Public Art Committee

Public Art Committee Meeting Summary Minutes Tuesday, May 14, 2024, 5:45 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. Location: Zoom For more information on how to join, visit: https://durhamnc.gov/453/Public-Art-Committee Committee Members Present Mya Castillo-Marte, Chair Laura Ritchie Jaime Chaves JP Trostle, Vice-Chair Lana Dennis Alexis King Student Member Ann King Oliver Hess Eliza Redmann Bren Vienrich-Felling Committee Members Absent Michelle Smith Student Members Tony Santiago Samantha Gonzalez Myra Weise City, County and Guests Present Rebecca Brown, City of Durham Sarah Martin, Durham County Annette Smith, City of Durham Stephanie Minor, City of Durham I. Call to Order and Guest Introductions a. The meeting was called to order at 5:45 p.m. by Chair Mya Castillo-Marte. II. Approval of Minutes a. MOTION: To approve March 2024 meeting summary minutes, with spelling corrections made to Eliza Redmann’s name. b. ACTION: Approved. (8-0) (Chaves, Trostle 2nd) c. MOTION: To approve the April 2024 meeting summary minutes. (Chaves, Vienrich-Felling 2nd.) d. ACTION: Approved. (8-0) (Chaves, Vienrich- Felling 2nd) III. Adjustments to the Agenda a. There were two adjustments to the agenda. The meeting began with New Business: i. Public Art Presentation and Review – Initial Design Feedback for Public Art at Wheels Roller Skating Rink. ii. Durham County Public Art Presentation and Feedback IV. New Business a. Public Art Presentation and Review – Initial Design Feedback for Public Art at Wheels Roller Skating Rink i. Dare Coulter, Artist, Wheels Roller Skating Rink. 1. Dare Coulter presented her designs for the Wheels Roller Skating Rink Public Art Project. Coulter used photographs of community members skating as inspiration for the design. Community members also participated by giving feedback on design concepts. The feedback included focusing on diversity and inclusion. The artwork will be constructed mainly of aluminum, with some areas being painted on the building. It will be created in sections that can be disassembled for maintenance and repainting. Aluminum was chosen for the piece because of its longevity. 2. Trostle and Coulter discussed the proposed fabricator, Oak City Customs, and their experience creating large scale aluminum pieces. 3. Castillo-Marte brought up concerns about the color palate chosen for the design and whether it would stand out against the color of the building. Public art coordinators are working with project operators to make sure that the color of the building works with the art. Castillo- Marte also inquired about the possibility of broadening the color palate. Coulter responded that there are limitations to the number of colors that the piece can have in order to stay within budget. Coulter also mentioned that the line work in the proposed design is simplified specifically so that the piece can be cut out instead of painted. Castilllo-Marte and Coulter discussed possibilities for design elements for the side of the building that can be seen from the highway. 4. Trostle mentioned having questions about production aspects in the future and commented that the design is on the right path. 5. PAC members were reminded that these designs are preliminary. The City has not approved the designs and may still recommend adjustments. b. Durham County Public Art Presentation and Feedback i. Sarah Martin, Durham County 1. Sarah Martin presented four Durham County Public Art Projects for feedback from PAC. This is the first of two cycles of projects for Durham County. This first cycle of projects needs to be finished by the end of the fiscal year, June 30, 2024. Some of these project locations are high security. These projects will not involve community engagement based on location of the artwork. The second cycle will begin in August or September. The County is planning community engagement opportunities for that cycle. 2. The County posted a call for artists online at www.callforentry.org, as well as Durham County and City of Durham’s websites at the beginning of 2024. They received 146 applicants. Nine artist or artist teams were picked, eight of the nine are North Carolina artists. 78% of the artists chosen are women or minority business owners. 