Roswell Museum Board of Trustees

BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING AGENDA Monday, January 27, 2020 at 4:00 PM Bassett Auditorium at RMAC 1011 N. Richardson Ave. Roswell, NM 88201 Chair: Cymantha Liakos Members: Anne Baker, Jamie Barnes, Donovan Fulkerson, Peggy Krantz, Priscilla Ornelas, Jessica Parham, Kay Cargill Jenkins, Lorrina Segovia, Bill Siders, and Valli West. City Council Liaison: Barry Foster RMAC Staff Coordinator: Caroline Brooks, Executive Director RMAC Foundation: Cindy Torrez, Executive Director A. Call to Order B. Roll Call ACTION ITEMS: C. Approval of Agenda D. Approval of the November, 2019 meeting minutes INFORMATION ONLY ITEMS: E. Membership/Event Report F. Director’s Report G. RMAC Foundation Report H. Chair’s Remarks and Board Announcements I. Public Comment J. Adjourn 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 19-37. 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. 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: January 24, 2020  ROSWELL MUSEUM AND ART CENTER MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING Monday, November 18, 2019 DRAFT DOCUMENT REGULAR MEETING AT 4:00pm A. CALL TO ORDER Chair Cymantha Liakos called the meeting of the Board of Trustees to order at 4:03pm B. ROLL CALL The meeting of the Board of Trustees convened with members Jamie Barnes, Jessica Parham, Priscilla Ornelas, Valli West, and Kay Cargill Jenkins being present. A quorum was established with members Donovan Fulkerson, Bill Siders, Peggy Krantz, Anne Baker and Lorrina Segovia being absent. Staff present: Caroline Brooks, Executive Director; Wendy Cook, Communications and Events Coordinator and Cindy Torrez, Executive Director RMAC Foundation. Community members present: none. C. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Member Parham motioned to approve the agenda. Member Jenkins seconded. A voice vote was unanimous, and the motion passed with members Fulkerson, Siders, Krantz, Baker and Segovia being absent. D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Member Parham motioned to approve the minutes for the October 21, 2019, board meeting. Member West seconded. A voice vote was unanimous, and the motion passed with members Fulkerson, Siders, Krantz, Baker and Segovia being absent. E. DISCUSS AND CONSIDER APPROVAL OF 2020 PROPOSED BOT MEETING DATES After review of the proposed 2020 BOT meeting dates, one change was suggested and agreed upon. The March 2020 date will be moved from March 9th to March 23rd. Member Ornelas motioned to approve the 2020 BOT meeting dates with the March date change. Member West seconded. A voice vote was unanimous, and the motion passed with members Fulkerson, Siders, Krantz, Baker and Segovia being absent. FOR THE RECORD: Member Baker joined the meeting at 4:08pm F. MEMBERSHIP/ATTENDANCE REPORT Director Brooks reviewed the October membership and attendance report. G. DIRECTORS REPORT Director’s Report to the RMAC Board of Trustees November 19, 2019 Board Meeting Submitted by: Caroline Brooks, Executive Director 1. Staff Anniversary Aria Finch was honored on Friday, November 8 during the Potter’s Guild Show Opening Night for her 40th year of teaching at the Roswell Museum. Laurie Rufe and I surprised her with a few words of acknowledgement over the audio system as she and friends from the ceramics community, students, Museum Board members, Museum staff and Foundation members were gathered. A few excerpts from the acknowledgment are as follows: “In 1979, Aria was appointed Manager of the Roswell Museum and Art Center’s Ceramics Program. A year later, she founded the Pecos Valley Potters Guild… In forty years, Aria’s unparalleled vision and leadership has contributed to Roswell’s growth as an arts community and she has touched the lives of thousands of children, adults, community leaders, and amateur and professional artists through the ceramic medium… Her artistry, creative vision, and support for students are hallmarks that won her the Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts in 2013 and that continues through her teaching today.” Cake, hugs, pictures, a card signing and some small gifts followed the acknowledgment. We are truly lucky to have such a gifted teacher at the Museum and the acknowledgement was very much well-deserved. 2. Position Opening Julia Pope left her position as Preparator recently to take a job on the maintenance team at Meow Wolf in Santa Fe. She did an excellent job during her short tenure and we were sad to see her leave. The Preparator position should be posted very soon on the City’s employment page. 3. Recent and Upcoming Exhibitions The Curatorial Staff have been hard at work with several exhibitions in recent weeks. Sharbani Das Gupta: in/sight opened on Friday, October 25 with an enthusiastic crowd including her college teachers from India and a childhood friend and fellow artist who aided in her installation during the final week. Her work draws attention to the not-so-hidden, but often disregarded, links between ourselves and the worlds we inhabit and impact. Cultural influences from her hometown of Calcutta, India, are apparent and the work presents a welcomed visual shift in our normal line-up of exhibitions. The work will be on view through April 5, 2020. A Line in the Sand: Wildlife of the Borderlands opened on November 8. Co-curators and biologists Alexis Harrison (who moved to Oregon earlier