HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-12-170
CITY OF PALM DESERT
ART IN PUBLIC PLACES COMMISSION
MINUTES
December 17, 2008
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Bussing convened the meeting at 9:06 a.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Present Absent
Norma Bussing
Katherine Hough
Kim Snyder
Barbara Stenning
Maureen Thompson
John Weston
Also Present
Councilmember Jean Benson
Richard Twedt, Public Arts Manager
Deborah Schwartz, Public Art Coordinator
Debbie Thompson, Recording Secretary
Artist Dee Clements, (Painter's Path Project)
John Kincaid, National Sculptors Guild (Painter's Path Project)
Josh Often, representing Gary Price (Painter's Path Project)
Josh Paquette, representing Gary Price (Painter's Path Project)
K. Kaufmann, Desert Sun reporter
III, ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mr. Twedt announced that Commissioner Grochau resigned from
the Art in Public Places Commission.
Councilmember Jean Benson presented each Commission
member with a gift certificate to the McCallum Theatre. The
certificate was in lieu of the annual appreciation dinner for all
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Committees and Commissions. She thanked the Commissioners
on behalf of the Mayor and City Council for all they do.
IV. CONSENT CALENDAR
Minutes of the regular meetings held on October 29, and
November 19, 2008.
Upon Motion by Commissioner Thompson and second by
Commissioner Kim, the Minutes of October 29, and November 19,
2008, were approved unanimously.
V. DISCUSSION ITEMS
A. ORAL REVIEW OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION
Mr. Twedt reported that City Council directed him to create
policies and procedures guidelines for the City's Traffic
Signal Box project and have the Commission review them.
City Council approved two additional candidates (Greg
Reiche and Phillip Smith) for the "Embracing the Desert
Light" project and each artist will receive an honorarium in
the amount of $2,000.00.
Michelle O'Michael's "Moon River" was approved as the
replacement piece for the 2009/10 El Paseo Invitational
Exhibition.
Return of AIPP fees for the public art component for Heath
Satow's "Tumbling Weed" at the Gateway project was
approved.
The artwork by Dr. Flanagan as the public art component for
The Vineyards at Palm Desert Development was approved.
B. PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT
No report.
VI. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER
None
VII. NEW BUSINESS
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A. ELECTION OF A NEW CHAIRPERSON AND VICE
CHAIRPERSON
Chairperson Bussing nominated Commissioner Thompson
as Chairperson and Commissioner Weston as Vice
Chairperson for 2009.
It was moved by Commissioner Stenning and seconded
by Commissioner Hough to approve the nomination of
Commissioner Thompson as Chairperson and Commissioner
Weston as Vice Chairperson for 2009. Motion carried
unanimously.
B. CONSIDERATION OF ARTISTS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE
CITY OF PALM DESERT'S ARTIST REGISTRY
Artwork by Lori Acott Fowler was reviewed to be considered
as part of the City of Palm Desert's Artist Registry.
It was moved by Commissioner Thompson and
seconded by Commissioner Weston to include Lori Acott
Fowler in the City of Palm Deserts Artist Registry. Motion
carried unanimously.
It was moved by Commissioner Hough and seconded by
Commissioner Stenning to add Consideration of Approval of
Policies and Procedures for the Traffic Signal Boxes Project to
the agenda under New Business, Item C. Motion carried
unanimously.
C. CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF POLICIES AND
PROCEDURES FOR THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL BOXES
PROJECT
Mr. Twedt informed the Commission that City Council had
directed him to draft a set of policy and procedure guidelines
for the Traffic Signal Box project and requested it go to the
Commission for review. The necessity for the guidelines
was due to a building owner having an artist paint an artistic
design on a traffic signal box that was in front of his
business. The City cited him and told him he needed to
remove the paint as it had not been approved by the City
and is considered vandalism.
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Mr. Twedt circulated a draft of the policies and procedures
for the Commission's review and asked for suggestions
and/or additions.
Policy #5 was altered to read as follows. Designs will be
appropriate for all age groups and meet the criteria for
artistic integrity.
Policy #11 was added as follows. Unauthorized artwork will
be removed and violators will be cited.
Upon request by Councilmember Benson, Mr. Twedt
announced that there is a map of all the City's 99 traffic
signal boxes.
