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Home My WebLink About~Master - PAC Meeting Minutes 07/01/20Page 1 of 4 PUBLIC ART COMMISSION, CITY OF AMES MEETING MINUTES – July 1, 2020 HELD VIA ZOOM VIRTUAL MEETING Present: Sara Sherman (Chair), Penny Adam (Secretary), Erica Briest, Taylor Carlson, Angie DeWaard (Vice Chair), Karen George (Treasurer), Olivia Madison, Brian Phillips (Interim City Liaison), Paola Sepulveda, James (Jim) Surber, Andrew Ward, Candace Zwank Absent: Claire Kruesel, Amanda Gigler Public Forum/Guests: Elizabeth Erbes, John Hall, Dan Culhane (Members of Ames Main Street) 1. Call to Order—Sara Sherman, Chair, called the meeting to order at 12:03pm. 2. Approval of July 1, 2020 Agenda (Sara Sherman, Chair) Erica Briest moved and Paola Sepulveda seconded to approve the agenda. The agenda was approved with no changes. 3. Approval of June 3, 2020 Minutes (Penny Adam, Secretary) Angie DeWaard moved and Taylor Carlson seconded to approve the minutes. Minutes were approved with no changes. 4. Treasurer’s Report (Karen George, Treasurer) No treasury report today. 5. Public Forum a. Members of Ames Main Street joined the meeting to discuss possible improvements; Elizabeth Erbes (design chair), John Hall (chairman). A design summary has been submitted to the City listing items considered part of the public art inventory. An example commented upon is the wall in front of Tom Evans plaza, and light fixtures, with perceived deterioration. In light of a planned City street repair project could the wall be repaired or decommissioned? The terracotta and brickwork at the light fixtures have cracked and deteriorated over time, can these be repaired or replaced? What is the process for reviewing and maintaining the public works of art? b. Angie DeWaard shares some history behind the wall and that it does house a large electrical junction. It has been reviewed for repairs in the past and, at that time, decided to leave it alone due to the substantial cost of repairs. Similarly, the cost of repairs for the light fixtures presented fiscal challenges. Olivia Madison added comments, regarding the wall, that as it does house an electrical component and may need involvement by additional areas of the City. Angie DeWaard adds that the Commission is now making an inventory of the public art pieces and including observations on state of repair. c. John Hall and Liz Erbes want to present another vision for use of the Tom Evans plaza area which includes removal of the wall and replacement with something more visually accessible. Sara Sherman welcomes participation by the Ames Main Street group. Due to a paving project in the Downtown area later in July, direction for the wall needs to be conveyed soon. d. Additional information is needed on costs of repair / decommissioning the wall so PAC can make a recommendation to the City Council. Liz Erbes and John Hall will get in touch with the artist (David Page 2 of 4 Dahlquist) about the costs to repair the wall and light fixtures; Liz will send this info to Brian Phillips. Additional discussion is planned for a special PAC meeting to be scheduled later in July. e. Olivia Madison adds that in observance of the AAOSE celebration, it may be time to decommission and replace the art wall. Brian Phillips will check with the City (Electric Services, demolition, financing; will also look into the agreement with the artist on decommissioning) on the process of decommissioning the wall including process, costs, and funding. John Hall suggests an addendum is added to the paving project to cover decommissioning. f. With a lot of the information presently unknown, it is decided PAC will have a special meeting in July (either 15th or 22nd) to discuss and vote on a course of action. 6. Chair’s Report and Comments (Sara Sherman) a. Matthew Corones has resigned his position on the PAC via email to Sara Sherman. Sara will update Mayor Haila and a replacement candidate will be considered. Olivia Madison asks about the application process; Brian Phillips will discuss with Mayor Haila. 