HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Art In Public Places (AIPP) Commission 12/21/2011CITY OF PALM DESERT
ART IN PUBLIC PLACES COMMISSION
MINUTES
December 21, 2011
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Thompson convened the meeting at 9:00 a.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Present Absent
Norma Bussing Maureen Boren
Donna Jean Darby
Katherine Hough
Lesley Miller
Kim Snyder
Maureen Thompson (Chairperson)
Also Present
Deborah Schwartz, Public Art Coordinator
Debbie Thompson, Recording Secretary
Mayor Pro Tern Bill Kroonen
Sherry Barkas, reporter, The Desert Sun
Sonia Campbell, Planning Commission
John Vuksic, Architectural Review Commission
Lisa Vossler Smith, Danielle Cornell, and Tom Johnson, Palm
Springs Art Museum
Eileen Dryden, Barbara Miller, Oracle Plaza
Alexander Bashta, artist for Oracle Plaza
Steve Ayran, Staff
Diane Hollinger, Staff
Spencer Knight, Staff CITY COUNCILACTION
APPROVED DENIED
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Original on File with City Clerk's Office
Art in Public Places Minutes December 21 2011
III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Commissioner Snyder complimented staff on the wonderful job with
the opening reception in the Palm Desert Community Gallery for
the Shape —Line —Color exhibit.
IV. CONSENT CALENDAR
Minutes of the regular meeting held on November 16, 2011.
Upon Motion by Commissioner Hough and second by
Commissioner Bussing, the Minutes of November 16, 2011 were
approved unanimously with Commissioner Boren absent.
V. DISCUSSION ITEMS
A. ORAL REVIEW OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION — Mayor Pro
Tern Bill Kroonen
Councilmember Kroonen reported that City Council accepted
the donation of "R. Hero" by Tony and Karen Barone to be
placed on the El Paseo median in front of the Historical
Society of Palm Desert. Once the artists receive funds that
will be provided by donors, the artwork will be donated to the
City and installed.
Councilmember Kroonen distributed girt cards to the
Commissioners thanking them for their contribution to the
City throughout the year. The gift cards can be used at The
Gardens on El Paseo or El Paseo Village.
B. PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT — Sonia Campbell
Ms. Campbell reported that the Planning Commission
approved the Carlos Ortega Villas which includes a 73 unit
senior living and affordable housing complex. The Villas will
be located at Washington Street and Avenue of the States.
The Planning Commission granted a Conditional Use Permit
for an athletic gym on Shirley Avenue.
The Commission also granted a Conditional Use Permit for
The Yoga Center on Highway 111 near Elephant Bar.
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Art in Public Places Minutes December 21, 2011
The Planning Commission continued the Chase Bank ATM
drive-thru at Desert Springs Shopping Center.
C. ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION REPORT —
John Vuksic
Mr. Vuksic reported that the Architectural Review
Commission reviewed fagade enhancements to a building on
Highway 111 near Deep Canyon and a building on El Paseo.
The monument sign for Ritchie's Diner, located on Highway
111, was approved. The signage package for the Palm
Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert that will be located in
the old Visitor Center was approved.
VI. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER
None
VI1. NEW BUSINESS
A. PRESENTATION BY THE PALM SPRINGS ART MUSEUM
RELATIVE TO ITS PALM DESERT FACILITY —
PRESENTATION BY DANIELLE CORNELL
Ms. Schwartz stated that the Palm Springs Art Museum is
leasing the old Visitor Center that will include an outdoor
sculpture garden in the Eric Johnson Memorial Gardens.
Part of the lease agreement between the City and the
Museum is that the Museum will give a presentation of the
sculptures that will be placed in the Eric Johnson Memorial
Gardens to the Commission and City Council. The
Commission will review the sculptures but will not vote on
the artwork. Lisa Vossler Smith, Director of Administration
and Operations at the Palm Springs Art Museum reported
that they are hoping to have the renovations at the new
facility completed by February 1, 2012. The Museum is
planning a few soft opening events for its members and
donors and plans to open the Palm Desert facility to the
public mid March. Ms. Smith introduced Danielle Cornell
who gave a presentation of the sculptures that will be placed
in the Memorial Gardens. Mr. Cornell stated that the idea of
the sculpture garden is to create artwork that is a survey of
Post -War sculpture that includes figurative to abstract
artwork that relates to the Coachella Valley. The following
artists/artwork will be placed in the Eric Johnson Memorial
Gardens. Donald Judd, Untitled; Yehiel Shemi, Morning;
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Art in Public Places Minutes December 21, 2011
Felipe Castaneda, Seated Thinking Woman; Jesus Bautista
Moroles, Lapstrake; Peter Reginato, Midnight and Morning
Rain; Dave McGary, Walks Among the Stars; Dan
Namingha, Vertical Passage; Betty Gold, MA IV, Fletcher
Benton, Steel Watercolor with Balls; and Mark Di Suvero, OF
One Tooth.