3. The projects are as follows: a. New Youth Home Lobby I. Artist, Gabriel Eng-Goetz. Goetz reviewed feedback from staff at the youth home to choose the themes for his mural. The themes are Moving Forward, Nature, Rehabilitation, and Family. The mural design includes a family of cedar waxwing birds eating, with one bird carrying an hourglass as it takes off in flight. The design is symbolic for rehabilitation and  freedom. b. Innovation Lab, Admin 1 bldg., 200 E. Main St. I. Artist, Claire Milton. Milton’s mural includes hands that represent community and collaboration. The light bulb, puzzle pieces, and justice scale represent problem solving, idea generating, and fairness. Milton’s design was also inspired by the architecture of the building. The mural is meant to be active and lead your eye through the space. c. Affordable Housing Parking Deck, 300 E. Main St. I. Artist, Seth Bishop. This mural will cover a 200 ft wall inside the parking deck. Bishop’s design represents North Carolina’s rich textile history. d. Affordable House Parking Deck, 300 E. Main St. (outside of the building’s daycare entrance) I. Artist, Nico Amortegui. The mural is intended to lighten a dark area of the parking deck with a bright design. It will span over 100ft. 4. PAC members discussed the proposed designs. Members provided positive feedback, including Eng-Goetz themes, playful design of Amortegui mural, and Bishop’s color choices. V. Announcements a. City of Durham i. The Durham Poet Laureate call has been launched. The position is a three-year term, with $5,000 per year pay. There will educational and speaking opportunity requirements. Information and application form can be found at Durham Poet Laureate | Durham, NC (durhamnc.gov) ii. The Cultural Roadmap Phase I is coming to a close. The City will be meeting with the Cultural Roadmap Planning Group on May 30th, 2024 for their monthly meeting. iii. Durham Area Designers is meeting at 5:30 p.m. on May 21, 2024 in the NC Mutal Life building in Durham. Duke Professor, Andrew Nurkin will be speaking about findings from their recent presentation on strategies for getting private developers to use UDO to incentivize private developers to invest more into public art. Kelly Mcchesney, Public Art Director for the City of Raleigh, will be speaking about what Raleigh does well with their policy as well as how the state legislature help or hinder public art efforts. VI. Old Business a. Public Art Review – Finalization and Recommendation of Approval i. DPR signage in parks in partnership with Breastfeed Durham 1. PAC reviewed the proposal during their April 2024 meeting a. Background: Durham Parks and Recreation is requesting feedback and a recommendation of approval on artistic signage for city-owned parks. The signs, created by Breastfeed Durham and an artist, are to promote and advocate for first food equity. The organization’s mission is “to support a more breastfeeding and family friendly Durham by advocating for policies and practices that support breastfeeding, chestfeeding, and human milk feeding, as outlined by the World Health Organization (WHO).” DPR provides final approval for all signage located in City-parks. ii. MOTION: Finalization and Recommendation of Approval iii. ACTION: Approved. (8-0) (Castillo- Marte, Dennis 2nd)  b. PAC Chair & Vice-Chair Nomination i. Background: The Chair and Vice- Chair of PAC have terms ending in June. PAC must recommend members for these roles to Durham Cultural Advisory Board (DCAB). These roles are a one-year leadership position starting in July. In addition to helping lead the meetings, these roles are asked to help set the agenda for meetings. ii. There were no nominations proposed at this time. This business will be readdressed at the June PAC meeting. c. PAC New Member Recommendation i. PAC has seven vacancies to fill following resignations. PAC members shared their thoughts on candidates and came to a consensus to move forward for recommendation Rachel Mutschler, Mark Iwinski, Malinda Love, and Molly Trask- Price to DCAB for appointment. 1. MOTION: PAC New Member Recommendation 2. ACTION: Approved (8-0) (Castillo- Marte, Chavez 2nd) ii. Four PAC members are eligible for re-appointment: 1. Ann King (2nd term) 2. Alexis King (2nd term) 3. Bren Vienrich-Felling (student, 2nd term) 4. Oliver Hess (student, 2nd term) 5. MOTION: To recommend applicants in ranking order to DCAB for their review and approval. 6. ACTION: Approved (8-0) (Castillo- Marte, Trostle) VII. Public Questions: None VIII. Adjournment a. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 11th, 2024, 5:45 PM - 7:30 p.m. in person at 2011 Fay Street Durham, NC 27704 b. The meeting was adjourned by Castillo-Marte at 7:00 p.m. IX. Documents a. Public Art at Wheels Roller Skating Rink | Durham, NC (durhamnc.gov) b. Durham County Public Art Projects 2024 County Durham Public Art Program: https://www.dconc.gov/county-departments/departments-a-e/engineering-and- environmental-services/durham-county-public-art-program City of Durham Cultural & Public Art Program: https://www.durhamnc.gov/450/Cultural-Public-Art-Development Durham Cultural Advisory Board Agenda Center: https://www.durhamnc.gov/AgendaCenter/Cultural-Advisory-Board-6 Submitted respectively, Rachelle Sickerott