It was moved by Commissioner Hough and seconded by
Commissioner Stenning to approve the Policies and
Procedures for the Traffic Signal Box project as set by staff
with the additional wording to policy #5 and adding policy #11.
Motion carried unanimously.
VIII. CONTINUED BUSINESS
NONE
IX. OLD BUSINESS
A. CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSALS FOR THE PAINTER'S
PATH PROJECT
Chairperson Bussing noted that two of the four artists will
present proposals at today's meeting and the remaining two
artists will present at the January 21, 2009 meeting for the
Painter's Path project. No action will be taken until the
regular meeting of January 21, 2009.
Chairperson Bussing introduced artist Dee Clements and
John Kincaid, Director of the National Sculptors Guild. Mr.
Kincaid presented the proposal for the Painter's Path project
depicting plein air painters. He gave a background on the
Guild and that they work in design team mode. They have
done over 300 public art placements in the U.S. The Guild
began researching the plein air artists who resided in the
Coachella Valley. Orpha Klinker and John Hilton were used
to depict the painters in the proposed sculpture. Mr.
Clements had replicated paintings on bas relief that had
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been done by the two artists in the sculpture. The figures
will be approximately six foot patinaed bronze. The
sculpture will have more vibrant colors than what shown in
the model. The Guild did some research on what items
would be found in the artists boxes and have included them
in the sculpture. Decomposed granite will surround the
sculpture which will appear as if the sculpture is set on the
ground (will not appear to be placed on a pad).
Chairperson Bussing introduced Josh Otten and Josh
Paquette who represent artist Gary Price and gave a
background on him. The proposal was presented by the
representatives.
The proposed sculpture will be a six foot patinaed bronze
and will be placed so that the artists appear as if they are
standing on the grass. Mr. Price considered safety and the
fragile parts of the artwork will be reinforced. Once the
location for the artwork has been chosen, Mr. Price will
photograph the area. The painter in the sculpture will
actually be painting the scenery "he sees" on the bas relief
painting. A bronze plaque with background information of
the plein air artists and possibly a documentary are included
with the proposal.
It was moved by Commissioner Weston and seconded
by Commissioner Snyder to continue the Consideration of
Proposals for the Painter's Path project to the meeting of
January 21, 2009. Motion carried unanimously.
X. PROJECT STATUS REPORTS
A. Palm Desert Community Gallery
Ms. Schwartz reported that the Plein Air show in the gallery
has been well received. There will be a "Paint Out" on
January 10 at the La Quinta Resort.
B. Website
The current website company being used for the public art
site will no longer host it as of January 31, 2009. The public
art site will be split between the City's tourism and e-gov
sites. The public art site can still be accessed by using
palmdesertart.org.
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Mr. Twedt reported that he created a blog and invited the
Commission members to join and add to it. The site address
is palmdesertpublicart.blogspot.com. He included "Marfa" by
Michael Bigger on the blog. He added that "Marfa" was
installed on the east end of El Paseo last week.
C. Docent Program
Ms. Schwartz reported that Eye on the Desert interviewed
her about the docent program.
Ms. Schwartz is in the process of training the new docents.
There were 20 people on the second Saturday tour at the
Civic Center Park.
D. Public Art Film Series
Ms. Schwartz reminded the Commission of the upcoming
film series. "Chihuly in the Light of Jerusalem" will debut
January 21 and "Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision" will follow
on February 18. She has not yet found a third film for the
series. AO films require reservations and will screen in the
auditorium at the UCR Palm Desert Graduate Center at 6
p.m.
XI. REPORTS AND REMARKS
A. STAFF
Mr. Twedt reported that we will be advertising in Art of Living
which is a high end magazine.
Mr. Twedt received a phone call from the art department in
Encinitas and they want to start a program like the El Paseo
Invitational Exhibition.
Mr. Twedt stated he would like to take a field trip to the
Stuart Collection at the University of Southern California San
Diego, possibly in March. Commissioner Hough suggested
visiting Escondido's public art collection also.
B. COMMISSION MEMBERS
Chairperson Bussing noted that she has heard positive
comments on the 2009 City calendar of the public art
collection.
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COMMISSION REPORTS
• LIAISON REPORTS
XI. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Chairperson Bussing adjourned
the meeting at 10:55 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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DEBBIE L. THOMPSON, RECORDING SECRETARY