City of Lawrence

Lawrence Arts Commission

June 13, 2007 minutes

MEMBERS PRESENT:	Evie Rapport, Chair; Elizabeth Hatchett; Tom King; David Loewenstein; John Reeves; Leslie vonHolten
MEMBERS ABSENT:	Donna Griffin; Margaret Morris; James Schaefer; Sandra Wiechert
STAFF PRESENT:	Michael Tubbs
PUBLIC PRESENT:	Andrea Wertzberger, web designer

The meeting was called to order by the chair, Evie Rapport, at 7.10 pm in the Jayhawk Room of Fire Station #5.
The minutes of May 16, 2007, section C.1.a.d, were corrected to read Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Commissioners Hatchett and Reeves moved and seconded the minutes be accepted as corrected. Motion passed.
1.a. Announcements Chair Rapport reported on the excellent attendance at the LAC Grants Awards ceremony at the City Commission meeting of May 22, 2007. All awards recipients were in attendance, as were Commissioners King, Loewenstein, Rapport, Reeves and Wiechert, and Liaison Tubbs.

1.b. Chair Rapport commended Commissioner Reeves for his work on the 2007 ODSE opening tour and reception. Juror Glen Gentele was also praised for his participation in the event. Over 70 people showed up to take the tour, and four of the eight selected artists also attended—one artist coming from California. Present were Commissioners King, Loewenstein, Rapport and Reeves.

1.c. Chair Rapport reported on the Governor’s Art Awards, at which Rapport represented the LAC. Musician Kelley Hunt was an award winner. A good time was had by all.

1.d. Chair Rapport announced that the Kansas Arts Commission has scheduled meetings around the state to discuss the first draft of their Strategic Plan. She will advise us of meetings scheduled in Lawrence or nearby.

C.2.E.1. Website Development Commissioner Hatchett introduced Andrea

Wertzberger, who is re-designing the LAC’s website. Wertzberger needs new

photos of Percent for Arts projects. Wertzberger will present a mock-up of the

new design at the August meeting. Chair Rapport noted that Wertzberger’s

presentation will be added to the August 8 agenda.

C.2.E.2. Hatchett requested that Wertzberger be added to the Arts Commission’s

Email list, to keep current on Commission issues. Liason Tubbs agreed to add

Wertzberger to list.

C.2.E.3. There was discussion of several aspects of website design: ease of

maintenance, a calendar of events, blogs and links to artist resources. Hatchett

proposed a “Suggested Readings” section, featuring articles on artists’ rights and professional issues, as well as links to local and regional artists and art

organizations. She recommended an article on public arts administration in

Public Art Review Journal to Liaison Tubbs. King agreed to compile a list of area

artists and art organizations.

C.2.A.1. Grants/Developmental workshops There was no report.

Lawrence Arts Commission Minutes of June 13, 2007 Page 2

C.2.B.1. Outdoor Sculpture Chair Rapport announced the relocation of the 2007

ODSE sculpture “Prayer Booth” from its original location in front of the Eldridge

Hotel to the Law Enforcement Center (LEC). She stated that the sculpture had been

moved to protect it from further vandalism. Liaison Tubbs concurred, stating that the decision had been made by Assistant City Manager Debbie Van Saun in City Manager Corliss’ absence.

C.2.B.2. Loewenstein remarked that moving the sculpture doesn’t deter vandalism; that

in this case, the vandal won because the sculpture was removed. He also noted that the artist had requested that “Prayer Booth” be re-installed in its original location,and that the City had failed to respect the artist’s wishes.

C.2.B.3. Reeves said he had responded to an email from the City addressing the

relocation of “Prayer Booth,” and had expressed his opposition to the move. He

claimed that “zero process was followed,” and expressed his belief that the City

Manager’s office had handled the situation poorly. Based on his frustration in

his dealings with the City thus far, Reeves stated that he was considering resigning

from the Commission. Chair Rapport urged him to reconsider.

C.2.B.4. Loewenstein asked Liaison Tubbs to explain the decision process, specifically

“who makes such decisions”. Tubbs replied that the decisions are made by the City

Manager and are based on insurance issues and “efficiency value”.

Loewenstein asked if it is City policy to always move damaged or vandalized

pieces. Tubbs replied that the City moves high-risk pieces, known as “attractive

nuisances”. Tubbs acknowledged that “Prayer Booth” artist Dylan Mortimer had

made it clear to him that he wanted his sculpture re-installed in its original location.

