HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Art In Public Places (AIPP) 02/16/2005CITY OF PALM DESERT
ART IN PUBLIC PLACES COMMISSION
MINUTES
February 16, 2005
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Bussing convened the meeting at 8:32 a.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Present: Absent:
Norma Bussing, Chairman
Joe Dickinson
Suzanne Greenberg
Kevin Grochau, Vice Chairman
Katherine Hough
Barbara Stenning
John Weston
Also Present:
Richard Twedt, Public Arts Manager
Sonia Campbell, Planning Commission
Deborah Schwartz, Public Art Coordinator
Debbie Thompson, Recording Secretary
Frankie Riddle, Senior Management Analyst
Richard Begola, Guest
III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Ms. Klassen introduced and swore in new members Barbara
Stenning and John Weston.
Minutes February 16, 2005
IV. CONSENT CALENDAR
Minutes of the regular meeting held on January 19, 2005.
Upon Motion by Commissioner Grochau and second by
Commissioner Greenberg, the Minutes of January 19, 2005, were
approved unanimously.
V. DISCUSSION ITEMS
A. ORAL REVIEW OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION
Mr. Twedt reported that City Council approved the
acceptance of the donated sculpture by Robert Thornley
from E. H. Heimann, Jr.
Mr. Twedt reported that City Council approved the sculpture
1 Forget by Clark Brooks to be included in the 2005/06 El
Paseo Exhibition.
VI. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER
None
VII. NEW BUSINESS
A. CONSIDERATION OF ARTSITS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE
CITY OF PALM DESERT'S ARTIST SLIDE REGISTRY
Works from the following artists were reviewed to be
considered for the City of Palm Desert's Artist Slide Registry.
Scott Andrew Spencer, Dorothy Frankel, Bruce Johnson,
and Brandon Zebold.
It was moved by Commissioner Grochau and seconded
by Commissioner Hough to include Bruce Johnson and
Brandon Zebold into the Artist Slide Registry. Motion carried
unanimously.
VIII. CONTINUED BUSINESS
NONE
IX. OLD BUSINESS
NONE
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Minutes February 16, 2005
X. PROJECT STATUS REPORTS
1. North Wing Gallery
Ms. Schwartz reported that the opening for "The Art of
Surviving Cancer" went well and estimated that 60 people
were in attendance. "Snapshots" from the Desert Sun took
photos during the opening. There was an article in the Press
Enterprise on Monday of the Exhibition.
Paul Magloff, who is the founder of The Art of Surviving
Cancer group, will guest speak at the Joey English show on
Monday, February 21, to talk about the Exhibition.
Ms. Schwartz reported that a change has been made to the
Gallery line up and will not include the employee exhibition.
Mr. Twedt and Mr. Kohn discussed the employee exhibition
with City Attorney Dave Erwin, who stated it best not to have
the City promoting its employees by showing artwork in the
Gallery. The Dyslexia Foundation had the next highest
rating when the AIPP Commission reviewed the applications
for the a show in the Gallery. Ms. Schwartz has contacted
the Foundation and is working with them to do a show in
July.
The Student Art and Essay Contest will exhibit April 7
through May 26.
2. Website
Ms. Schwartz reported that the 2005/06 El Paseo Exhibition
has been posted on the front page of the website and in the
tour section.
Mr. Twedt reported that the Virtual Gallery has been
launched on the Website at pdvirtualgallery.com. Nine
shows are on display, four of which are Sister Cities artists
from New Zealand and five that have been accepted by the
Commission.
3. Docent Program
Ms. Schwartz reported that a group of 14 people toured the
art at the Library last Saturday.
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Minutes February 16, 2005
A couple of individual group tours have been scheduled.
The new docents will guide one of the new group tours.
The new El Paseo Exhibition has peaked interest in the
docent program.
XI. REPORTS AND REMARKS
A. STAFF
Mr. Twedt reported that David Garcia from "Go West", a half
hour program on Time Warner's Channel 10 has dedicated
an entire program to Palm Desert's Public Art collection. Mr.
Garcia also interviewed Councilmember Kelly, Chairman
Bussing, and Mr. Twedt, Bill Ware, and Russell Jacques.
