Ann Arbor Public Art Commission

City of Ann Arbor 301 E. Huron St. Ann Arbor, MI 48104 http://a2gov.legistar.com/ Meeting Minutes - Final Calendar.aspx Ann Arbor Public Art Commission Wednesday, November 6, 2019 7:00 PM Larcom City Hall, 301 E Huron St, Second floor, City Council Chambers 19-2135 Ann Arbor Public Art Commission Meeting Minutes - November 2019 APPROVAL OF AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT Sarah Bellaire, master's degree student at the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) presented a climate change awareness project request to the Ann Arbor Public Art Commission on November 6, 2019. Ms. Bellaire is a delegate to the University of Michigan Delegation to the UN. Framework Climate Change (UNFCCC). This group will attend the delegation to bring back climate ideas to adapt mitigation efforts in an effort to localize it to the City of Ann Arbor for greater community awareness and involvement. Current ideas will focus around water and the desire for a public facing art mural relating to water, sustainability, or climate. Project will be an inspiration for the community and a way to actively engage the public. It is expected that this project will receive grant support from the A2 Area Comrnunity Foundation and the University of Michigan. Presented City of Ann Arbor Page 1 Ann Arbor Public Art Commission Meeting Minutes - Final November 6, 2019 PRESENTATION 1) Laura Amtower CAN Art & Design Director present along with student Jania. Program focuses on art and design and in existence for almost 4 years with a total of 200 students in six community centers (2) Public Schools, (2) Public Housing using sites, (1) standalone center and (1) cooperative on the northside of Ann Arbor. Program serves K - 5th students with the goal to eventually expand to a full K-12 program. Funding to run these programs received from grants and individual donors. This exhibition is called the Kid's Table and is part of a year long program that is all about food and culinary arts and it's impact on our world culturally and globally. 2) Jacqueline Beaudry, City Clerk for the City of Ann Arbor presented a "I Voted" public art sticker campaign. No funding is needed and staff has consulted with Water Treatment staff who ran the Manchester Watertower public art project. The "I Voted" art project will follow this same model. Starting now to meet scheduled deadline of September of 2020 to allow competition to include student participation. Discussion re inclusion of youth participation, design, judges, possibility of two selection categories for younger and older students as well as the possibility of a cash award for the selected design. Question re use of biodegradable stickers, this maybe difficult as staff currently promoting use of digital badges, but most residents still prefer an actual sticker. Staff need to remain cautious due to restrictions within polling places. RESOLVED, That the Ann Arbor Public Art Commission support the Ann Arbor City Clerks office "I Voted" public art sticker campaign. Approved as presented APPROVAL OF MINUTES - September 2019 Approved City of Ann Arbor Page 2 Ann Arbor Public Art Commission Meeting Minutes - Final November 6, 2019 REPORT FROM CHAIR 1) Welcome, new Commissioners Sophie Grillet and Peggy Wier-Leonard! Sophie Grillet - Resident of Ann Arbor for 22 years and an artist for past 15 years. A cartoonist (political and editorial) in England, she then took up fine art in Ann Arbor; paintings and sculptures. Sophie organizes the Westside Art Hop, a neighborhood art group that happens in May. Peggy Wier-Leonard - An art teacher with the Ann Arbor Public Schools for over 20 years. A townie with three kids, Peggy has an interest in service and may decide to retire soon and this new adventure will offer her the ability to continue with art education. 2) Discussion items for the December 11, 2019 planning meeting. Bylaws Refresher - Set 2020 Goals - Review current working groups - Community partners alignment refresher on how best to engage - Get more commissioners involved in other boards/commissions - Review the topics from the Nominating work group - Update on the "I Voted" Campaign. 3) MCACA Grant was not selected. There is now a good foundation, structure and feedback to assist in the future. Upcoming Bloomberg opportunity (with a tight deadline of December 6th) Chair Buck will review and share an update with the Fundraising work group for their review. 