City of Lawrence
Lawrence Arts Commission
Meeting Minutes for April 13, 2005
|
Members Present: |
Judy Greer Kellas, Elizabeth Hatchett, Kay Henry, Mary Kennedy McCabe, Liz Kowlachuk, Marlene Merrill, Margaret Morris, Evie Rapport, Jeff Ridgway, James Schaefer, Sandra Wiechert, Brenna Daldorph (student) |
|
|
|
|
Members Absent: |
None |
|
|
|
|
Staff Present: |
Michael Tubbs |
Meeting was called to order at 6:30pm
1. Minutes from March 2005 meeting: motion to approve minutes was made by Commissioner Henry, seconded by Margaret Morris. Consent passed.
1. Update by the Chair: Commission Chair Merrill has submitted both the budget for the next FY and the report for FY 2004. The report for FY 2005 will be completed soon. Commission Chair Merrill informed the Commission that some corrections to the budget may be needed as there was an additional $500 included in the budget for this next FY. Commission Chair Merrill suggested that we hold the budget to the same amount as this year, as we had asked for an increase last year in order to facilitate Developmental Workshops, which we have not yet completed. Commissioner Henry brought it to attention that that a new category in the Pheonix Awards has been created for New/ Emerging Media, for which the $500 increase will be needed. Therefore the budget for FY 2006 will remain as it was submitted, with a $500 increase for the new Pheonix Award category.
2. Update on Grassy Verge % for art project – Sesquicentennial project: Update on the Percent for Art project for the Grassy Verge Sculpture by Stephen Johnson. Mr. Johnson has installed maquette of the sculpture. It gives an excellent idea fo what the permanent sculpture will look like. Commission Chair Merrill recommended everyone make the time to view it, as it is well worth a visit.
3. Subcommittee updates : Commission Chair Merrill sent the subcommittee assignment sheet around to the Commissioners to sign-up for their committee responsibilities for the year. Committee assignments will be finalized in the May 11 meeting. Further discussion & updates on the subcommittees will be postponed until then.
a. Outdoor Sculpture: Commissioner Ridgeway reported that the original judge Stacey Switzer of Grand Arts, resigned for personal reasons. David Cateforis, Professor of Sculpture at KU, agreed to be the replacement juror. He has made his selections. The selections have been reviewed by the Lawrence Parks & Recreation for safety and placement in the exhibit. Commissioner Ridgeway gave a slide presentation of this years selections: Synthetic Haven #1, by David Hilton; Cryptogrph by Steve Elliot; Big Foot, by “Smiling Dave”; Tower Arch by Karl Billingsly; Prairie Focus by Jan Gaumnitz; Sunscope by Donald Denison; Catepillar by Brian Anglaise; All things Equal by Leslie Brunning. Commissioner Hatchett expressed her concern over the All things Equal sculpture’s placement in front of the courthouse. Her concern was over the possible message conveyed by cross-shaped sculpture being placed near a court / government building. Commissioner Ridgeway responded that the placement was not intentional as such. All Things Equal is “top-heavy”, which could be of concern if it was in a high-traffic area. The courthouse site was chosen for All Things Equal in the interest of public safety by Parks & Recreation because it is a low-traffic area. Commissioner Kowlachuck expressed her concern over the sculpture placed at the library, as it did not appear to be safe for children who may climb on it. Commissioner Ridgeway reported that the judge had not identified this piece as a safety concern, and that Parks and Recreation had approved it for that site. Commissioner Ridgeway made a motion to approve the judges selections for the 2005 Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit. Motion as seconded by Commissioner Greer-Kellas. Motion passed. The opening for the Lawrence Downtown Sculpture Exhibit will be at the Lawrence Arts Center on June 11. The walking tour given by the judge will begin at 5:30pm.
b. Pheonix Awards: A new category has been added for New Media, an extra $500 in next FY budget will be requested for this.
