Public Art Committee

Durham Cultural Advisory Board PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE Meeting, October 22, 2013, 8:00 a.m. Rand Board Room, Durham Arts Council MINUTES Members Present: _X_ Joanne Andrews ___ Kathy Bartlett ___ Sherry DeVries _X_ Steven Gatlin _X_ Heather Gordon _X_ Lucy Grant _X_ Mark Hough _X_ Noel James _X_ Jessica Moore _X_ Chris Ogden ___ Kenneth Rodgers _X_ Karen Slotta OEWD Staff Present: _X_ Peter Coyle Also Present: Lisa Miller, Margaret DeMott, Thomas Dawson, Brenda Miller Holmes, Renee Leverty The meeting was called to order by Chair Mark Hough at 8:06 a.m. Chris Ogden made a motion to approve the minutes of the September 24 meeting. Lucy Grant seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Mark Hough introduced Thomas Dawson, from the City/County Planning Department, to discuss the Durham Open Space Plan. Dawson presented a PowerPoint presentation of the plan. It includes: Gateways: American Tobacco Trail Golden Belt Chapel Hill Street Main Street American Tobacco Campus Central Park Area Inner gateways along the Downtown Loop Open Spaces: Linked to buildings (Library, Justice Center, etc.) Programmed semi-public spaces (American Tobacco Campus, etc.) Spaces needing renovation New Spaces Examples of spaces needing renovation include Rotary Park – lower the plant profile, add sculpture to the fountain, remove sections of the wall “Chicken Bone Park” (102 West main Street) – add a mural Civic Center Plaza – redesign, add sculpture, rain gardens, etc. City Hall area – conversion of parking lot across Mangum Street to create a park or add buildings with smaller public spaces Space between main Public Library and Trinity Methodist Church - when the downtown loop is redesigned or eliminated, a possible playground location American Tobacco Trail – add playgrounds, storm water pond, stream restoration Durham performing Arts Center grounds – make improvements Ramseur Street – create a greenway Dawson noted that this is a long-term 20 year plan. Lisa Miller noted that the creation of connections between open spaces is another concept in the plan. Dawson noted that the plan can open up locations to target for public art projects. Hough suggested that the committee needs to be proactive in making suggestions so the project does not simply “throw pedestals into parks.” Peter Coyle updated the committee on the status of the DDI sculpture donation proposal. The Cultural Advisory Board approved the committee’s recommendations at the Board’s October 16 meeting. Coyle is continuing his review of the proposal with City departments. DDI is cooperating on looking at the alternatives suggested for 5 Points and for the redesign of the pedestal but costs could be a major factor. Hough introduced Brenda Miller Holmes, who reviewed potential locations for the Civil Rights Mural. Renee Leverty will assist her in speaking to the owner of Matteo’s as a possible location. The committee will, by email from Coyle, review and rate the various locations suggested by Holmes. Lisa Miller updated the committee on the discussions happening through a task force consisting of Renee Leverty, Brenda Miller Holmes, Mark Hough Peter Coyle and Miller, to review and make suggestions to the Historic Preservation Commission on ways to simplify the mural approval process in the Downtown Historic District. The cooperation between the Commission and the Cultural Advisory Board is very good and a positive outcome is expected. Leverty reported that there will be an invitational meeting later today to discuss public private partnerships to advance the arts in Durham, including public art cooperation between the City and private entities. Heather Gordon reported on the inventory project. There is a long tern need for a public art registry, to professional standards as well as a need to create an ap, by May, if possible. Discussions are happening with Liberty Arts and DCVB. There are some open source aps used in other cities. Heather will send information to the committee. These include “Art Around Us” used in D.C., San Francisco and other locations; “Public Art Ap” used in Portland and other locations; and “Street Arts Locator.com” which is being used in Honolulu, Omaha, Seattle and other locations. Karen Slotta offered to chair a goals committee or to provide input for the overall committee in goals setting. Noel James suggested that Thomas Dawson be invited to do a presentation on the Open Space Plan to the Cultural Advisory Board. Leverty agreed. The meeting adjourned at 9:26 am.