4) Commissioner appointments are coming to an end in May of 2020. Both Allison Buck and Jonah Copi have decided to remain. Commission will begin recruitment efforts to replace Colleen Crawley. Presented City of Ann Arbor Page 3 Ann Arbor Public Art Commission Meeting Minutes - Final November 6, 2019 NEW BUSINESS 1) Election of Officers - A survey was sent with full commissioner participation. Introduced other questions re what is important going forward in leadership roles and how current commission needs are being met. Commission members are pleased with the current leadership and current leaders are eligible to continue in their current roles. ROLE CALL VOTE for approval of the Chair and Vice-Chair positions. RESOLVED, that Allison Buck continue as Chair of the Ann Arbor Public Art Commission and Deb Mexicotte continue as the Vice-Chair be Approved. On a voice vote, the Commission declared the motion carried. 2) Ann Arbor Public Art Commission supports the University of Michigan Climate Blue Public Art Project. The Ann Arbor Public Art Commission has a particular role to support and bring understanding to the importance of climate change that is readable by all and is open for all to interpret and understand as art appeals to the emotions and brings attention in a good way to better understand the current climate crisis. The Public Art Commission will provide support with project proposal, location suggestions, city procedures and city staff contacts as well as suggestions for design, staffing and procedures to move this project forward. RESOLVED, That the Ann Arbor Public Art Commission offer guidance and encouragement to efforts of the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) and the Climate Blue Club in their development of a public art project that draws awareness to climate change in the Ann Arbor community. OLD BUSINESS No items to share City of Ann Arbor Page 4 Ann Arbor Public Art Commission Meeting Minutes - Final November 6, 2019 REPORT FROM STAFF 1) Financial Review of Public Art - Preliminary discussions show that the city has coverage with a 50k deductible for art installations at any city building or location that is included on the property lists submitted to the insurer. Installations at remote locations, i.e. city parks and stadium bridges have more limited coverage since these locations would not normally be insured locations. Finance will begin to take a closer look at where each installation is and provide an estimated value of the installation. This will help to determine whether the city should add that location to the insured properties list and possibly increase coverage. - If current art is part of the facility or building installation it is covered under the building insurance and there is a current 50k deductible. Example - The Radius is part of the Justice Center and is covered, but the insurance would not begin until after 50k of value was lost. Standalone pieces within the community do not have that coverage and there are no enumeration within current policies. Staff will continue to work with finance to seek coverage under our current policy. Still need to determine the value of many of our current pieces. 2) Public Art Plaques - Bronze plaques have been ordered for the Arbor Winds and Leaven pieces. Due to weather and budget constraints staff felt it important to place these placard prior to the current frost and final closeout of project budget. -Staff will continue to produce a standard in-house placard via the Communications Office. The design for TREEform has been attached for your review and final approval. AAPAC review and approval of all plaques will continue moving forward. Need to produce a standard design with consistency and proper branding for all city works of art. -There seems to some concerns regarding identifying the funding sources for each piece on all plaques. Staff feel it best to continue to identify any additional funding sources via the public art tour. A conversation and review with the UM Museum of Art Chief of Staff, Natalie Vasher indicates that we are following current standards re the design of our city plaques. -Weather challenge with regards to the Arbor Winds and the Leaven pieces. Budget on these two plaques from remaining project money. Commission will ask for funding for matching grants to fund plaques. City of Ann Arbor Page 5 Ann Arbor Public Art Commission Meeting Minutes - Final November 6, 2019 Committing to matching funds was an initial hurdle for the commission. More discussion on this at the planning session in December. Questions on if the plaques can be included with the project budget and a need to identify the likely cost of the maintenance fees should also be included. -Need to identify the Manhole Cover artist. Plaques samples for bronze - no description on these the Arbor Winds and Leaven. TREEform an in house design city communications office. Still a need to develop a standard design. Need for a more robust discussion at the December planning meeting. 