HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-11-2005
City of Auburn Arts Commission
Monday, April 11, 2005
MINUTES
Commissioners present: Hennan Ansingh; Nancy Colson; Bonnie Egbert, chair;
Amanda Flanery; Steve LePenske; Pat Gallagher; Don Gardner
Commissioners absent: Anne Baunach, Kristen Brock, Linda Elliott; Barbie Sharrard,
Pam Smith (excused)
Staff present: Lori Patrick, cultural arts manager
Guests present: Sherri Greene
I. Introductions and approval of minutes
Commissioner Hennan Ansingh moved that the March minutes be approved as
submitted. Commissioner Steve LePenske seconded the motion.
MOTION APPROVED
Chair Bonnie Egbert welcomed visitor Sherri Greene, a new Auburn resident who is
interested in volunteering at city cultural events.
II. Cultural Arts Coordinator position
Cultural Arts Manger Lori Patrick reported the cultural arts coordinator position has been
filled. Laurie Rose will start April 18. Ms. Rose brings extensive experience in theater
arts administration as well as marketing and heritage. She most recently managed
marketing for the Virginia V Foundation, which operated the historic mosquito fleet
steamship.
III. Public Art panel
Ms. Patrick polled commissioners to detennine who would be available to serve on the
public art panel for the upcoming project at the intersection of Auburn Way South and F
St. SE. The city will reconfigure the intersection to include a traffic signal. The
intersection is one of the primary access points to the Les Gove Park campus. Chair
Egbert, and commissioners Hennan Ansingh, Amanda Flanery, Steve LePenske, Don
Gardner and Pat Gallagher will serve on the public art panel to select an artist for the site.
City Project Engineer Jennifer Dvorak will also serve on the panel.
Ms. Patrick said the application deadline is Monday, April 18. She reported only one
application has come in to date. However, it's not uncommon for most of the applications
to come in the day of the deadline. The panel is scheduled to review applications and
select up to three finalists, April 21 and meet with the finalists, May 3.
Commissioners discussed the site, which poses challenges as a busy intersection.
Commissioner Nancy Colson asked whether the public art should be oriented to
pedestrians or motorists, as this wasn't indicated in the call for artists. The commission
agreed the integrated public art work should be oriented primarily to motorists and placed
on the east side of the intersection. The intersection is a primary access point to the Les
Gove Park campus, however signage from Auburn Way South is poor. The commission
discussed the need for a directional element at the intersection, but stopped short of
recommending signage as the public art component. The commission discussed whether
addressing signage at the intersection is its role or an aspect to be managed by the city.
The commission concluded its discussion with the recommendation that the public art
aspect ofthe project serve as a directional landmark or create a visual portal to the park
campus. The piece could also visually represent activities that take place at the park
campus.
IV. BRAVO! 05/06 season
Ms. Patrick reported that she has booked actor Tim Behrens who presents a one-man
humor show based on the books by Pat McManus. Behrens will perfonn Nov. 19. He also
offers an acting workshop to high-school students. Chair Egbert suggested partnering
with the Auburn Library to display books by humorist authors at the performance.
An Tua and the Comerford Irish Dancers will perfonn, Friday, April 7.
V. Grant Applications
Ms. Patrick reported she submitted a $4,000 grant request in conjunction with the Auburn
School District to the Washington State Arts Commission to support Artisans in the
Schools, the City of Auburn Arts Commission's arts education program. Ms. Patrick also
submitted two $2,500 grant requests to the Western State Arts Federation to assist with
perfonnance fees for out-of-state perfonners slated to perfonn on the 2005-2006
BRAVO! season.
Ms. Patrick said Public Health of Seattle and King County will provide $2,500 to fund
the design, printing and distribution ofthe 2005 Shades of Summer brochure. The
funding comes from the health department's new Artpatch project, designed to highlight
the importance of art to the health of a community and expose and counter tobacco
industry efforts to turn local (mostly Seattle) arts organizations into a marketing tool for
their product. The funding comes at a critical time, as the University of Washington
Extension recently discontinued its graphic arts program. For the past several years,
students in the program have designed the summer brochure pro bono as part of their
final project.
Ms. Patrick also plans to apply to The Boeing Company for pro bono printing ofthe
2005-2006 BRAVO! Season brochure.
VI. King County Performance Network
Ms. Patrick reported planning continues for the site specific perfonnance network
administered and partially funded by 4Culture, formally the King County Arts
Commission. The goal ofthe perfonnance network is to bring performances to non-
traditional venues in suburban areas in September and October. Staff is working with
vocalist Christian Swenson to perform at the Sound Transit station during a busy
commute hour or weekend run to a Mariner's or Seahawks game and exploring a
potential theatre performance at the SuperMall during its Magical Night of Giving. Staff
is also researching the possibility of booking a big band at the parks department's
Halloween event, Smore than You Imagined.
VII. Clean Sweep
Ms. Patrick announced the City's annual Clean Sweep event is Saturday, May 21. The
focus will be on downtown projects. She passed out a sign-up sheet.
VIII. Other business
Auburn Idol registration fonns and guidelines are on the City's Web site, Ms. Patrick
said.
Ms. Patrick reported Commissioner Barbie Sharrard will volunteer with Miss Auburn
Valerie Brogden to paint a mural in a classroom at ACAP.
Auburn Watercolorist Rickey Burlando is the featured artist in the City Hall Gallery. Her
reception, April I, was well attended. She sold a painting and numerous greeting cards,
Ms. Patrick said.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:55 p.m. The next meeting is
4:30 p.m., Monday, May 9, in the City Council Conference Room at City Hall,
25 West Main St.
Respectfully submitted by Lori Patrick, cultural arts manager.