Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-06-160 0 0 CITY OF PALM DESERT ART IN PUBLIC PLACES COMMISSION MINUTES June 16, 2004 I. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Dickinson convened the meeting at 8:32 a.m. II. ROLL CALL Present: Absent: Norma Bussing Joe Dickinson, Chair Suzanne Greenberg Kevin Grochau Katherine Hough Also Present: Councilmember Jean Benson Bob Kohn, Director of Special Programs Richard Twedt, Public Arts Manager Deborah Schwartz, Public Art Coordinator Debbie Thompson, Recording Secretary Sonia Campbell, Planning Commission Liaison Robert Menifee, El Paseo Exhibition Curator Michael Watling, Artist Nazar Farhat, Project Engineer for Stone Eagle III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None IV. CONSENT CALENDAR Minutes of the regular meeting held on May 19, 2004. Minutes 0 C June 16, 2004 0 0 o Upon Motion by Commissioner Greenberg and second by Commissioner Bussing, the Minutes of May 19, 2004, were approved by unanimous vote. V. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. ORAL REVIEW OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION Mr. Twedt reported that City Council approved both the Commission's first and second choice artists for the El Paseo monument signs with the provision that Esther Wertheimer's piece be placed on the west end (closest to Cuistot) and Howard Kalish's piece be placed on the east end of El Paseo. Mr. Twedt reported that Council approved the Commission's choice of Michael Todd's bench "Lily Pad" for the El Paseo artistic bench project. VI. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER None VII. NEW BUSINESS A. CONSIDERATION TO APPROVE ARTWORK FOR THE 2005/06 EL PASEO EXHIBITION Mr. Menifee presented his proposal for the 2005/06 El Paseo Exhibition. Mr. Twedt stated that he is planning to schedule the installation of the new Exhibition during the first two weeks in December. The El Paseo Gallery Association requested that the opening reception for the exhibition be scheduled on Thursday, January 6, 2005 so it will coincide with the "First Thursday" art walk. The reception will be held at the Gardens. The El Paseo courtesy carts will be available to give people driving tours of the exhibition. It was moved by Commissioner Hough and seconded by Commissioner Bussing to approve the proposal for the 2005/2006 El Paseo Exhibition as presented by Curator Robert Menifee. Motion carried unanimously. Minutes 0 June 16, 2004 0 B. CONSIDERATION OF ARTWORK FOR STONE EAGLE DEVELOPMENT Mr. Watling presented a design for the Stone Eagle project located on Highway 74 south of St. Margaret's Church. He stated that he would use native stone from the project site to translate the project logo, which is a representation of a head and shoulders of an eagle into an artwork. The artwork will be ten feet high by thirty feet long. At this time the exact location for the eagle has not yet been determined. Commissioner Hough noted that Mr. Watling will not pay for the lighting but asked about future lighting of the site. He is not sure about the lighting yet. He prefers to delay the installation of the lighting until after the piece is installed so he can adjust the lighting accordingly. Commissioner Grochau asked if the carving of the eagle's beak would it be chiseled smooth or rough. Mr. Watling responded that he plans to make it near as abstract as the rest of the piece. He does not want it to be too slick. It was moved by Commissioner Grochau and seconded by Commissioner Bussing to approve the proposed concept by Michael Watling for the Stone Eagle project and request a site plan that indicates the location including an elevation and lighting as a contingency for final approval. Motion carried unanimously. C. CONSIDERATION OF THE RELOCATION OF THE DESERT ROAD FENCE Mr. Twedt reported that Washington Charter School will start constructed this summer and that the "Desert Road" fence will have to be removed. Mr. Twedt reviewed with the Commission the fact that the artist must be consulted in the removal/relocation process because of the Visual Artists Rights Act of 1991 (VARA). Not consulting with the artist could result in legal issues. Mr. Twedt has spoken to Mr. Raymond Hunter (artist) who said that he would have hoped the new school would have been built to include the fence. Mr. Twedt suggested the following options. The fence could be deaccessioned and returned to Mr. Hunter, it could be stored until an appropriate City site becomes available. There is a second phase of Freedom Park that will include a child daycare center that may be able to accommodate the Minutes June 16, 2004 0 0 0 fence. Mr. Twedt stated that it could be broken in a snake pattern and installed in the Civic Center Park. Councilmember Benson suggested placing it at the Valley wide animal shelter that is being built. Commissioner Hough commented that the fence has already been altered from the artist's original conception, to which Mr. Hunter agreed. She recommends not reconfiguring it into another sculpture or putting any more effort or money into it. She added that Mr. Twedt would not have to get approval from the artist to deaccession the fence but just inform Mr. Hunter of the plans. Mr. Twedt was informed that the City Manager does not want it stored at the Corporation Yard; he may have to rent a storage facility to store it. D. CONSIDERATION TO PAY AN HONORARIUM TO THE THREE PRIORITIZED ARTISTS FOR FINAL DESIGN RENDERING OF ITS PUBLIC LIBRARY MURAL PROPOSAL Mr. Twedt stated that some of the Councilmembers liked the Commission's first and second choices and a couple of the Councilmembers liked the third choice of the Library Mural Project (#1 - Susan Evans, #2 - Wei Luan, and #3 - Jeff Whipple). Mr. Twedt made a presentation to the Library Committee of all three proposals. Several suggestions were made by the Committee members regarding design changes (things they did and did not want to see in the mural itself). Mr. Twedt suggested giving the top three finalists a $1,000.00 honorarium to prepare a final rendering in color that integrates the Library Committee's suggestions. The following suggestions were made by the Library Committee members. 