Arts and Humanities Council of Falls Church

Arts and Humanities Council of Falls Church Meeting October 22, 2020 Virtual Meeting Minutes Members Present: Corey Jannicelli, Ellen Gross, Letty Hardi, Marybeth Connelly, Sally Cole, Laura Hull, Ed Henderson, Emerson Mellon (Student Rep), Irene Chambers Guests: Keith Thurston (CATCH Foundation), Jeff Hollern (DDS), Joe Muffler (Mill Creek), Ann Marie McConnan (Arlington Diocese), Chris Kearns (Streetsense), Eric Burka (Streetsense), Jen Duur (Streetsense), Katie Spak (Streetsense), Rich Blickendorfer (St. James Catholic Church), Nikki Henderson (Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation) Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by Laura Hull at 9:33 am. Receipt of Public Comments  No comments were received Minutes: Minutes from September meeting were approved New Business: Founders Row Mural Conversation with Mill Creek and Street Sense  The selected concept for the mural is a “Grove for Growth”. An abstract, modern interpretation of a pastoral setting, representing Falls Church and Falls Church’s history designed by Katie Spak. o The mural includes a soothing color palette to better integrate into the wider neighborhood, with symbolic elements representing the community. o The mural will be 150 feet wide by 40 feet tall  Comments and questions around the new concept of Grove for Growth o Comments around color o Recommendation that a bolder color pallet may stand up to fading over the years o Mixed response on colors, some preferred bolder, brighter colors while others preferred a muted pallet o Currently lots of periwinkle blue, recommendation to tie in the yellow brick color into the mural o St. James advocates for a muted color pallet and are concerned the whites and blues may be too vibrant o Comments around elements in the mural o Need to incorporate more of an urban, modern element to represent the city’s current urban landscape/sense of density o Need of a human presence, the community is inhabited and alive, children, WO&D trail with biker or couple holding hands o Like the blue ridge mountains in the background 1  o Concerns the tulips are too much of a central focus and not an important element of the city. o Several people found the bushes in the foreground reminded them of trashcans o The road is a nice way to draw your eyes to the back of the mural o The trees reflect a line of trees along a road verse the groves of trees we see in Falls Church o Recommendation to add nod to our social justice history, example, the Tinner Hill arch but also concerns for over use of city icons. o Members of the AHC believe that the opinions of St. James and the surrounding neighborhood should hold the greatest weight  Next Steps o Mural design will be presented at November 4th meeting of the AAB and include the comments and recommendations of the AHC (Arts & Humanities Council). o Final design will be presented to the AHC at November 19th meeting and the group will vote to recommend to the Planning Commission. o Final design will be submitted to the Planning Commission in December Broad and Washington  Unity and Justice Plaza o Laura Hull and Nikki Henderson have presented to Broad and Washington the idea of branding the corner (Broad & Washington) as the Unity & Justice Plaza o There is a long history of people coming together to fight for social justice in Falls Church o This plaza can represent who we were, where we are, and what we want to be o The location is nearby several historic sites and has the potential of being a starting point for future walking tours. o Opportunity to recognize figures in our past and future such as the interracial home guard o Creative Cauldron hopes to offer complementary programming in the space including difficult conversations and healing stories o Potentially a good fit for Our Town grants offered by the National Endowment for the Arts Old Business:  Falls Church Public Art Policy o No updates to report Roundtable:  Sat Oct 26 - Creative Cauldron’s Cinderella Dream premiere at Chery Hill Park  Nov 16 & Nov 23- On Air Radio Broadcast, free to signup  VPIS- completed inventory of gardens throughout the city  FCCPS – Continues working on return to school plan and reopening 2  o Community Public Partnership Week with guest commentary in today’s Newspress o MEH Musical, “You’re Muted” to premiere online in February o High school construction moving along  Sidewalk Stamping will take place in November on Maple Ave including 12 stamps with history of families who lived there and bios of women from our annual history walk.  Sat Oct 26 – Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation offering “Breaking the Silence” Part 2: The big Picture. Tickets available on Eventbrite  Tinner Hill is completing the interpretive text for Tinner Hill Heritage Site to go up in December and offer an official unveiling in January. Adjourn Meeting was adjourned at 11:03 am Next Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 19, 2020 Submitted: By Corey Jannicelli 3