Roswell Museum Board of Trustees

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AGENDA Monday, March 19, 2018 at 4:00 PM Bassett Auditorium at RMAC 100 W. 11th Street Chair: Cymantha Liakos Members: Anne Baker, Jamie Barnes, Donovan Fulkerson, Peggy Krantz, Priscilla Ornelas, Jessica Parham, Nanette Schumacher, Lorrina Segovia, Bill Siders, and De Angela Velasquez. RMAC Staff Coordinator: Caroline Brooks, Executive Director RMAC Foundation: Cindy Torrez, Executive Director A. Call to Order B. Roll Call C. Approval of Agenda (action item) D. Approval of Minutes (action item) 1. Consider approval of the February 26, 2018 meeting minutes E. Discuss and consider approval of the April annual meeting agenda (action item) F. Discuss and consider approval of a visit to Santa Fe by board and staff representatives to review possible acquisitions (action item) 1. Doris Cross 2. Signe and Joe Stuart G. Discuss and consider approval of meeting time and location with museum and board representatives with Helmuth Naumer’s grandson (also named Helmuth Naumer) to review potential acquisition of grandfather’s pastels. (action item) INFORMATION ONLY ITEMS: H. Introduction of Cydney Littlejohn, new Communications and Events Coordinator I. Membership/Event Report J. Director’s Report K. RMAC Foundation Report L. Chair’s Remarks and Board Announcements M. Public Comment N. Adjourn Next Meeting: April 23, 2018 Notice of this meeting has been given to the public in compliance with Sections 10-15-1 through 10-15-4 NMSA 1978 and Resolution 17- 49. NOTICE OF POTENTIAL QUORUM – A quorum of the City Council may or may not attend, but there will not be debate by the City Council. The Council, acting as attendees to an informational presentation, will not be discussing public business and no action will be taken. If you are an individual with a disability who is in need of a reader, amplifier, qualified sign language interpreter, or any other form of auxiliary aid or service to attend or participate in the hearing or meeting, please contact Human Resources at 575-624-6700 at least one week prior to the meeting or as soon as possible. Public documents including the agenda and minutes can be provided in various accessible formats. Please contact the City Clerk at 575-624-6700 if a summary or other type of accessible format is needed. Printed and posted: March 16, 2018  DRAFT DOCUMENT MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES Monday, February 26, 2018 REGULAR MEETING AT 4:00 PM CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Board of Trustees was called to order by Chair Liakos at 4:05 pm. ROLL CALL The regular meeting of the Board of Trustees convened with members Anne Baker, Jamie Barnes, Donovan Fulkerson, Cymantha Liakos, Priscilla Ornelas, Bill Siders, being present. A quorum was established. Absent: Members Peggy Krantz, Jessica Parham, Nanette Schumacher, Lorrina Segovia, DeAngela Velasquez, and City Council Liaison Tabitha Denny were absent. Staff present: Caroline Brooks, Executive Director; Cindy Torrez, Executive Director, Roswell Museum and Art Center Foundation; Sara Woodbury, Curator of Collections and Exhibitions Community members present: None APPROVAL OF AGENDA Member Baker moved to approve the agenda. Member Ornelas seconded. A voice vote was unanimous and the motion passed, with members Krantz, Parham, Schumacher, Segovia, and Velasquez absent. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Executive Director Brooks stated that the minutes would be amended to reflect the correct spelling of Member Baker’s name. Member Baker motioned to approve the minutes for the January 22, 2018 board meeting with the spelling correction. Member Siders seconded. A voice vote was unanimous and the motion passed with members Krantz, Parham, Schumacher, Segovia, and Velasquez absent. INFORMATION ITEM: VISIT TO MICHENER MUSEUM Curator Woodbury shared images from her recent trip to Doylestown, Pennsylvania, to attend the opening celebrations for the exhibition Magical and Real: Henriette Wyeth and Peter Hurd, which will open at the Roswell Museum on June 15. ACTION ITEM: PROSPECTIVE ACQUISITIONS Curator Woodbury discussed a collection of works by noted abstract artist Doris Cross (1907-1994), currently held under the purview of her daughter, Norma Cross, in Santa Fe. Curator Woodbury described the art historical significance of Cross while sharing several images of the works in the collection. She said that there are at least 200 examples, all documented, and while the Museum is unlikely to accept all of them due to limited storage, it is interested in the works on paper. Curator Woodbury mentioned that Norma Cross is interested in having the acquisitions working group visit the collections on-site so that they can view the works in person. No action taken. Curator Woodbury discussed a potential acquisition of works by noted WPA artist Helmuth Naumer (1907-1990) from his grandson. Originally from Germany, Naumer immigrated to the United States and received acclaim for his work in pastel. Curator Woodbury stated that while Naumer’s grandson has a total of about 60 available works, she selected 16 potential works in pastel, watercolor, and oil paint, citing limited storage. The Board expressed an interest in the works and wanted to see them in-person first, due to the fragile nature of pastels. Chair Liakos then asked if there are any plans to expand museum storage, as that seems to be an ongoing concern with acquisitions. Executive Director Brooks stated that staff is currently exploring possibilities for vault expansion through special grants, but this will likely be several years in the future. No action taken. Curator Woodbury discussed a potential acquisition from Signe Stuart, a Santa Fe artist interested in offering a work by her late husband, Joe Stuart, artist and former director of the Roswell Museum during the early 1960s. Curator Woodbury mentioned that Roswell Museum collection includes work by former staff, so the donation is appropriate. She stated that Stuart would also be interested in having the acquisitions working group visit her studio and see the works in-person. No action taken. Curator Woodbury mentioned a prospective loan request for the painting A Letter from Willy by Robert Colescott. The requesting institution is the Peabody Essex Museum, which is