Arts and Humanities Council of Falls Church

Page 1 MINUTES OF the Arts and Humanities Council (A&HC) of Falls Church Approved 7-20-23 PURPOSE OF MEETING: To discuss arts and humanities matters across the City of Falls Church. DATE OF MEETING: June 15, 2023 (Next Meeting: July 20, 2023 at 9:30 am) PLACE OF MEETING: Dogwood Room, City Hall 1. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER BY: Laura Connors Hull at 9:35 am 2. THOSE PRESENT: NAME Staff Member: Maureen Budetti Name: Holly Irwin Member: Laura Connors Hull Member: Elise Neil Bengtson Member: Ronald Anzalone Member: Ellen Gross Member: Katharine Stewart Member: Nikki Graves Henderson Member-at-Large: Ariadne Autor Member-at-Large: Russ Mardon (virtually) ABSENT Student Liaison: Jacqueline Connors CATCH Fndn Liaison: Keith Thurston Member-at-Large: Mary Sellers Library Liaison: Jessie Labukas Historical Commission Liaison: Ed Henderson OTHERS PRESENT: Regan Davis (FCCPS Liaison), Letty Hardi (City Council Liaison) TOPICS OF DISCUSSION: . 3. Organization Round Table Members representing Falls Church Arts, VPIS, Chamber of Commerce, Victorian Society, Friends of Cherry Hill, Creative Cauldron, City Council, and FCCPS gave updates. Maureen asked if we could include specific information from the different organizations during the ‘Roundtable’ discussion in the minutes. We decided that members will send highlights of their organization’s activities to Katharine so they can be included. 4. Minutes for Approval For the May 18, 2023 meeting minutes, no changes were submitted. Maureen moved to approve the minutes; Ellen seconded. Unanimously approved. 5. Ongoing Business A. Art Wrap Update Holly reported that over 20 applications have been submitted so far. They are being accepted on a rolling basis. Interviews start June 16. The job posting is on the City website. Please spread the word. The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This document will be made available in alternate format upon request. Call 703 248-5014, (TTY 711). Page 2 The request to “art-wrap” more utility boxes is going to Public Works. Those chosen are in highly visible locations, easily seen from the street. B. Public Art Administrative Procedures Review Holly and staff have completed their work on the Public Art Administrative Procedures and document has been sent to Planning Department. Holly asked the staff to incorporate our work on ‘values’ section as we had a very thorough discussion of that. Ron pointed out page 8 in particular as it pertains to the role of A&HC. The City Council is the ultimate policy and approval authority on developer-initiated projects. See the development Founders Row II as an example. The A&H Council provides overall guidance and recommendations in our advisory role, and City Council makes final decisions. Holly expects that the next draft to include all 3 sections will be ready by the A&HC August meeting. 6. New Business A. Founders Row II Public Art Project – Chad Prince, Project Manager Holly introduced Chad Prince, Project Manager for Founders Row II; Barton Rubenstein, a sculptor and public artist; and Adam Rogers, a landscape architect with J2. Chad joined the meeting to talk about the Founders Row II project at West and Broad, and how art will be situated. The site plan was approved in November 2022 and will include residential, retail, and coworking space. It should be completed in the 1st quarter of 2025. The developer had met with the Architectural Review Board on June 14. One of the developer’s voluntary concessions is public art that they wish to put in the elevated plaza located along South West Street. A guiding principle has been to create a highly visible sculpture that can serve as a ‘beacon’ to bring people into the plaza. Chad introduced Barton Rubenstein who spoke about his background and experience. He has developed three options for Founders Row II, each representing a different concept namely verticality, the use of water, and movement/kinetic. 1. “Migration” – a set of three long and short undulating vertical metal pieces that look like fish swimming. 2. “Seagrass (Option 1)” – more non-representational. Tall, slender ‘shoots’ of metal that rise vertically as seagrass does in our bays and rivers. Walking along the piece gives you a sense of walking along a rivert or body of water. “Seagrass (Option 2)” – three slender elements rising 15-20 feet high. Brushed, stainless steel, 24” wide approx. Curvy, dramatic and powerful. Can be seen from the street. 3. “River Grass” – A kinetic version of the Seagrass ideas. Edges are silky smooth, nothing sharp. It can be touched. Barton and Chad asked for questions and comments. • (Ari) Do we choose 1 or multiple? We advise on 1. • (Laura) What is Barton’s experience with different ages? He responded that stainless steel is very durable and he designed the pieces to be safe for all ages. Kinetic format may be most interesting to those who are walking around a piece. • (Ron) Did he look at historic relationship between FC and Potomac River? Falls Church was named because it was on one of the roads going to the Falls on the Potomac. The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This document will be made available in alternate format upon request. Call 703 248-5014, (TTY 711). Page 3 • Barton replied that he grew up in DC. While his ideas may be slightly generalized, he feels they speak to why we are all here. • (Ari) What about uplighting in “Migration”? Barton said he is sensitive to uplighting and light pollution issues. • (Maureen) Are we able to see the taller ones from the street? Barton said that is the age old question or challenge for public art. You would like larger pieces so they can be seen from the , sidewalk or street in order to draw people to look at them, but you want a piece also to be more human-sized and intimate. • (Katharine) Vertical ones offer different perspectives, depending upon where you are viewing them from. • (Ellen) “Migration” creates an intimacy that may be more in keeping with the building on the opposite corner, i.e. Founders Row I. • (Maureen) River Grass is more abstract and maybe less understandable for some. • (Ari) People driving along may be distracted by large vertical ones. Members agreed that these options are very impressive, thoughtful sculptures that could work well at that site. We are heartened by your desire to tie public art into the history of Falls Church City. B. Falls Church Art Day 2024 – Mary was not at the meeting so no report. 6. Other Announcements Holly reported that the application process has opened for the City’s Grant Programs for Arts and Humanities. Deadline is July 28. She has gathered a group to review the submissions in August. Their grant recommendations are presented to City Council in September with awardees notifed in late September. See the A&HC website for further information. MEETING ADJOURNED AT: 10:57 am SIGNATURE OF RECORDER: Katharine Stewart The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This document will be made available in alternate format upon request. Call 703 248-5014, (TTY 711).