to give a voice to new Iowans and share their challenges as immigrants of rich Latino
heritage, artist Miriam Alarcón Avila has been working at “Luchadores Immigrants In Iowa” art project.
With the support of the Iowa Arts Council and different local Latino organizations, the artist has created
a photo documentary comprised of portraits of Iowa’s Luchadores (Wrestlers) wearing traditional and
customized Lucha Libre (Mexican wrestling) masks. The mask is a symbol representing their identity as
invisible Latinx immigrants. By wearing the mask, they become local super-heroes, empowering
themselves to freely share their inspirational immigration story.
Working in collaboration with the Iowa City Latino Festival, local organizations, and establishments in
Iowa City downtown area, the artist Miriam Alarcón Avila is seeking the support for displaying a public
art installation during the “Semana Cultural Latina” (Latino Cultural Week) in Iowa City, on August 19 to
25, of 2019. The art installation involves a 3D mapping projection and a series of photographs displayed
through the window displays in local business with the portraits of Latino kids wearing a paper Luchador
mask made by themselves on previous Latino festivals in Iowa.
The installation will also have two short presentations, one during the Friday Night Concert on August
23, and a second one, at the Latino Festival on August 24, with the reading of the poetry of migration
histories of some of the Luchadores of the project.
Explain how this project is defined as 'public art' and demonstrate how the art will be located
in an area open and freely available to the public:
3D mapping projection on Iowa City ped mall stage
The 3D mapping projection will be set up on the Iowa City ped mall public stage and screening every
night during the “Semana Cultural Latina” from sundown until 10 pm.
The complete series of portraits of the Latino Little Luchadores of Iowa that has been compiled from the
past 2 years, will be projected on a 3D Luchador mask screen made of fabric, hard cardboard wood, and
metal, with the dimensions of 8ft wide, 10ft long and 3ft deep, with an approximate weight of
200 pounds.
The 3D Luchador mask screen will be set up on the left side of the stage, between two metal pillars to
allow let enough space on stage for the events happening during that week
A projector will be set up inside a wood box in the front of the stage, every night the box projector will
be removed after the screening. The mask screen will be secured to stay on display during the whole
week during the “Semana Cultural Latina”.
Little Luchadores photographs display
The series of photographs displayed through the show windows in local business, the portraits will vary
in size and format depending on the space availability and the number of business collaborating with the
“Semana Cultural Latina”. We are planning on display a minimum of 25 portraits varying on sizes from
16in X 20in to 8in X 10in metal prints.
If the project is a physical installment, provide details regarding size, weight, medium,
materials and installation in any of the following formats:
site plan, JPEGS, models or renderings, a narrative if necessary:
Explain specifically what the matching fund will pay for: Prints, projection and Screen material
and construction.
Describe the intended audience for this project and what efforts you will make to benefit the
broader Iowa City community:
For the public of all ages, origins, sexes, and backgrounds. Utilizing art as an integration medium, we are
hoping that with this public art display will balance out the latest discriminatory events that had
happened in the past months in Iowa City.
Describe your partners in this project and what role they will play (financial assistance,
providing space, technical assistance, other): We are currently working on getting in contact with
downtown different Iowa City organizations and business seeking support to provide space of show
windows for the Luchadores Immigrants In Iowa display during the “Semana Cultural Latina”.
Explain how you will gauge a successful outcome of this project:
To measure the impact of how the public participates visiting the exhibition, during that week will host a
scavenger hunt in a passport format, throughout the entire installation to provide information that will
help the viewers to engage and to embrace diversity in Iowa city.
Project Name: Summer of the Arts Building Mural
Project Location or Address: 319 E 1st Street
Applicant Name: Lisa Barnes
Applicant Address: 319 E 1st Street
Phone Number: 319-337-7944
Email Address: lisa@summeroftheARTS.org
Total Project Cost: $4,000
Proposed Project Date(s): May 1 - July 1, 2019
Funding source(s) outside of this matching fund program:
In-kind gift cards from Blick $300
Summer of the Arts match $1200
Summer of the Arts in-kind administration of project $500
Provided a brief description of the proposed project : We would like to paint a mural on the side
of our building to not only reflect Summer of the Arts, but to also brighten up a somewhat rundown
looking building. We believe this will not only make it easier to find our office, but also provide
something creative and beautiful in a somewhat industrial area.
