HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-06-2019 Minutes City of Auburn Arts Commission
Tuesday,
August 6, 2019 Meeting Minutes
Present: Cary Davidson, Charlotte Gollnick, Patricia Judd, Kelley Kuhlman, Amy Sie, Sirichanh
Sisavatdy
Staff: Arts & Special Events Manager, Julie Krueger; Arts Assistant, Mary Ellen Bowers
Excused: Kelly Gordon, Eydie Leighty, Pam Smith
Resigned: Ann Baunach
Unexcused: Jan Jensen, Kenneth Greg Watson
I. Call to Order
a. Call to Order— Chair Kuhlman called the meeting to order at 4:37 PM.
b. Approval of minutes — Chair Kuhlman asked for a motion to approve the minutes from
the May 7, 2019 Arts Commission meeting. Commissioner Sie moved that the minutes
be accepted as written. Commissioner Gollnick seconded the motion. Chair Kuhlman
called the vote, and the motion passed unanimously.
II. Downtown Sculpture Gallery
a) Purchase Award — Commissioners reviewed the sculptures on display during the 2018-
2019 Sculpture Gallery. Discussion was had about the merits of each of the considered
sculptures. Commissioners selected the sculpture Heirloom Hare by Jacob Novinger to
receive the Purchase Award. Comments from commissioners included that the piece is:
positive; cheerful; whimsical; colorful; different from other pieces and a good addition to
the collection. Commissioner Sie moved that the recommendation of the Purchase
Award be accepted by the Commission, Commissioner Gollnick seconded. The motion
passed unanimously.
b) People's Choice Award — Manager Krueger presented the results of the People's
Choice Award vote. The winning sculpture is Greeting by Kevin Pettelle. There were 559
votes cast for the award. Krueger noted that voting picked up considerably after the
GovDelivery e-blast in late July. It seems clear that one artist did a great job of
promoting the opportunity to vote, resulting in a large lead in the voting. The process
surrounding the People's Choice Award was discussed, with no changes being
suggested to change the process at this time.
c) Installation schedule—The sculptures currently on display will be de-installed; and the
sculptures that were selected by the Arts Commission in April will be installed during the
week of September 9 - 13.
d) Use of alternate—Arts Assistant Bowers informed commissioners that the sculpture
"Conduit" by Mir Agol, that was originally slated to be installed at the Game Farm Park
location was no longer available for display. The alternate selection "Reflection" by Abe
Singer will be placed in this location instead.
III. Juries for Calls to Artists — Manager Krueger asked for volunteers to sit on the jury for two
jury opportunities coming up during September: the 2020 Auburn City Galleries jury and the
2020 Art on Main jury. Commissioners Gollnick, Judd, and Sisavatdy indicated interest in
jurying the applications. The juries will include arts commissioners, city staff, artists and
community members.
IV. News and Updates:
a. Anne Baunach resignation — Manager Krueger informed the commission that
Commissioner Baunach has had a change in her work responsibilities and is unable to
continue as a commissioner. Commissioner Baunach submitted a letter of resignation
by email on July 22, 2019.
b. Mary Olson Farm Artist in Residence—Arts Assistant Bowers recapped the Mary Olson
Farm Artist in Residence program that concluded on July 31, 2019. Bowers showed a
brief slideshow of some of the artwork created by Elise Koncsek during the residency.
Krueger added that the 2018 Artist in Residence, Michelle Lassaline, currently has an
exhibition called Watershed at the White River Valley Museum. Commissioners are
encouraged to attend and see the work that Lassaline created while at the Mary Olson
Farm last year.
c. Utility Boxes —Krueger updated commissioners on the Utility Box project which will
include 16 utility box wraps created by 10 artists. The wraps will be installed around
town from Wednesday, August 7— Friday, August 9.
d. F St Mural — Krueger updated commissioners on the F Street Mural project. She
gathered comments from commissioners regarding two concepts provided by the artist
Nick Goettling. Comments will be forwarded to the Code Enforcement division who will
be heading up the project. There was a clear positive response to the concept "Pillow
Fight."
e. Arts Alley updates — Krueger updated the commission on the progress of the Arts Alley
project. Staff are currently working on acquiring a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA)
from the King County Landmarks Commission. The COA is required before changes to
the alley begin. Krueger also shared the proposed plan for seating wall, stage, asphalt
and curb changes that will make the alley more pedestrian friendly and usable as a
community gathering place.
f. 4Culture Facilities grant— Krueger shared the news that 4Culture awarded a $50,000
grant to the City of Auburn in their 2019 Facilities Grant cycle. Krueger noted that
approximately $1.2M has been raised so far for the project and work will likely begin on
the interior of the first floor in early 2020.
g. Crow Landing updates— Krueger recapped the Crow with Fries sculpture dedication
event and informed commissioners that we hope to find a solution to the narrow beam
of reflection afforded by the current blue up-light in order to give a softer and wider
spread of light on the sculpture at night.
h. New BRAVO series— Krueger circulated the marketing pieces for the upcoming
BRAVO season. Krueger also shared information about the Auburn Community
Players' winter musical "The Five Ghosts of Ebenezer Scrooge" which was originally
written to be performed at the Auburn Ave. Theater when it was the Auburn Dinner
Theater.
i. Summer Community Art Programs -
i) Literary Showcase — Krueger noted that there will be a Literary Showcase and Small
Press Fair in the community rooms at the Community & Event Center during
AuburnFest on Saturday, August 10.
ii) ArtRageous Zones — Krueger noted that ArtRageous hands-on arts opportunities
have been provided at all of the major events this summer, including Summer
Sounds & Cinema, KidsDay, and will be provided at the upcoming AuburnFest
iii) Benchmarks — Bowers updated commissioners on the placement of benches in the
community for this year's Benchmarks program. There are thirteen benches this
year.
iv) Pianos on Parade— Bowers informed commissioner that pianos are out on display
for use by the public. There are 4 pianos in the program this year.
j. SoCo Culture — Bowers reminded commissioners that the South King County Arts
Commissioners Summit will be held on Thursday, September 19, 2019 at the SeaTac
Community Center located at 13735 24th Avenue S in SeaTac. Commissioners can
expect invitations to arrive by email from Barbara McMichael of SoCo Culture.
Commissioners are also welcome to attend SoCo Culture's regular meeting on
September 10, 2019 at 10:00AM at Sidereal Fine Art Press in Tukwila.
V. Other News
a. Auburn Days Parade— Commissioner Sisavatdy announced that the Lao Women's
Association will be in the Auburn Days Parade at 11:00 on Saturday, August 10, 2019
VI. Adjourn
a. There being no further business, Commissioner Gollnick moved to adjourn the meeting,
Commissioner Judd seconded, the motion passed. The meeting adjourned at 5:45 PM.
Respectfully submitted, Mary Ellen Bowers
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