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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-09-1998Auburn Arts Commission Monday, March 9, 1998 MINUTES Commissioners present: Herman Ansingh, Ron Carson, Paul Dodsworth, Bonnie Egbert, Lynn Norman, Bobby Medina, Barbie Sharrard, Pam Smith Commissioners absent: Paul Fouhy, Don Gardner, Gertie Sprenger Staff present: Josie Emmons, Susan Sagawa Guests present: Cheryl Hosking, Laura Sigmond, Eliane Medina Chair Norman called the meeting to order at 4:30pm. She asked the minutes be approved as mailed. Commissioner Sharrard noted that Don Gardner was present at the last meeting; this was not indicated in the minutes. Commissioner Dodsworth moved the minutes be approved as amended. Commissioner Egbert seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED II. Chair Norman introduced Laurel Sigmond from the Valley Artist Association. The Valley Artist Association is participating in this year's Fourth of July Festival. They will give demonstrations and workshops at the Festival and sponsor a juried art exhibit. Ms. Sigmond asked for a member of the Commission to be a judge. The Commission will select a juror at the next Commission meeting. A flyer was passed around for the Commission to review regarding the art show. Comments were presented to Ms. Sigmond. In case of bad weather, the art show will move into the Senior Center. Ms. Sigmond thanked the Commission for their consideration and was excused. Discussion followed as to whether or not the Valley Artist Association should pay a fee for participating in the Festival. The staff's recommendation was to not charge the Association with a fee as their service is similar to that of the Elk's Club Bingo. The Association, through the demonstrations and workshops are adding an element to the Festival which otherwise the Commission could not provide. Commissioner Egbert moved that the Valley Artist Assodation, a not-for-profit organization not be charged a fee because of its service contribution to the Festival. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Sharrard. MOTION PASSED III. Chair Norman reported that the originally planned participation in Olympia Arts Day did not occur. She was the only commissioner available to attend with staff the events in Olympia. Because of the nature of Arts Day, it did not appear worthwhile to attend without any other Commission members. VI. The Auburn Arts Commission received a request from Good O1 Days for a juror for the annual art show. Commissioner Sharrard volunteered. Staff will notify Good O1 Days. Commissioner Norman reported on the Library artist selection process. The panelists included from the Commission, members Lynn Norman and Ron Carson also representatives from the King County Library staff, King County Library Board, the architects, the Auburn Public Library Board, and Dick Deal, director of Parks and Recreation. It was an interesting and lively process in which five finalists were chosen. Sought was an artist whose work would be an integral part of the library structure itself. Slides were shown to the Commission of the panel's recommended artists: the team of Nancy Mee and Dennis Evans. Commissioner Egbert moved that the Commission accept the panel's recommendation. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Smith. MOTION PASSED Josie Emmons reported that 936 people attended the Auburn Symphony performances this past weekend. A good review was in this morning's Searde PI and one is expected in the News Tribune. Several commissioners mentioned that they received comments that the pre-concert lecture was excellent and that it assists our new audiences with learning about the music. They directed staff to continue scheduling pre-performance lectures when appropriate. There was consensus that the music selection for this concert was excellent and exciting for both the audience and the orchestra. Discussion followed as to the long-term stability of the organization in consideration of the fact that it is still young and developing. This discussion led to a discussion of BRAVO! programming as a whole. It was reiterated that the Commission continue to support the Symphony through technical assistance as only needed now that the organization has professional staff. There was strong consensus that the Symphony "bookend" the 1998/99 BRAVO! series next season with a performance at the beginning of the series and one at the end. Suggestions were made to staff to discuss the possibility of a vocalist to perform with the Symphony with the music director of the organization. The Arts Commission is sponsoring (through Washington State Arts Commission and King County Arts Commission) artist residencies at the four Auburn middle schools during the months of March and April. The residencies are designed to enhance the current curriculum in the schools by adding a cultural component to the learning of geography, science, language arts, and foreign language. The Commission was pleased with this program Commissioners requested a list of the artists, the dates of the residencies, and a description of what each is doing in each school. Lynn Norman reported that the Downtown Plan Task Force has strongly indicated that an artist be involved with the development of the plan to identify potential opportunities for future public art within the downtown core. Because of the speed in which the RTA station is being developed, staff met with Carol Valenta, public art manager for the RTA, METRO/King County, Jack Locke from the City's Engineering Department, and Betty Sanders from the City's Planning Department to discuss ways to involve an artist. Ms. Valenta recommended that the METRO/King County artist roster for public engineering projects be utiliv, ed in order to find and select an artist who could join the planning team immediately. Staff made contacts with the artists to determine who was available. Vicki Scuri, who is highly recommended by Ms. Valenta and who has worked on numerous public art projects throughout the United States is currently available. Staff showed the Commission slides of her work and her resume. Commissioner Ansingh moved that the Commission recommend Vicki Scuff to work with the consultant planners (the finn of Arai/Jackson) to develop recommendations within the Downtown Plan for public art. Discussion followed as to the selection process for artists who would actually create artwork for the RTA station and the C St?3ra Street ramp to Highway 18. There was concurrence that the Arts Commission should distribute a Call for Artists to develop an Artist Roster from which artists could be selected and interviewed. There was no further business. The meeting adjourned at 6:15pm. The next meeting of the Arts Commission is Monday, April 13 at 4:30pm.