this year) and Tracy Diver attended and remarked about the background of the exhibition along with Curator of Collections and Exhibitions Aubrey Hobart during a 15- minute gallery talk. The exhibition explores the stories of 16 animal species living along the border, from the observations of early explorers to contemporary artistic representations. Items include print engravings from an 1800s border survey, information on the shifting habitat and species numbers, and contemporary interpretations by scientist-artists and members of the Roswell Artist-in-Residence program. The exhibition also includes the taxidermied grizzley bear from the Aston Collection, which has not been on view since the Aston Collection was reinstalled in 2006. The exhibition is included in the Species in Peril Along the Rio Grande regional collaboration organized by 516 Arts in Albuquerque. Roswell Artist-in-Residence Cedra Wood will be opening her exhibition with a lecture and reception on Friday, November 22. Her work explores the natural world for which uses found items such as pine cones or fish scales  to assemble costumes or creature-like forms inspired by ancient Scottish and English ballads. She then documents the “creatures” in their environments and recreates highly-realistic paintings of the encounters. An example of her work can be seen on the cover the current Museum Magazine. E Pluribus Unum: New Mexico Southeast is an exhibit of photographs by Axle Contemporary artists Jerry Wellman and Matthew Chase-Daniel. This ongoing project enlivens and documents communities throughout the state of New Mexico with a mobile photographic portrait studio built inside a vintage aluminum vehicle. In October 2018, Wellman and Chase-Daniel brought their mobile studio to southeast New Mexico to photograph the diversity of the people who live here. Participants each brought a small object of personal significance, and sat for a black and white portrait while holding the object. Objects have included car keys, photos of loved ones, artworks, tools, books, food, toys, and vintage collectibles. The exhibition opens on November 16 and the artists will be present for a gallery talk during the Holiday Open House on December 7. Winter Celebrations will open on November 30 in the Spring River Gallery with a selection of works from our permanent collection that explore winter customs and holidays. Aubrey Hobart will also give a gallery talk during the Holiday Open House on December 7. 4. Museum Renovation Update On Wednesday, October 23, I presented information on the Family Interactive Gallery proposal at the City Council General Services Committee meeting seeking feedback on next steps. Several RMAC Foundation and Board of Trustee members attended to provide community feedback and support as needed. The presentation was well-received and I am in consultation City administrators regarding gathering more-detailed information on potential exhibit designers and the Foundation’s interest/fundraising timeline. Once a more definitive proposal has been assembled, we can consider bringing the proposal back to General Services Committee and the full council for a vote. 5. Holiday Open House The year is coming to a close and the Holiday Open House is right around the corner to finish out our 2019 programming. The event will be taking place on Saturday, December 7 from 4-6 pm. Stop in or volunteer to be a part of the festive evening which will include gallery talks, Museum Store shopping, a paper-quilling project, marshmallow roasting, as well as warm hors d’oeuvres from Pecos Flavors and a warm beverage bar from Stellar Coffee. H. RMAC FOUNDATION REPORT RMAC Foundation Director Torrez shared that the Foundation annual appeal is doing well and they have received 30 donations thus far. She also shared that the Foundation has chosen the date of 2/22/20 for the Mystery at the Museum fundraising event. I. CHAIR’S REMARKS AND BOARD ANNOUNCEMENTS None J. PUBLIC COMMENT None K. ADJOURN Member Jenkins motioned to adjourn. Member West seconded. A voice vote was unanimous, and the motion passed with members Fulkerson, Siders, Krantz, and Segovia being absent. The meeting adjourned at 4:36pm  JANUARY 2020 DRAFT EXAMPLE MONTHLY REPORT Incomplete data ATTENDANCE 2020 2019 2018 2017 MUSEUM 796 795 817 EVENTS 170 112 122 CLASSES 410 219 287 PLANETARIUM 198 308 64 SCHOOL VISITATION 175 0 22 FACILITY USE 231 287 390 OUTREACH 15 0 0 TOTALS 1995 1721 1702 PROGRAMMING MEMBERS CLASSES SESSIONS for MONTH ATTENDEES CONTACT HOURS 470 736 current active current active 2 classes memberships members Gentle Yoga 2 sessions 26 2 Adult Clay 4 classes, 39 FOR MONTH 36 new members 4 lapsed 12 sessions Clay Open Studio 2 classes, 0 YEAR to DATE 36 new members 4 lapsed Kids Clay 6 sessions 12 Monoprinting 1 class, 10 5.5 VOLUNTEERS Workshop 1 session TOTAL 58.5 OCCURENCES EVENTS for MONTH ATTENDEES PARTNERSHIP RAiR Reception and Lecture 1 yes FOR MONTH 36 volunteer hours 4 volunteers Planetarium 12 General Shows TOTAL YEAR to DATE 36 volunteer hours 4 volunteers SCHOOL VISITS School GRADE(S) 1-2 STUDENTS 50 ADULTS 3 GALLERIES PLANETARIUM 4,000 FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS School 3-4 TOTAL 170 INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS  JANUARY 2020 MUSEUM ACTIVITIES & HIGHLIGHTS Submitted by Museum Director Caroline Brooks COLLECTIONS & EXHIBITIONS vicarious nostalgia, investigating