Mr. Garcia filmed most of the sculptures on El Paseo, the
Water Studio entrance signs, the Baja Palapa, and most of
the artwork at the Library. The program will air Sunday,
February 20, at 6:30 p.m. It will also be available to cable
franchises in Riverside, San Bernardino, and Orange County
and eventually it will be available nationwide.
Mr. Twedt stated that Frankie Riddle, who is the project
manager for the bus shelter program, is working on a new
bus shelter on Highway 111 and San Luis Rey in front of the
Verizon building. Ms. Riddle asked Mr. Twedt if the
Commission would be interested in incorporating art at the
new bus shelter. Currently, five bus shelters are considered
art (Michael Homme, Tim Bartlett, Alien Root, and two of
Frank Urrutia's and the new one). Due to the request of one
of the Councilmembers to purchase a sculpture from the El
Paseo Exhibition, the Commission voted unanimously to
consider purchasing "Fat Happy" or "Cow" from the current
El Paseo Exhibition. It is Mr. Twedt's recommendation that
"Fat Happy" be placed on each side of the bus shelter. An
image of the sculpture would be screened on either side of
the bus shelter. Commissioner Hough asked if the artist had
been notified regarding copyright issues related to having
shadowing the image onto the bus shelter. Mr. Twedt
responded that he had not yet contacted the artist, but would
do so. Commissioner Hough noted that she likes the
interaction of the two figures together on one side of the bus
shelter as opposed to separating the two pieces and having
them placed on either side. It was the consensus of the
Commission to place "Fat Happy" together as one unit on
one side of the bus shelter.
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Minutes February 16, 2005
Mr. Twedt reported that he had been included to participate
on a committee to help develop a Veterans Memorial at
Freedom Park. Mr. Twedt had been asked at one of the
meetings if the AIPP Commission would be interested in
using the funds of approximately $80,000.00 generated from
the park (with an additional $40,000.00) to be used for an
artwork based on a military theme to be placed at the
entrance of the park. It was the suggestion of one of the
Councilmembers to have all Armed Forces be represented in
the circular area (at the entrance of the park) with a piece of
art placed in the center. Mr. Twedt reminded the
Commissioners that the AIPP Commission had previously
discussed an artist who might be interested in creating an art
piece at the entrance to coincide with the freedom theme. It
was the consensus of the Commission members to remain
with the freedom theme using artist Tom Otterness to create
something playful for the entrance area of the park, not go
with veteran memorial theme, keep with the established
direction using the funds as planned, and not use the funds
toward a veteran memorial. Mr. Twedt stated that Council
plans to go forward with the project regardless of the Art
Commission's participation. Mr. Twedt mentioned that the
children's play area could be another location for Tom
Otterness's artwork. Mr. Twedt stated that he would conduct
the competition for commissioning an artist for the military
theme if necessary.
Mr. Twedt reported that "Lily Pad" by Michael Todd was
installed in front of El Paseo Square as part of the El Paseo
Artistic Bench project.
Mr. Twedt stated he would like to create a tour of all of the
City's art benches on the website to continue the idea of
Palm Desert's art bench program.
The Marketing Department purchased a full page ad in Palm
Springs Life as a "Thank You" to the Marriott Desert Springs
for creating the sculpture walk of approximately 12 pieces,
some of which were in the 2003/04 El Paseo Exhibition. The
sculptures have been placed around the Resort as well as
inside the Marriott.
Mr. Twedt reported that Palm Desert's art collection would
be advertised in 92260 magazine (a Desert Sun publication),
which is strictly based on Palm Desert.
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Minutes February 16, 2005
Ms. Schwartz announced that the El Paseo Art and Wine
Tour sponsored by Soroptimist will be held Friday, February
25. She has tickets available for purchase.
B. COMMISSION MEMBERS
• COMMISSION REPORTS
Commissioner Hough reported that during Michael Todd's
visit to install the "Lily Pad" bench, he removed his artwork
that was near Saks Fifth Avenue that had been vandalized.
He will repair and return the piece.
• LIAISON REPORTS
1. PLANNING COMMISSION — Sonia Campbell
Ms. Campbell reported that the Planning Commission
approved an extension to the Sacred Heart School building
for classrooms to occupy approximately 90 more students.
There will also be a Perish Hall, gymnasium, and ball field.
XII. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Chairman Bussing adjourned the
meeting at 9:40 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
D CIE L. THOMPSON
RECORDING SECRETARY
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