3) Cityworks Public Art Maintenance - IT continues to define the parameters and help staff to inspect, report and review public art via the Cityworks program. -Software will allow a work order for the units for preventative and annual maintenance with an A2 Fix It feed into Cityworks. Presented City of Ann Arbor Page 6 Ann Arbor Public Art Commission Meeting Minutes - Final November 6, 2019 REPORT FROM WORK GROUPS City Hall Gallery Work Group - No update to share GIP Work Group - No update lo share Communications and Marketing Work Group - Continued communication re plaques and public art inventory Development Work Group - Written report is attached. Thanks to the hard work of CM Ramlawi. This is monumental for several reasons; it puts public art commissioner at the table collaborating with a similar mission to enhance public spaces throughout the city. Design Review Board was formed in 2011 to foster excellence in design downtown using current design ideas. Commissioner Kotarski met with the Chair, Dick Mitchell. Mr Mitchell was on that Art in Public Places commission and worked on the artwork at the 4th and Washington structure. City Council likes and supports public art just need to work together to vet more private money into private development construction. Commissioner M. Thiefels, J. Copi, D. Esau and J. Kotarski worked as a group to make suggestion recommendations. The work group created a public art checklist idea book that can define and be offered to developers for their use. Board of Review members are a colleagic consult group of colleagues, they are not gate keeppers but professions who give suggestions. Public Art Commissioner liaison will encourage and assist with the design guidelines - site and building elements to deliver an excellence pedestrian experience. Using these elements will spell out pubic art and are a way to improve. Recommendations for the Board of Review Liaison 1) Art commission appoints member who will continue until the commission chooses a replacement 2) Work group recommendation make this appointment annually to determine if goals are been met. Determine a way to share, advise and develop to share these submittal with the public for inclusion. Donations and Art Placement Work Group - No donations made at this time Fundraising Work Group - Grant did not get funded. New opportunity from Commissioner Willet to be reviewed City of Ann Arbor Page 7 Ann Arbor Public Art Commission Meeting Minutes - Final November 6, 2019 Youth Outreach work Group - Youth Outreach group looking for new participants. Looking for ways to engage and plug students back into the community, brain storming a few things that already exist - fairs, events , festivals, art fairs, exhibitions how to get students more involved. Working with Neutral Zone and the Railroad looking to do some impactful public mural work with young people and emerging artist this summer. More to share at the December retreat and believe the I voted sticker could be a catalyst to kick this off. Nominating Work Group - Bylaws have a three year limit and considering limiting this to two years to keep it fresh and not get stagnate. New person maybe interested and leaves a longer window for newcomers. Hope that Vice Chair could be willing to take on the Chair role. Chair for three years and focus on the work group with better focus and that is not an easy roll. There is value getting more commissioners into the Chair position and then off the position and the need to really drive into one of these work groups. Recognize that all need to be in those leadership roles at some point to gain that different perspective and better understand the needs of the commission. By-laws discussion tabled to be reviewed at December Planning meeting. Changes to the Leadership Survey for next year on the calendar. Recruitment Work Group - Received applications, made our recommendations to Mayor Taylor and his final recommendations went to City Council for approval. Exit meetings still on the planning schedule. GENERAL SHARING - The Brush Monkeys are back! Holiday window painting throughout downtown Ann Arbor, Saline, Ypsilanti and Washtenaw County area continue for the season. Partnering with the Main Street Area Association to recruit local businesses for custom window art. Continue to attract more local store fronts each year. Brush Monkeys has grown into a rotating cast of 8+ local and regional artists, working some years into the first two weeks of December. Presented ADJOURN 8:48pm City of Ann Arbor Page 8 Ann Arbor Public Art Commission Meeting Minutes - Final November 6, 2019 All persons are encouraged to participate in public meetings. Citizens requiring translation or sign language services or other reasonable accommodations may contact the City Clerk's office at 734.794.6140; via e-mail to: cityclerk@a2gov.org; or by written request addressed and mailed or delivered to: City Clerk's Office 301 E. Huron St. Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Requests made with less than two business days' notice may not be able to be accommodated. City of Ann Arbor Page 9