the ways Docent Program our memories shift over time. His donated Utilizing the new tour curriculum as Aston Inventory ceramic sculpture, a splinter forever, a teaching guide, Amanda is seeking Collections staff are working to inventory represents a large, worn thorn that stands volunter docents to help lead tours. the entire Aston Collection over the for some of the personal pressures he was Trainings began in January and will course of about 4 weeks, which is on experiencing in his life. continue through March in preparation permanent display on the north side of for the spring tour season. The the Museum. The collection was cleaned, reinterpreted and installed in new cases EVENTS commitment is about 2 hours per week. in 2006 under the exhibition title West RMAC Foundation Fundraiser RISD Planetarium Partnership of Beyond to recognize the collection’s The RMAC FOundation is holding it’s Director Brooks and Planetarium breadth. During the inventory, staff are annual spring fundraiser, a murder Coordinator Jeremy Howe met with RISD reviewing the condition of the objects mystery dinner, on Saturday, February representatives regarding development and their mounts, conducting general 22 at the convention center. Tickets are of a planetarium pilot program for cleaning, re-photographing, and verifying available through the Foundation office elementary students that will integrate objects’ database records, a time- consuming process that staff aim to do at 627-0918. with New Mexico’s new science standards and which would include a plantarium about about every 5-8 years. PUBLIC ART visit and related pre- and post-visit Master Plan Development activities. Monies to cover bussing are Remembering Bruce Lowney The City has requested the Museum already set aside in a fund established An exhibition of 14 prints from the explore development of a City Public Art in Jim Waldrip’s name who was the first permanent collection are on temporary Program. Director Brooks is consulting Planetarium Director. display recognizing Bruce Lowney, a former Artist-in-Residence who passed with the Director of Art in Public Places for the State of New Mexico and is looking to FACILITIES away in October 2019. The exhibition runs January 18 through March 15. work with a facilitator to develop a Public Renovation Art Master Plan in coordination with a The Museum in coordination with SV Randall steering committee and public forums. City administrators and the Facilities Roswell Artist-In-Residence SV Randall The anticipated result would include a department has been working on plans is presenting a new series of sculptures program mission, possible locations, type for a potential renovation (Family Gallery, inspired by a sense of placelessness. of art sought, budget considerations, and Store Move, Lobby and Façade Update). Meticulously crafted suitcases ranging other goals and related details. Huitt Zollar worked on initial concept in size and style are rendered in subtle designs and further design development gradients of subdued colors atop Rocket Sculpture will be needed. City Council approval splintered architectural platforms – A Request for Quotes is being released on funding will be sought before evoking a state of fractured displacement, for the Rocket Sculpture project seeking proceeding. The RMAC Foundation has nostalgia and nomadism. quotes and project proposals to develop already pledged a contribution, however an outdoor sculpture utilizing the retired the Museum will need phased, financial SV Randall is an interdisciplinary artist piece of playground equipment that support over 2-3 fiscal years from the from Buffalo, NY. He received his MFA is shaped as a rocket. The deadline is City to cover the remainder of the in Sculpture and Extended Media from February 28, 2020. A committee will project. In October 2019 a presentation Virginia Commonwealth University review the applications to select the was provided to General Services to and his BFA from Alfred University. To final design and the project should be garner feedback. Further budgetary and learn more about the artist, visit www. completed in a year. The location has yet logistical details are being gathered and a svrandall.com. The exhibition is presented to be chosen and will be based on the final presentation prepared for a potential in partnership with the Roswell Artist-in- design and concept. vote at February’s General Services Residence Program and runs January 25 meeting. through March 8. EDUCATION School Curriculum Development MEMBERSHIP Recent Acquisitions Over the last year, Curator of Education The Museum recently received a drawing Member Brochure Amanda Nicholson has worked on A new membership brochre is in and print by former RAiR fellow (1982- updating and expanding school tour 1983) and local artist Martie Zelt that development to highlight the new curriculum with the aim of providing an membership levels and to encourage complement other works of hers in the art concept tour along with Goddard and collection. Another donation is a ceramic involvement in teh musuem through Aston American West collection tours for sculpture by recent RAiR fellow (2018- participating in the program. The each grade level. Each tour has a docent 2019) and Colorado native Qwist Joseph. brochure is anticipated to be completed script and a teacher summary. Joseph’s work centers around lived and by the end of March.