c. Grants: Review and approval of grant awards or FY 2005. Commissioner Schaefer asked for clarification on the Arts Commission’s priorities and whether Commissioner’s assessments were to be made in the interest of the benefit to the community. Commission Chair Merrill reported that the priority is currently open to interpretation by individual Commissioners. Commissioner Kennedy-McCabe suggested that the upcoming Grants Committee review next year’s application for clarifications: on defining the term grassroots in relation to this grant, to review what / how we ask for the budget and project descriptions, and to add an area where we ask for an approximation of the number of children/participants who will be affected by the project, policy regarding funds allocated to application initiated outside of the Lawrence area, and discuss a rolling grant deadline. Commission Chair Merrill then moved Commission business to the grant application review, discussions & approval. Staff Liason Tubbs reported that one grant, from the Lawrence Art Guild, was submitted after the deadline, with a note of apology. Commission Chair Merrill initiated a discussion on whether to accept the late application. Commissioner Kennedy McCabe asked if there was a precedent for accepting late applications. Staff Liaison Tubbs reported that the Commission has not previously accepted them, but it was the Arts Commission’s discretion whether to do so or not. Commissioners discussed the importance of the Lawrence Art Guild to the arts in Lawrence, but a consensus on the need to maintain the deadline was reached. Commissioner Ridgeway moved to not accept the late application, Commissioner Kennedy-McCabe seconded. Motion passed. Commissioner submitted their scores to Staff Liaison Tubbs and Student Representative Daldorph to tally for ranking, review and discussion of awards. There was a consensus on the top 3 grant applications. Commission Chair Merrill suggested that because of the gap in scores between the top 3 applications and the remaining 4, that the Arts Commission approve and award the top three, then continue to discuss the remaining 4 applications. Commissioner Rapport moved to discuss the remaining applications separately. Commissioner Morris seconded. Motion passed. Commissioner Ridgway moved to follow the discussion of the remaining 4 applications by re-ranking them. Commissioner Henry seconded. The motion passed. The top 3 rankings were as follows:
i. 1) Americana Music Academy at $1000, Commissioner Henry moved to approve at this amount, seconded by Commissioner Greer-Kellas. Motion passed.
ii. 2) Lawrence Community Theatre at $820. A motion to approve the Lawrence Community Theatre at this amount was made by Commissioner Kennedy-McCabe, seconded by Commissioner Ridgeway. Motion passed.
iii. 3) Beau Hancock at $500 for Community Dance projects. The motion to approve Beau Hancock at $500 was made by Commissioner Ridgeway, and seconded by Commissioner Kennedy-McCabe. Motion passed.
iv. Commissioners discussed specifics of each of the remaining 4 applications. Commissioner Kennedy-McCabe moved to approve application # 5- Ice Cube Press: at $296, the amount of the fee in the budget going directly to the artist Denise Lowe. Commissioner Morris seconded. Commissioner Rapport voiced disagreement over selecting particulars in a budget rather than giving an award based on the whole request. Commissioner Morris moved to fund the remaining projects at: $500 for application #2- Puppetry Animation & Broadcast, $300 for application # 5- Ice Cube Press, $500 for application #6 - The Fan Club and $500 application #8- Lawrence Arts Fest . Motion was seconded by Commissioner Ridgway. Motion failed. The Commission proceeded to discuss the remaining 4 grant applications separately, and voted on awards by a show of hands:
v. Application #2- Puppetry Animation & Broadcast: Script quality and the character portrayals were discussed. Commissioner Weichert moved to fully fund the project. There was no second. Commissioner Gree-Kellas moved to give them no funding. Commissioner Hatchett seconded. Commissioner Ridgeway opined that the Art Commission’s mission is to facilitate the arts, not critique. Motion to not fund the project carried 9 to 2.
vi. Application # 5- Ice Cube Press: The project’s direct impact and benefit to the immediate community was discussed. Commissioner Ridgway moved to amend the amount awarded earlier in the meeting to $300 to support the artist Denise Lowe. Commissioner Shaefer seconded. Motion was brought to vote. Motion to fund application #5 at $300 carried 10 to 1.
vii. Application #6 - The Fan Club: The project budget and participating artists were discussed. Commissioner Kennedy McCabe moved to approve and award at $500. Commissioner Wiechert seconded. Motion to fund application #6 at $500 carried 7 to 4.
viii. Application #8- Lawrence Arts Fest: Project budget, leadership and general impact on the community was discussed. Commissioner Ridgway moved to approve an award at $500. Commissioner Greer-Kellas seconded. Motion to fund application # 8 at $500 carried 7 to 4.
ix. Commission awards FY 2005 totaled $3,620. Commissioners discussed the use of the remaining $1,880 in budget. Commissioner Ridgway moved to table the discussion until the May meeting. Commissioner Greer Kellas seconded. Motion passed.
D. Adjournment: Commissioner Ridgeway moved to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Henry seconded. Motion passed. Meeting was adjourned at 9pm.
Respectfully submitted by Margaret Morris, Secretary- Lawrence Arts Commission