1. More children presented, a. listening to storytellers; 2. Music represented; a. Many concerts in the room ranging from pianists, bluegrass, harp, and violin; 3. Don't need image of Girl Scouts as they do not meet in the room; 4. Natural science presentations given weekly in the room, a. maybe a ranger or representative of the Living Desert, b. local flora and fauna; 5. Harry Potter figure could be replaced with other storybook characters; 6. Don't need recognizable individuals, i.e. COD Board or Beth Zeigler; 7. Possibly use imagery of what was there prior to the Library, "The Date Ranch"; 8. Maybe depict a progression of ages Minutes June 16, 2004 0 0 0 from children to seniors as the mural unfolds from beginning to end. It was moved by Commissioner Greenberg and seconded by Commissioner Grochau to pay an honorarium to the three prioritized artists for final design rendering in accordance with the guidelines that were given by the Library Committee. Motion carried unanimously. E. CONSIDERATION OF ARTISTS TO BE INCLUDED IN CITY OF PALM DESERT'S ARTIST SLIDE REGISTRY The following artists were reviewed to be considered in the City of Palm Desert's Artist Slide Registry. David Frederick and Mac Adams. It was moved by Commissioner Bussing and seconded by Commissioner Grochau to include Mac Adams into the Artist Slide Registry. Motion carried unanimously. VIII. CONTINUED BUSINESS None IX. OLD BUSINESS None X. PROJECT STATUS REPORTS 1. North Wing Gallery Ms. Schwartz reported that the reception for the Coachella Valley Watercolor Society went well. Gary Rosenblum's artwork will follow the watercolor show with an August 5 opening. 2. Website No report. XI. REPORTS AND REMARKS A. STAFF June i 004 0 Mr. Twedt reported that he received the blueprints where the entrance signs by Orr Studio will be placed. He is getting estimates for the installation of the pads. He plans to have them installed early August. The entrance sign for the corner of Washington and Fred Waring is complete. Mr. Twedt is waiting for engineering drawings as well as light specifications from Mr. Root before installation of the piece. Mr. Twedt reported that Howard Kalish (artist for the El Paseo monument sign) has asked for a year to fabricate his sculpture. Esther Wertheimer will have her sculpture installed within six months. Mr. Twedt reported that he has ordered a solar light and will test it on the "Agave" piece. If it works well he will use the solar lights on the two El Paseo monument signs and sculptures at the end of El Paseo. Mr. Kohn announced that he recommended both Richard Twedt and Deborah Schwartz for Employee Recognition Award for their work in the art program, which has improved in the last few years. B. COMMISSION MEMBERS Chairman Dickinson asked about the El Paseo Bench Program and how will it proceed from here. Mr. Twedt stated that RuthAnn Moore discussed the program at the El Paseo Business Association mixer. Mr. Twedt has received several calls about the benches, but it seems that the prices of the benches are too high so there has not been a good deal of interest in sponsorship. He is planning to have a dedication ceremony for the installation of Michael Todd's bench to help bring attention to the project. Creative Eye wants to use the bench project as its PR focus next year, which would help generate more interest. Councilmember Benson thought it might be better to have more than just one bench installed to start the program. Mr. Twedt stated the Commission could sponsor more than one bench or it could also possibly become a City project. Commissioner Bussing stated that this project should reflect real quality. She does not think the project should be rushed. Commissioner Greenberg stated that once one bench is placed other sponsors might come forward. It might become Minutes June 16.2004 0 0 o contagious and once people start seeing the benches they may want to participate. Commissioner Bussing stated that if the Commission does sponsor more than one bench it should not do so based on price. Mr. Twedt stated that any of the 20 designs that were selected by the Commission should be equal and price should not be a concern. This project has just been launched and we should continue to build the momentum, encourage, invite, and see where it goes. Because the summer season is upon us the project should be hyped up again in the fall. Mr. Twedt would like to see the response once Russell Jacques' and Michael Todd's pieces are installed. • COMMISSION REPORTS • LIAISON REPORTS 1. PLANNING COMMISSION — Sonia Campbell Ms. Campbell reported that the Planning Commission approved an administrative building at the Living Desert. XII. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Chairman Dickinson adjourned the meeting at 9:40 a.m. Respectfully submitted, DEBBIE L. THO RECORDING SECRETARY Ji7?(A)