HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Art In Public Places Commission (AIPP) 10/08/2014CITY OF PALM DESERT
ART IN PUBLIC PLACES COMMISSION
MINUTES
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Boren convened the meeting at 9:01 a.m.
11. ROLL CALL
Present
Maureen Boren
Norma Bussing
Donna Jean Darby
Lesley Miller
Maureen Thompson
Also Present
Absent
Melissa Blalock
Katherine Hough
Deborah Schwartz Glickman, Management Analyst
Debbie Thompson, Recording Secretary
Lauri Aylaian, Director of Development Services
John Vuksic, Architectural Review Commission Liaison
Ken Stendell, Planning Commission Liaison
Susan Marie Weber, Councilmember Liaison
Jean Benson, Councilmember
Rosemary Ortega, Carlos Ortega Villas Project
Heather Buck, Project Coordinator, Carlos Ortega Villas Project
Cindy Kessler, Kessler Studios, Inc., Carlos Ortega Villas Project
Nancy and Larry Cush, Cush Studios, Carlos Ortega Villas Project
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None
Art in Public Places Minutes October 8, 2014
IV. CONSENT CALENDAR
Minutes of the regular meeting held on July 23, 2014.
Commissioner Bussing moved to approve the Minutes of July
23, 2014. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Darby and carried
5-0-0 with Bussing, Darby, Miller, Thompson, and Boren voting AYE
with Blalock and Hough absent.
V. DISCUSSION ITEMS
A. ORAL REVIEW OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION — Mayor Pro
Tern Susan Marie Weber
Mayor Pro Tern Weber reported that at its August 28, 2014
meeting, City Council approved the purchase of Duality by
Heath Satow which was one of the sculptures from the
2013/2014 El Paseo Invitational Exhibition.
At that same meeting, City Council accepted the donation of
Urban Tree by Carlos Basanta, which was also one of the
sculptures included in the 2013/2014 El Paseo Invitational
Exhibition. Both sculptures will be included in the City's
permanent public art collection, and will be placed in the
median on Desert Willow Drive.
B. PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT — Ken Stendell
Mr. Stendell reported that at the Planning Commission
meeting of October 7, 2014, it declined a drainage easement
near The Summit on Highway 74.
C. ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION (ARC) REPORT
— John Vuksic
Mr. Vuksic reported that the Architectural Review
Commission (ARC) approved the following.
Fagade enhancements to two buildings at El Paseo Square,
colors on the building of Flooring Innovations on Deep
Canyon and Highway III, monument signs for Desert
Crossing, and a shaded parking structure for Presage on El
Paseo.
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There was discussion of the color of the awnings on Kaiser
Grille that were supposed to be red but are actually orange.
VI. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER
None
VII. NEW BUSINESS
A. RANK THE THREE (3) FINALISTS' PROPOSALS FOR THE
TILE OR GLASS MURAL FOR CARLOS ORTEGA VILLAS
Ms. Schwartz Glickman stated that the three finalists were
required to be available for the Art in Public Places
Commission meeting either via phone or in person to
present their proposals of the public art component for the
Carlos Ortega Villas project. Two of the three finalists
attended the meeting in person and the other was available
via phone. Ms. Schwartz Glickman noted that prior to
creating their proposals, all three finalists spoke to Mrs.
Rosemary Ortega and Councilmember Jean Benson in a
joint conference call or in person to learn about Mr. Carlos
Ortega. The finalists also spoke to two staff members who
worked with Mr. Carlos Ortega. Ms. Schwartz Glickman
displayed the proposal from Showcase Studios for the
Commission and then called Ms. Sandy Bryant of Showcase
Studios to give her the opportunity to talk about her proposal
and answer any questions that the Commission members
may have had. Ms. Bryant explained that the design was a
collage of different aspects of Mr. Ortega's life including
accomplishments and relationships.
Larry and Nancy Cush of Cush Art Studio presented their
proposal that was based on a story told by Mrs. Ortega of
how Mr. Ortega used to visit Desert Willow in a golf cart as
the project was being built. Included in the proposal was a
list of words describing Mr. Carlos Ortega that would be
engraved into the border of the mural.
