Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-14-2000Auburn Arts Commission Monday, August 14, 2000 MINUTES COmmissioners present: Herman Ansingh, Anne Baunach, Kristen Brock, Paul Dodsworth, Bonnie Egbert, Don Gardner, Steve LePenske, Lynn Norman and Gertie Sprenger Commissioners absent: Barbie Sharrard, Pam Smith and John Stanphill (all excused) Staff present: Susan Sagawa, cultural programs manager; Loft Corso, cultural programs specialist; Dick Deal, director of parks and recreation Visitors: Radine Lozier, recreation specialist; Helen Malidore, citizen; Ries Niemi, artist; Sue Singer, city council member and Soroptimist; Claire Stewart, Soroptimist president I. Introduction and Approval of Minutes Commissioner Paul Dodsworth asked that the July minutes be corrected to reflect that Commissioner Bonnie Egbert seconded the motion to approve the sustained support panel's funding recommendations. Commissioner Herman Ansingh moved that the minutes be approved as amended. Commissioner Bonnie Egbert seconded the motion. MOTION APPROVED Commissioner Dodsworth introduced new Commissioner Anne Baunach. Baunach fills the position vacated by former Commissioner Bobby Medina. Baunach has lived in Auburn with her husband and two children for more than 5 years. She was part of the SuperMall grand opening marketing team. She is currently Resource Development Director at Green River Community College. II. Public Art Artist Ries Niemi presented his design concepts for the new Senior Center facility and the Sundial millennium project in Les Gove Park. Niemi's proposed artwork at the new Senior Center includes five pieces featuring historical scenes made from flat and painted metal with explanatory text integrated into the scene. The five, mostly two-dimensional vignettes will feature typical Auburn citizens from the past. They will not be specific 'people, but modeled after Auburn residents in a variety of situations. The pieces will act as sort of an entry sequence, starting outside, continuing into the building and branching out in each of the three directions along the central axis of the building. (more) Arts Commission Minutes, August 2000 Page 2 Niemi's five proposed pieces are: · Under the canopy near the front door would be a functional bench where a senior- citizen resident sits reading a book · Mounted on the left wall of the vestibule would be part of a Model T Ford sun'ounded by a few people (the 20 millionth Ford was sold in Auburn in 1931) · Wrapping around one of the pipe columns at the center of the lobby would be a Japanese woman farm worker surrounded by vegetables and flowers · Vegetation would wind up the chimney case and into the fire place area where a man would be picking hops · On the wall facing the main reception desk would be a piece referring to the presence of the railroad in Auburn with the front part of a locomotive and a railway worker next to it Commissioner Bonnie Egbert moved to accept Niemei's preliminary design for the senior center as it is represented in his working drawings, pending approval of the architects, senior center and city council. Commissioner Herman Ansingh seconded the motion. MOTION APPROVED B. Niemi's proposal for the sundial project at Les Gove Park is a large picnic table with the top functioning as a sundial. The table--approximately 8-feet long and 6-feet wide--would be placed in the grassy area between the old and new senior centers. Niemi proposed that the table be made of old-growth wood, stone and metal, with the metal gnomon sitting near the center of the table. In addition to a functioning sundial, the table's surface would feature text about the cosmos, the sun and the earth. The project is a joint commission of the arts commission and local service organizations, including the Soroptimists. A discussion ensued regarding the potential for vandalism of the piece, particularly carving in the tables' wood. Commissioners and service club representatives suggested Niemi cover the tables' surface and benches with more text, stone and metal to prevent vandalism. Commissioner Herman Ansingh moved that the commission accept Niemi's sundial concept as presented with the proviso that there is further discussion with the artist regarding ways to minimize vandalism. Commissioner Genie Sprenger seconded the motion. The motion carried 7 to 2. MOTION APPROVED Niemi will return prior to the commission retreat, 3:30 p.m., Sept, 11, for further discussion of the sundial proposal, taking into consideration the expressed concern of the potential for vandalism. Auburn Arts Commission minutes, August 2000 Page 3 Ce Susan Sagawa said 7,500 public art brochures have arrived. Distribution points include local restaurants, the library, chamber of commerce, senior center, schools, Green River Community College, SuperMall, hotels, city hall and Lakeland Hills community center. Susan Sagawa reported that artist Kathy Glowen has completed the poster for the Auburn Sound Transit Station. The poster, titled "Auburn Berry Pickers," is a collage/painting featuring a black-and-white photograph of two women picking berries in the fifties in the Auburn Valley. The station's grand-opening ceremony is Sunday, Sept. 17, at 10 a.m. Kathy Glowen will be honored and her poster displayed in a cabinet at the station. Artists created posters to celebrate the opening of seven commuter rail stations between Tacoma and Seattle. Each station's poster will feature an original image. Auburn will exhibit the seven original posters as part of its 2001 gallery lineup. The exhibition will be in the museum's new gallery addition in July. III. BRAVO! 2000/2001 Season ge Be Ce Susan Sagawa said 15,000 BRAVO! Season brochures arrived last week. A bulk mailing house distributed 12,000 to a variety of postal-cartier routes in Auburn and to people on the BRAVO! Mailing list. The remaining 3,000 will be distributed throughout the season. The Boeing Company printed the brochure. Because Boeing only offers its printing services as an in-kind contribution every other year, the commission will have to consider other sponsors to print next season's brochure. The King County Performance Network awarded the commission $5,000 (a 50 - percent increase over last year's allocation) to fund three performance-network groups that are part of the BRAVO season: m-pact; Voices of Jazz, Danced; and Sprouts Children's Theatre. Commissio,ner Lynn Norman said the South County Journal will serve as a BRAVO media sponsor again this year, but is looking for ways to expand the parmership, such as including inserts in BRAVO! programs. The paper's goal is to maximize circulation. The South County Journal's black-tie arts fund raiser, "Standing Ovation," is set for October 2001 at The Museum of Flight. A committee will select two South County arts organizations that will benefit from 'he fund raiser. All area arts organizations will have an oppommity to be represented at the event. Auburn Arts Commission minutes, August 2000 Page 4 IV. Update on Shades of Summer Concerts Loft Corso said total attendance to date is more than 4,000, up several hundred over last year. The final concert is by The Rockaroos, Wednesday, Aug. 16, 12:30 p.m. at Les Gore. V. Gallery Exhibitions 2001 The Call for Artists for the 2001 City Hall Gallery exhibitions went out. A panel will meet, Thursday, Oct. 5, 1 p.m., in Room 1 to jury the applications. VI. Other business The arts commission retreat is 4 to 8 p.m., Monday, Sept. 11, in Room 1. Dan Mayer, marketing director at On The Boards Theatre, will facilitate. A light dinner will be served. Ries Niemi will present his revised sundial proposal prior to the retreat at 3:30 p.m. Susan Sagawa is in the process of collecting names of people to serve on an Arts Commission Advisory Board. To date, she has former commissioners Ron Carson and Bobby Medina and local artist Mary Adrian Blanchard listed for consideration. There was no other business. The meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m. The commission retreat, Monday, Sept. 11, 4 to 8 p.m., Room 1, will replace the regular September meeting.