Museums and Cultural Arts Commission Meeting

MINUTES COLTON HALL MUSEUM AND CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION Monday, May 21, 2012 4:00 PM CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, FEW MEMORIAL HALL OF RECORDS MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: Dias, Greenwald, Han, Rodriguez, Wojtkowski Commissioners Absent: Messenger, Schneider Ex-Officio and Staff Museums, Cultural Arts and Archives Manager Dennis Members Present: Copeland, Recording Secretary Teresa Nash Ex-Officio Commissioners are non-voting members, appointed pursuant to MCC § 2-11. CALL TO ORDER CONSENT ITEMS Approval of Minutes 1. Monday, April 23, 2012 Action: Approved as submitted (4-1-2, Greenwald abstained; Messenger, Schneider absent). ***End of Consent Agenda*** PUBLIC COMMENTS None. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS 2. Receive Museum and Cultural Arts Division Activity Report - April 2012 Action: Report received. Museums, Cultural Arts and Archives Manager Copeland noted the following recent activities: Installation of the new Lower Presidio Historic Park wayfinding sign (funded by Preserve American grant) on the left side of the Presidio of Monterey Museum parking lot next to the access sidewalk; the continued increased attendance at the museums; proposals were received for the updated historic structure report and preservation maintenance plan and access requirements for Colton Hall. PUBLIC APPEARANCE Old Business 3. Receive Budget Update Action: Report received. Museum, Cultural Arts and Archives Manager Copeland reported the City budget is essentially the same as last year, and is projected to be in a “steady state” or “status quo” for next fiscal year without reductions or other changes. The largest impact on the budget has been the loss of the Redevelopment funds. There is a request to increase staff time for Cultural Arts Assistant Chalet Booker and Administrative Assistant I Claire Rygg for the 2012 “Art in the Adobes” event;  Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes Monday, May 21, 2012 funding for First Night Monterey’s 20th Anniversary, funding for the 25th Anniversary Fundraiser for the Film Commission; and a City contribution to continuing the Historic Monterey collaborative has been requested by Historic Monterey. The Finance Director will have a budget review with the City Council on May 23, 2012. The Commission discussed whether to submit a letter supporting the restoration of full-time Museums and Cultural Arts staff. The Commission agreed to revisit the subject of staff restoration at the beginning of the budget process next year. Commissioner Rodriguez, on behalf of Commissioner Messenger, inquired if the requests for funding from non-profit organizations is funded directly rather than being presented to the Commission first. Museum, Cultural Arts and Archives Manager Copeland stated that these separate funds are under the legislative control of the City Council for these special events and noted that the Commission has the option of inviting non-profit historical and arts organizations to present to the Commission on their special events. 4. Receive Report on Music Series Fundraising Action: Report received. Museum, Cultural Arts and Archives Manager Copeland reported that so far the donations received from the recent fundraising letter are lower than the previous campaign and suggested two factors affecting the lower response: the timing of the mailing after the current Music series and the need for address list correction by staff. Commissioners concurred and provided input to staff for future mailings. 5. Receive Report and Approve Recommendation of Alvarado Gallery Subcommittee for Dedini Exhibit at Alvarado Gallery in May 2013 Action: The Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission received the report and recommend to the Alvarado Gallery Subcommittee approval to display the Dedini Exhibit at the Alvarado Gallery in May 2013. Museum, Cultural Arts and Archives Manager Copeland stated that once the Commission approved the donation of the Dedini restaurant cartoons, staff noted an open exhibit period from June 20 to August. The Subcommittee recommends an exhibit in May 2013 instead of June 2012, allowing for more planning time. Manager Copeland recommended that the Commission not specify a particular time period since the staff and Commission do not know the exhibit schedules for the Conference Center or the next Call for Art for 2013. Commissioner Dias said that staff originally proposed the exhibit to be installed from June 22 through August 20, 2012. Commissioner Rodriguez stated the subcommittee agrees with May 2013 for the Dedini exhibit. On a motion