Ms. Cindy Kessler of Kessler Studios, Inc. presented their
proposal and explained that they took a different approach to
the concept and created an abstract design titled, "From the
Heart". Ms. Kessler explained that the design tells a story of
her interpretation of Mr. Carlos Ortega woven into an
abstract design with a layer of symbolism in each element of
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Art in Public Places Minutes October 8, 2014
it. A plaque would accompany the mural to explain the
concept of the design.
Chairperson Boren commented that the presentations of all
three proposals were exceptional. After much discussion
and comments, it was the concurrence of the Commission
Members to place the three proposals in order of preference
as follows. 1. Showcase Mosaics; 2. Kessler Studios, Inc.;
3. Cush Art Studio. Ms. Schwartz Glickman stated that the
Commission's recommendation will go to City Council for
final decision at its October 23, 2014 meeting.
Commissioner Darby moved to approve the three
finalists in order of preference as 1. Showcase Mosaics; 2.
Kessler Studios, Inc.; 3. Cush Art Studio, to create a tile or
glass mural based on the life of Carlos Ortega for the Carlos
Ortega Villas. Motion was seconded by Commissioner
Bussing and carried 5-0-0 with Bussing, Darby, Miller,
Thompson, and Boren voting AYE with Blalock and Hough
absent.
B. SELECTION OF A THEME AND TITLE FOR THE 2015
STUDENT ART AND ESSAY CONTEST
Ms. Thompson stated that she met with the Youth
Committee regarding suggestions of a theme for the 2015
Student Art and Essay Contest. Ms. Thompson referred to
the staff report that included the list of past themes and
theme suggestions from the Youth Committee and staff. Ms.
Thompson noted that the 2015 contest will be its 30th year.
After much discussion, the Commission concurred to select
"Palm Desert Through My Eyes" as the theme and title for
the 2015 Student Art and Essay Contest.
Commissioner Bussing moved to select "Palm Desert
Through My Eyes" as the theme and title for the 2015 Student
Art and Essay Contest. Motion was seconded by
Commissioner Thompson and carried 5-0-0 with Bussing,
Darby, Miller, Thompson, and Boren voting AYE with Blalock
and Hough absent.
VIII. CONTINUED BUSINESS
NONE
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Art in Public Places Minutes October 8, 2014
IX. OLD BUSINESS
NONE
X. PROJECT STATUS REPORTS
A. Palm Desert Community Gallery
Ms. Schwartz Glickman reported that the new exhibition in
the Community Gallery, "Visions from the Dreamtime",
artwork by Bonnie Arizona, Kim Snyder, and Linda Ann Wolf,
has been well received.
B. Docent Program
Ms. Schwartz Glickman stated that she has only received
one application from the Call for Docents which are due on
Monday, October 13. She will probably not hold a training
this year and will wait until next year to send out another Call
for Docents.
Requests for tours are starting to come in. Students from
the Palm Springs Unified School District will be taking a tour
of the new El Paseo Exhibition in December.
C. El Paseo Exhibitions
Ms. Schwartz Glickman announced that deinstallation of the
current El Paseo Invitational Exhibition will begin on
Tuesday, October 14 and will take two weeks to complete.
Installation of the new sculptures will begin Tuesday,
November 4 and should be completed by November 19.
She will provide information on the new art and artists to the
docents and train them the beginning of December.
XI. REPORTS AND REMARKS
A. STAFF
Ms. Schwartz Glickman mentioned that Chairperson Boren
had inquired interest in holding an all -Valley public art
conference. She contacted the representatives from the
other Valley cities and said they would mention it at their
September meetings. Ms. Schwartz Glickman has not heard
back from any of the cities, but will follow up with them.
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Art in Public Places Minutes October 8. 2014
Ms. Schwartz Glickman presented the Year in Review DVD
from the 2014 Americans for the Arts Conference.
B. COMMISSION REPORTS
No report.
XI. ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Bussing moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:50 a.m.
Motion was seconded by Commissioner Miller.
Respectfully submitted,
DEBBIE L. THOMPSON, RECORDING SECRETARY
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