There was discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of the relocation of

“Prayer Booth”. Chair Rapport stated that the LEC is a high-traffic location, and that

two other 2007 ODSE sculptures are in the immediate vicinity. Reeves disagreed

with the statement that the LEC is a desirable location, and pointed out that, since the move, there are only two ODSE sculptures on Massachusetts Street between 6^th Street and South Park.

C.2.B.5. King asked commissioners in disagreement with the City’s decision to

relocate “Prayer Booth” for a show of hands. All present, excepting Chair Rapport,

raised hands. King moved to address a letter to the City Manager’s office expressing

disagreement with the City’s decision to move “Prayer Booth,” and questioning the

protocols involved. The motion was seconded by vonHolten, and passed by a vote of 5-1.

Liaison Tubbs advised that the letter come from the Chair, and suggested that the Arts Commission begin to develop new policies, as sometimes the City Manager’s office

had to work with out-dated procedures. Hatchett stated that the City needs to do a better job of staying abreast with current methods of public arts administration.

Lawrence Arts Commission Minutes of June 13, 2007 Page 3

Chair Rapport instructed that the letter be addressed to City Manager

David Corliss, and copied to Mayor Sue Hack. King agreed to draft the letter.

C.2.B.6. King asked Liaison Tubbs how to go about updating policies. Reeves

mentioned that he had submitted revisions concerning the ODSE process

(installation, storage and removal) in May 2007, and had yet to receive a response from the City. Tubbs said the revisions were on ACM Van Saun’s desk, and that he would bring them up at their weekly meeting. Chair Rapport asked Liaison Tubbs

to copy each member of the Commission on any draft revisions his office receives, to which Tubbs agreed.

Reeves passed out copies of his draft of the revised calendar for the ODSE.

C.2.C. Percent for Arts Station #4 Chair Rapport announced that the dedication

ceremony for the sculpture at Station #4 will take place late August or early

September. She said that the artist and the artist’s fabricator had suggested a change of material for the bell component of the piece, and that the City had the artist’s contract under review. Reeves commented that the artist was being asked to substantially reduce her fee due to a minor modification, which he perceived as “nickel and dime-ing the artist”. Liaison Tubbs directed Reeves to register his concerns with the City, as the matter was primarily a legal issue at this point. Chair Rapport asked Reeves and Tubbs to investigate the issue and report back to the Commission.

C.2.D. Phoenix Awards Loewenstein asked for nominations of sculptor candidates for

the 2007 Phoenix Awards. Artists Cathy Robins, Kendra Herring, Kristin Moreland,

Aaron Marable and Mathew Alber were suggested. Loewenstein asked

Commissioners to solicit further nominations in a timely manner, as the awards

ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, November 4^th.

C.2.E. Roundtable There was no report. Hatchett suggested that more than one

commissioner attend the Roundtable meetings. She and King volunteered to attend

future Roundtables.

D. 1 & 2. New Business Chair Rapport moved that the election of the Vice Chair, and

the discussion of the Commission’s change of name, be deferred until the August

meeting. King seconded. Motion passed.

E. Old Business

1. Chair Rapport reported that the 2006 Budget reductions may not affect the

Commission at all. If there is a budget cut, it would be a 4% reduction--not 6% as

stated earlier—which would amount to roughly $940.00.

Lawrence Arts Commission Minutes of June 13, 2007 Page 4

E.2. Chair Rapport solicited volunteers for Strategic Planning champions to begin

building networks with City agencies, other advisory boards, and local and regional

arts organizations. King volunteered to compile a contact list; Reeves and vonHolten

volunteered to begin revising policies and procedures.

VonHolten announced that she may have to miss four consecutive meetings later this year, and questioned policy in such situations. She expressed her desire to remain on the Commission, and Chair Rapport agreed that vonHolten should stay on board.

Liaison Tubbs said he would check on absentee policy. There was discussion of proxy or telephone voting options. Tubbs said he would ask City lawyers if members

of advisory boards can vote by proxy.

Loewenstein turned in his report on fundraising options and resources. Chair Rapport

noted that the Commission would be eligible to apply for Kansas Arts Commission grants in March 2008.

Commissioners King and Reeves moved and seconded that the meeting be adjourned.

The motion passed and the meeting ended at 9:09 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Tom King, in the absence of Secretary Wiechert.