HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-20-2000Auburn Arts Commission
Monday, November 20, 2000
Minutes
Commissioner present: Herman Ansingh, Anne Baunach, Paul DodsWorth, chair;
Bonnie Egbert, Don Gardner, Steve LePenske, Lynn Norman, Barbie Sharrard, Pam
Smith, Genie Sprenger, John Stanphill
Commissioners absent: Kristen Brock, (excused)
Staff present: Susan Sagawa, cultural programs manager; Lori Patrick, cultural programs
specialist; Dick Deal, parks and recreation director
Visitors: Seema Chaudhary, architect with Anil Verma; Inga Kauffman, landscape
architect; Jack Locke, city's special projects engineer; Vicki Scuri, artist; and Jeff Wolfe,
Sound Transit project manager
Chair Paul Dodsworth called the meeting to order at 4:39 p.m.
I. Introduction and approval of minutes
Commissioner Herman Ansingh moved that the October minutes be approved as
submitted. Commissioner Genie Sprenger seconded the motion.
MOTION APPROVED
II.
Presentation by Sound Transit on design concepts for the transit
station plaza
· Jeff Wolfe of Sound Transit summarized Phase II of Auburn's Sound Transit station,
which will include a pedestrian plaza connecting the station with downtown, a pedestrian
bridge, and a six-level parking garage with retail shops on the lower level. Mr. Wolfe
said $50,000 is available in the parking-garage budget for art. Sound Transit will
commission artist Vicki Scuff to incorporate the art. A discussion followed about
carrying design elements from the plaza onto the parking garage's wall, which faces the
plaza.
Artist Vicki Scuff presented 8 design concepts for the pedestrian plaza. The plaza's
design will be patterned after an orchard with trees and a quilt-like paving motif
reflective of Auburn's "homespun quality." The budget for the artwork is $90,000.
Scuri's 8 proposals include varying combinations of four artistic elements:
· Custom benches
· Custom planters with built-in seating and seasonal plantings
· Custom-designed tree grates
· Paving inserts
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November 2000/Arts Commission minutes
Page 2
Concept 1: This study eliminates central trees and benches and adds artist-designed
planters with seating edges and seasonal plantings. Planters are located at the edges of
the plaza to frame the space. The plaza includes brick and colored topping for texture
variation.
Concept 2: Similar to Concept 1, but planters are emphasized on retail side of the
plaza, leaving room for a seasonal market or retail carts on the other side of the plaza.
The plaza includes brick and colored topping for texture variation.
Concept 3: The study emphasizes the orchard and plantings and adds artist-designed
seating and paving to create the "quilt." Artist-designed benches are primarily located on
the retail side of the plaza.
Concept. 4: This study emphasizes the urban orchard, paving pattems and incorporates
artist-designed tree grates. The paving-pattern design is influenced by agricultural rows
or railroad tracks. The art element is 3,000 square feet of pavers or 12 tree grates.
Concept 5: This study eliminates central trees and benches, adds artist-designed
planters with seating edges and seasonal or special plantings. Planters are located at the
edges to frame the space. The plaza includes bold, diamond-shaped brick patterns.
Concept 6:
plaza.
Similar to concept 5, but planters are emphasized on the retail side of the
ConcePt 7: This design emphasizes the orchard and plantings, adds artist-designed
seating and paving to create the "quilt."
Concept 8: This study emphasizes the urban orchard, paving patterning and
incorporates artist designed tree grates. Artist to provide patterning motifs and special
inserts integrated into the paving pattern.
A discussion ensued about who would maintain the planters. JeffWolfe said the
maintenance would probably be a split between Sound Transit and retailers. An adjacent
commuter lot will be used for weekend use, such as farmer's markets and festivals.
Commissioners agreed the plaza design should include a full orchard, artist-designed
planters and a distinct brick pattern.
Commissioner Barbie Shar~ard moved that the commission accept a combination of
concepts 6 and 8 and incorporate patterns from the plaza into the external walls of the
parking garage. Commissioner Anne Baunach seconded the motion.
MOTION APPROVED
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November 2000/Arts Commission minutes
Page 3
Scuri will blend the two concepts and present her design proposal at the commission's
Dec. 11 meeting.
Landscape architect Inga Kauffman discussed potential trees and. plantings for the plaza.
Options include ornamental cherry trees.
III. Update on BRAVO! 2000/2001 season
Susan Sagawa said the Oct. 28 and 29 Auburn Symphony concerts drew 963 people. Up
from last October's symphony attendance of 825. The BRAVO! Kids Harry Potter
Magic Show, Nov. 4 was a sell out.
Lori Patrick said December events should appear in area newspaper's Holiday Guides.
Ads will appear in the Auburn Reporter and South County Journal, and l~ottle's will
distribute a flyer advertising BRAVO! holiday gift certificates and symphony
subscriptions.
IV. Other Business
Susan Sagawa passed around photos of banners kids created at the recent workshop led
by artist Diane Aurigemma of High Flying Banners at Terminal Park Elementary. The
class was a Combined 4th- and 5th-grade class. High Flying Banners will incorporate
design elements from the kids' banners into the set of banners its designing for J Street.
High Flying Banners will present its proposals at the Dec. 11 commission meeting.
Next up in the City Hall Gallery is a photography exhibit by Steve LePenske. The
exhibition, "Seasonal Reflections," comprises the artist's most recent landscape
photography in the Northwest.
Chair Paul Dodsworth said the commission will have to postpone forming a committee to
consider the commission's "technical assistance" program, but added that the
commission will revisit the topic in the near future.
There was no other business. The meeting adjourned at 6:15 p.m.
The next regular meeting is Monday, Dec. 11, 4:30 p.m. in Conference Room 1.