Public Arts and Culture Advisory Council

PUBLIC ARTS & CULTURE ADVISORY COUNCIL APPROVED MEETING MINUTES Monday, February 10, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. Village Hall, 1000 Civic Center Plaza, Niles IL 60714 Members Present: Lindsey Brubaker – Niles Park District Steve Vinezeano – Niles VFW Post 3579 Susan Lempke – Niles-Maine District Library Carol Luc – Artist Kathleen Gallegos – Artist/Art Station Studio Barbara Karawacki – Niles Historical Society Janet Spector Bishop – School District 63 Debi Gajewski – Artist Members Absent: John Kosirog – School District 71 Ed Eubank – School District 207 Alicia Bermes – Niles Chamber of Commerce Marina Samovsky – Photographer Village Officials/Staff Present: Katie Schneider – Community Engagement Coordinator I. Call to Order: Katie Schneider called the meeting to order at 5:08 p.m. in the Niles Administration Building, 2nd Floor Large Conference Room. Chair Lindsey Brubaker was absent. II. Approval of Meeting Minutes Janet Spector Bishop made a motion to accept the January 13, 2020 Minutes as presented. Carol Luc second the motion, all were in favor. None opposed. Minutes approved. III. Organization Representative Reports Carol Luc (Artist) – Carol’s class at the senior center will display their artwork at the Senior Art show in May. She showed the Lincoln statue project with different tiles composed by different seniors. Susan Lempke (Niles-Maine District Library) – The Library has a display case from the Historical Society for Coming Together that focuses on people’s travels to Niles Township. Steve Vinezeano (Niles VFW 3579) – The Post is hosting a Valentine’s Day dinner on February 14 and a St. Patrick’s celebration on March 8th Barb Karawacki (Niles Historical Society) – The book for the June Book Discussion is Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe. The time has moved to 7:30 p.m. in hopes of getting more people to attend. In April, they will offer a program on Al Capone with a focus on Niles in conjunction with the April book discussion. They will host the annual Tea Party in June, date to be determined. Janet Spector Bishop (School District 63) – The Gemini Community Open House is on March 3rd from 6-8p.m. It is an open house format so you can come when you please. Marina Samovsky (Photographer) – wrapped up her season of portraits for holiday cards and gifts. Katie Schneider (Village of Niles) – There are no current programs relating to arts and culture. Kathleen Gallegos (Artist/Art Station Studio) – She will also host a Glow in the Dark art parties at the Niles Senior Center. She is trying Group-On for her studio to try better advertising. Debi Gajewski (Artist) – will only focus now on fine art. Debi has been researching Chicago neighborhoods and the origins of their names. She will continue to storytelling. She is working on a series of animal flowers combinations; she currently has 14 in the collection. Lindsey Brubaker (Niles Park District) - Little Ladies dance this past Friday with the Little Gentlemans Dance. Sweatheart Open at Iceland. IV. Niles Artisan Guild Debi Gajewski reported on the Niles Artisan Guild. Beginning March 7 through April there will be an Alice In Wonderland exhibit at the Library; a March 13 reception will kick-off the year. The exhibit will travel throughout the year. Farm on Franks event on May 2nd will offer recycled art for sale. They are also hosting a “Paint the Roses Red” program where adults can purchase a $5 flower, paint it and be part of a contest for the Garden Walk in July. The Mad Hatter Tea Party will be on September 12 at the Senior Center. All participants are members of the Niles Artisan Guild. A flyer is available. V. Old Business a. Niles 2020 Photo Exhibit – Marina and a couple other photographers are coordinating with a few families including cultures of Romania, Irish, Korean, and Serbia. There are potential families of German, Mexican and Polish ethnicity. Final photos will be on display in the Council Chambers at Village Hall and a traveling display at the Library and Historical Society. A final display is yet to be determined. There will be an online component and a printed book for purchase. An art and food event is being considered as well. The objective is to promote photography as an art form and highlight the diversity in Niles and shared values of food and family. VI. New Business a. Senior Art Fair - Kelly Mickle, Director of the Senior Center, was approached by a private company to host a senior art show. The company uses art therapy in nursing homes and would like to display and sell the artwork. Kelly thought it would be nice to coordinate with the Niles Artisan Guild and the Arts and Culture Council to have a more community wide event. For info to follow. b. Art Council Identifiers – In the past two years, the Council has been active producing and supporting art around town. This includes the fire house mural, bus stop benches and Niles Artisan Guild display case at the Fitness Center. We should have signage or a plaque that highlights the artist and the work but also promotes the Arts and Culture Council. There is a line item in the budget for marketing the council, members agreed to have Katie order and post signage. This brought up the topic that a few benches are in bad shape and need to be replaced. We will take inventory of the benches after this winter and go from there. VII. Open Discussion Susan Lempke asked the group if there was a way to communicate or share dates and plans to for all the events and programs in town. This would be away to avoid date conflicts and program duplications. Since many of the partners are on the Council it was suggested that we use the monthly meetings to keep track and keep an informal shared calendar. The purpose of a shared calendar is for planning purposes. VIII. Public Comment There was no public comment. IX. Next Meeting Monday, March 9, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. at Village Hall, 2nd Floor EOC Conference Room X. Adjournment Debi Gajewski made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 5:37 p.m. Carol Luc second the motion, all were in favor. Meeting adjourned.