Explain how this project is defined as 'public art' and demonstrate how the art will be located
in an area open and freely available to the public: We would hire an artist to create and oversee
the process, but then would like to engage the public in the actual painting of the mural. We have
several ideas for recruiting people including working through the Iowa City Community School District.
Our building is visible from Gilbert Street for people heading South and this would add color and
attention to this street.
If the project is a physical installment, provide details regarding size, weight, medium,
materials and installation in any of the following formats:
site plan, JPEGS, models or renderings, a narrative if necessary:
Explain specifically what the matching fund will pay for: Primarily the payment to the artist, but
may also be used to cover some of the preparation work for the building.
Describe the intended audience for this project and what efforts you will make to benefit the
broader Iowa City community: The audience is primarily people who live and work on the South side
of Iowa City. There is a lot of traffic on South Gilbert Street and with the growth in this area, including
Riverfront Crossing, we think this will improve the aesthetic of the area.
Being able to engage the community and beautify this building provides us a unique opportunity to have
a more permanent impact on the arts in Iowa City.
Describe your partners in this project and what role they will play (financial assistance,
providing space, technical assistance, other):
Blick Art Materials will provide support through gift cards.
Chace Ramey with the Iowa City Community School District will help us spread the word to the schools
to recruit art students wanting to help with completion of the piece.
We have also reached out to Thomas Agran with the Iowa City Downtown District requesting assistance
with the planning of the mural.
Lastly, we will reach out to local artists for creation of the mural to submit designs.
Explain how you will gauge a successful outcome of this project: Once complete, we plan to have
a ribbon cutting at our new space and invite the public to see the mural and tour the space. We will ask
for feedback from the public regarding the mural and see what the reaction is from the general public,
as well as the businesses in close proximity to our building.
Project Name: Primary Assembly
Project Location or Address: 1) University of Iowa College of Engineering, John Deere Lobby 2) Iowa
City Public Library
Applicant Name: Jason Snell
Applicant Address: 3105 Alleghany Dr NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
Phone Number: 646-528-3102
Email Address: snell.jason@gmail.com
Total Project Cost: $3681.68
Proposed Project Date(s): 1) April 24, 2019 and 2) April 29, 2019
Funding source(s) outside of this matching fund program:
University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art: $1000
Electric Jumping Horse Studios: $800
Provided a brief description of the proposed project:
I’ve developed a system where I can compose music with my mind. Using a Muse headband brainwave
scanner, I am reading the electrical data of my brain. It sends the data via Bluetooth to my custom-built
iOS app, processing the data through complex algorithms and relational mapping systems. The output is
an audio performance with the composition, character, rhythm, and tempo controlled by my mind.
The goal of the project is to exemplify how technology can amplify our humanity rather than disconnect
or dehumanize us. I’ve long experienced technology as a shield between myself and others. As a 20-year
veteran of the electronic music scene, I have performed for crowds numbering in the thousands. But my
excitement and fear was hidden by the machines. As long as my hands remained steady enough to
manipulate the controls on my drum machines and synthesizers, my vulnerability wasn’t exposed. In
contrast, this new system uses my excitement, fear, and vulnerability as the key compositional agents.
This project began in January and is now in Phase 3. In each phase I improve the mind-to-music mapping
and am able to perform longer compositions. The end-of-year goal is to produce an hour-long
performance. This current phase has a goal of 25 minutes. After each performance is a Q&A with the
audience to educate them about the technology and creative process.
