HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-08-2004
City of Auburn Arts Commission
Monday, November 8, 2004
MINUTES
Commissioners present: Herman Ansingh, Chair Anne Baunach, Nancy Colson, Bonnie
Egbert, Linda Elliott, Amanda Flanery, Pat Gallagher, Steve LePenske, Barbie Sharrard,
Pam Smith
Commissioners absent: Kristen Brock and Don Gardner
Visitors: Daryl Faber, Parks and Recreation Director; Councilmember Lynn Norman
Staff present: Susan Gochoel, cultural programs manager, Lori Patrick, cultural
programs coordinator
Commission Chair Anne Baunach called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. and thanked
Cultural Programs Manager Susan Gochoel for her contributions to the city's cultural
offerings. Gochoel recently resigned to sail the world with her husband. Her last day is
Nov. 19. Councilmember Lynn Norman thanked Gochoel for her leadership.
I. Introduction and approval of minutes
Commissioner Barbie Sharrard moved the October minutes be approved as submitted.
Commissioner Herman Ansingh seconded the motion.
MOTION APPROVED
II. Vice Chair nomination for 2005
Commissioner Baunach reported that she, Commissioner Pam Smith and Gochoel, the
nominating committee, discussed candidates for a vice chair in 2005. Their
recommendation is Commissioner Kristen Brock. Current Vice Chair Bonnie Egbert will
advance to chair in January 2005. Commissioner Sharrard moved the commission accept
the nominating committee's recommendation of Commissioner Brock as vice chair.
Commissioner Ansingh seconded the motion.
MOTION APPROVED
III. Prioritized list of public art projects 2005-2006
Gochoel reported the commission's public-art subcommittee recently visited five
potential public-art sites. The sites were identified at an earlier meeting Gochoel had with
Ingrid Gaub, assistant city engineer. After discussing the merits of each site, the sub-
committee recommended Auburn Way South and F Street as the top priority in 2005. The
intersection will be reconfigured and include a traffic light. Construction is estimated to
start in January 2005 with completion in late summer. The sub-committee's second
recommendation is the M Street grade separation at Highway 18 and the railroad tracks
for the 2006 public art project. The project will have large concrete walls, and Gochoel
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City of Auburn Arts Commission
November 2004 minutes, Page 2
suggested requesting some funding in 2005 to contract with an artist who would work
with the city's engineering design team early in the process.
Gochoel said the Auburn Municipal Airport approached her about how it might go about
including artwork on the airport's seven hangar walls. Six of the walls are behind chain-
link fencing, and one is accessible from the street, presenting potential for vandalism. The
airport has no funding, but Gochoel said an open 2-D or 3-D mural competition among
high-school students is a possibility.
The commission agreed to forward the prioritized list of potential public-art projects to
the City Council's Planning and Community Development Committee for consideration.
IV. Storefront Studio Project & City Hall Gallery Exhibition
Program
Gochoel reported on the Storefront Studio Project, a collaborative project of graduate
architecture students from the University of Washington who are working with
downtown property and business owners, city staff and the Auburn Downtown
Association to create a new vision for downtown. Auburn is the third in a series of
communities selected for Storefront Studio Projects. Seattle's University District and
White Center are previous sites.
The Storefront Studio Project has expressed interest in displaying its designs and
streetscape renderings in the City Hall Gallery. Gochoel said the Blue Earth Alliance's
photography exhibit was dropped from the 2005 gallery schedule because only four
images in the exhibit are by Auburn native Wes Pope, two of which have sold and won't
be included in the exhibit. That opened a window for the Storefront Studio Project exhibit
of the students' drawings and renderings at the City Hall Gallery from January 28 to
March 10. The students' work show the existing assets of downtown transformed into
designs and streetscape renderings that convey and array of possibilities for revitalizing
and enhancing downtown. Several downtown storefront windows will also feature the
students' work.
V. Any Other Business
The Auburn Justice Center opening is Friday, Nov. 12. Lighting artist Sidney Genette's
light installation in the lobby, "Blue Neutron Blue," as well as exterior blue neon lighting
on the marquee and outdoor canopy will be dedicated with the building. Genette will
attend the ceremony and be available to discuss his work with the public.
The BRAVO! performance, "Dances of China," by the Chinese Performing Artists of
America is Friday, Nov. 19.
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City of Auburn Arts Commission
November 2004 minutes, Page 3
Gochoel reported The Seattle Opera's Young Singers BRAVO! performance, Nov. 5,
was well received. About 150 people attended. The opera hosted a pre-concert reception
for Commissioner Emeritus Gertie Sprenger, a lifetime honorary Seattle Opera trustee
and opera education pioneer. Many Auburn community members attended the reception.
Gochoel said all the free tickets to the 133rd Army Band's "Red, White and Blue
Christmas" concert, 2 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 5 have been given out. She held back a handful
of tickets for interested commissioners. The Army Band will present a private concert at
11 a.m. for friends and family. The band plans to videotape the private performance and
send it to troops serving overseas in time for Christmas.
There was no other business. The meeting adjourned at 5:27 p.m. The next regular
meeting is 4:30 p.m., Monday, Dec. 13 in the City Council Conference Room at City
Hall, 25 West Main St.