City of Lawrence

Lawrence Arts Commission

Meeting Minutes for August 10, 2005

 

Members Present:

Elizabeth Hatchett

Mary Kennedy McCabe

Liz Kowalchuk

Marlene Merrill

Margaret Morris

Evie Rapport

James Schaefer

Sandra Wiechert

 

Members Absent:

Brenna Daldorph

Judy Greer Kellas

Kay Henry

Jeff Ridgway

 

Staff Liaison present: Michael Tubbs

 

 

A. Meeting was called to order by Commission Chair Merrill at 6:35pm

 

B. Consent Agenda:

1.                  Corrections to June 8 minutes: the names of Commissioners Kowalchuk and Ridgway were misspelled. Commissioners Hatchett and Merrill are the Developmental workshops Committee.

2.         Corrections to May 11th minutes: The sculpture “Cryptograph” is the sculpture in front of the courthouse not “All Things Equal”.

3.         Approval of minutes: motion to approve minutes as corrected was made by Commissioner Wiechert, seconded by Commissioner Kennedy McCabe. Motion passed.

C. Regular Agenda Items

2.      Announcements from Chair: Commission Chair Merrill thanked commissioners and all those involved for the Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit tour and reception. It was a wonderful event, and very well attended. The dedication of the sesquicentennial sculpture “Free” was also very successful. The event drew a very large crowd; almost 150 people Commissioner Hatchett and Commission Chair Merrill gave special recognition and thanks to Staff Liaison Tubbs for a job well done in arranging the reception for ”Free”.

3.      Subcommittee updates:

a.       Grants (Commissioner Morris): Committee needs to meet this month to begin the application review, publicity planning and timeline for this year. Commissioner Morris expressed interest in having the grants committee begin to formalize procedures and guidelines for the overall process.

b.      Outdoor Sculpture Committee: (Commissioner Ridgway) no report at this time.

c.       % For Arts (Commissioner Schaefer): Commissioner Schaefer expressed interest in developing an educational component to go along with % for Art projects. Initial committee formation and planning has begun: Commissioner Schaefer spoke with John Reeves, the Project Manager for the fire station regarding the building project’s timeline for guidance with further development of the % for Art project for this site. The target completion date for the fire station is February 1, 2006. Commissioner Schaefer also spoke with the Fire Chief and the City Manager regarding the fire station project and committee development. The Fire Chief expressed an interest in the artwork being “accessible”. The City Manger, Mike Wilgen, suggested the topic “Prairie Fire”. At this point, the site discussed for the fire station project is a 36-foot long wall, which has a frosted glass window/s running above it. The site is the outside wall of a community meeting room at the station. Commissioner Hatchett asked if the committee will encourage designs for furniture and/or display cases, as the room is meant to function as a community meeting space. Commission Chair Merrill responded that it is the % for Art Committee’s choice about what to solicit for submission. She explained that the % for Art Committee will meet, decide criteria for the site and go forward with their call for entries. Commissioner Schaefer asked if the % for Art Committee has the ability to determine the site for the artwork. Commissioner Chair Merrill answered that it is the Committee’s responsibility to make sure that the best choice is made for the site of the artwork. Commissioner Schaefer asked if it is the Committee’s choice of topic as well. Commission Chair Merrill clarified that it is up to the % for Art Committee to chose the site and subject for the artwork at this location. Commissioners discussed recommendations for the committee. Staff Liaison Tubbs suggested including fire fighters, neighborhood residents, an architect, a University of Kansas representative, and Stouffer Place residents on the committee. Commission Chair Merrill also recommended that attention be paid to conflicts of interest with any artists who might be interested in submitting a bid for the project, but that the size and content of the committee is up to Commissioner Schaefer and that there is no need for Arts Commission approval of the % for Art Committee members. Staff Liaison Tubbs offered staff assistance to support administrative activities of the committee. Staff Liaison Tubbs recommended that the committee “work backwards” from the building’s completion date to plan the dedication for the project. He recommended that the % for Art project dedication be concurrent with the dedication of the building itself.

d.      Developmental Workshops (Commissioner Hatchett): the committee will meet and begin work on developing workshops. Progress will be reported at the next meeting.

