Arts Commission

STERLING HEIGHTS CULTURAL COMMISSION Minutes of Tuesday, September 2, 2014 Meeting Location: Sterling Heights City Hall, 40555 Utica Road, Sterling Heights, MI 48313, Conference Room 202 Members Present: Maurice Batarseh, Jan Burns, Frank DiMaria, Grace Finazzo, Margaret Frontiera, Jeanne Schabath, Donald Schinzing, John Stampor, Shawn Taylor Members Absent: Ronald Bindle, David Bollman, Mona Yassine Representing the City: Steve Guitar & Karen Kazmer Meeting called to order at 6 p.m. COMMUNICATION FROM CITIZENS: Joe Burns, of Slow Joe Running LLC, presented a check for $3,800 to be presented to the Sterling Heights Cultural Commission from proceeds raised from SterlingFAST . Proceeds will be distributed to the Oracle Account and used to reimburse the Foundation for the purchase of the Oracle sculpture. Mr. Burns thanked all commission members who assisted at the race and DPW, Police, Chamber of Commerce and bd’s Mongolian Grill. Approximately 410 runners participated. WELCOME: Shawn Taylor was welcomed as a new member of the Cultural Commission. APPROVAL OF MINUTES : Motion to approve the meeting minutes of the June 3, 2014 Cultural Commission made by Frank DiMaria. Seconded by: John Stampor Ayes: all Nays: none AGENDA ITEMS : A. Sterlingfest Review  Don Schinzing thanked Ron Bindle, David Bollman, Frank DiMaria, Grace Finazzo, Peggy Frontiers and Jeanne Schabath for assisting during Sterlingfest. Jan Burns participated as an artist vendor and Don Schinzing also volunteered during the event.  Discussion of possible changes to 2015 Sterlingfest:  Decide on how many artist vendors will be juried into Sterlingfest and then decide on a percentage of each type of art work allowed  If artist juried into show from previous years, the artist should not have to provide disc of work to be juried  Artists would like to pay for the next year’s show at the conclusion of the show; artist would still have to apply for the show and pay the application fee   Concern of arts and crafts being produced utilizing unlicensed trademarks; hold harmless verbiage will be added to the artist application  Some artists “hawk” their artwork and cause a crowd at the show; committee will approach artist vendors if behavior is obnoxious and should be altered  Featured Artist of the Month should be automatically allowed into art fair and pay a discounted rate B. Featured Artist  Motion to select Ken Pilarski as the October-November 2014 Featured Artist of the Month made by Frank DiMaria. Seconded by: Jan Burns Ayes: 7 Nays: 2 C. Renaming of the Cultural Commission  Due to the definition evolution of the word “Cultural,” the Cultural Commission discussed the possibility of changing the name of its Commission. Many citizens and officials in our community often confuse the works, projects and identity of the “Cultural Commission” with the “Ethnic Community Committee.” The commission suggests a more appropriate title of the commission be adopted to include the word “Art” or “Arts” to clearly define the mission, goals and objectives of the Cultural Commission.  Guitar reported that, after a formal vote by the commission, a formal recommendation to the City Council be forwarded to encourage Council to vote to change the ordinance which would officially change the name of the Cultural Commission.  Motion to place on next month’s Oct. 7 agenda a vote to suggest and send a recommendation to City Council on an official name change of the Cultural Commission to: Community Arts Commission, Arts & Enrichment Commission or option to retain the existing name, Cultural Commission made by Frank DiMaria. Seconded by: Maurice Batarseh Ayes: 8 Nays: 1 OLD BUSINESS :  Cultural Commission agrees that the purchased sculptures need to be cleaned or painted. One sculpture has been cleaned by Omni Cleaning Services, free of charge, and remainder of sculptures can be cleaned for $600 per sculpture. The landscaping in front of City Hall, Police and Library will be redone in 2015; discussion if sculptures cleaning/painting should wait until after completion of project. Commission members will review again at October meeting. Motion to adjourn at 7:20 p.m. made by Margaret Frontiera. Seconded by: Jeanne Schabath Ayes: all Nays: none Next Cultural Commission meeting: Tuesday, October 7 , 2014, in Conference Room 202