Culture, Arts & Pride Commission

CULTURE, ARTS & PRIDE COMMISSION Wednesday, July 12, 2017 12:00 noon Municipal Complex, Building A, Public Meeting Room 1 100 Ann Edwards Lane Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 MINUTES Members Present: Kenda Sweet, Chair; Judy Dixon, Rebecca Gosnell, Ann McGahey, Stephanie Meadows, Charles Williams Members Absent: Ian Duncan Staff Present: Nicole Harvey Ms. Sweet called the meeting to order at 12:04 p.m. 1. Approval of Minutes from the June 14, 2017 meeting Mr. Williams moved for approval of the Minutes of June 14, 2017. Ms. Dixon seconded the motion. All were in favor. 2. Public Comments Mr. Darren Felty, 1803 Falling Creek Circle, Mount Pleasant was recognized. He is the Dean of the Mount Pleasant campus of Trident Technical College. He said he saw the presentation at the Council Meeting the previous night and was impressed with what the Commission was doing with creative writing and poetry. He said he had contacted their Graphic Arts Department and would like for them to be involved. 3. East Cooper Shag Club Telephone (843) 884‐8517 ‐ Fax (843) 856‐2180 www.tompsc.com Ms. Marcia Rosenberg, 1573 Oakhurst Drive, Mount Pleasant, was recognized along with Ms. Lisa McCaskill, a member of the Board of the East Cooper Shag Club. She said that shag is the State dance. She said they would like to partner with the Town of Mount Pleasant to develop a cultural center for shagging. She said that the Town could assist in identifying the correct individuals or corporations who would benefit from being involved. Ms. Rosenberg said the interest is there as demonstrated by the hundreds of people who show up at the dances on the piers and weekly shag events. She said this is a healthy way to get people moving, exercising and socializing. She said the Town supported the Sweetgrass culture and they now have their own festival, pavilion and respect of the Charleston community. She said when not used for shag it could be used for other events. She said it will take a lot of time and planning. She said she did not see it as a money maker for the Town. She said the entity that backs this venture could rent out the unused time slots. She said Mount Pleasant needs larger spaces for larger groups to hold functions. She said the ideal space would include space for food and bar and plenty of parking. She said part of the Commission’s Mission Statement reads “shall identify opportunities for the public to experience the arts.” Ms. Rosenberg said she was asking they consider the State dance to be elevated to the same status as the Sweetgrass culture and if further discussion could be planned so the vision can become a reality. Ms. McCaskill said the East Cooper Shag Club was formed in 2010 because those shagging East of the Cooper did not want to go to Folly Beach. She asked if there was a pavilion they could possibly use or perhaps the upstairs at the Darby Building would be good. Ms. Meadows asked how many members were in the Shag Club. Ms. McCaskill said 230 plus. Ms. Gosnell asked where they were shagging. Ms. McCaskill said when Zeus was open they were allowed use of the back room every Friday night. Ms. Gosnell said The Omar Shrine Temple has all the things they are talking about with bar, parking and space. Telephone (843) 884‐8517 ‐ Fax (843) 856‐2180 www.tompsc.com  Ms. McCaskill said they tried that but the room they could use was the small room attached to the restaurant without paying the venue rental. Ms. Dixon asked about the ideal size they are requesting. Ms. McCaskill said when they used Alhambra they sat approximately 180 people. She said they do not to have it that large as everyone does not have to have a seat. She said any type of pavilion being built would be good especially if they could get in with the planners and asked about the new development going in at Patriots Point. Ms. Sweet said they cannot speak for the Town of Mount Pleasant with regards to building or using a facility, but they could help identify partners or businesses who might want to be involved. She said the development at Patriots Point is going to be done by a private company operated in partnership with the State and not the Town. Mr. Williams asked about Moultrie Middle School. Ms. Harvey said no alcohol is allowed on school properties or recreation facilities with exception of the Senior Center and the Park West Pavilion. She said with the Darby they