Arts and Culture Commission Meeting

August 11, 2015 MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING URBANA PUBLIC ARTS COMMISSION APPROVED DATE: August 11, 2015 TIME: 4:30 p.m. PLACE: City Council Chambers, Urbana City Building, 400 South Vine Street, Urbana, Illinois MEMBERS PRESENT: Barbara Hedlund, Eric Jakobsson, Jason Patterson, Pat Sammann, Ginny Waaler MEMBERS EXCUSED: John Morrison MEMBERS ABSENT: Ilona Matkovszki STAFF PRESENT: Brandon Boys, Economic Development Manager; Pauline Tannos, Public Arts Coordinator; Sukiya J. Reid, Recording Secretary OTHERS PRESENT: Jess Beyler, Robin Kearton, Debra Levey Larson 1. CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL AND DECLARATION OF QUORUM The Urbana Public Arts Commission was called to order at 4:33 p.m. by Ms. Sammann. Ms. Reid took roll and a quorum was declared present. 2. CHANGES TO AGENDA There were none. . 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The minutes of the June 9, 2015 meeting were reviewed by the Commission. With no changes proposed, Ms. Waaler made a motion to approve the minutes. Ms. Sammann seconded the motion. All Commission members present were in favor of approval and the minutes were unanimously approved as presented. 4. PUBLIC INPUT There was none. 1  August 11, 2015 5. COMMUNICATIONS • Presentation by 2015 Urbana Arts Grant Recipient: Debra Levey Larson Ms. Sammann introduced Debra Levey Larson, Board President of Urbana Pops Orchestra. Ms. Levey Larson gave a slide-show presentation on their 6th annual season. The UPO offered three recitals and two concerts free of charge to the community. The free recitals took place on the second Sundays of February, March, and April at the Urbana Free Library. There were 40-80 people present at each of the recitals. A full orchestra concert entitled, Once Upon a Tune, took place on June 13, 2015 in the Urbana Middle School Cafetorium. In July, a smaller jazz ensemble performed a free concert at Lincoln Square, and a pit orchestra performed at the Parkland College Theater. Ms. Levey Larson thanked the Commission for the grant received. At the conclusion of the report, questions and comments from the Commission were heard. • Presentation by 2015 Urbana Arts Grant Recipient: Robin Kearton Ms. Sammann introduced Robin Kearton, Director of Community Center for the Arts where their mission is to strengthen the community through shared experiences with the arts. Ms. Kearton gave a slide-show presentation on the Race Street Bash which is a community-based street fair that is intended to highlight and celebrate local arts. The event was participatory, free, and open to all ages. There were street performers, professional musicians, 40 volunteers, sidewalk Twister, life-sized Jenga, a “try-it” tent where people could test out instruments, and more. Approximately 600 people attended the event. Ms. Kearton thanked the Commission for the grant received. At the conclusion of the report, questions and comments from the Commission were heard. • Presentation by 2015 Urbana Arts Grant Recipient: Jess Beyler Ms. Sammann introduced local artist, Jess Beyler. Ms. Beyler gave a slide-show presentation on her project titled, Flying Tiger and Escape Velocity Dragons, in which she displayed 12, 7- foot tall paintings in the lobby of Error Records. The exhibition was set-up in time for the Boneyard Arts Festival. She stated that the exhibition was very well received and one of the paintings was purchased. Ms. Beyler stated that Error Record’s future plans for the space would be to reach out to high school and college students; and become a venue for first-time showings. She 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. Tannos 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: • With regard to the Urbana Art Expo, Ms. Tannos reported that the Urbana Art Expo 2  August 11, 2015 Jury would meet on August 13th to review applications. She stated that sixteen artists would be given the opportunity to display and sell their work at the one-day fair at the Civic Center on Sunday, September 13th from 10:00am-5:00 pm. • With regard to Artist of the Corridor, Ms. Tannos reported that Beth Darling’s exhibition at the City Building lobby and the Urbana Free Library ended on August 4th. The current featured artist is Ellie Pinzarrone, local artist, art educator, and the founder of Ellie Pinz Studio at [co][lab]. An opening reception will be held at the City Building lobby on Friday, August 28th from 5:00-6:00pm. • With regard to Art at the Market, Ms. Tannos reported that this initiative presents a free and family-friendly workshop and a performance