FAC 10-24-06
APROVED MINUTES
FINE ARTS COMMISSION
Regular Meeting, Conf. Rm. A
10300 Torre Avenue Cupertino
Tuesday, October 24, 2006 7:00 P.M.
CITY OF
CUPEIUINO
CALL TO ORDER
At 7:03 p.m. Chairman Robert Harrison called the meeting to order.
ROLL CALL
Present: Chairman Robert Harrison, and Commissioners Nancy Canter, Michael Harkins, and
Janet Mohr. Absent: Commissioner Ann Woo. Staffpresent: City Clerk Kimberly Smith.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Hema Kundargi, a member of the Cupertino Library Foundation Board of Directors, invited the
Fine Arts Commissioners to participate in "Cupertino Library Celebrates" and offer their
suggestions for additions and improvements to the Cupertino Library. The event will be in the
Community Hall on October 29 from 1-4 p.m.
Three students from DeAnza College communication classes attended as observers.
Chairman Harrison re-ordered the agenda to hear the New Business items next.
NEW BUSINESS
5. Review of artist's concept for Whole Foods public art requirement.
Karen Ngo, Project Manager with Sand Hill Property Company, reviewed their proposal
for the public art requirement at the new Whole Foods Market located at 20955 Stevens
Creek Boulevard. She explained that the sculpture was a trellis-type relief structure made
of 'l'2-inch diameter stainless steel rods, which formed the silhouette of a stylized tree. The
wall behind the sculpture would be painted in four colors to represent the four seasons.
The commissioners provided feedback and asked for information:
. Developer to provide exact dimensions of corporate sign and wooden trellis feature
(can those be modified?)
. Developer to provide 3-d sketch of building, wood trellis and sculpture (will passing
drivers be able to see the sculpture behind the trellis supports?)
. Developer/artist to provide other color op~ions for the wall behind the sculpture
. Sculpture should ~e proportioned differently (so that it looks less "flattened").
. More abstract form in the sculpture may be acceptable, but if the intention is
representational and organic, then the design should be modified so that it looks more
like a tree
. Concern that the 'l'2 inch diameter rod would not be sufficiently visible from the street
. Developer to provide information about Whole Foods plan for the outdoor cafe
fountain
. The installation should include an identifying plaque naming the sculpture and artist
This item was continued to the meeting of November 28, unless the developer determined
there would be insufficient time for fabrication and installation of the artwork by May,
2007. If necessary, the Fine Arts Commission members would be available for a special
meeting.
October 24, 2006
Cupertino Fine Arts Commission
Page 2
6. Review of artist's concept for Pinn Brothers "Oak Park Village" public art requirement.
Chuck Bommarito ofPinn Brothers Construction and Robert Mowat, landscape architect,
reviewed the proposal for public art at Oak Park Village located at 10745 N. DeAnza
Boulevard. They explained that the "gateway" feature mentioned in the original staff
report has been deferred to a later time and will be developed by the City, so the developer
has paid an in-lieu fee of $25,000 for that requirement. The remaining requirement for
public art is for a specific area near DeAnza Boulevard on a grassy area four feet above the
roadway.
The commissioners provided feedback and asked for information:
. Current proposal is too small in scale (3 feet on top of 18-inch pedestal), and may have the
look of a corporate logo. Developer to submit proposal for a taller, vertically-oriented
sculpture
. Some commissioners preferred another design by the same artist (3 vertically stacked
cir~ular shapes), or recommended a larger sculpture by a different artist if the budget was
an Issue
. Commissioners prefer that the art work be li~ted; developer to provide information on
how illumination of the 40-foot window feature may impact the art work lighting
This item was continued to the meeting of November 28, at which time the developer
would submit a revised proposal
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
1. Preparation of a Percent-for-Art ordinance and "developer's guidelines" document.
Commissioners Harkin and Mohr reported that they had met several times to continue
editing the draft document. They expected to have some materials ready for review by the
entire commission at the November 28 meeting.
2. Consider amendments to the adopted Guidelines for the Selection of Public Art to address
commercial sale of art displayed on city property (staff recommends continuance to a later
meeting.
Chairman Harrison distributed a letter to the Fine Arts Commission outlining his proposal
for a policy regarding commercial sales of art. The commissioners agreed unanimously
that the Quinlan Center was the appropriate place for exhibition and commercial sales of
art, and that the Fine Arts League would be the major displayer of art in that facility, along
with Distinguished Artists of the Year and instructors and teachers in the Quinlan Center
art classes. They agreed that the staff liaison Kim Smith and Chairman Harrison would
complete the draft policy so that it could be presented for City Council review and adoption
at the next Council meeting.
October 24, 2006
Cupertino Fine Arts Commission
Page 3
3. Consider expansion of Distinguished Artist Award to different age groups and types of art.
There was no discussion on this item and it was continued to the next meeting.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
4. Minutes of August 15, 2006.
This item was continued to the next meeting.
PRESENTATIONS
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSIONER REPORTS
7. Arts-related news updates from Commissioners
None.
8. Report regarding Mayor's meeting with commissioners (1 st Wed., 7:30 a.m.)
Commissioner Janet Mohr distributed a written report about the October meeting.
Commissioner Canter confirmed that she would attend the November meeting.
STAFF REPORTS
9. Review of current ad hoc committee list
There was no discussion on this item.
NEWS ARTICLES
10. Media coverage
There was no discussion on this item.
ADJOURNMENT
11. At 9:35 p.m., the meeting was adjourned to Tuesday, November 28, 2006, at 7:30 p.m.
(Please note that will be the final meeting in the calendar year)