Public Art Committee

Public Art Committee AGENDA Wednesday, April 18, 2018 Durham Arts Council Board Members Margaret DeMott* Charlene Reiss Dan Ellison* Katie Seiz Chris Ogden, Chair* * Cultural Advisory Board member City of Durham Present Brian Smith, OEWD Stacey Poston, GSD Cason Whitcomb, GSD Others Present Sherry DeVries, Durham Arts Council I. Call to Order Chair Chris Ogden called the meeting to order at 8:31am. II. Roll Call III. Approval of Minutes MOTION: Motion to accept March meeting minutes. (Ellison, Seiz 2nd) ACTION: Motion approved 6-0 IV. Adjustments to the Agenda V. New Business i. Public Art Committee new member selections The public art committee received thirty-six (36) applications including two (2) students to fill at least eight (8) available positions and three available student positions. Public Art Committee members serve three (3) year terms and student members serve one (1) year terms.  Public Art Committee MOTION: To accept Simon Betsalel and Erin McDermott into the Student Positions with the Durham Public Art Committee. (Ellison, Reiss 2nd) ACTION: Motion accepted 6-0. The ten (10) highest scoring applications based on committee’s individual score sheet will be reviewed after examining applications that received three scores of five (5) but did not score high enough to be in the top ten (10). Committee examines applicants that received three individual scores of five (5) but received a net score below 4.17. The floor is opened for discussion on three applicants scoring below 4.17. It is suggested that these three applicants are contacted to serve on Artist Selection Committee panels for upcoming City projects to build their experience levels with public art in Durham. Committee concludes that all ten (10) highest scoring applicants would bring strong passions for public art, experience, diversity, and credentials to the Public Art Committee. MOTION: To accept Chantal Winston, Laura Ritchie, Mya Castillo-Marte, Wade H. Williams, Marcella Camara, Caroline Dwyer, Kyesha Jennings, Caitlin Margaret Kelly, Calvin Brett, and Johanna Rose-Burwell to the Durham Public Art Committee. (Reiss, Ellison 2nd) ACTION: Motion to accepted 6-0 Newly accepted members will be proposed to the Cultural Advisory Board 4/18 for appointment. New members will be notified after the CAB’s decision. ii. Proposed Capacity Building Programs for Public Art (including Portfolio Reviews) The City of Durham seeks to build the capacity of the local Arts community to access larger scale public art projects. The City is exploring program possibilities including mentorship workshops led by national public artists, art calls promoting a mentorship partnership between local artists and a national public artist with the goal of the creation of complex, high level public art and the growth of a local Durham artist’s portfolio.  Public Art Committee Chair Ogden suggested exploring the possibility of a portfolio review for local public artists in which national public artists would be given the opportunity to review local Durham artists’ portfolios with the goal of fostering a mentorship relationship. Additionally, members of previous Artist Selection committees could review local artists applications, portfolios, and public art selection process. Margaret DeMott suggested that would be necessary to present two perspectives in such a review process: national artists and administrators perspectives. There is also a possibility of brining in regional artists who are competing on a national scale, such as Jim Gallucci, Thomas Sayre, and Matt McConnell. Dan Ellison noted the necessity of periodically holding portfolio reviews and Charlene Reiss suggesting looking to growing public art programs, such as Raleigh, for examples of successful models. Reiss also suggested exploring the development of a competitive local residency opportunity for local artists to be paired with national public artist. Brian Smith, OEWD has reached out to community members to further information regarding current and future public art processes. VI. Updates/Old Business i. West Ellerbee Creek Trail Pedestrian Tunnel Art Around one-hundred (100) people attended the trail opening. Mayor Steve Schewel spoke, alongside project manager Jessica Kemp, and the Director of Durham Parks and Recreation Department Rhonda Park. Local artist Brandon Hampton was painting in the free expression tunnel interior. Hampton is teaching a six-week “Beginners Street Art” program with DPR. ii. Durham Police Headquarters: Artist Visit Reiss, DeMott, and Bartlett attended the walking tour of public art in Downtown Durham with the selected artist team artists exhibited strong relationship with one anther and interest in Durham community. Brian Smith announced that selected local artist Brenda Miller-Holmes has voluntarily withdrew from the project due to budget constraints. Her partner David Wilson will be taking over the project and will be seeking a partnership with another local artist for capacity building. Wilson is currently exploring potential partners. Reiss stated that David Wilson was never interviewed and asked if he would bring the same community engagement process to the project as Brenda has presented at the March public art committee meeting. Smith stated that Wilson will be required to complete four (4) weeks of community engagement and is also required to include capacity building with another local artist and to act a local resource with the national artist team. Wilson is preparing a project proposal to be reviewed by City staff.  Public Art Committee Sherry Devries suggested hosting an orientation meeting surrounding public art for DPD Command Staff. Reiss stated her hope that the final art installations will the accessible for the Durham community, as abstract art is a privilege and it is essential to the integrity of the project that art at this site needs is accepted by the public. DeVries asked if the police headquarters staff be involved in community engagement. Smith responded that yes, community engagement will include DPD executive command, DPD staff, and Durham community members including refugee families. Once contracts are signed a press release will be published, expected announcement of selected artist teams in a few months. iii. Downtown Mixed-Use Parking Garage Public Art: Artist Visit The selected artist team Public Ground Studio visited Durham April 1 – 3, 2018. Public Ground Studio posed the question as to what natural features are indicative of Durham specifically, not just the Piedmont. Two engagement sessions were held during the teams visit, both were well attended and offered a broad cross-section of the population, though the Downtown Mixed-Use Parking Garage Pop-Up Design Studio was held the same time as the Ellerbee Watershed meeting. A community engagement survey is being circulated to gather more information and will close on April 20, 2018. Installation is scheduled for the Parking Garage opening early 2019. iv. New Calls for Artists: Black Wall Street Gardens and Neighborhood Park Mural Project Black Wall Street Gardens Call closes 5/4 and the Neighborhood Park Mural Call closes 5/16. The City has received positive feedback surrounding NC Residency requirement in both calls. Publicity efforts include City wide social media posts, papering with Spanish and English version of flyers, and hosting Office Hours at the Office of Economic and Workforce Development on 4/19/18. v. Fence update Artist call closes April 18, 2018. vi. Other Project Reports Chapel Hill Street Underpass: Two spandrels close to Downtown will be removed at the end of the year. Excess railroads will be repurposed at the upcoming Miracle Mile Ballpark. Public Art Mapping Project  Public Art Committee Around 70% complete; project is mapping the public art portfolio including locations, photographs, and descriptions on the City webpage. Alternative photography tags need to be made accessible. DDI Public Space Call Please share the call with networks, visible on DDI website. VII. Presentations i. None. VIII. Adjournment 10:07am Respectfully submitted, Cason E. Whitcomb