Here are links to the premiere performance and Q&A videos:
https://youtu.be/O_pGemiehdI
https://youtu.be/Weki2qnCiug
Explain how this project is defined as 'public art' and demonstrate how the art will be located
in an area open and freely available to the public:
The performances and Q&A sessions will be free and held in publicly accessible spaces. The first event
will be at a technology-and-arts open house at the University of Iowa College of Engineering. This event
plans to have elementary students, college students, faculty, and the general public attend. My
technology will be displayed alongside several other art and technology projects.
The second performance will be at the Iowa City Public Library, which I believe is more accessible to the
general public than a university event. This would feature my performance, an in-depth Q&A session,
and a technology presentation.
If the project is a physical installment, provide details regarding size, weight, medium,
materials and installation in any of the following formats: site plan, JPEGS, models or
renderings, a narrative if necessary
Explain specifically what the matching fund will pay for: It will pay for the software engineering (7
days) and sound design (3 days) required to do a 25-minute performance and tech talk
Describe the intended audience for this project and what efforts you will make to benefit the
broader Iowa City community:
The general public, and particularly students of all ages. With NewBoCo in Cedar Rapids, I’m developing
similar tech presentations for children, especially girls, to show the possibilities of combining art and
technology in STEM / STEAM programs. After the performance, I’ll have a Q&A which covers general
questions, then slowly go more in-depth on topics for individuals with engineering interest or
experience.
Describe your partners in this project and what role they will play (financial assistance,
providing space, technical assistance, other):
Stanley Museum of Art: Funding and promotional support.
Electric Jumping Horse Studio: Funding and promotional support.
University of Iowa College of Engineering: Providing space, promotional, and technical support.
NewBoCo: Presentation development.
Explain how you will gauge a successful outcome of this project :
Attendance and the follow-up questions. I considered the premiere performance in Des Moines a
success when the attendees stayed for the Q&A and asked insightful questions about the technology
and creative process. In addition, engagement from young students, particularly girls (which I’m learning
from NewBoCo how to specifically invite into the learning process when boys are trying to dominate it)
would be a mark for success.
Project Name: [r]amp
Project Location or Address: Tower Place Parking Ramp (corner of Linn and Iowa Avenue) Applicant
Name: Vero Rose Smith
Applicant Address: 150 N Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242
Phone Number: 319 467 1168
Email Address: veronica-smith@uiowa.edu
Total Project Cost: $3,200
Proposed Project Date(s): Sunday, June 9
Funding source(s) outside of this matching fund program:
Advertising Materials: In-kind (Public Space One), value of $100 based on a project of similar scope
Documentation: In-kind (Stanley), value of $1500 based on a project of similar scope
Provided a brief description of the proposed project :
We propose to stage a three-hour musical performance in the center of the Tower Place Parking Ramp.
Produced jointly by Chris Wiersema (Feed Me Weird Things / Mission Creek / Witching Hour), Justin
Comer (iHearIC), and Vero Rose Smith (Stanley Museum of Art), this performance will feature local
musicians tasked with treating the ramp as a co-collaborator. Wiersema, Comer, and Smith have all
produced large-scale art events and all invited musicians have a proven track record of intentional
engagement with a sound environment.
Here are a few of the performers we are considering inviting:
Wombat
(https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/FSJnC68MJptMpRWf66oVB?domain=mixcloud.com)
Christine Burke Ensemble (https://protect-
us.mimecast.com/s/vrUKC73MKquy8rRiBmKB9?domain=burkechristine.com)
LIGAMENT (https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/I2wVC82gLrtQ2mkUMZouT?domain=ligamentduo.com )
Gabi Vanek (https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/utwoC9rjMvSxlJOfPR0Ds?domain=stitcher.com )
While this project supports a Stanley Museum of Art exhibition, the performance would not be possible
without municipal and public support and this funding. Titled Views from the Other Side: American
Land, Place, and Region after 1900, this exhibition investigates changes in approach to visually
documenting landscape over the past century. The turn of the twentieth century heralded a radical shift
in aesthetic taste, artistic techniques, and representations the American landscape. In landscape
paintings, prints, and photographs, commonplace views from everyday lives replaced sublime vistas of
untouched paradise. The gridded geometry of exponentially expanding cities inspired artists like Edward
Ruscha in the same way the soaring Rocky Mountains had inspired painters such as Albert Bierstadt a
century before. Landscapes of the everyday – highways, industrialized agriculture, municipal
infrastructure – all gained prominence as potential subjects for art. In the spirit of these landscape
artists, this project seeks to activate a space often overlooked: the humble parking ramp.
