HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - PAC Meeting Minutes 11/03/21PUBLIC ART COMMISSION, CITY OF AMES
MEETING MINUTES – November 3, 2021
AMES CITY HALL, ROOM 135
Present: Angie DeWaard (Chair), Penny Adam (Secretary), Erica Briest (Vice-Chair), Karen George (Treasurer),
Claire Kruesel, Olivia Madison, Aspen Pflanz, Brian Phillips (City Liaison), Sara Sherman
Absent: Taylor Carlson, Amanda Gigler, Joseph Merchant, Paola Sepulveda, Candace Zwank, Elias Simpson
(leave of absence)
Public Forum / Guests: none present
I. Call to Order – Angie DeWaard, Chair, called the meeting to order at 12:06pm.
II. Consent Agenda - Claire Kruesel moved and Aspen Pflanz seconded to approve
A. Minutes for October 6, 2021 PAC Meeting (Penny Adam, Secretary)
B. Treasurer’s Report for November 3, 2021 (Karen George, Treasurer)
C. Committee Reports and Comments
1. Outreach (Olivia Madison and Erica Briest Co-Chairs; Penny Adam, Candace Zwank)
a. December 17, 2021 is deadline for Neighborhood Art applications, let Outreach know if you want
on the subcommittee.
b. Applications for the next generation of AAOSE opened October 1, 2021 and closes on January 28,
2022.
2. Public Relations (Paola Sepulveda and Sara Sherman as Co-Chairs; Taylor Carlson)
a. Checks were sent to Chalk the Walk winners
b. Digital frames for festival and events, Elias Simpson has provided a document with research. (For
future discussion, no action needed immediately.)
3. Collection Management (Angie DeWaard and Amanda Gigler as Co-Chairs; Olivia Madison, Claire
Kruesel, Karen George)
a. PAC Collection GIS database (Paola Sepulveda and Angie DeWaard)
b. The AAOSE piece titled “This Is Living” has a quarter stuck in its ear which Carly Watson is
researching.
c. Dahlquist downtown light features. (No action needed at this time, will work with Main Street
when resolution is pursued.)
d. Glowforge laser cutter (Candace Zwank) (No immediate action needed, for future discussion.)
III. Public Forum – N/A
IV. Chair’s Report and Comments - Angie DeWaard
A. No discussion topics today
V. City of Ames Liaison Comments - Brian Phillips
A. The budgeting process for public input will take place soon. The PAC budget request will be needed for
this process.
B. The RFP for the Plaza signature art piece has gone out and is also accessible on the City’s website.
Proposals are due by 2:00pm on December 1, 2021.
VI. Status Updates, No Action Needed Today
A. Transformer Cabinet Wrap Contest (Sara Sherman)
1. Final dates for next spring needed to release the call for artists
B. Storm Drain Intake Artwork Contest (Sara Sherman)
1. Final dates for next spring needed to release the call for artists
C. Potential wording change to Deaccession Policy
1. Angie has done a draft version, Candace is reviewing and making notes
D. Revamp and revise Art in the Parks program (Claire Kruesel)
1. Subcommittee has discussed doing one large project in each park as a focus piece.
E. “What Not To Do With Public Art” features on social media.
1. Current discussion is to hold this idea until after the next generation of AAOSE sculptures are
installed.
F. Capital Art Grants
1. $200,000 in grants are available, December 3, 2021 deadline. Grant recipients have 1 1/2 years to
complete.
2. In progress with COTA
VII. New and Continuing Business, Action Needed
A. Meeting Time Changes
1. Discussion took place on the current meeting date and time for PAC as so many members seem to
have conflicts. Presently under review is to retain the current meeting date and time or change to an
evening date and time.
a. Can zoom sessions be a method to involve members not able to make the current meeting date /
time? It is thought the Council needs to be included in this decision. If a hybrid meeting approach
(utilizing both in-person and zoom) is pursued using a different room at City Hall may need to be
considered.
b. This item will be revisited next month and a vote taken.
B. Ice Arena Mural request
1. Taylor Bassett, ice area manager, has requested a mural potentially be placed on the landing of the
stairs; presently there is not a budget to cover the costs.
a. After discussion, it was determined that Angie DeWaard will contact Taylor Bassett to explore a
partnership with the Ice Arena, and groups who use the facility, to assist with, and perhaps
fundraise for, this project.
C. United Way / Bridge Home request, photo essay “Suspended in Balance”
1. United Way / Bridge Home is advocating for display of a photo essay, by Susan Sidebottom, which
captures essential workers (such as cashiers, childcare providers, health care workers) during the
pandemic and brings focus to their struggles as they work to get back on their feet.
2. They request $2,500 to help support the project
a. After discussion the motion on the floor is to support the full request of $2,500 and suggest this
comes from the Public Art Administration portion of the budget.
b. Karen George makes the motion, Erica Briest seconds, passed by unanimous vote.
D. Museum Quality Lighting for Auditorium Stairwell
1. To summarize a message received on the City website from Tom Jackson: The Ames Town & Gown
Chamber Music Association purchased, in 2009, two works by Priscilla Sage for the lobby of the Ames
City Auditorium; PAC purchased museum quality lighting for these pieces. The artist loved the display
and donated an additional piece for the stairwell. The comment: “No lighting has ever been installed
(on the third, donated piece) and has been a disappointment to both the artist and patrons.”
2. Neither notes nor treasury reports on museum lighting purchased in 2009 were found when a search
was completed. To discover additional information Olivia Madison will consult with Kerry Dixon and
Aspen Pflanz will consult with Allison Sheridan to see what notes may be available on why the third
museum light was not purchased at that time.
3. More prominent issues are the perceived damages to this third fabric sculpture. After today’s
meeting the Collections Management team reviewed the piece and agrees on the potential damage.
Angie DeWaard is working with Brian Phillips to obtain contact information for the artist so she may
be consulted on the feasibility and method of repairs, cost, and timing.
4. Each of these PAC members (DeWaard, Madison, Pflanz) will bring their respective findings to the
next PAC meeting for discussion so the Commission can make informed decisions on next steps.
E. AAOSE honorarium amounts (Olivia Madison)
1. For as long as can be remembered Honorariums for AAOSE sculptures have been $1000 and Best in
Show awards at $500. An increase to both the Honorarium and Best in Show award amounts was
proposed.
a. After discussion it was determined to increase stipend amounts to $2,000 for Honorariums, for no
more than 8 new AAOSE sculptures per year, and to $1,000 for Best in Show.
b. Olivia Madison moved, Erica Briest seconded, item passed with unanimous consent. This will be
absorbed in the current budget.
F. Photo Triptych I Council Chambers, “Home” by Eric Sealine
1. Under the images are a series of acrylic panels with statements, one that mentions “Squaw Creek”
which has been renamed to “Ioway Creek”. It is unclear if the words are the work of the artist or
others.
a. After discussion and in-person observation, it was determined Olivia Madison and Carly Watson
will update the current labeling to address the change in name of the Creek.
VIII. For the Good of the Order - Group Discussion, New Ideas
IX. Adjournment (Angie DeWaard)
Angie DeWaard adjourned the meeting at 1:15 pm.
The next PAC meeting is scheduled on Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at 12:00 noon in 135 Ames City Hall.