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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-12-11 AIPP Regular Meeting Minutes CITY OF PALM DESERT ART IN PUBLIC PLACES COMMISSION MINUTES Wednesday, December 11, 2019 I. CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Darby convened the meeting at 9:00 a.m. II. ROLL CALL Present Absent Carol Adney Maureen Boren Sonia Campbell Donna Jean Darby Liz Hauer Lesley Miller Susan Myrland Also Present Amy Lawrence, Management Analyst Debbie Thompson, Recording Secretary Ryan Stendell, Director of Communi ty Development Susan Marie Weber, Mayor John Vuksic, Architectural Review Commission Liaison Lindsay Holt, Planning Commission Liaison Louis Grachos, Palm Springs Art Museum Rochelle Steiner, Palm Springs Art Museum Franchesca Forrer, Westfield Mall Jennifer Gordon, Westfield Mall III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None IV. CONSENT CALENDAR Approve the Minutes of the regular meeting held on October 9, 2019. Art in Public Places Minutes December 11, 2019 2 Commissioner Boren moved to approve the Minutes of October 9, 2019. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Campbell and carried 7-0-0 with Adney, Boren, Campbell, Darby, Hauer, Miller, and Myrland voting AYE. V. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. ORAL REVIEW OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION – Mayor Susan Marie Weber Mayor Susan Marie Weber distributed holiday gift cards t o each Commission member. Mayor Weber stated that it was her honor and pleasure on behalf of the City Council to thank the Commission members for the service they provide to the City and community. Mayor Weber reported that the City Council approved staff to seek proposals for the 2021/2022 El Paseo Sculpture Exhibition. B. PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT – Lindsay Holt Mr. Stendell reported that the final phase of Villa Portofino was approved. C. ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION (ARC) REPORT – John Vuksic Mr. Vuksic reported the following actions from the ARC meetings. Final construction documents for Denny’s Restaurant (Washington Street and Avenue of the States) were approved; Raymond James will be moving into the rear section of El Paseo Fashion Plaza; monument signage for the Jensen’s center (Highway 111 and Larkspur Lane) was continued; neon-building trim for BaBaLoo Lounge that will occupy the old Elephant Bar was approved. D. PRESENTATION ON THE PALM SPRINGS ART MUSEUM IN PALM DESERT – Louis Grachos and Rochelle Steiner Mr. Grachos, Chief Executive Officer of the Palm Springs Art Museum, introduced himself and Rochelle Steiner, Chief Curator. He announced that Imaging Change will open on Art in Public Places Minutes December 11, 2019 3 December 14 at the Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert. Imaging Change includes 26 artists with 62 works of art. The Museum’s team of docents are well versed on all of the exhibitions at the Museum. Ms. Steiner circulated a flyer to the Commission members that included information on the upcoming exhibition. E. PRESENTATION ON WESTFIELD PALM DESERT’S STREET EVENT – Franchesca Forrer and Jennifer Gordon Ms. Forrer of Westfield mall talked about the STREET event that has taken place on the first Friday of November for the past several years. The event is located on the third level of the parking structure at the Westfield mall. Included as part of the event were artists who created murals on the walls of the parking structure as well as the inside and outside of the mall. The murals are now part of the public art collection throughout the mall. Ms. Forrer presented some of the murals that are on display at the mall. VI. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER NONE VII. NEW BUSINESS NONE VIII. CONTINUED BUSINESS NONE IX. OLD BUSINESS NONE X. PROJECT STATUS REPORTS A. Palm Desert Community Gallery Ms. Lawrence reported that Darleen Wilkerson’s batik artwork is on display in the Palm Desert Community Gallery. Her opening reception was held on December 2 and was well attended. Ms. Wilkerson gave demonstrations on her batik process during the reception. Art in Public Places Minutes December 11, 2019 4 The Student Art and Essay Contest will follow Ms. Wilkerson’s exhibition. Ms. Lawrence reported that she posted the RFP Call for Artists for the 2020/2021 Palm Desert Community Gallery season. Proposals are due on February 3 and the Commission will review the submissions at its February 12 meeting. B. Docent Tours Ms. Lawrence reported that the three new docents are still in training for the docent program. Two of the five docents had to drop out of the program. Once the docents are completely trained staff will begin promoting the private