Budget:
Total Project Cost: $3,200
Performance Fee: $150 per act (x 6): $900 Logistical Support: $100 Sound System Rental: $600
Advertising Materials: In-kind (Public Space One), value of $100 based on a project of similar scope
Documentation: In-kind (Stanley), value of $1500 based on a project of similar scope
Timeline:
April 15: All performers invited to participate
May 1: Public Space One volunteers begin production of promotional materials; all performers are
confirmed; Permissions from the city are secured
May 15: Promotional materials dissemination begins
June 9: Performance
Explain how this project is defined as 'public art' and demonstrate how the art will be located
in an area open and freely available to the public: This project will take place within a public
parking ramp during a day when the structure is free and open to the public and will not disrupt the
normal operation of the structure. We had an initial meeting with Mark Rummel to discuss logistics and
will continue work closely with the City of Iowa City to ensure the safety of performers and audience.
If the project is a physical installment, provide details regarding size, weight, medium,
materials and installation in any of the following formats:
site plan, JPEGS, models or renderings, a narrative if necessary:
Explain specifically what the matching fund will pay for: The matching fund will pay the
performers' honoraria, the sound system rental, and logistical support.
Describe the intended audience for this project and what efforts you will make to benefit the
broader Iowa City community: The intended audience for this project consists of experimental music
fans and anyone visiting downtown Iowa City on an average summer Sunday. We hope that this project
will enable those who live in and visit Iowa City to see spaces necessary for everyday life in a new and
more interesting light.
Describe your partners in this project and what role they will play (financial assistance,
providing space, technical assistance, other):
Chris Wiersema: Performance curator Chris Wiersema is a proven cultural leader in Iowa City. He
spearheads the experimental performance series Feed Me Weird Things and directs musical bookings
for both the Mission Creek Festival and Witching Hour Festival. Chris will provide logistical support for
this event and will assist booking and managing the musicians invited to perform.
Justin Comer: Composer and musician Justin comer runs the monthly local experimental music
showcase and weekly KRUI radio show iHearIC and works for both the Englert and West Music. Justin
will provide logistical support for this event and will assist booking and managing the musicians invited
to perform.
Public Space One: Public Space One will assist in the creation and dissemination of promotional
materials leading up to the performance.
Stanley Museum of Art: Vero Rose Smith of the Stanley Museum of Art is a curator and musician. She
has produced 19 art exhibitions and 96 public events on behalf of the Stanley since 2016. Vero will
coordinate the distribution of funds to all parties, the creation of promotional materials, and
documentation of the performance.
City of Iowa City: The City will provide space for this performance.
Explain how you will gauge a successful outcome of this project:
Success will be measured in several ways:
+satisfaction of the performers (to be assessed via digital survey after
+the event)
+audience size (to be assessed by counting attendees on the day of the
+event)
+digital presence of documentation (to be assessed by number of viewers
+after one month live online)
Project Name: The Food Stand
Project Location or Address: Iowa City / Iowa City's Farmer's Market
Applicant Name: John Engelbrecht
Applicant Address: 913 E Jefferson St
Phone Number: 3193318893
Email Address: john@publicspaceone.com
Total Project Cost: $3585
Proposed Project Date(s): June 2019 (and maybe extended)
Funding source(s) outside of this matching fund program:
Outside matching funds = $1875
Artist/organizer contributed (in-kind) hours: 60 hours at $25/hr = $1500 Materials (in-kind)
$225 (workshop space rental)
$100 (Paper/Cardboard, in-kind)
$50 Tent and table rental
Provided a brief description of the proposed project :
The Food Stand is a public art project disguised as a Farmer’s Market vendor booth. The “food” for sale
at the stand is small art works that take the shape and form of typically Farmer’s Market fare (i.e. fresh
veggies and fruit).
