Culture, Arts & Pride Commission

CULTURE, ARTS & PRIDE COMMISSION Wednesday, September 13, 2017 12:00 noon Municipal Complex, Committee Meeting Room (3300) 100 Ann Edwards Lane Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 MINUTES Members Present: Kenda Sweet, Chair; Judy Dixon, Ian Duncan, Rebecca Gosnell, Ann McGahey Members Absent: Stephanie Meadows, Charles Williams Staff Present: Nicole Harvey Ms. Sweet called the meeting to order at 12:04 p.m. 1. Approval of Minutes from the July 12, 2017 meeting Ms. Gosnell moved for approval of the Minutes of July 12, 2017. Ms. Dixon seconded the motion. All were in favor. 2. Public Comments None 3. Report from Subcommittees a. Artist Submissions Ms. Harvey said she modified the traffic box submission form for use in the Raining Art and the Mural Programs. She said they need to figure out how they are going to roll it out. Ms. Gosnell said she had reviewed the applications and believes they are right on point. b. Beautification Telephone (843) 884‐8517 ‐ Fax (843) 856‐2180 www.tompsc.com  Mr. Duncan said they do not have any updates. He said they need to make everyone aware of the Tree Bank program and focus on one street to make an impact. He said they could show a difference of what could be done. He said at the next meeting they should have more information. Ms. Harvey said that Ms. Martine Wolfe‐Miller had launched a new TOMPSC website and they have been working to update the Culture, Arts & Pride (CAP) information page and forms. She said the Tree Bank Grant application has been updated and they are going to produce a flyer and press release to get that information out. Mr. Duncan said it could emphasize the cooling effect that the trees had on cars and houses. Ms. Sweet asked if they want to expand the program to include parks. She said she did not know if this was anything the Committee wanted to take on. She said Charleston has the park conservancy for the City. Mr. Duncan concurred and said they had the Park Angels. Ms. Sweet asked if they, as a subcommittee, would want to meet with them and see if there was any way they could partner to work with them, get ideas, or help with parks as far as art. Mr. Duncan said he thought it was a great idea and would contact them. Ms. Gosnell said the Park Conservancy has a strong relationship with the City Horticultural Department and that may be an important aspect. Ms. Sweet said Beautification could include green spaces and parks. c. Sculpture Ms. McGahey said she had no update. Ms. Sweet said there was a new item that would fall under Sculpture. She said that she and Ms. Harvey had a conversation with Mr. Jared Charzewski who is charge of the Sculpture Department at the College Telephone (843) 884‐8517 ‐ Fax (843) 856‐2180 www.tompsc.com  of Charleston. She said he came to them with an idea of an interactive sculpture where they would work with the Sculpture Department and the Computer Science Division. She said it could monitor something such as air quality or count the number of people at a place. She said they told him the Committee could not afford to pay with the CAP budget. She thought they could partner with a department of the Town or business that may want that information and could help sponsor the cost of the sculpture because of the value it would provide. Ms. McGahey said she liked the idea. Ms. Harvey said she needed to contact Ms. Hillary Repik in Stormwater at the Town. She said they have Pete the Pelican that is getting updated signage and maintenance, and it provides a recycling education component at Shem Creek Park. She said Stormwater may have some ideas of information they may want to gather with Federal mandates that must be met. Ms. Sweet said for everyone to be thinking of ideas. Mr. Steve Gergick, Recreation Director, said if there was something to count people it would be good. Ms. Sweet said the College is open to suggestions and could write programs for different projects. Ms. Harvey said the college wants to have a contest among the students to complete a project. d. Traffic Box Ms. Dixon said they have an update in application due dates. She said it went from Sept. 11th to Oct. 6th. Ms. Harvey said they were going to look at the submissions today but with the storm and the Town being closed on the original deadline date, they will choose next month and still have enough time to get them to the sign company and get the wraps completed. She said this was the top story in the new e‐blast. Telephone (843) 884‐8517 ‐ Fax (843) 856‐2180 www.tompsc.com  Ms. Sweet asked if there would be enough applications without going to one of the schools. Ms. Harvey said she did send it to Trident Tech and she said at present they have some good submissions. e. Mural Ms. Sweet said the name for the Mural Program will be Paint the Town. Ms. Gosnell said she and Mr. Duncan met with two mural artists and received a lot of great questions and feedback from them and they were very excited. She said they want a private driven process where the Commission would identify privately owned spaces and pair them with artists where they would proceed at their own expense through a selection process involving the Committee. She said another aspect would involve a public process where they would identify public spaces, assign a budget, and put those spaces up for bid. Ms. Gosnell said they are not waiting for funds in the Commission’s account as it is an opportunity to get businesses engaged. She said the artists made it very clear that the site prep needs to be done by the host not the artist. She said the artist will need to guarantee the art for one to