working on a large exhibition on the bed in American art, scheduled to open in October 2019. She informed the Board that the work is in excellent condition but will have a conservator evaluate it to see whether it is fit to travel, due to its large scale. WORKING GROUP UPDATE Executive Director Brooks discussed the annual report she is currently completing for the City. Once that is finished, she will be working on a more detailed report for the Museum with the annual report working group. She also informed the board that members interested in other working groups will be hearing from the staff organizing them. MEMBERSHIP AND ATTENDANCE REPORTS Executive Director Brooks presented the membership and visitation numbers for January. She discussed her interest in increasing Planetarium attendance, which currently averages between 20-50 attendees per show. She is particularly interested in targeting the Wednesday afternoon show, which is intended to attract early-release students. DIRECTOR’S REPORT Executive Director Brooks discussed the recent hire of Cydney Littlejohn. She mentioned that Littlejohn earned her BA in marketing and has recently been working in the healthcare field. She also stated that Littlejohn brings a professionalism to marketing that will benefit the Museum. Executive Director Brooks mentioned the Magical and Real retrospective and her recent grant application to the New Mexico Humanities Council to sponsor a lecture series similar to one being organized by RMAC’s partnering institution for the exhibition, the James A. Michener Art Museum. She then summarized the recent successful Gratton workshop, which is an educational program targeting adult students. Whereas, previously the workshop has been offered every other year, the endowment through the RMAC Foundation has grown sufficiently to accommodate a workshop ever year, which the Museum will consider in the future. Executive Director Brooks said that the workshop is intended to introduce students to media normally not taught at the museum, as well as bring in special guest instructors. In terms of tuition students previously either paid the full fee or received a need-based scholarship. For this years’ workshops all students may pay on a sliding scale according to what they can comfortably afford. This year the Museum is offering two workshops featuring former Roswell Artists-in-Residence, in conjunction with the special exhibition RAiR at 50. The first workshop, which took place on February 24 and 25, featured Daisy Craddock, who introduced students to pastels. The Museum will offer another workshop next month with Clayton Merrell, who will teach a class on egg tempera. Executive Director Brooks then stated upcoming events, including the Brown Bag Talk on February 28 and the film series on March 1. RMAC FOUNDATION REPORT Executive Director Torrez reviewed the murder mystery fundraiser, which took place on February 10. 123 tickets were sold, including five corporate sponsors. Nine items were sold in the live auction. Executive Director Torrez believed that the event was successful and that the attendees enjoyed themselves. She also mentioned that the Foundation is looking forward to doing the event next year, and that it requires less effort to stage than the previous Kentucky Derby fundraiser. She also mentioned that the Foundation will host its annual meeting in May, and then will not meet in the summer. PUBLIC COMMENT None CHAIR’S REMARKS AND BOARD ANNOUNCMENTS Chair Liakos stated that she will not be present for the March meeting. Vice-chair Siders will conduct the March meeting. ADJOURN Member Fulkerson motioned to adjourn and Member Baker seconded. A voice vote was unanimous and the motion passed, with members Krantz, Parham, Schumacher, Segovia, and Velasquez absent. The meeting adjourned at 5:23 pm. DRAFT DOCUMENT Director’s Report to the Board of Trustees March 19, 2018 Board Meeting Submitted by: Caroline Brooks, Executive Director 1. Public Art Challenge Grant Representatives from several community and arts related groups have been meeting to discuss a potential application to Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Art Challenge Grant. The grant provides significant funding toward temporary public art projects that serve as a catalyst to address a civic issue. We have not yet determined whether we will be able to develop a project to meet the April deadline. Regardless of whether an application is submitted, the group may choose to apply to other grants with a similar focus. 2. Conservator Visit Steven Prins will be visiting the museum to view the painting A Letter from Willy by Robert Colescott.in preparation for a potential loan to the Peabody Essex Museum, which is working on a large exhibition on the bed in American art, scheduled to open in October 2019. 3. Gratton Workshop Clayton Merrell will present the second of two Gratton Workshops, “Exploring Egg Tempera,” on March 24 and 25. A few spots are still available if you or someone you know would like to take the workshop. The requested fee is up to $125 (based on what students are able to afford) and includes all materials. Interested students should contact Tiffany Melancon to register at 575-624-6744 x10. 4. pARTY After Hours Date Change The date for the upcoming pARTy After Hours has changed from March 30 to April 27 due to the realization that schools will be taking March 30 off for Good Friday and that it is the start of the Spring Break week. Geared for adults, the after-hours event will feature artists Julie Alpert and Andy Arkley with interactive sound and art installations as well as gallery games and tours. Volunteers will be needed. Let me know if you are available to help. 5. Brick Relocation Project The concrete bases for the brick relocation project are complete and a tall fence was added behind some of the structures for added safety (ie. if a youth were to climb on the structures near the embankment). The bricks will not be added to project until April to ensure the right temperature for the mortar. Upcoming Events  Friday, March 16, 5:30-7 pm: RAiR Opening and Lecture with Julie Alpert  Saturday and Sunday, March 24 & 25: Gratton Art Workshop: Egg Tempera with Clayton Merrell  Wednesday, March 28, 12 noon – Brown Bag Lunch Talk: Museum Manners 101 with Amberly Meli  Friday, April 27, 6-9 pm: pARTy After Hours