by Commissioner Wojtkowski, seconded by Commissioner Rodriguez, and carried by the following vote, the Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission recommend having the Dedini Exhibit at the Alvarado Gallery in 2013: AYES: 5 COMMISSIONERS: Dias, Greenwald, Han, Rodriguez, Wojtkowski NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 2 COMMISSIONERS: Messenger, Schneider Colton Hall Museum Cultural Art Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, May 21, 2012 2  Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes Monday, May 21, 2012 New Business 6. Receive Report on Art in the Adobes Festival Action: Report received. Museum, Cultural Arts and Archives Manager Copeland reviewed “Art in the Adobes” Fact Sheet. He noted the improved fee schedule compared to last year, including free admission for volunteers. He also noted the main exhibit sites within the Monterey State Historic Park: Cooper-Molera adobe complex, Stevenson House, and Casa Gutierrez; Polk Street Paseo with plein aire artists, activities for children; this year volunteers will provide visitors with basic information about the artwork on display. 7. Approve David and Christine Armanasco Donation Action: The Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission approved the acquisition of David and Christine Armanasco’s donation of a painting of the First Theatre by Rip Matteson and the framed California Senate Resolution No. 11 designating California Wine Week. Museum, Cultural Arts and Archives Manager Copeland stated that David and Christine Armanasco are offering the City of Monterey a donation of a painting of the First Theatre by Rip Matteson, who was the first art instructor at Monterey Peninsula College. Matteson modeled his painting after an earlier painting done by William Adam which was reproduced on the cover of 1939 Master Plan for the City of Monterey. The Armanasco's would like the painting to be preserved and cared for by the City. On a motion by Commissioner Dias, seconded by Commissioner Rodriguez, and carried by the following vote, the Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission approved the donation from David and Christine Armanasco of a painting of the First Theatre by Rip Matteson and the framed California Senate Resolution No. 11 designating California Wine Week: AYES: 5 COMMISSIONERS: Dias, Greenwald, Han, Rodriguez, Wojtkowski NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 2 COMMISSIONERS: Messenger, Schneider COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner Wojtkowski inquired if there is an update on the negotiations with the Marriott about serving wine. He said he would like an update on Historic Monterey and what the plan is for the future. Museum, Cultural Arts and Archives Manager Copeland noted that a report to the Commission is forthcoming. Commissioner Han suggested the Commission consider the idea of an exhibition with all the museums in Monterey, similar to the Art in the Adobes event. He has some concerns around exhibits, in particular the McComas mural, at the Conference Center because exhibits are poorly monitored and some of the artwork has been damaged. Manager Copeland stated that staff is aware of the problem and is working with Conference Center Manager Cowdrey on this issue. The private company which owns the artwork exhibited at the Conference Center had planned to remove the work for conservation but circumstances did not allow for conservation at this time. The owner may pursue conservation in the future. Colton Hall Museum Cultural Art Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, May 21, 2012 3 Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes Monday, May 21, 2012 Commissioner Dias stated that everyone is doing a great job. Commissioner Greenwald said staff has done a wonderful job of utilizing audio recordings of people who knew Ed Ricketts and displaying historic photographs to enhance visitor’s experience of Ricketts and the PBL. Commissioner Han said he sat in on a crew filming a documentary at the Lab. Museum, Cultural Arts and Archives Manager Copeland reported that director-producer P.J. Palmer’s company (Twenty)2 Films is working on a documentary about Ed Ricketts. NEXT MEETING Monday, June 25, 2012  The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission is Monday, June 25, 2012 at 4:00 p.m., City Council Chamber. ADJOURNMENT Chair Greenwald adjourned the meeting at 5:18 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Dennis Copeland John Greenwald, Chair Museum, Cultural Arts & Archives Manager Colton Hall Museum & Cultural Arts Commission Colton Hall Museum Cultural Art Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, May 21, 2012 4