three years and they believe $25‐$35 a square foot would be an easy way to get businesses engaged and committed. She said Mr. Duncan’s suggestion was to reach out to some private spaces that could use some aesthetic interest. Mr. Duncan said he had suggested Kickin’ Chicken but does not think there is a large enough wall space. Ms. Gosnell said one artist asked about the new parking garage at Shem Creek. She said they suggested an artistic approach to the building could make a difference in the way it is perceived and enjoyed. Mr. Duncan said it was great meeting. He said that he was recently in West Asheville and they have murals but they all say West Asheville on them. He said it could be huge block letters and the Telephone (843) 884‐8517 ‐ Fax (843) 856‐2180 www.tompsc.com painting is in the middle or at the bottom. He said it gave a sense of identity and everyone knows where the downtown is. He said he did not know if having the name on it was required but it was powerful. Ms. Gosnell said the artists suggested the Committee should review portfolios to make sure those submitting are qualified with a body of work they could reference. She said it was possible for artists to do outline designs that the community could fill in and paint. Ms. Harvey said they drove around the Town to observe blank walls. She shared some photos such as the Jones Center wall, other locations on Hwy. 17, the underpass on Bowman Road, the columns at a BNC bank on Hwy. 17, All American Awards, and two blank walls on the Bowman Road bridge between McDonald’s and the Dick’s/Nordstrom Rack shopping center. Ms. Sweet said Greenville’s downtown area has a large art scene. She said they also have a lot of overpasses painted. Ms. Gosnell asked what the next steps were. Ms. Sweet asked if they had approval to move forward with the Jones Center wall. Mr. Gergick said there was approval to go forward in soliciting proposals from artists that would be presented and approved by the Board and Mr. Eric DeMoura before putting it on a Town facility. Ms. Gosnell asked how much money was available in the budget for this project. Ms. Sweet reminded the Commission they had talked previously about getting a paint company or hardware store to sponsor the cost of the paint. Mr. Duncan asked if there could be signage to give a donor credit on the mural. Ms. Sweet said they could possibly put it in the bottom corner but we need to confirm that would be acceptable per the sign ordinance. Telephone (843) 884‐8517 ‐ Fax (843) 856‐2180 www.tompsc.com Ms. Gosnell suggested a stencil that picks up the idea Mr. Duncan had mentioned in West Ashville that could say Paint the Town. Ms. McGahey said other people may then want to do the same thing if they drive by and see the sponsorship. Ms. Sweet said it would be a great idea to get a stencil to use on every one of them in a strategic corner where is says Paint the Town of Mount Pleasant with attention to the project and for continuity. Ms. Gosnell asked if Sherwin Williams was a franchise. Ms. McGahey said she would email and ask. Ms. Gosnell said she knows a commercial paint contractor and would reach out to them. She asked if the Town had anyone that does most of the contracting work. Mr. Gergick said they have used multiple contractors and there was no one specific. Ms. Harvey said the Commissioners had allocated $250 in the budget. She said this program may take a while to roll out. Ms. Gosnell said they may could roll it out in the private sector this year and then the public format next year. She asked if they went to BNC bank and said we would find an artist to paint the columns would they have to go before a Planning Commission. Ms. Harvey said that since they changed the sign code ordinance she understood that it is up to businesses to do what they want as long as it does not have any advertising material on it. Ms. Dixon asked if this was true even from a Design Review Board viewpoint. Ms. Harvey said she believes so but will confirm. She said that Council had indicated that they do not want to complicate the mural process unless it becomes necessary. Ms. Gosnell said they want to roll out a Paint the Town initiative and send a letter to businesses that they have identified. Telephone (843) 884‐8517 ‐ Fax (843) 856‐2180 www.tompsc.com Ms. Harvey said we can indicate that the Committee is here to help facilitate the process but cannot say yes or no to an artist based on content. Ms. Gosnell said they can say they are working with highly accomplished mural artist who can facilitate this process and the Committee can help get some designs submitted and make them a part of the Paint the Town program and publicize it. She asked if staff would be able to draft something to that effect. Ms. McGahey asked if CAP would be responsible for the selection or if the owner would have a say in what is put on their building. Ms. Gosnell said CAP would be responsible for putting together a selection of artists and then helping businesses connect with those artist for content and design submissions. Ms. McGahey said the owner would make the final selection. Ms. Gosnell asked what a roll out date would be with the upcoming holidays. Ms. Harvey asked if they were just talking about putting together the materials. Ms. Gosnell said they are wanting to get the artist coming to the website to let the Committee know they are interested and a letter to businesses to try to get a conversation going. Ms. Harvey said this needs to be driven by communication on the website. She said Ms. Wolfe‐Miller is planning a training on the website but at this time she does not have the