Arts Commission

Minutes of the Meeting Public Art Committee Middletown Commission on the Arts Tuesday, August 22, 2023 10:00 a.m. 88 Court St., Middletown Public Art Committee Minutes of Meeting Present: Pamela Steele, Chair; David Wolfram, Renee Soares Also in Attendance: Staff: Julia Faraci, Admin Sec’y 1. Call to order: The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. 2. Public Session: No members of public present 3. Approval of Agenda: Wolfram moved to approve, Soares seconded. No discussion, approved unanimously 4. Approval of Minutes from July 25, 2023: Wolfram moved to approve, Steele seconded. No discussion, approved unanimously. 5. Old Business A. Inventory of City Art Collection - ongoing Brief review of the City Art Collection’s history and recap of the Public Art Committee’s recent activities pertaining to the Collection. Staff is continuing inventory documentation and research. Faraci plans to meet former Commissioner Joyce Kirkpatrick for historical perspective. Soares proposed that an intern could photograph the Collection. B. Images on Arts Office website Wolfram is working with the Arts Coordinator. Images, commentary, and artist’s website, if available, will be included on the online gallery. C. Flags in City Hall Cultural flags will be hung in the space in the stairwell formerly occupied by patriotic painting. Next holiday is Veterans Day; further planning for different flags throughout the year. Soares suggested a small art display by an artist who is a member of the culture that is being honored at the time, as an alternative to a flag. D. Mayor’s Art Show The Mayor’s Art Show has been proposed in the past as a way to get youth involved with the arts. Selected works would be displayed in the Mayor’s office. The show would include an online gallery on the Arts Office website, enhancing the MCA’s branding and visibility. Soares offered to curate the show. She proposed that guidelines would include division by age brackets, and that artwork would be juried by a panel of artists. The timeline for planning this event would be about 6 months. Steele proposed setting a date for this event at a future meeting.  Minutes of the Meeting Public Art Committee Middletown Commission on the Arts Tuesday, August 22, 2023 10:00 a.m. 88 Court St., Middletown 6. New Business A. Deaccession procedure Committee commented that it was important that the City Art Collection reflect Middletown’s changing community. The process of deaccession will take place in several steps; the first is for the Public Art Committee to reconvene to do another walk-through to review works to consider for deaccession. Steele also proposed that artwork can be repositioned / relocated to City offices and hallway areas with high traffic for greater public visibility. B. Art exhibits in City Hall Soares suggested installing revolving art exhibits in City Hall. Not addressed at this meeting; to be addressed in a future meeting. 7. Announcements – A. Logo and Brochure Wolfram created a color splashed version of the MCA logo. The Arts Coordinator is working with Wolfram on an updated brochure. 8. Adjournment – Wolfram moved to adjourn, Soares seconded. Meeting was adjourned at 10:57 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Julia O’Halloran Faraci Admin. Secretary III, Arts & Culture Office CC: Mayor’s Office