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FAC 07-13-00 MINUTES FINE ARTS COMMISSION Special Meeting of July 13, 2000 CALL TO ORDER At 7:30 p.m., the meeting was called to order in Conference Room A, Cupertino City Hall, 10300 Torre Avenue. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL Present: Chairperson Charlene Pai, Commissioners Stephen Beard, Hema Kundargi, Carl Orr, Mary Sievert, Rita Young. Absent: Janet Mohr City staff present: City Clerk Kimberly Smith APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Minutes of May 23, 2000 Orr moved and Young seconded to approve the minutes. The motion carded unanimously, with Mohr absent. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - None WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS The following written communications were received: E-mail from and response to Pam Ailes at Pixo, Inc. offering exhibit space at their company (in the City Clerk said she had put them can attached with the Cupertino Fine Arts League) · Western Arts Alliance Annual Conference, San Jose, September 5-9, www.westarts.org · Status report from Bay Area Showcase Chorus regarding their November 8 grant performance · E-mail from Jeff Hunts re Four Seasons Comer art concept · Sculpture catalogs · Article about using public art in private places to cut down on graffiti in areas such as restrooms · Article about the potential sale of the Kimpton Group hotels to the Marriott Hotel Corporation STAFF REPORTS - None NEW BUSINESS Distinguished Artist of the Year The commissioners listened to a CD by Mr. Robert Harrison, who had been nominated for the Distinguished Artist of the Year. They agreed that his experience and talent were excellent, and unanimously concurred to appoint him. It was suggested that Mr. Harrison be asked to sing when he is given the plaque. The presentation will take place just prior to the Shakespeare play on Aug. 12. July 13, 2000 Cupertino Fine Arts Commission Page 2 3. Cherry Blossom Festival 2001 Discussion followed about the books that had been selected as gifts for the schools that had participated in the 2000 Cherry Blossom Festival student art display. Upon further review it was discovered that the content was more oriented toward adults, so the commission agreed to simply send thank you letters to all the schools. Kundargi said there is heavy pressure in the schools for doing other and it was very difficult to get participation this year. The school's level of enthusiasm for the project has dropped over the last couple of years and it seems time to change the concept of getting the schools involved. The commissioners considered returning to an exhibit format, but acknowledged that it is difficult to get those kinds of things into the curriculum and it tends to happen only through volunteer groups. If the Superintendent supports the project, the teachers are more likely to participate. Another option was to ask the schools to participate in a mural project at the new senior center when it opens. A third option is to place more emphasis on the existing Euphrat Family Day, in terms of activities and additional advertising. This would not necessarily take money away from the Cherry Blossom Festival. Discussion was also held about the after school programs and other summer activities provided by the city. The commission concluded that there probably is not an unmet need in the summer, and that perhaps returning to the art exhibit is the best approach for next year. The outreach could be done through the existing Parks and Recreation programs so that art created in those programs could be saved and exhibited at Euphrat Family Day or the Cherry Blossom Festival. An ad hoc committee composed of Kundargi and Orr agreed to pursue these the idea of using art from the city's after school programs for exhibition at the Euphrat Family die for the Cherry Blossom Festival. OLD BUSINESS 4. Four Seasons Plaza public art project. City Clerk reported that she had talked with Mr. Don Bragg about their anticipated construction schedule. They hoped to begin construction on the hotel as soon as possible, but it may be as long as two years before the park segment could be finished. The City Clerk said she would review the contract and work out the time line for meetings with the artist and payments. It was agreed that in the beginning they might want to meet with the artist on a monthly basis. The City Clerk said that even the council agreed that the scale of the proposed artwork was too small for this location. The artist is very amenable to working with the commission to further develop this design or a new one. The City Clerk said that one of the other artists suggested it would be a good idea to have professional artists on the design committee. Mr. Bragg suggested Richard Deutch, and the Parks and Recreation staff suggested contacting local artist Floy Zitten. The Euphrat Museum of Art or the DeAnza faculty may also have some recommendations, as well as former Distinguished Artist Joseph Aspell. The commission concurred with the suggestion to include input from professional artists either selected from these sources, or through the public art departments of other communities July 13, 2000 Cupertino Fine Arts Commission Page 3 o Commission goals - report from ad hoc committees · Mural in children's area in Quinlan Community Center (Kundargi, Pai). The City clerk said that Julia Lamy is now the contact in Parks and Recreation for this project. There was a recommendation from her staff that the art be done on canvas and would therefore be movable, but the commission agreed that they were more interested in permanent art such as a mural or decorative features in public restrooms, etc. Promoting permanent art in public and private spaces (Beard, Sievert, Young). Discussion followed about some alternatives, including identifying the park locations that would be appropriate for the addition of public art. Pai said that the new library to be constructed would be another could place for new art. The City Clerk noted that it might be as long as two years before that project is complete. Sievert suggested that the commission list 3 sites for public art, recommend the type of art that could be purchased and identify an estimated budget, and ask Council to earmark the art replacement funds from Apple Computer. Perhaps Council would consider a line item in the budget as a public art endowment. Sievert said that perhaps all of the goals could be combined if the next public arts project is a community art project in which an artist is hired, perhaps to work with kids, on a specific site is selected. Kundargi mentioned that at the Planning Commission meeting on the new Andronico's market, there was discussion about the possibility of having art on the sound wall. The City Clerk said she would find out how the Fine Arts Commission can offer their support, and let Young know whom to contact. Supporting visual and performing arts activities, including cross-cultural events (Kundargi, Mohr). The City Clerk said that Julia Lamy and Laura Lee were working on ideas for the addition of films to be Thursday night concerts in the summer, but that project was on hold until Laura was back from maternity leave. · Increase public awareness of city's role in support arts in the community (Orr, Pai) Advance planning items: · Report to City Council, Monday September 18. The City Clerk said that if the commission did not feel the listed goals were properly defined, one option for the report to city council would be to select one or two of them to be rewritten to be more specific and to identify milestones. Sievert said that perhaps all of the goals could be combined if the next public arts project is a community art project - an artist is hired, perhaps to work with kids, a site is selected · Consider canceling meeting for summer vacations. It was decided to cancel the regular meeting of July 25, instead of canceling the August meeting as usual. COMMISSIONER AND LIAISON REPORTS ° Selection of representative for Mayor's breakfast on Tuesday, August 8, 7:15 a.m. at Hobee's Restaurant. Charlene Pai said that she would be able to attend. Kundargi reported on the meeting she had attended. July 13, 2000 Cupertino Fine Arts Commission Page 4 NEWS ARTICLES The commission received the following news articles: De Anza College student art show South Bay Silk Artists show at Triton Museum Cupertino student finds success through art and creativity Four Seasons Comer art models displayed ADJOURNMENT At 9:55 p.m. the meeting was adjourned. Kimberly Smith, City Clerk