HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - April 7, 2026, Public Art Commission Meeting MinutesMINUTES
PUBLIC ART COMMISSION
Conference Room 135
City Hall, 515 Clark Avenue
March 3, 2026
Call to Order
Commission Member Karen Kedrowski called the meeting of the Public Art Commission
(PAC) to order at 5:30 p.m. In attendance were Theresa Stromberg-Murphy (Chair),
Karen Kedrowski (Secretary), Greg Rowland (Treasurer), Manu Agnihotri, Bob Anders,
Emily Gassmann, Donna Hoff-Grambau, Tom Lindsley, Joseph Merchant, Joseph Nolin,
Janice Reutter, Julieanne Rogowski (Past Secretary), Ray Schmidt, and Brian Phillips
(City of Ames Staff Liaison). Ratnesh Kumar was absent.
Approval of Consent Agenda
Moved by Hauswirth, seconded by Reutter, to approve the Consent Agenda, including
the Minutes of the March PAC meeting and April Treasure’s Report.
Vote on Motion: 13-0. Motion carried unanimously.
Public Forum
• None.
Report of Commission Subcommittees
• Collections Management
o Rowland asked for updates on “Oxbow,” “Playthings,” and “A Particular
Family.” Brian noted he will follow up on those pieces.
• Outreach
o The Public Art Easement for the Neighborhood Sculpture program
sculpture selected for ACPC has been approved and the pad will be
poured soon
o First piece for the 2026-2027 AAOSE was planned for installation later this
week, with the rest of the pieces being installed throughout the month of
April
• Public Relations
o Future posts would include the call for artists for the calendar as well as
upcoming events (e.g., Art Walk)
o Lindsley suggested having an art scavenger hunt for social media by the
Art Walk
o Hoff-Grambau completed enough posts for individual sculptures through
the month of June
Chair Comments
• Zwank (past chair) left comments including that Rogowski could not serve as
secretary again along with follow-up for Hoff-Grambau regarding the PAC
mission statement and bylaws
City of Ames Liaison Report/Comments
• Brian reminded the Commission members to take PAC shirts if they had not
already taken one and handed out new parking passes
• 8 or 9 members of Green Hills had toured the art around City Hall the previous
Friday
• Currently there was no ceremony planned for “A Big Hello.” Brian would follow up
with the Ames Regional Economic Alliance regarding interest.
Old Business
• 2027 Public Art Commission Call for Artists
o Stromberg-Murphy spoke with the director of the Ames Public Library, and
was informed that it sold out of its calendar stock for 2026. Library staff
were interested in participating again for 2027.
o Moved by Anders, seconded by Kedrowski, to approve the Call for Artists
for the 2027 Public Art Commission Calendar.
Vote on Motion: 13-0. Motion carried unanimously.
• Event Suggestions
o Agnihotri summarized the survey that went out to commissioners
regarding updates to how events are run
o The majority of respondents voted against using electronic voting for
AAOSE best in show and TV screens to show pictures of the AAOSE
pieces
New Business
• Officer Nominations
o Moved by Kedrowski to self-nominate for the position of Secretary.
Vote on Motion: 13-0. Motion carried unanimously.
o Moved by Kedrowski to nominate Rowland for the position of Treasurer.
Vote on Motion: 13-0. Motion carried unanimously.
o Moved by Rowland to nominate Rogowski for the position of Vice Chair.
Vote on Motion: 13-0. Motion carried unanimously.
o Moved by Merchant to nominate Stromberg-Murphy for the position of
Chair.
Vote on Motion: 13-0. Motion carried unanimously.
• Committee Sign-Up
o The sign-up sheet was passed around to the Commission members to
gain volunteers for each committee.
For the Good of the Order
• Agnihotri was thinking about a Call for Artists for upcycled art to highlight the
City’s emphasis on sustainability. Brian suggested this might be a good
opportunity to place art at the new resource facility, but the Commission would
need to wait a year until the building is completed. Agnihotri planned to continue
to work on this.
• Rowland asked if the Commission wanted to create information on the purpose
of the Commission for use at events. Stromberg-Murphy suggested that the
Outreach committee discuss this and present its suggestions at the next meeting.
Adjournment
Moved by Reutter, seconded by Hoff-Grambau, to adjourn the meeting at 6:38 p.m.
Vote on Motion: 13-0. Motion carried unanimously.