City of Lawrence

Lawrence Arts Commission

Meeting Minutes for September 14, 2005

Members Present:

Judy Geer Kellas

Elizabeth Hatchett

Kay Henry

Marlene Merrill

Margaret Morris

Evie Rapport

Jeff Ridgway

James Schaefer

Sandra Wiechert

Members Absent:

Liz Kowalchuk

Mary Kennedy McCabe

Staff Liaison Present: Michael Tubbs

A. Meeting was called to order by Commission Chair Merrill at 6:30pm

B. Consent Agenda:

1. Corrections to August 10 minutes:

a. The names of Commissioner Geer Kellas and City Manager Mike Wildgen were misspelled.

b. Brenna Daldorph is no longer the student representative. Her term ended with the school year. There will be a new student rep appointed soon.

c. “Minutes” should be capitalized throughout.

d. Commissioner Geer Kellas moved to approve the minutes with corrections. Commissioner Rapport seconded. Motion passed.

C. Regular Agenda Items

1. Announcements from Chair:

a. On September 7, Commission Chair Merrill presented information about the Arts Commission, our activities, projects and events to the City Department Heads. Her presentation was well received by the group.

2. Sign Permit Application: Century School Mural

a. Mural Review/ Presentation: A picture of the mural in progress was circulated along with a copy of the permit application, dated August 13. No other documents were submitted for review. It is a wall mounted, latex paint on brick/cinderblock, on the north wall of the building on 831 Vermont Street. It faces an empty lot & community garden.

b. Discussion: Commissioner Henry stated that it was her understanding that the owner of the empty lot adjacent to the mural, upon which the scaffolding was constructed is refusing to let the group continue due to liability concerns if a child were to fall off the equipment. Commissioner Ridgway noted that the school did not include an approval or a waiver of liability from the owner of the empty lot for review.  Staff Liaison Tubbs noted that they also did not submit other documents required for a review by the Arts Commission outlined in the City Code. Commissioner Ridgway remarked that a complete review by the Arts Commission would really not be possible at this time, because the review criteria have not been met. Commission Chair Merrill remarked that the mural appeared to already be in progress, and questioned if the school had been aware of the process & the need for City approval. Staff Liaison Tubbs briefly reviewed the process leading up to review & recommendation by the Arts Commission and approval by the City Commission. Staff Liaison Tubbs outlined the minimum submission requirements for a review for recommendation: a site plan, photographs of the immediate area, photographs of the location, a presentation package the mural concept & realization, convincing evidence of the artist’s ability to complete the work as proposed, a technical feasibility statement, a statement addressing the life expectancy of work relationship of the work to other works in the area, compatibility of design and location with the historical character of the site, environmental impact, vulnerability to vandalism, a budget plan, installation plan and the mural artists’ CV and portfolio. Commissioners discussed the need to educate the public about the process to prevent further oversights of this nature. Following this discussion, Commissioner Hatchett asked for clarification on the approval process and questioned the need for recommendation by the City for works of art on private property. Staff Liaison Tubbs and Commission Chair Merrill noted that the Arts Commission’s role in this process is to discuss the work of art’s artistic merit through considerations outlined in the City Code, Chapter 5-736, Ordinance 5085, Section 5: to evaluate the work’s “proposed size, location, appearance, color, texture, general design, use of material, orientation to other buildings and the relationship of such factors to features of buildings in the immediate surroundings” of the artwork. Staff Liaison Tubbs and Commission Chair Merrill also noted that Arts Commission recommendation should consider the work in context of the City Code, Chapter 5-736, Ordinance 5085 Section 5:  “maintaining the high character of community development and the stability of value and the welfare of surrounding property, structures and residents and to the general welfare and happiness of the community”. Commissioner Hatchet expressed her deep concern over the existence of this ordinance as well as her reservations about the need for this process at all for artwork on private property. A discussion amongst the Arts Commissioners regarding the role of the Arts Commission in this process followed. Commissioner Wiechert called the question. Discussion ended.

c. Commissioner Ridgway moved that the Arts Commission respectfully defer recommendation on the mural and send the proposal back to the City Commission because the school did not follow mural review procedure and did not complete the criteria for review by the Arts Commission. Commissioner Wiechert seconded the motion. Commissioner Chair Merrill called for a vote. Motion passed 8 to 1, with Commission Chair Merrill noting the need to educate the public about the process for City approval of art in the public eye.

3. Subcommittee updates:

a. Grants (Commissioner Morris): the Grants Committee will meet this month to review the application, guidelines, publicity & timeline for this year.

b. Outdoor Sculpture Committee: (Commissioner Ridgway): Committee notes, exhibit brochures, applications and slide archive are now housed with the city.  Commissioner Ridgway is refining the procedure document in preparation for the next Chair of the committee, Commissioner Geer Kellas. Ideas for next year’s juror have been discussed.

c. Percent For Arts (Commissioner Schaefer): Commissioner Schaefer spoke with the Municipal Percent for Art Manager in Kansas City, MO to get ideas, understand their procedures, and obtain information about how they solicit artist applications. They will also generously share their distribution list and their national Percent for Art peer list with us.  Committee development has begun: Michael Carlisle of Douglas County Bank has confirmed.

d. Developmental Workshops (Commissioner Hatchett): Commissioner Hatchett circulated a flyer for the upcoming Grant Writing Workshop, planned for 9-11am, October 15^th, at the Lawrence Arts Center, room 201. Commissioner Hatchett and Commission Chair Merrill will present. Attendees will need to RSVP or signup so that there is a “head count” prior to the workshop.

e. Phoenix Awards (Commissioner Wiechert): Commissioner Wiechert reported that the applications are available & are being distributed. She has heard many comments about a preference for web-based nomination forms. Commissioner Wiechert has spoken with this year’s award artist, Celia Smith. Smith is still thrilled about completing the awards, but will not “reveal” her design as of yet. A press release has been sent to Mindie Paget at the Lawrence Journal World. She has agreed to run a story. All prior winners will be invited to the awards this year. Commissioner Wiechert asked Arts Commissioners to review the list to omit past winners who have moved or passed away. She asked Commissioners to email changes to Staff Liaison Tubbs.

D.        New Business: There was no new business brought to attention in this meeting.

E.         Motion to adjourn was made by Commissioner Ridgway, seconded by Commissioner Geer Kellas.

F.         Meeting was adjourned at 8:05pm.

G.        Next meeting:6:30pm October 12, 2005. Phoenix Award Nominations Review.