by local artists at Urbana’s Market at the Square every second Saturday, from May to September. In June, Karissa McDermott led a very popular flower-pot decorating workshop; and Djibril Camara & Ballet Allah Tantou gave an interactive West-African dance and drumming performance. In July, Ellie Pinzarrone and Maria Ludeke of [co][lab] taught participants to make patterns using vegetables as stamps, and guitarist Sam Payne performed old- time music with fiddler Claire Johnson. August’s Art at the Market falls on the National Farmers Market Week, and will feature Bones Jugs N Harmony, a local band that has been commissioned to write the Market at the Square jingle. Rachel Storm and members of Girl Radio, Inc. will also be there to teach visitors to make friendship bracelets. • With regard to Art Now!, Ms. Tannos reported that the June episode explored the works of ceramic artist and University of Illinois faculty member Catherine Wiesener, and in July, Art Now! featured artist Glen Davies. For this month’s episode, Ginny Waaler spoke with Mike Trippiedi, who is an actor, director, and screenwriter. Episodes can be seen at: http://www.urbanaillinois.us/artnow • With regard to Marketing, Ms. Tannos reported that City staff had been regularly updating the Public Arts Program’s Facebook page, which as of this meeting had 933 fans. She also stated that the Urbana Public Arts Twitter account, which could be followed @urbanapublicart, as of this meeting had 1,497 followers. She stated that the Program’s Instagram account, which was created last month with the username @urbanapublicarts, has 52 followers. Staff also posts about upcoming events or opportunities on community webpages or online event calendars such as 40 North’s site. • With regard to Fundraising, Ms. Tannos reported that Staff had applied to Art Works, a grant program by the National Endowment for the Arts. • With regard to Murals on Glass, Ms. Tannos reported that the deadline for Murals on Glass was on June 19th. She stated that out of the 36 submitted artworks, two works were selected on June 24th by a selection committee: Aries Morning by Phil Strang, and Slat Paintings by Nathan Westerman. She stated that Staff was working with the artists and Dean’s Graphic to print the images on adhesive vinyl sheets, and install them at two downtown Urbana locations, the Urbana Business Association office and the Civic Center, respectively. • For upcoming events, Ms. Tannos stated that the date for the next Public Arts Commission meeting was set for Tuesday, September 8, 2015 at 4:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. 3  August 11, 2015 • Discussion: Urbana Art Expo Ms. Sammann introduced this agenda item. Ms. Tannos gave updates on the Urbana Art Expo scheduled to take place on September 13th at the Urbana Civic Center. She stated that a jury meeting would take place that Thursday, August 13th. A total of 28 applications were received, and only 16 would be selected from those. She stated that the challenge would be to market the event as best as possible and that she had posters available for distribution. Ms. Tannos stated that volunteers were needed and that she would start recruiting them soon. Ms. Sammann asked that Commission members inform people of the need for volunteers. Mr. Patterson and Ms. Sammann shared a few of their thoughts on the event. • Discussion: Arts in the Schools Ms. Sammann introduced this agenda item. Ms. Tannos reported that she sent out a press release that morning stating that proposals would be due by October 2nd and if invited to proceed to the second stage, those materials would be due by November 6, 2015. She stated that artists, community groups, as well as schools would be able to apply. A brief discussion of the matter by members of the Staff and Commission ensued. • Discussion: Murals on Glass Ms. Sammann introduced this agenda item. Ms. Tannos reported that the murals would be installed by the end of August, before the Sweetcorn Festival. She stated that there were 5 people on the jury and they could only select a small number from the 36 art works received. A brief discussion of the matter by members of the Staff and Commission ensued. 6. NEW BUSINESS There was none. 7. OLD BUSINESS There was none. 8. ANNOUNCEMENTS Ms. Tannos announced that CU Superstars had a concert coming up and that they sent two free tickets to the concert. 9. ADJOURNMENT Ms. Hedlund made a motion that the meeting be adjourned. Mr. Jakobsson seconded the motion. With no further business, Ms. Sammann declared the meeting adjourned at 5:28 p.m. Submitted, Sukiya J. Reid, Recording Secretary 4