Research will be done to match color shape and generally aesthetic of Farmer’s Market booths to match
signs, tables, and of course, food.
Artists will “perform” the role of vendor at the table, selling the “food.” Artists will also complete work
to set-up and tear down along with any other logistical organizing (such as securing location and working
best practices as a IC Farmer’s Market vendor).
Explain how this project is defined as 'public art' and demonstrate how the art will be located
in an area open and freely available to the public:
The idea is to create a public art piece as a bit of trompe l’oiel. At a glance (or at a distance), The Food
Stand will look similar to other booths at the IC Farmer’s Market. Upon closer inspection,
viewers/consumers will see that all the food is actually replicated in the form of small sculptural
artworks (hence: public art).
The Food Stand will be as available to the public as any other vendor booth at the IC Farmer’s Market as
a physical installment during several Saturdays in the summer of 2019. It will be installed on a table not
unlike the various tables used by Farmer’s Market vendors.
Food will be made from various materials including fabric, stuffing, cardboard, paper, paint, recycled
materials, balsa wood, and more.
If the project is a physical installment, provide details regarding size, weight, medium,
materials and installation in any of the following formats:
site plan, JPEGS, models or renderings, a narrative if necessary:
Explain specifically what the matching fund will pay for: Artists stipend:
$1000, Documentation $200, Materials: various $435
Describe the intended audience for this project and what efforts you will make to benefit the
broader Iowa City community: The intended audience is the
(unsuspecting) Iowa City Farmer’s Market goer. By producing art that looks like food, art that is located
in a space generally reserved for food, and art that is sold for the same price as food, the hope is to
create a surprising and humorous juxtaposition that opens up a channel to how people view and
consume contemporary art. In short, it should be fun for the IC community who comes across it during
busy Farmer's Market days.
Describe your partners in this project and what role they will play (financial assistance,
providing space, technical assistance, other):
I will draw on the circle of artists I work in close proximity to at Public Space One and the Iowa City Press
Co-op. Through open workshop calls (to make
food) and with the support of several people in our tight-knit community to hire on a short term basis to
design the food and serve as vendor at the table, a crop will be produced and sold.
Public Space One will provide space for the workshop and resources such as a vendor tent, tables, and
extra paper and cardboard for the project’s use.
The Public Art Advisory Committee would be acknowledged on stickers or tags on every fruit piece as
well as on table signs and future documentation.
Explain how you will gauge a successful outcome of this project: Ultimately, the success of this
project will be gauged by # of smiles provoked and conversations kickstarted that arise at The Food
Stand. More objectively, the successful sale of the many individual food pieces (one measure of success
being: selling out) will also be a marker. This may require multiple vending days at the market, which
would also increase visibility for the project.
Finally, the project will also be well-documented and presented as an example of expanding the notion
of Public Art to beyond murals. Documentation will be made available to PAAC for future funding
initiatives.