would have to see about the concern of bringing in food and beverage. Ms. Sweet said if they could find a restaurant or hotel that has a private space that would be ideal. Ms. Dixon said suggested the Cooper River Room. Ms. Sweet said it had to be rented and it was expensive. Ms. Harvey said it also is carpeted. Ms. Gosnell asked about senior facilities such as the Franke Home having an auditorium. Ms. Rosenberg said she had not thought of that but will contact them. Ms. Gosnell said if they could get the Franke Home or Sandpiper that would be good. Ms. Sweet said they will think of any other possibly suggestions and let them know if they come up with any ideas. 4. Report from Subcommittees Telephone (843) 884‐8517 ‐ Fax (843) 856‐2180 www.tompsc.com a. Artist Submissions Ms. Harvey said she looked at the traffic box submission forms and is editing them to suit this need. Ms. Sweet said they need to get the word out to schools. b. Beautification Ms. Sweet said she and Mr. Duncan had emailed each other about ways to get the public involved with the Tree Grant and the Pride Award. She said they thought of a flyer to put at nurseries that talks about the Tree Grant Program. She said they thought also about taking nominations from the public for Pride Award. Ms. Gosnell said there are active garden clubs that we can reach out to. Ms. Harvey said should would work on a flyer for the Tree Grant Program. She said the installations have to be in public spaces. c. Sculpture Ms. Sweet asked for everyone to identify potential places for additional sculptures. Ms. Harvey said they had talked about the roundabout on Longpoint Road, the roundabout on Harry Hallman by the park, and one on Mathis Ferry Road close to the fire station. She said they will not be prepared to install one until the next round of sculptures is selected and ready for installation at the pocket park. She said she sent a letter along with a check for $300 to the sculptor of the recycled glass explaining there was another $300 in this year’s budget for the artist. She said if they want to put a sculpture in a roundabout they need to decide which one and then have the Transportation Department put together a site distance for the South Carolina Department of Transportation (DOT). Ms. Gosnell asked about putting a sculpture in the Waterfront Park area. Ms. Harvey said it may be possible. Telephone (843) 884‐8517 ‐ Fax (843) 856‐2180 www.tompsc.com  Ms. Gosnell said the proportion may not be large enough for a roundabout. Ms. Dixon said at the Waterfront Park there is the ability for pedestrians to filter by and it allows people to engage in it. Ms. Sweet said North Charleston had done a great job in its park and she would like every public park in Mount Pleasant to have at least one sculpture. Ms. McGahey said that is what Mount Pleasant lacks. Ms. Gosnell said the lake by the old East Cooper hospital would be a good place. Ms. Sweet said in the sculptor agreement they should ask the College of Charleston students if they want to donate the sculpture at the end of the display period or keep it. Ms. Gosnell said they need to ask if any can be moved to public parks. Ms. Meadows asked about the roundabout by Lowes. Ms. Sweet said it must have a breakaway so a fire truck can go through it if needed. Ms. Harvey said the way the roundabout was constructed, it is not large enough to have anything in the center. Ms. McGahey said at the Longpoint Road roundabout there is a large tree with several smaller trees. Ms. Gosnell said if they found something like the horse the tree maybe could be removed. Ms. Sweet said they will continue to identify potential sites. Mr. Williams said the roundabout on Rifle Range Road by Venning would be good. d. Emerging Visual Arts Ms. Sweet said the subcommittee is working on moving forward with each of the existing and new programs. e. Traffic Box Telephone (843) 884‐8517 ‐ Fax (843) 856‐2180 www.tompsc.com  Ms. Dixon said the subcommittee had reviewed the current artist submission form. Ms. Harvey said it is ready to go out with an application and press release. She said the application identifies all the remaining intersections available on Highway 17. She said if an artist wants to request a specific intersection they can state that otherwise the Committee decides. Ms. Dixon said there were five boxes budgeted this year. Ms. Sweet said they can only install the wraps in the spring and the