B. CONSIDERATION OF ARTISTS TO BE INCLUDED IN
CITY OF PALM DESERT'S ARTIST REGISTRY
The following artists applied to be included in the City of
Palm Desert's Artist Registry. Barbara Liotta, David
Gerstein, Joy Wulke, Patti Firestone, and Stamatis Burpulis.
It was moved by Commissioner Hough and seconded by
Commissioner Snyder to include artists Barbara Liotta, David
Gerstein, Joy Wulke, and Patti Firestone into the City of Palm
Desert's Artist Registry. Motion carried unanimously with
Commissioner Boren absent.
VIII. CONTINUED BUSINESS
A. CONSIDERATION OF ARTWORK PROPOSAL "WISDOM
GIVEN" BY ALEXANDER BASHTA III AS THE PUBLIC ART
COMPONENT FOR ORACLE PLAZA
Ms. Schwartz introduced Eileen Dryden from Shah
Management for the Oracle Plaza building who introduced
artist Alexander Bashta III. Mr. Bashta stated that Dr. Shah
asked him to design something to emphasize the
architecture and name of Oracle Plaza. After researching
the word oracle, which means sharing wisdom, knowledge,
and growth, Mr. Bashta created an abstract art to represent
nature, man's construction, and the oracle. The colors he is
proposing for the artwork match the landscape in front of the
building and was suggested by the building's architect
Narendra Patel. The artwork will be mounted approximately
two inches off of a concrete pad and will be supported by a
heavy plate underneath the sculpture. It will stand twelve
feet tall, nine feet wide, and six feet deep. The materials are
fourteen gauge sheet metal and Mr. Bashta does his own
fabrication. The current lighting will be adjusted so that it is
directed at the artwork. Ms. Schwartz informed Mr. Bashta
that he will need to contact the public works and landscaping
departments to verify that the placement of the artwork in the
landscaped area in front of the building is not in the right of
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way and is acceptable to the Landscape Department. Ms.
Schwartz noted to Mr. Bashta that the color yellow tends to
fade easily in the desert and may need to be maintained
more frequently.
It was moved by Commissioner Darby and seconded by
Commissioner Snyder to accept the artwork proposal
"Wisdom Given" by Alexander Bashta III as the public art
component for Oracle Plaza. Motion carried unanimously with
Commissioner Boren absent.
IX. OLD BUSINESS
NONE
X. PROJECT STATUS REPORTS
A. Palm Desert Community Gallery
Ms. Schwartz announced that she will send out the Call for
Artists in January to solicit artists for the Palm Desert
Community Gallery. The Commission will review the
applications at its March 21, 2012 meeting.
The exhibition, Shape — Line — Color, opened on Monday,
December 19, 2011 and was well attended.
B. Docent Program
Ms. Schwartz is still training four new docents for the docent
program. Private tours are being scheduled into April.
C. Public Art Film Series
Ms. Schwartz stated that the films for the Public Art Film
Series have been confirmed. Her contact with UCR Palm
Desert Campus is leaving and she will be working with a
new staff member to get the Series up and running.
D. "Desert Roads" Fence (Washington Charter School)
Ms. Schwartz reported that the "Desert Roads" fence will be
relocated to the Palm Desert Soccer Park near Hovley Lane.
The artist has been notified of the replacement of the fence
and is happy. She is unsure when the fence will be placed
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at the Soccer Park as Public Works is handling the
installation.
XI. REPORTS AND REMARKS
A. STAFF
Ms. Schwartz reported that "Desertscapes" will take place
again this year. Many events are being planned and will be
put on the calendar. Commissioner Darby announced that
there will be an event at the McCallum Theatre on April 4
with the theme Celebrating the Bounty of the Valley. Maria
Hunt who is participating in the "Desertscapes" events
created the backing for the screening on the stage. Ms.
Hunt will create a plein air painting in the lobby as the guests
arrive for the event.
B. COMMISSION MEMBERS
Commissioner Darby mentioned that when she was in
Melbourne Australia she picked up a brochure of the art
program that is comparable to Palm Desert's program.
XI. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Chairperson Thompson adjourned
the meeting at 10:03 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
'DEBBIE L. TH MPSON, ECORDING SECRETARY
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