Arts and Culture Commission Meeting

January 15, 2013 MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING URBANA PUBLIC ARTS COMMISSION APPROVED DATE: January 15, 2013 TIME: 4:30 p.m. PLACE: City Council Chambers, Urbana City Building, 400 South Vine Street, Urbana, Illinois MEMBERS PRESENT: Gregory Chew, Barbara Hedlund, John Morrison, Ginny Waaler, Mary-Ann Winkelmes MEMBERS EXCUSED: Pat Sammann MEMBERS ABSENT: Ilona Matkovski STAFF PRESENT: Tom Carrino, Economic Development Division Manager; Christina McClelland, Public Arts Coordinator; Sukiya J. Robinson, Recording Secretary; Juli Heuel, Public Arts Intern OTHERS PRESENT: Kevin Hamilton, Carol McKusick 1. CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL AND DECLARATION OF QUORUM The Urbana Public Arts Commission was called to order at 4:30 p.m. by Ms. Winkelmes. Christina McClelland took roll and a quorum was declared present. 2. CHANGES TO AGENDA Ms. McClelland stated that 2012 Urbana Arts Grant Recipient: Outta the Mouths of Babes would not be in attendance due to illness. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The minutes of the November 13, 2012 meeting were reviewed by the Commission. With no changes proposed, Ms. Waaler made a motion to approve the minutes. Ms. Hedlund seconded the motion. All Commission members present were in favor of approval and the minutes were unanimously approved as presented. 4. PUBLIC INPUT Carol McKusick, 1907 N. Cunningham Ave, Urbana, spoke about a few changes that she would like to see on the City’s website regarding boards and commissions. 1  January 15, 2013 5. COMMUNICATIONS • Presentation by 2011 Urbana Arts Grant Recipient Report: Kevin Hamilton Ms. Winkelmes introduced artist, Kevin Hamilton. He gave a presentation on his project, titled A Place in Time. This 24-page comic book was the result of an investigation into the separate but parallel lives of two influential Urbana figures, Heinz Von Foerster, a University of Illinois engineering professor, and John Lee Johnson, a local activist for racial equality. The book tells the story of the geological history of Urbana, television as an invention, and the lives of Heinz Von Foerster and John Lee Johnson. Mr. Hamilton had 2000 copies of the comic book made for free distribution. He thanked the Commission for the grant received. At the conclusion of the report, questions and comments from the Commission were heard. • Presentation by Staff: Monthly Progress Report Ms. McClelland presented the City staff’s monthly progress report to the Commission, outlining projects in process, recent requests and recommendations from the public, staff activities, and upcoming events. For an update on current projects, she reported the following: • Ms. McClelland introduced Julianne Heuel, the new Spring Public Arts Intern. • With regards to the Martin Luther King Jr. Park Project Subcommittee, Ms. McClelland reported that updates on this project would be provided during the Old Business portion of the meeting. • With regards to the Urbana Arts Grant Program, Ms. McClelland reported that the 2013 Urbana Arts Grants Applications were due on January 16, 2013 by 5:00 PM. The online application is accessible at https://urbana.myreviewroom.com. She stated that the five public Grant Workshops led by staff were attended by a total of 59 people. One of the workshops was recorded by UPTV and is available online. • With regards to the Boneyard Creek Public Art, Ms. McClelland reported that Jack Mackie was working with the design team and contractors as the construction phase of the project progressed. • With regards to Downtown Arts Planning, Ms. McClelland reported that the Downtown Arts subcommittee met on January 8th to discuss projects for the FY 13-14 year. • With regards to Fundraising, Ms. McClelland reported that the Fundraising subcommittee met on January 8th to discuss Keep It or Change It, and idea to solicit donations toward the temporary sculptures on display. She stated that the subcommittee planned to further develop that idea, with an anticipated presentation to the Commission in February • With regards to Annual Planning, Ms. McClelland reported that staff was coordinating meetings with each subcommittee to begin planning programming and budget for FY 13-14. 2  January 15, 2013 • With regards to the Urbana Sculpture Project, Ms. McClelland reported that staff attended the Public Art League’s Installation Celebration on December 13th. She stated that the Public Arts Commission was recognized for their partnership with PAL to sponsor The Wind in the Trees, Fortitude IV, and Splintering Continuity. • With regards to Joseph Royer Arts and Architecture District, Ms. McClelland reported that a Royer plaque for the Urbana Landmark Hotel was in production. • With regards to Art Now!, Ms. McClelland reported that Pat Sammann interviewed glass artist, James Downey for December’s episode. In January’s episode, Greg Chew interviewed the Campaign Movie Makers, a local film collective. She stated that both episodes could be seen at: http://www.urbanaillinois.us/artnow. • With regards to the Artist of the Corridor, Ms. McClelland reported that the current show, “Recent Work,” featured drawings by William Lawrence Deverell and would be on display through January 31, 2013. She stated that the February-April Artist of the Corridor would be students from Wiley Elementary School. • With regards to Marketing, Ms. McClelland reported that City staff had been regularly updating the Public Arts Program’s Facebook page, which as of this meeting had 540 fans. She also stated that the Urbana Public Arts Twitter account, which could be followed @urbanapublicart, as of this meeting had 471 followers. Ms. McClelland reported that a monthly e-mail newsletter had been sent to 524 subscribers on November 7th, November 26th, December 3rd, December 17th, and January 8th. She stated that in 2012, the program gained 124 Facebook likes, 276 Twitter followers, and 109 e-mail subscribers. • For upcoming events, Ms. McClelland stated that the date for the next Public Arts Commission meeting was set for Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at 4:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. 6. OLD BUSINESS • Update on King Park Public Art Project Ms. Winkelmes introduced this agenda item. Ms. McClelland gave a brief update on the King Park Public Art Project. She reported that after being asked by the Selection committee to put together a different concept for the King Park Project, Douglas Kornfeld had decided to resubmit his original concept. Ms. McClelland stated that the Selection committee would be meeting on January 22nd, and that she would provide the Commission with an update following that meeting. 7. NEW BUSINESS There were none. 8. ANNOUNCEMENTS 3  January 15, 2013 Ms. Hedlund announced that a Champaign-Urbana Symphony concert would take place on Friday, January 18th. Mr. Chew announced that he had been talking with Champaign Movie Makers about making locally-made films available to run on UPTV. 9. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Chew made a motion that the meeting be adjourned. Ms. Waaler seconded the motion. With no further business, Ms. Winkelmes declared the meeting adjourned at 5:11 p.m. Submitted, Christina McClelland, Public Arts Coordinator 4