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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-08-2001Auburn Arts Commission Monday, Jan. 8, 2001 Minutes Commissioners present: Herman Ansingh; Anne Baunach; Kristen Brock; Bonnie Egbert; Don Gardner; Steve LePenske, chair; Lynn Norman; Barbie Sharrard; Pam Smith; Genie Sprenger; and John Stanphill Commissioners absent: Paul Dodsworth (excused) Staff present: Susan Sagawa, cUltural programs manager; Lori Patrick, cultural programs specialist Visitors: Karen Keist, landscape architect; Jack Locke, city's special projects engineer; Carol Valenta, Sound Transit STart manager; Jeff Wolfe, Sound Transit project manager I. Introduction and approval of minutes Commission Chair Steve LePenske called the meeting to order at 4:32 p.m. Commissioner Kristen Brock asked that the December minutes be amended to reflect that she was in attendance. Commissioner Herman Ansingh moved that the minutes be approved as amended. Commissioner Genie Sprenger seconded the motion. MOTION APPROVED II. Update on Phase 2, Auburn Transit Station Susan Sagawa reviewed the commission's action at its December meeting not to approve the design concept for Auburn's Sound Transit Plaza as proposed by artist Vicki Scuri. At this point, the commission needs to select a new artist to work with landscape architects to incorporate art into the plaza. Due to the tight timeline, Sagawa recommended the commission define the type of art project and where in the plaza it should be sited. She passed out a copy of the plaza's basic design and recommended the commission cover three topics: 1. Discuss sites for artwork in the plaza (Sound Transit budget $91,000) 2. Consider artwork for the parking garage (Sound Transit budget $45,000) 3. Determine a process to select artist(s) to work on the two sites Landscape architect Karen Keist discussed the proposed design for the plaza, which includes an orchard of trees, seasonal plantings, samples of materials and paving patterns in the concrete. The trees recommended for the orchard are flowering pears. An underground drainage vault, which runs the length of the plaza has shifted the configuration of the trees and the plaza grid. Keist suggested artwork could be sited along the bus access road, which bisects the plaza. She pointed to the Adobe campus plaza in Seattle's Fremont neighborhood, where lighted bollards and tall sculptural elements frame the plaza and define its edge. Sagawa passed around photographs of the Adobe plaza. SagaWa reminded the commission that in spring interviews will be scheduled for the "entryway" public art project. This project is for a piece of sculpture that connects the plaza to the downtown area. The city's budget for the entryway piece is $30,000. The commission discussed siting plaza artwork along the edges of the plaza, which border the bus roadway, and possibly within the orchard area. Carol Valenta of Sound Transit, said she could provide a short list of artists from which commissioners could choose three artists to submit proposals. Commissioner Don Gardner moved that the commission consider three artist proposals for projects, which place artwork along the plaza roadway and into the orchard area. Sound Transit will pay the three artists $1,000 each to bring proposals. Commissioner Sprenger seconded the motion. MOTION APPROVED The commission's public art committee will meet, Thursday, Jan. 25, 1:30 p.m. to choose three artists, from a short a list of about 20 artists, to present proposals. Commissioners discussed several areas where art could be incorporated in the plaza's parking garage, including custom panels in the first-level openings, a design element on the sheer wall or enhancing a free-standing column, which is part of the architect's garage design. Commissioner Lynn Norman moved that the focus of $45,000 in art funds for the parking garage go to enhance the northeast triangulated comer of the parking garage, which includes a free-standing column and a brick-face wall behind the column. The commission shall select the artist at the same time it selects an artist to work on the plaza. Commissioner Gardner seconded the motion. MOTION APPROVED Commissioners discussed including a kiosk in the plaza and potential locations. Jeff Wolfe said the White River Valley Museum will have a display case in the elevator lobby. Commissioner Lynn Norman requested the arts commission be involved in discussions about the museum's display case if funding for the case comes out the arts commission's budget. Jack Locke, city senior projects engineer, said the city has not marked any of the art budget for the display case. Commissioners discussed the potential of an artist including the kiosk in the design proposal for the plaza. Prior to voting, a discussion ensued on the necessity to study traffic flow throughout the plaza to best determine where a kiosk should be placed. Karen Keist offered to do the research, suggest the type, manufacture and cost of a kiosk and submit the information to the commission at a later date. (more) Commissioner Ansingh moved that the commission include a kiosk in the plaza with the design and location to be determined by an artist. Commissioner Sprenger seconded the motion. MOTION FAILED Commissioner Norman moved that the commission consider Keist's recommendations. Commissioner Bonnie Egbert seconded the motion. MOTION APPROVED III. Other Business County arts funding Commissioner Norman announced that the King County Arts Commission was able to retain threatened funding for the arts and heritage sustained support programs. Sagawa handed out a letter from Greg Nickels, King County councilmember, announcing that $150,000--equal to the enhanced funding in 2000--has been restored to the arts program. This means that in 2001 the commission will receive $12,000 in sustained support. Commissioner Norman suggested members of the commission contact their King County councilmember or complete council and thank them for the retaining the arts dollars in the county budget. Public Art Sagawa said certificates will go out to kids who participated in the recent workshop at Terminal Park Elementary led by artist Diane Aurigemma of High Flying Banners. The banners are in storage, and are scheduled to go up in late spring or early summer following completion of construction at Les Gove Park. Commissioner Steve LePenske is taking photographs of artist Phillip Levine at work in his studio on the Les Gove entryway project. Commissioners scheduled a studio visit to public artist Ries Niemi's foundry in Bow, Friday, Feb. 2. A van will leave City Hall at 9 a.m. Commissioner Ansingh moved to adjourn the meeting and table the remaining agenda items. Pam Smith seconded the motion. MOTION APPROVED The meeting adjourned at 6:37 p.m. The commission will discuss the remaining agenda items, an overview of 2001 visual and performing arts programs and an update on current public arts projects, at its next regular meeting, Monday, Feb. 12, 4:30 p.m. in Conference Room 1.