Arts Commission

Middletown Commission on the Arts Minutes of Meeting – June 27, 2018 Conference Room, Senior/Community Center 61 Durant Terrace Present Also Present Absent Lee Godburn (chair) Kisha Michael, acting interim arts coordinator Joe McCarthy Cassandra Day (secretary) Councilman Sebastian Giuliano Crystal Laffan Councilman Bob Santangelo Franca Biales Charlotte McCoid Joyce Kirkpatrick Marc Pettersen (vice chair) Julia Faraci Barbara Arafeh Call to Order Godburn called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. at the senior center Public Session – No members of the public present Minutes Kirkpatrick made a motion to approve minutes as written, Day seconded; carried unanimously Approval of Agenda Motion to approve agenda by Laffan, seconded by Day; carried unanimously. Remarks from the chair None Old Business a) Budget Report – No report b) Program Update i) Arts Stakeholders Group – no update. ii) Kids Arts update – Michael reported enrollment is 118 with camp beginning Monday. Registration is a little low – usually around 140 – but she is still accepting applications through the first week of camp. iii) Fireworks Festival/Summer Sounds – Michael mailed packets to all the vendors – 20 food trucks are coming, including NoRA Cupcake, Jerry’s Pizza, others; and Jeff McQuillian is one of the musicians. Michael is meeting Thursday with the late Stacy Phillips’ band about still performing. iv) Poet Laureate – At least 250 people attended Susan Allison’s memorial event at the Community Health Center June 16. Many had to stand along the walls, Godburn said. It was supposed to be an hour but stretched to three. v) Municipal Building – no report c) Other – Allison is officially retired July 12, Michael said. The mayor asked her to return in a full-time capacity until the arts coordinator person is hired. She’ll be in the office weekdays, 8:30 to 4:30 p.m. She may be reached at kisha.michael@middletownct.gov and copy arts@middletownct.gov. Sara Mendillo is helping with the Summer Sounds, Fireworks and Poet Laureate applications. She’s at sara.mendillo@middletownct.gov. Committee Reports a) Executive Committee – no report. b) Public Art Committee – Kirkpatrick reported it had been a busy month for the group. They viewed Janine Janecki’s pastel painting of Eli Cannon’s, offered $500 to buy it and will need $250 to have Ursel’s Web frame it. Janecki sold it to the MCA at a “deep discount.” Abbey Carter’s drawing of one of the soup kitchen volunteers is being purchased  as well for $500. Kirkpatrick made a motion to have the work of Janine Janecki and Abbey Carter included in the city arts collection. Faraci seconded; approved unanimously. Kirkpatrick said the Emil Brand piece was unable to be cleaned because it was acrylic paint, which is water-soluble and hard to clean. Cost to clean the two Wasicki paintings was $700. Michael asked where multiple art works on the floor in the MCA office should go now that she’s cleaning up the area. Kirkpatrick said the PAC will look into it and why many pieces are in closets at the senior center. c) Nominating Committee – David Bauer and Gil Scullion are the two names ready to be send to the mayor for consideration. Godburn said we should wait until a new coordinator is hired to take action. d) Planning and Projects Committee – Godburn said the group will meet in mid-July about the open air market at the mansion – he asked people to brainstorm ideas on how to make the MCA booth more engaging and well-attended. The children’s mask art is always very popular. Day said the MCA’s presence and creativity in drawing people to the booth is vitally important in light of what happened with the council/arts coordinator post recently. Members should use a little creativity in getting people – like a raffle, donations, etc. Others suggested kids spin art, having costumed artists talk about or act out what they do, en plein air painting, crafts. Godburn asked everyone to email their suggestions to him. e) Music Committee – Arafeh said Debby Shapiro of the historical society presented her with two challenges: show her the committee can get enough items together to display for an exhibit on Middletown’s contributions to the country/state’s music scene, and make sure it has history up to the present. Arafeh said she’s working on finding out the music curriculum in the city schools. Godburn suggested Arafeh look for paraphernalia such as posters from the Concert Association and other arts groups, as well as go through the MCA archives. Make Music Day was a big success, Arafeh reported. f) Public Relations Committee – No report g) Poet Laureate Committee – No applications received yet – and call went out June 1. Laffan said perhaps people are taking their time getting things together ahead of the Aug. 1 deadline but she still wants to proceed with getting the word out more because not getting applications is worrying her and other subcommittee members. She asked commissioners to suggest places/people to disseminate the poet laureate call to, such as the Wesleyan bookstore, Middlesex Community College, the library, Wesleyan, Shoreline Arts Assoc., Sunken Garden summer poetry series in Farmington, an email to city staff/council members. Godburn asked if Allison had posted the call on Facebook. Michael said she’d check. New Business a) Slate for new officers – Godburn presented Day as chair, Petterson as vice chair and McCoid as secretary. Next month, members will vote. He asked for any other suggestions to be emailed to him. Miscellaneous a) Announcements – Kirkpatrick said the Chorale’s gala went well – it celebrated Joseph D’Eugenio’s 20 years with the group b) Godburn mentioned Middletown resident Nikita Waller being named Connecticut State Troubadour Adjournment: Godburn made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Day seconded; Godburn declared the meeting adjourned at 8:29 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Cassandra Day, MCA secretary