Project Name: Sawyer String Quartet: Public Chamber Music in Iowa City
Project Location or Address: Iowa City Public Library, Prairie Lights Bookstore, Willow Creek Park, Old
Capitol Museum, U Iowa Hospital Atrium
Applicant Name: Sarah Hill, Chelsea Bernstein, Kenneth Trotter, and Lily Holgate
Applicant Address: 10 Granite St. #2
Phone Number: 2402100274
Email Address: sarhil@gmail.ccom
Total Project Cost: 5,890.72
Proposed Project Date(s): 7/15-7/20
Funding source(s) outside of this matching fund program:
Iowa City Public Library
Members of the Sawyer String Quartet
Old Capitol Museum
Debra Poole
UMD M-Cubator Grant, application in progress, funding TBD
Provided a brief description of the proposed project:
This project takes advantage of the mobility of the string quartet to bring art, specifically live chamber
music, to a variety of public settings in Iowa City. The quartet will play a series of public performances in
spaces around town, in partnership with the Iowa City Public Library, Prairie Lights Bookstore, the
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, and the Old Capitol Museum. Our goal is to broaden access to
chamber music among people unlikely or unable to attend traditional concerts. The programs will vary
in content and duration; our aim is to design programs that respond to each space and audience. The
first of two appearances at the Library will be an interactive program for families that explores music’s
ability to inspire further artistic expression, and will invite audience feedback in the form of drawings
and illustrations. The second will take place during Story Hour and will highlight the potential of live
chamber music to function as a storytelling form. On Monday and Wednesday of our project week,
members of the ensemble will perform as a part of the ICPL’s Stories in the Park, where we will play, in a
more informal way, as accompaniment to patrons’ comings and goings from the Library’s Bookmobile.
At all of our performances, we aspire to be open and welcoming in order to interact with listeners,
answer questions, and get feedback. We will perform standard works by Schubert, Mendelssohn,
Schumann, Shostakovich, Dvorak, and Mozart.
Explain how this project is defined as 'public art' and demonstrate how the art will b e located
in an area open and freely available to the public:
The first two performances will take place at the Public Library; anyone can attend. The third and fourth
will be in a public park and will be freely available to anyone visiting the park, either as patrons of the
library or otherwise. Our fifth performance will most likely be a lunchtime concert in the atrium of the
public hospital. The sixth will take place in the Old Capitol Museum during normal museum hours
(admission is free), aiming to maximize our impact by playing in a central location and during a high-
traffic time. The seventh will take place on our last evening in town at the Prairie Lights Bookstore Cafe,
and will be advertised as a public concert on the street. It will be publicized on fliers around town and
announced at our other events during the week. It will also be included in the Bookstore’s e-newsletter
and social media presence.
If the project is a physical installment, provide details regarding size, weight, medium,
materials and installation in any of the following formats: site plan, JPEGS, models or
renderings, a narrative if necessary:
Explain specifically what the matching fund will pay for : Partial costs of: Admin. coordination and
planning, travel to and from IA City, and artist fees.
Describe the intended audience for this project and what efforts you will make to benefit the
broader Iowa City community:
Our intent is for all seven performances to be welcoming and inclusive to everyone. We are designing all
of the Library-affiliated programs to be accessible for children and families, but it they will be equally
enjoyable for all. Our aim in our hospital performance is to lend energy and warmth to a public space
where there is particular use for the restorative potential of live music in ameliorating the stress and
pain that often prevail in hospital settings. The hospital represents a broad cross-section of the Iowa City
population who might be especially unlikely to travel to a concert. By focusing much of our energy at the
Public Library, which is a safe, climate-controlled space that is welcoming to all people, our hope is that
we may share our music with a wide variety of listeners. As an institution that sees a good deal of
tourism, the Old Capitol Museum represents an opportunity to cast an even wider net, beyond people
who are local to the community.
Describe your partners in this project and what role they will play (financial assistance,
providing space, technical assistance, other):
Iowa City Public Library will contribute a percentage of the artist fees for three of the programs we have
arranged through them and are including us in their online summer programming calendars. Prairie
Lights Books has generously offered to assist with publicity by including us in their e-newsletter and
social media outreach. The Old Capitol Museum will be providing the space free of charge, facilitating
setup of chairs, and allowing us to the play for the museum patrons. UIHC will be providing space and
facilitating set-up at the hospital.
Explain how you will gauge a successful outcome of this project :
We will rely heavily on spoken feedback from the people who attend our events. We will document this
ourselves in written form, and will provide the opportunity for people to give written feedback at each
event. The Family Night Program at the library will also solicit visual art as feedback. We view listener
response as an essential part of our process and of the art itself. We value the opportunity to explore
what music works in people and how it can be most meaningful to them. We will depend also on setting
clear expectations and asking for feedback from our facilitator-hosts.
