HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-14-2005
* ';f^:'"
AC~l1:RTY OF - ;-l~RN. :,' *
...nJ ~itF'"~:':'U
* ".)>-- _"ri", -
/.ce;' WASHINGTON
City of Auburn Arts Commission
Monday, November 14, 2005, 4:30 pm
Meeting Minutes
Commissioners present: Vice Chair Kristen Brock, Pam Smith, Nancy Colson, Steve
LePenske, Amanda Flanery, Don Gardner
Commissioners absent (excused): Bonnie Egbert, Herman Ansingh, Anne Baunach,
Pat Gallagher, Linda Elliott, Barbie Sharrard
Staff present: Daryl Faber, Parks and Recreation Director; Lori Patrick, Cultural Arts Manager;
Laurie Rose, Cultural Arts Coordinator
Call to order: Commission Vice Chair Kristen Brock called the meeting to order at 4:35 p.m.
I. Approval of October minutes & Introductions
October minutes: Commissioner Brock announced approval of the October minutes will
be tabled until December meeting when a quorum is convened.
Introductions and Guest speaker: Guest Carol Stripling with the Auburn Police
Volunteer's Witness Victim Support Team made a presentation regarding a proposed
fund raising project to sell a CD recording of locally-based musicians with proceeds
benefiting an initiative to fund temporary secure housing for domestic violence victims
immediately following an alleged attack. Ms. Stripling asked the commission for advice
how to proceed with such a project and if the commissioners could recommend a slate
of musicians. Discussion followed.
II. City Hall Gallery 2006 Exhibition Program
Commissioner Steve LePenske reported the slate of exhibits for the 2006 City Hall
Gallery. 42 artists applied, double the number of recent years. Of those, 14 were
selected, with four from the greater Auburn area. This slate represents a larger exhibition
schedule than previous years. To accommodate this schedule, five exhibits will be
combined shows of two to three artists. Additionally, the shows have been reduced from
six to seven weeks to five or six weeks. The schedule also includes the annual January
PTA Reflections Show and the Good 01' Days juried exhibit in August.
III. Public Art: Auburn Way South and F Street; 2006 Project; Downtown banners;
Graffiti wall
The Auburn Way South and F Street Les Gove signage project is underway and in the
month ahead the artist Ingrid Lahti will arrange to pour the footings for the sign. Ms. Lahti
provided two historic railroad fonts for the commission to review. The commission
selected the historic Northern Pacific font, which represents the City's railroad history.
Commissioner LePenske reported the public art committee conducted a site visit with
Environmental Protection Manager Aaron Nix and Project Engineer Scott Nutter to
Nov. 14,2005, City of Auburn Arts Commission Meeting Minutes
Page 1 of 3
review the West Main Street non-motorized improvement project site as the proposed
2006 public art project. The improvements are located between the Interurban Trail and
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad tracks. The public art committee recommended
public art be centered are the Interurban trail. Public art elements could include sidewalk
and crosswalk designs.
Cultural Arts Manager Lori Patrick reported the downtown winter banners, purchased
last year, will be installed in conjunction with the flag banners the Auburn Downtown
Association recently installed. Additional pole brackets will be purchased.
Parks and Recreation Director Daryl Faber asked the arts commission and the parks
board meet to discuss the possibility of installing a "graffiti wall" at the Brannen Skate
Park. Mr. Faber has discussed the success of similar projects in other King County
suburban cities and is very encouraged with the positive feedback he's received from
these discussions.
IV. BRAVO! series update
Cultural Arts Coordinator Laurie Rose reported total BRAVO! ticket sales to date are
approximately 60% of revenue goals for the season, up 10% from last month.
The Auburn Symphony Orchestra (Oct. 15 and 16) was an incredible concert, garnering
enthusiastic praise from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer's classical music critic. The overall
attendance for both concerts was 605. The Seattle Opera Yong Artists In Performance
(Nov. 4) was also well received and this year offered a more diverse program than in
years past. Though the attendance is typically small for this event in comparison to other
Mainstage events (125 attended), the revenue goal was exceeded.
Ticket sales for The McManus Comedies production of A Fine and Pleasant Misery are
strong. Additional advertising was purchased to promote the show as well. Promotion of
the BRAVO! Kids series is underway. The first show, Snapdragon Puppets' The
Mousecracker, is Dec. 10. Currently subscriptions for the series are within 75% of the
goal and single ticket sales for all five shows are steady.
Ms. Patrick reported on the process of booking the 2006/07 BRAVO! season. Eight
shows are currently on the table, ranging from Broadway-style musicals and world dance
to a Shakespeare production and a comedy review.
V. Summer 2006: Cinema
Staff is pursuing possible sponsors for the Outdoor Cinema initiative. Discussion
followed regarding splitting sponsorships when trying to build a single cinema series.
VI. King County Performance Network wrap up
Two of the three originally scheduled King County Performance Network site-specific
performances were successful and very well received. Molten Vocals sang to the
Sunday Sea hawk crowd at the Transit Station and Sunbreak Cafe. The Pony Boy All
Star Big Band made the City's new Halloween event, S'More Than You Imagined at
Game Farm Wilderness Park, a very festive occasion. The third performance, a theater
installation originally scheduled for the SuperMall's Santa's Arrival event, was completely
Nov. 14, 2005, City of Auburn Arts Commission Meeting Minutes
Page 2 of 3
rewritten to be a part of the City's annual Veteran's Day celebration. However, due to a
variety of circumstances, the staff and the artist determined this year was not the
appropriate opportunity for such a project.
VII. Other Business: King County Lodging Tax legislative education project;
Audience surveys; Planning and Development Committee report
Ms. Patrick reviewed the purpose of her meetings with legislative representatives, per
request from 4Culture, is to educate them regarding the future of the King County
Lodging Tax, of which many arts programs in the county receive funding (the
commission's re-granting project is funded from these dollars).
Ms. Rose announced the initial audience surveys for the Shades of Summer concerts
and first BRAVO! peformances of this season are compiled and she will either email or
post copies to each commissioner.
Ms. Patrick announced the City Council's Planning and Community Development
Committee invites the arts commission to report on its activities at its Nov. 28 meeting.
Staff and Vice Chair Brock will present.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Laurie Rose
Cultural Arts Coordinator
Nov. 14, 2005, City of Auburn Arts Commission Meeting Minutes
Page 3 of 3