7. City of Ames Liaison Comments (Brian Phillips, interim Liaison) a. Brian has received communications from Eric Feinstein about interest is preparing an audio guide. Paola Sepulveda reminds the group that PAC has moved away from Eric’s services to utilize a different resource to create a map with a more cost effective solution. b. Brian Phillips has been contacted by a resident of a sculpture needing repair. James Surber will take a look at this, Brian Phillips will pass to him information from the resident. c. Brian Phillips is working on materials surrounding a best practice exercise surrounding covid-19. Is PAC willing to have a face-mask temporarily placed on a piece of public art. Oliva Madison makes a motion that for purposes of publicity, PAC identifies 1 to 4 sculptures are masked for photographing; James Surber seconded; the motion passed. It is suggested looking at “A Peculiar Family”, “Balance”, and/or “Flo”. 8. Old Business a. Black Arts Festival & Music Festival i. Outcome of purchase; Brian has these pieces in the City offices. ii. Temporary public viewing and event, following City Hall opening. Brian mentions there is a display case at City Hall available for viewing. Discussion on a celebratory event this is tabled to a later meeting. iii. Permanent locations – deferred. b. Transformer Cabinet Mural Project, proposal update. James does not have updated. Once the method of covering the cabinets is determined it will be easier to hold this conversation at a future meeting. James suggests selecting a few cabinets as a pilot project. i. Possibility of incorporating this into the Anniversary Celebrations ii. Possibility of incorporating this into Neighborhood Art or Arts in the Park c. Main Street Mural, update i. PAC has voted to contribute $500, will take this item off next month’s Agenda d. PAC projects, initiatives, events looking forward to FY20, FY21, FY22 – Olivia suggests this discussion takes place at the Special July meeting to be scheduled. Page 3 of 4 i. Celebration Planning; 25th Year of AAOSE and 30th Year of PAC ii. Discuss possible themes and events, present plan for formal approval iii. Can highly rated projects from the 2019-20 Strategic Initiative be incorporated iv. Possible partnership with APL, Parks and Rec, Ames Historical Museum, University Museums, create a calendar of events v. Determine current PAC members who wish to be a part of the steering committee along with former PAC chairs. This will mean extra meetings and time commitments. 9. New Business a. Revisit Children’s Memorial Garden at Moore Memorial Park – deferred to a future meeting i. Possible Art in the Park 10. Commission Committees, Liaison Reports, and Comments a. Outreach (Olivia Madison and Erica Briest Co-Chairs; Amanda Gigler, Andrew Ward, Candace Zwank, and Penny Adam) i. Ames Annual Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition (AAOSE) 1. Updates and installation of 2020-21 sculptures 2. Photos needed for brochure and / or online catalog; we need a volunteer to go take photos of the 2020 AAOSE installed pieces ii. Neighborhood Sculpture, update iii. Art in the Park b. Public Relations (Paola Sepulveda as Chair; Sara Sherman and Taylor Carlson) i. Festival & Event participation for 2020-21 – all events for summer of 2020 is cancelled due to covid-19. ii. Brochure, PR decision on how to best move forward. Paola indicates we need to move forward on this as soon as possible as design and printing takes time. 1. Possible collaboration with a group on bookmarks 2. Possible collaboration with Ames Downtown on an outdoor art map c. Collection Management (Angie DeWaard and James Surber as Co-Chairs; Olivia Madison, Claire Kruesel, and Karen George) i. City Hall Art; placement and signage, removal and installation. Now that City Hall is open Olivia will set up a meeting with Jacque. ii. PAC Collection Management Database, photos are needed 11. For the Good of the Order a. A special meeting in July will be scheduled in follow-up to the discussion on the wall. i. Angie will send a poll to the Commission to determine the date of the special meeting; July 15 or 22. Brian mentions a recommendation on the wall is needed prior to July 23 in order to make the next City Council agenda. b. The next regular PAC meeting is scheduled on Wednesday, August 5, 2020 at 12:00 noon in 135 Ames City Hall or via Zoom virtual meeting – logistics to be determined. Page 4 of 4 12. Adjournment (Sara Sherman) Sara adjourned the meeting at 1:27 pm. Submitted by Penny Adam, PAC Secretary