e.       Phoenix Awards (Commissioner Wiechert): The Committee met June 10th. The Awards will take place at the Lawrence Arts Center on November 6th at 2pm. Celia Smith is the artist selected by the committee this year to create the awards. $1700 will be given for her work to complete the awards. The Committee agreed to create a new category of award in Media Arts. The category for wards will be: educator in the Arts, literary Arts, Media Arts, Musical Arts, Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Volunteer in the Arts, and Phoenix Awards for Exceptional Artistic Achievement. The new application will also be reworded to clarify how the Arts Commission selects awards. Lines added to the application will be: “ The Lawrence Arts Commission may select up to 8 Phoenix Award winners. The commissioners may not give wards in certain categories, and likewise may give more than one award in a category on occasion. Selection preference will be given to those who have not previously won in that category” OR “Priority consideration will be given to first time winners; previous winners possibly may be considered in a different category”.  The application will also require two sheets, with the application information on the front and back of one sheet and all the previous winners and artists on the front and back of another sheet.  The Committee also decided that this year the Phoenix Award Committee and the Phoenix Award Committee Chair will be solely responsible for contacting the nominators and winners, so that all information given out is consistent. The black and white invitation and program design by Trent Flory will remain the same as last year with updated with information for this year’s awards. This year Commissioners will be asked to help in directing attendees into the Theatre for the awards, and to otherwise act as helpful hosts of the event. This year will be the 10th year for the awards. This will be emphasized in the event. Past winners will be invited to attend and recognized from the stage. Commissioner Morris asked if there is a mailing list for sending out nomination information.  Commissioners discussed whether there was a need for this at this time. Commissioner Wiechert asked if the Art Commission could act as “recruiters” for the nominations. Staff Liaison Tubbs and Commission Chair Merrill responded that this is allowed.  Commission Chair Merrill suggested that developing a mailing list is up to the committee, and that given the timeline this year that this may be an idea for next year’s Phoenix Award Committee.  Commissioner Rapport suggested the use of an email list. Staff Liaison Tubbs explained that the Commissioners are able to send out the nomination information on their own via email. Commissioner Rapport expressed that the use of a formal mailing list, along with making the nomination information available in public places, on-line and press release, is a way of evening the playing field for nominations. Commissioner Kowalchuk suggested developing a general contact list who could then forward the information on to a larger group. Commissioner Kennedy McCabe inquired about the standard procedure for the awards. Commission Chair Merrill explained that the awards procedure is similar to the procedure for Arts Commission grants: nominations are collected by staff, the commission then reviews and discusses the nominations, and make decisions for awards. Staff Liaison Tubbs clarified that there is no analytical scoring involved as with the grants, but decisions are based on deliberation and discussion. Commissioner Kennedy McCabe asked for clarification on whether both the nominator and the nominee are required to be Douglas County residents. Staff Liaison Tubbs replied that the recipient must be a Douglas County resident, but the nominator can be from anywhere. Commissioners had suggestions for use of flyers and posters to publicize the event, to be taken up & decided upon by the committee.  Commissioner Kowalchuk asked if the nomination form could be made available as a pdf document to be filled out and forward back in digital format. Staff Liaison Tubbs replied that he would be happy to facilitate this as directed by the committee.

 

D. New Business

    1. Future Percent for Art Project (Commission Chair Merrill): Commission Chair Merrill brought to the attention of the Arts Commission a letter from Former Commission Chair Bill Carswell to Mayor Mike Rundell and City Commission dated December 12, 2001, detailing a decision made by the 2001/2002 Arts Commission that Percent for Arts funds be used for a piece recognizing Langston Hughes. The request for this project was formally proposed by Ann Evans and Hobart Jackson, representing the Lawrence Roundtable for the Arts, in the Lawrence Arts Commission Meeting on March 14, 2001. The letter detailed enthusiasm and support from the 2001/2002 Arts Commission, as well as concerns regarding 1) the appropriateness for the suggested site, the Carnegie Library, as the use of the building remains undesignated, 2) the a priori determination that the piece be realistic in style, and 3) availability of adequate funding.  Commission Chair Merrill explained that she was bringing the topic to the current Arts Commission’s attention at this time because there is a relocation project pending for another fire station, and that following the relocation of the Lawrence Arts Center from the Carnegie Library there have been city renovations / preservation to the Carnegie Building that may generate a percentage of funds that could be designated as possible Percent for Art funding for a piece recognizing Langston Hughes. The 2001/2002 Commission had indicated that a plan for recognizing Langston Hughes through a Percent for Art project was a priority. The 2001/2002 Commission indicated that their first choice in locating such a piece would be the Carnegie Library Building. Commissioners discussed the purpose of this issue being revisited at this time, as a use for the Carnegie Building still has yet to be determined. Staff Liaison Tubbs clarified that the availability of the Percent for Art funds related to the Carnegie Building renovation & preservation needs to be explored now, and that he will inquire with the City Manager regarding this issue. Commissioner Kowalchuk asked for clarification on the actual percentage allowed in the ordinance for Percent for Arts. Staff Liaison Tubbs replied that the ordinance states that up to 2% is allowed. Commissioner Schaefer inquired about the relevance of the pending relocation of the fire station to Wakarusa, and if this would be a possible source of percent for Art funds for a Langston Hughes piece, or a separate project. Staff Liaison Tubbs and Commission Chair Merrill answered that it could be either. Commissioners discussed whether that site would be the most appropriate placement for a piece recognizing Langston Hughes. Commissioners discussed sites in town that would be relevant for artwork recognizing Langston Hughes in addition to the Carnegie Library Building. Commission Chair Merrill stated that the initial step is to determine if funds are available which would then determine if project development could begin. Commissioner Rapport added that after the availability of funds is determined, we could begin to discuss projects appropriate for the sites available at that time.
    2. Other New Business: Commissioner Schaeffer asked if the Arts Commission as a responsibility to help or assist with the “Red Balloon To Do”, an art event on October 8th. Commissioner Merrill responded that we have not become involved with events such as this in the past. Commissioner Morris added that although the “Red Balloon To Do” involves many aspects of the community, it is sponsored privately, and is based at the Olive Art Gallery. Commissioner Rapport asked if the Art Commission has a Community Arts Calendar on the web page which could be a source of information about local events such as this, and if we should consider developing this as part of the web development project. Commissioner Merrill added that we do not, but that this could change. Commissioner Morris added that there are already a few community arts calendars and listings already in existence for Lawrence, and suggested that it might be more appropriate for us to list links to these different calendars on our web page, rather than taking on the responsability to develop one of our own.
    3. Special Note of Thanks to Staff Liaison Tubbs: The Commission offers their compliments and special thanks to Staff Liaison Tubbs for organizing the reception for “Free”. Staff Liaison Tubbs did a superb job organizing this wonderful and successful event.

 

D.     Motion to adjourn was made by Commissioner Wiechert, seconded by Commissioner Kowalchuk.

 

E.      Meeting was adjourned at 7: 50pm