fall as it cannot be too hot or too cold. f. Mural Ms. Gosnell said she would like to contact some mural artists to come in to give input on this project. She said they may have suggestions on budgeting and the submission process. She wanted to plan for discussion at the September meeting as she wants everyone engaged. Ms. Sweet said Mr. Gergick was going to find out about the outside wall at the Jones Center. Ms. Gosnell said she will take pictures of some potential buildings such as Jones Center, GDC, and others to get ideas on textures. Ms. Harvey said the woman who did the turtle box also did a turtle mural on the Isle of Palms and we may want to include her in the artists we invite for input. Ms. Meadows said the side wall of Trader Joe’s facing Lansing Drive might provide a good visual from the road. Ms. McGahey said the side of Nordstrom Rack might be a good building. g. It’s Raining Art! Ms. Sweet said Jared from the College of Charleston Arts Program is interested in this program and they do have a CNC machine. She said he decided to identify one or two key students that can take it on as a project this fall. She said they are waiting for the students to return in August and for him to identify those students. She said the Telephone (843) 884‐8517 ‐ Fax (843) 856‐2180 www.tompsc.com  Commission will pay a small stipend. She said they would do the cutting and possibly help put the stencils down. Ms. Gosnell said they started the conversation with Trident Technical College (TTC) but the scale of their machine was not large enough. Ms. Sweet said if they can get one with a larger capacity the Commission would be interested in working with them. Ms. Gosnell said Richard at TTC had suggested the College of Charleston due to TTC not having the large cutter for a 4‐foot x 8‐ foot design. Ms. Sweet said the first focus would be on poetry. She said they needed to send out the notice and work with the local schools and Trident to get a creative writing contest going. Ms. Gosnell asked if something could come from Mr. Marcus Amaker, City of Charleston’s Poet Laureate, saying he was happy to partner with the Town of Mount Pleasant. Ms. Sweet said they had mentioned also Ms. Marjory Wentworth, State Poet Laureate. Ms. Harvey said they could possibly be involved in helping select from the submissions. Ms. Gosnell she will contact Mr. Amaker. Ms. Sweet will email Ms. Wentworth. Ms. Gosnell said the Commission could say this is a project we are launching and would like for them to partner with us to request submissions and generate interest. h. Take Pride Ms. Sweet said they will have an E‐blast in month or so. Ms. Meadows said Ms. Harvey will work with them on a template in Constant Contact. She said they need to determine a theme, template, and how much content they want to include. Ms. Sweet said it needs to be a simple one‐page document. Telephone (843) 884‐8517 ‐ Fax (843) 856‐2180 www.tompsc.com  Ms. Harvey said they could have a side bar with links to the various projects that CAP is working on currently. Ms. Meadows asked for suggestions. Ms. Sweet said every month will be a different topic. Ms. Harvey said in August they could focus on partnering with schools since children will be returning to school and our schools are something Mount Pleasant residents take great pride in. Ms. Sweet said they could work with departments in the Town to see what messages each would like to get out. She said it could focus on how to be better citizens and take pride in our community. Ms. Meadows said a trivia question, recipe, or something to engage conversation would be good. Ms. Gosnell said an outrageous fact would be good. She said it could also focus on volunteer opportunities. Ms. Sweet said CAP can give topics every month. Ms. Gosnell said December and January could be about diets and healthy eating. Ms. Harvey said it needs to be short, quick and easy to read. i. Marketing Ms. Harvey said she had all the pictures of the traffic boxes and the student artists and she will work on a press release. 5. New Business Ms. Harvey said the next month’s meeting scheduled for August 9 would be held in the new building and everyone would pass through security for the building. 6. Adjourn There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 12:52 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Karen Bedenbaugh, 7/12/17 Telephone (843) 884‐8517 ‐ Fax (843) 856‐2180 www.tompsc.com