City of Lawrence
Lawrence Arts Commission
January 12, 2005
MEMBERS PRESENT: DiAnne Damro, Marlene Merrill, Margaret Morris, Janet Satz,
Sureva Towler, Lew Tilford, Sandra Wiechert
MEMBERS ABSENT: Kay Henry, Paul Hotvedt, Jeff Ridgway
STAFF PRESENT: Michael Tubbs
PUBLIC PRESENT: none
A. Recognition, Proclamation, Presentation
The Sign Permit Application from the Unity Church of Lawrence was deferred until later.
B. Regular Agenda Items
The Nov. 10 Minutes should read that Commissioner Tilford is resigning due to family needs at the end of January, not in November. It was requested to include a list of all members serving on the Percent for Art selection committee for the Sesquicentennial Sculpture with these Minutes.
Commissioner Merrill moved, Commissioner Morris seconded, that the Minutes be approved as corrected and amended. The motion passed.
C. Thank you and appreciations
Commission chair Damro gave certificates of appreciation to outgoing Arts Commission members Janet Satz and Lew Tilford and thanked them both. She presented a certificate for outstanding assistance to staff liaison Michael Tubbs, giving him additional thanks. All commissioners are especially appreciative of the notebooks he had created for each of us.
D. Program Review
1. Commission chair Damro was pleased the commission developed and used the Conflict of Interest statement for both the Grants and Phoenix Award projects, and hopes its use will continue.
This was the first year grant award winners had been invited to receive their grants at a regular City Commission meeting, a practice the Commission hopes will continue. Grant applications may now be picked up at City Hall and the library. Commissioners Merrill and Morris will look for other places where they may be picked up.
2. Janet Satz was thanked again for her work chairing the Percent for Arts committee and for being the liaison on the Sesquicentennial Sculpture committee. Commissioners Damro and Ridgway had sat in on that committee as well. Forty-eight applications had been submitted for the project. Commissioner Satz was pleased the committee had worked together so well. She will soon host a reception to honor the committee to which arts commissioners will be invited. All are anxious to see Stephen Johnson’s Free sculpture installed on the grassy verge across from City Hall.
3. The Arts and Culture Roundtable meeting scheduled for today had been cancelled. Commission chair Damro hopes the new president will appoint someone to attend these meetings. It gives the Lawrence Arts Commission good visibility and helps increase community arts cooperation.
4. The Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit’s opening tour and reception had the largest attendance ever. It was estimated 130 attended, up from an average of 60-80.
5. The Phoenix Awards ceremony was again praised. One thing well liked was that the winners were allowed to speak briefly on their art. Many hope this will continue at future ceremonies.
6. The Family Arts Festival held in the Lied Center Courtyard near the end of August was praised as being an effective kick-off to the fall and winter arts programs. Future participation was encouraged.
7. The proposed developmental writers’ workshops could not be held this year. There is still money for them, and hopefully one or more can be scheduled next year.
Commission chair Damro reported a budget increase of $1200 has been allotted for next year.
E. Election of Officers
Commission chair Damro reported she had received voting proxies from commissioners
Henry and Hotvedt.
Commissioner Tilford nominated Kay Henry to be Lawrence Arts Commission Chair.
Commissioner Wiechert nominated Marlene Merrill for Chair. Commissioner Towler moved, Commissioner Tilford seconded that the nominations cease. Motion passed. Michael Tubbs
counted the ballots. Commissioner Merrill will be the new LAC Chair.
Commissioner Towler nominated Kay Henry for Vice Chair. Commissioner Satz nominated Sandra Wiechert for Vice Chair. Commissioner Towler moved, Commissioner Morris seconded that the nominations cease. Michael Tubbs counted the ballots; Commissioner Wiechert will be the new LAC Vice Chair.
At the next LAC meeting, Feb. 9, the new chair will appoint a secretary. She will either appoint or encourage sign-ups for the various committees.
The Mayor will ultimately appoint three new Arts Commission members to fill the vacancies due to commissioners Damro’s and Satz’s terms being up, and due to Commissioner Tilford’s resignation.
Commissioner Towler suggested a public relations person be designated. Michael Tubbs stated he currently does most of this work as the staff liaison. Commissioner Tilford commented that all Arts Commission needs and news should go through the LAC chair, and that this needs to be clarified with the new commissioners upon appointment.
A. The Sign Permit Application from Unity Church of Lawrence was distributed and studied with favorable comments. The signage will be lettering on a brick tower by the church at 900 Madeline.
Commissioner Tilford moved that the LAC send our approval of this application to the City Commission; Commissioner Satz seconded. The motion passed.
F. The next Lawrence Arts Commission meeting will be February 9, 6:30 pm.
Commissioner Tilford thanked the chair, DiAnne Damro, for her fine work. He also thanked all the commissioners for their work with him over several years. He offered high accolades to Michael Tubbs. Commissioner Satz stated she will miss us and our work, and will continue to help if asked.
Michael Tubbs announced grants applications are available on the web, plus City Hall, the library, and the Lawrence Arts Center. He reminded commissioners about the Reception being given for all advisory board members by the cities of Lawrence, Eudora, and Lecompton, and Douglas County.
He encouraged all to wear their nametags to this reception, Jan. 27 at the Lawrence Arts Center.
Chair-elect Merrill moved, Commissioner Tilford seconded, that the meeting be adjourned. The motion passed and the meeting was adjourned at 7:25 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Sandra Wiechert, Secretary
Amendment
Selection Committee for the Lawrence Arts Commission Sesquicentennial
Sculpture Project
Janet Satz
Liaison: Lawrence Arts Commission
Mark Hecker
Superintendent of Parks and Maintenance
Crystal Miles, Landscape Supervisor
Lawrence Parks and Recreation
Sharon Spratt
Cottonwood Inc.
Dick Holzmeister, Chairman
William Carswelll
David Cateforis
Marilyn Dobski
Maria Martin
Southwest & More
Bobbi Rahder
Diane Simpson
Judge Deanell Tacha
Jeff Ridgway
Kay Henry
DiAnne Damro