tours. Five people were in attendance at the docent tour of the El Paseo Sculpture Exhibition (northwest corner of El Paseo and Portola) on Saturday, December 7. The First W eekend January 4 tour will be of the El Paseo Sculpture Exhibition and will start on the northeast corner of El Paseo and Highway 74. C. First Weekend The Holiday Event at the Gardens on El Paseo was well attended. The LiveWell Festival will be held on Saturday, January 4 at the Civic Center Park. The El Paseo Art Walk will begin on the First Friday of the month from 4 – 7 p.m. D. Documentary Film Series Ms. Lawrence reported that she has finalized all four films for the season. Staff is working with UCR to create a postcard that includes information regarding the films. All films will screen at UCR on the third Thursday of the month January through April. The schedule of the films is as follows. January 16 – Kusama Infinity; February 20 - Obey Art in Public Places Minutes December 11, 2019 5 Giant: The Art and Dissent of Shepard Fairey; March 19 - Yarn; and April 16 – Jean-Michel Basquiat – The Radiant Child. There will be an article in the BrightSide announcing the films. E. El Paseo Sculpture Exhibition Ms. Lawrence reported that the Call for Artists for the 2021/2022 El Paseo Sculpture Exhibition has been posted on the City’s website. She will send the Call for Artists to the artists from past El Paseo Exhibitions, the Artist Registry, and art galleries in the Valley. She will post the Call for Artists on CAFÉ’s website next week. Entry deadline for submissions is February 21 and will be reviewed by the Commission at its March 11 meeting. Once staff receives all of the proposals it will be determined if a second meeting will be necessary to complete the voting process. XI. REPORTS AND REMARKS A. STAFF Ms. Lawrence announced that the Barone’s Desert©Warren 2 has been installed on the northwest corner of Highway 111 and Town Center Way. She presented images of the installed rabbits and signage. There will be a public dedication on Wednesday, January 8, at 2:00 p.m. and the Commission members will receive an invitation to the dedication. Karen and Tony Barone did a radio interview with Jim and Wendy Fitzgerald regarding the sculptures and they praised the City of Palm Desert for its dedication to the arts. The City has received positive feedback from the public on the exhibition. Commissioners Myrland and Boren stated that they liked the display of rabbits. Upon question by Commissioner Boren, Ms. Lawrence responded that she will work with the property owner to see if the pads will be available for placement of sculptures in the future. Ms. Thompson noted that an article regarding the sculptures will be in the January/February BrightSide. Ms. Lawrence reported that she has a meeting with David and Carol Hatcher from the Artist Council regarding Palm Desert’s public art program. Ms. Lawrence showed the Commissioners one of the catalogs that is published by Palm Springs Life. One of the Art in Public Places Minutes December 11, 2019 6 sculptures from the 2019/2020 El Paseo Sculpture Exhibition is on the cover of the current issue. The magazines are placed in hotels, along El Paseo, etc. B. COMMISSION REPORTS There was much discussion and concern regarding the painted crosswalks on El Paseo from the Commission as to why they were not involved in the process of choosing the colors and designs of the crosswalks. Ms. Lawrence explained that the Public Works Department has been working on a temporary demonstration project on El Paseo to help slow traffic, making it pedestrian friendly, etc. Included in that project were the painted crosswalks, raised midblock crossings (speedbumps), and bulb outs. The City Council approved the designs that were proposed by the Public Works Department but once the designs were in place the City Council was not in favor of them. Ms. Lawrence added that there is a possibility that if the project of painted designs on the crosswalks continues it could become a public art project. Ms. Lawrence added that some of the crosswalks on San Pablo will include painted crosswalks but those designs have already been approved. There was much discussion regarding the San Pablo Project. Due to several concerns from the Commission members regarding timing and handling of the project , Ms. Lawrence stated that she would talk to Mr. Stendell. It was suggested that the Commission take a field trip to San Pablo, walk the site, and look at potential locations for public art. Commissioner Boren suggested that the Commission members do some research on street art. XII. ADJOURNMENT Chairperson Darby adjourned the meeting at 11:09 a.m. Respectfully submitted, _______________________________________________ DEBBIE L. THOMPSON, RECORDING SECRETARY