Project Name: Grow
Project Location or Address: 132 E Washington St, Iowa City, IA 52240
Applicant Name: Alex Herrick
Applicant Address: 625 Emerald St., #B25
Phone Number: 515-782-5777
Email Address: alexherrick019@gmail.com
Total Project Cost: $1,042
Proposed Project Date(s): May 20th-June 29th
Funding source(s) outside of this matching fund program: Family, Self-funded.
Provided a brief description of the proposed project:
"Grow" incorporates different art mediums including spray paint, artist acrylic, and latex paints to create
a mixed media, collage-style art piece. The piece would be 9 ft. high and 20 ft. long.
Explain how this project is defined as 'public art' and demonstrate how the art will be located
in an area open and freely available to the public:
"Grow" Is a piece about individual expression and belonging. Like every person's story, "Grow" isn't a
clean, uniform picture. It's a collage of different elements that have come together to create the image
they are now. In this way, it inspires hope, reminding all of us that no matter our background, the whole
remains greater than its parts, and I believe that in this way, this piece belongs to everyone. The theme
of individualism and hope reflects the city's values and reminds its citizens that each one of them, just
by being themselves, has the potential to do amazing things. Having the piece located in the heart of
downtown on East Washington Street ensures that people of different backgrounds will see it, both
students and residents otherwise not attending the university.
If the project is a physical installment, provide details regarding size, weight, medium,
materials and installation in any of the following formats: site plan, JPEGS, models or
renderings, a narrative if necessary:
Explain specifically what the matching fund will pay for : Paint, painting materials such as brushes,
paint rollers, paint gun hoses, and equipment to reach high places, like ladders.
Describe the intended audience for this project and what efforts you will make to benefit the
broader Iowa City community:
This piece is intended for audiences of all ages, but is targeted at students in their late teens and early
twenties attending the University of Iowa. The piece's location in the center of downtown, will benefit
both the University's students, who frequently visit the downtown area, as well as the city's many local
businesses, shop owners, and residents.
Describe your partners in this project and what role they will play (financial assistance,
providing space, technical assistance, other)
- Raygun: Provide space for the project
- Home Depot: Help provide rental equipment
Explain how you will gauge a successful outcome of this project
Positive feedback from the community would be the best way to gauge whether this project was a
success or not. While interpretation of the project and its meaning could take many forms, knowing that
I've made a positive impact on the community in any way would ultimately determine whether this
project was successful or not.
Project Inventory:
- 1 Gallon white acrylic gesso primer - $50
- 1 Gallon dark blue - $50
- 1 Gallon burgundy - $50
- 1 Quart burgundy (Hair) - $30
- 1 Quart teal - $30
- 1 Quart green - $30
- 1 Quart gold - $30
- 1 Quart pink - $30
- 1 Quart navy blue - $30
- 1 Quart gold - $30
- 1 Quart deep orange - $30
- 1 Quart orange - $30
- 1 Pint brown - $25
- 1 Pint lavender - $25
- 1 Quart light blue - $30
- 3 Cans spray paint black - $35
- 1 large surface, extended paint roller - $20
- 8 Paint trays - $20
- 1 Paint spray gun - $50
- 4”, 2”, 1” paint brush - $7
- 1 Masking tape - $20
- 8 oz. Acrylic artist paint dark blue - $10
- 8 oz. Acrylic artist paint burgundy - $10
- 8 oz. Acrylic artist paint orange - $10
- 8 oz. Acrylic artist paint pink - $10
- 8 oz. Acrylic artist paint deep purple - $10
- 8 oz. Acrylic artist paint blue - $10
- 32 oz. Acrylic artist paint white - $30
- 8 oz. Acrylic artist paint green - $10
- 32 oz. Acrylic artist paint dark black - $30
- 1 Gallon outdoor gloss medium acrylic varnish - $70
- 1 Gas-powered paint sprayer (rental, 1 day, for varnish): $120
- 1 4 ft. ladder - $70