Fine Arts Commission

Meeting Notes - September 14, 2022 Skokie Fine Arts Commission I. Call to Order – 7 p.m. by Chairperson Pam Garbarini; those present in conference rooms D/E at Skokie Village Hall included Trustee Liaison Ralph Klein and Vice Chairperson Jeff Rhodes as well as Commissioners Mira Chander, Judy Levan, Doris Liberman, Mitch Thomas, James VanOsdol, Vassi Vasevski, Sharon Vicker and Ellen Waxberg. Staff liaison Ann Tennes also attended. Garbarini introduced new commissioner VanOsdol, and all present introduced themselves. II. Program Update – Garbarini said that the Spring/Summer 2022 Skokie Through the Lens Skokie Summer Scenes features 64 photographs submitted by 38 community photographers. She thanked Liberman, Thomas and Vasevski for curating the photos, and said that she is pleased with the results of the call for photos. Tennes thanked Garbarini as well for filling in to curate from time to time. Garbarini asked if any commissioners visited arts organizations over the summer and told about her and Levan’s visit to The Douglas Center’s annual craft sale. Several commissioners had attended Leonid Osseny’s exhibit opening at a+c architects on Main Street. Garbarini mentioned attending several of the outdoor summer concerts at Devonshire Park. VanOsdol told the commission that he had organized Pravda Fest at Sketchbook to celebrate Chicago’s Pravda Records 38th anniversary. He also told the commission that Skokie-based designer and printer Jay Ryan has tremendous renown with designing and printing high-end rock and roll posters and is someone the commission should know and celebrate. III. Upcoming Projects Storytelling – Garbarini said that initial discussions with Sketchbook Brewing Company last spring have not resulted in a firm date, as the Brewery is so busy with summer and fall activities. Tennes mentioned that she had spoken to the owner of the new Take Flight Spirits on Lincoln Avenue, and they are interested. She acknowledged Rhodes suggesting this location last spring. The room capacity is estimated at 40 people. Tennes also mentioned the new gallery space and antique store under construction on Lincoln Avenue that is owned by Zach Williams, Chairperson of the Skokie Community Foundation, but she was uncertain about the capacity and timetable for opening. All agreed that Take Flight might be the best option, with VanOsdol suggesting two shows if warranted by reservations. The commission also discussed again the process for curating stories. 2022 Artistic Excellence Awards – Tennes reported that no nominations have been received to date but said that over the next few weeks she would begin promoting the awards program on social media and in the SkokieNews electronic newsletter that is read by nearly 20,000 people each week which she expects will result in nominations being submitted. The awards will be presented at the December 5, 2022 Village Board meeting. 2023 SOAR – the March 2023 Students Outstanding Artists Recognition program will be held in the gallery space at Oakton Community College, Skokie. Garbarini said she wants to get a letter out soon to Skokie art teachers and promised to provide Tennes with a draft. #597681  Page Two Meeting Notes – Skokie Fine Arts Commission September 14, 2021 Meeting Other – Waxberg asked if the commission would continue to hold listening sessions at meetings this year; the commission agreed that last year’s discussions were good in learning more about Skokie arts organizations and suggested that representatives from Devonshire Cultural Center, the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie and Skokie Theater be invited to attend. Tennes said she would develop a meetings calendar for the commission. Tennes also told the commission that Enkhnasan Taylor “Taylor”, the Village Manager’s Office graduate intern who assisted with commission activities last year, is starting a new position as a Management Analyst with the Skokie Police Department and will finish her graduate studies later this year. IV. Open Discussion Brainstorming Session - Commission Mission and Purpose – the commission then discussed their mission statement and purpose as outlined in the Skokie Village Code. Rhodes said he believes it’s important for the commission to promote arts activities in the community. Garbarini mentioned that Rhodes had researched and found examples of communities celebrating National Arts Month during October. It was agreed that a subcommittee would begin meeting in January 2023 to explore options for October 2023, with Rhodes chairing the sub-committee and Levan, Thomas, Vicker and Waxberg serving on the commission, with a goal of reaching out to Skokie arts organization to encourage programming during October, supplemented by one or two possible commission programs, to be promoted as a month-long celebration of The Arts. Levan asked about getting word out regionally, and Tennes described the purpose of the Chicago’s North Shore Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB), of which Skokie is a founding member and told the commission about their itineraries that focus on various cultural arts- and tourism-related activities. Tennes said that if the sub-committee has information prepared for their 2023 National Arts Celebration Month by June or July, it will be in plenty of time for the CVB to provide regional outreach. VanOsdol suggested that the commission did not need to create new programs to reach multiple generations, as the storytelling program, if successful, could be scaled and expanded to take place every other month and include cross-generational stories. A storytelling subcommittee will begin meeting soon, with VanOsdol as chair and Levan, Thomas, Vicker and Waxberg participating. Garbarini indicated she would participate on both subcommittees as well. #597681  Page Three Meeting Notes Skokie Fine Arts Commission September 14, 2021 Meeting Waxberg brought up the possibility of the Fine Arts Commission working in tandem with other Village advisory boards and commissions. Tennes said that commissions often collaborate on programs that have multiple purposes or audiences, and she welcomed specific ideas from Waxberg and other commissioners on how this could be accomplished. V. Adjournment – the meeting adjourned at 8:26 p.m. Upcoming meetings: October 12, November 9 and December 14, 2022; conference rooms D/E at Skokie Village Hall, 5127 Oakton Street, Skokie, Illinois 60077. #597681