Public Art Commission

Minutes of a Regular Public Art Commission Meeting November 10, 2021 A regular meeting of the Blue Springs Public Art Commission was held on Wednesday, November 10, 2021 at 3:30pm at the Fieldhouse. The Chairman called the meeting to order. Eleanor Frasier – Present Parks Dept. Staff: Justin Stuart Ramon Magee – Present Susan Rew- Absent Visitors: Kathy Cornelius Taylor Beller - Present Pam Vaughan – Present Jeff Carpenter – Absent Barbara Landes- Present A motion was made by Taylor and seconded by Barbara to accept the Minutes of the October 13 meeting; it passed unanimously. Financial Report. The financial report was provided for review. Dedication of “Cultivate” --Eleanor thanked everyone for participating in the “Cultivate” event. She said that she was pleased with the attendance as it represented a wide range of community participants. The participation of BSSD in planning for the event was exceptional, especially the principal and staff of James Lewis Elementary who had made arrangements for PA system, podium, chairs and tables. --Barbara felt the program went well, “The Dish” food truck was a great addition to the event, and everyone seemed to enjoy the evening. A highlight of the evening was the fourth grade student whose comments were so well delivered and PAC appreciated the seed packets provided by the fourth grade students prepared under the direction of the JLE art teacher. --PAC thanked Kathy for designing the invitation and program to be printed and to Parks staff who helped with mailing the invitations. --Eleanor showed the plaque that will be placed on the base of the sculpture. “Regenerate” Temporary Art Exhibit in Colonial Gardens. --Justin reported that CAFÉ had received 54 applications from artists. PAC recognized that the additional time to allow artists to apply was a factor and that this should be considered in the future. --Ramon said the jury process was underway and would conclude on November 15. After that there is a procedure to allow the jury to interview the artists before making the final selection. At the Selection Panel meeting, the jurors will have phone calls with each artist, have discussions about the art they would like to display, and then determine the four artists who will install and one alternate artist. PAC members will have an opportunity to voice their choices to the jury before the jurors vote. --Eleanor stated that the Selection Panel will be on Wednesday, December 1 from 1:00 to 5:00. PAC will need to move up the date from the regular meeting in order to have more time to contact winners and arrange contracts. PAC will not meet on December 8. --Justin said if anyone wants to review the artist applications, contact him to arrange. Bicentennial Project on “Celebrating Missouri Through Mosaic Art” --Eleanor reported that the volunteers are making good progress on creating the artwork. The petal, branches and some of the bluebird are in place. Most of the background has been placed and some of it glued. Anticipate it will be finished by the end of November. Plans are underway as how to transfer the art to Vesper Hall so it can be displayed there. ---- Eleanor said that the Dedication of the mosaic project would be Thursday, December 9 at 2:00PM at Vesper Hall. --Barbara provided details on the proposed program for the event. At this time, she recommends using the lobby in Vesper Hall for the program. Refreshments would be available at a table in the hall (under the artwork, 1 “Weave-Through”) and another table would have the book display of “20 + 1 Years of Public Art in Blue Springs”, the book “Story of Blue Springs”, and copies of “Trailing Walnut Street in Blue Springs”. -- Additional planning is underway to determine invitees and whether BSSD will be involved in some way in the program. PAC will be inviting all of the artist volunteers and any guests they want to bring, PAC members, City Council and some City staff, someone from the Bicentennnial Commission, some from BSSD, and others who have a connection with the art. Eleanor said PAC hoped that Michael Gaines, MACAA CEO would attend and she announced that PAC had just received another $750 grant from MACAA toward the project. --Eleanor stated that she and Justin will be designing and ordering the plaque that will be placed on a wall near the artwork in Vesper Hall lobby. We are in the process of determining the name of the art and how this will be decided. Will need to have that decision before we can order the plaque. “20 + 1 Years of Public Art in Blue Springs” --Justin reported that members are still editing the book and hope to complete it soon. After edits from Ramon, Eleanor and Miranda, the files for the book will be sent to the publisher. There will be a final proof for review before it is published. Discussion was that PAC does not have a fundraising plan to sell the book but that will need to do that soon. Bicentennial Mosaic Art Project -Eleanor reported that the project is on time. To date the border has been completed, the dogwood petals are in place and the branches are underway. Glass has been cut and placed for the background but not glued. The next big step is to cut glass and glue the bluebird. -The three organizations have provided helpers and also the Larry Randall family has been actively involved in the project. Rebecca Hite has been exceptional in providing space for work, guiding the mosaic process, and assisting with decisions for glass choice and placement. -PAC has tentatively decided to have the Dedication of the Mosaic Art at Vesper Hall on Thursday, December 9 (time to be determined). The Dedication Team will begin the process of planning the program for that event, determining who will be invited, and making all arrangements. The City will be involved in design of the invitations and program. -Eleanor and Justin will begin to plan the plaque that will be placed somewhere in the Vesper Hall Lobby. Information/Status/Updates --There is no update on placing “Fire, Earth, and Water” at St. Mary’s Medical Center. PAC wants to check with Susan Culpepper to see if she has any further knowledge of how to contact St. Luke’s to see about placing “The Visit” there. --Ramon gave a short description of a new arts program called “Parade of Hearts” that would provide 154 large hearts throughout the metropolitan community. Ramon is our representative to the group that is discussing where to place the Hearts art. --Eleanor brought up her concern that PAC does not have any guidelines for determining how to judge the value or appropriateness of mural art as asked by Community Development. She has researched several arts communities who have such a policy and would ask that we discuss this topic starting in January. --Eleanor reported that flags would be placed at the Veterans Way Memorial for Veterans Day on November 11 and that there would be a ceremony recognizing the 100th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on that day at the Memorial. -There was discussion involving the “Basics” art piece along Adams Dairy Parkway in front of the Durvet building. Durvet has questioned if the piece could be removed as it is starting to look aged and tattered. PAC members agreed that it is time to remove the piece as it was only intended to be there for one year and has been there for several. PAC instructed Justin to contact Habitat for Humanity to see if they would like the lumber. If not, Parks staff will remove the piece. Visitors/Public Comment: -None Other Business- None As there was no further business, a motion for adjournment was made by Ramon and seconded by Taylor. Meeting was adjourned at 5:00pm ___________________________________ Eleanor Frasier, Chairman 2