ability to make changes on the site. Once training is complete and she has authorization, then they can make changes and start with the project. She said probably early next year. Ms. Gosnell said the artist said that January, February, July and August are not good months to paint murals. Ms. Harvey said they can be working on collecting information and not necessarily painting during that time. She said early next year to have everything running but it may occur before then. Telephone (843) 884‐8517 ‐ Fax (843) 856‐2180 www.tompsc.com  Mr. Duncan asked if the program was open if they went into a business with the mural proposal. Ms. Dixon suggested using the Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce as a contact. Ms. Gosnell said she would put together a timeline for the project so everyone commits to their part. f. It’s Raining Art! Ms. Sweet said they have found a student at College of Charleston that wants to take on It’s Raining Art! on as her project. She said she was willing to make the stencils. She said they are still trying to find out how much the stencils will cost so she will follow up. She said the stencils can be any size in length and will be 56 inches tall. Ms. Sweet asked if they need to go ahead and purchase the spray. Ms. Harvey answered in the affirmative and said they will get it purchased. Ms. Sweet said there will be a Charleston Inaugural Poetry Festival in October and she will contact the organizers to see if they could tie in and possibly roll out It’s Raining Art! during the festival. Ms. Harvey said they have Children’s Day on October 15. She said she does not know how localized the poetry festival is, where it is located, and if it can spread out. She said they could possibly have an event within an event if the timing is right. Ms. Sweet will contact them. Ms. Dixon said it would be interesting for an unveiling and merging with another event. Ms. Gosnell said the Poetry Festival is youth poetry at Gaillard on September 29, a poetry and jazz night at Dock Street on October 4, a poetry laureate show at the City Gallery and Marjory Wentworth on October 6, and Pure Theatre performing on October 31. She said it does not look as if there is a kickoff event. Telephone (843) 884‐8517 ‐ Fax (843) 856‐2180 www.tompsc.com  Ms. Harvey said it sounds as if it is ongoing throughout the month and in various locations so maybe they would be open. She asked if it was City of Charleston event or if an organization was doing it. Ms. Sweet said it was stretched out throughout the month. Ms. Gosnell said it is the City of Charleston’s first poetry festival so they are claiming it and it is Downtown and West Ashley. Ms. Sweet asked if they thought the City would be interested in partnering on something like that. Ms. Gosnell said that Mount Pleasant needs to claim its own festival. Ms. Sweet suggested tying it into our Children’s Day. Ms. Harvey said if they are going to get it done it had to be by October 15. She suggested rolling it into the Town’s Holiday Market and Christmas Parade. Ms. Sweet said they know now they are not going with the poetry festival as that is something sponsored by the City. She said as far as It’s Raining Art! she will confirm with the designer the price and schedule. g. Take Pride Ms. Sweet said an eblast was sent out. She said it focused on CAP and shared what they are doing. She said in the future they would focus on how the citizens can help be better and more involved citizens. She asked for thoughts. She said it will be a monthly eblast. She said right now it goes to all those on the Recreation Department email list. Ms. Harvey said she sent a disclaimer about subscribing to the eblast. She thought the CAP meeting date is a great distribution date. She said the first one was telling CAP’s story and it was a great avenue to engage people on what is going on. Ms. Sweet said it will be on social media. Ms. Harvey said it was posted the Town Facebook page and the Recreation page. Telephone (843) 884‐8517 ‐ Fax (843) 856‐2180 www.tompsc.com  Ms. Sweet was going to call Moultrie News about including it. h. Marketing None 4. New Business Ms. Sweet said Art Matters Day was supposed to be on the September 12 but Hurricane Irma came. She thought it would be a good thing for CAP to focus on getting involved next year. Ms. Sweet asked about slides she sent to Ms. Harvey on the trash/recycle receptacles with art on the front in Greenville and Ms. Harvey displayed the images for the commissioners. Ms. McGahey said she liked the all‐in‐one containers. Ms. Sweet said the trash and recyclable containers have art along with the sponsor on the top of the container. She said the City works with an art organization. Mr. Gergick said they would have to go through Public Services. Ms. Sweet said they would have to determine who would purchase them. Ms. Harvey said public trash cans are quite expensive. Ms. Sweet said they could talk to Public Services. Mr. Gergick asked if the receptacle was one large piece. Ms. Sweet answered in the affirmative. Ms. Sweet said there was a new idea to have a contest to create new wraps for two new trash trucks the Town is in the process of purchasing. She said that Public Services has the money to complete the wraps. Ms. McGahey said it would be a mobile mural. Ms. Sweet said the next meeting would be on October 11. 5. Adjourn There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 12:58 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Telephone (843) 884‐8517 ‐ Fax (843) 856‐2180 www.tompsc.com Karen Bedenbaugh, 09/13/17 Telephone (843) 884‐8517 ‐ Fax (843) 856‐2180 www.tompsc.com