Arts and Culture Commission Meeting

February 14, 2017 MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING URBANA PUBLIC ARTS COMMISSION APPROVED DATE: February 14, 2017 TIME: 4:30 p.m. PLACE: City Council Chambers, Urbana City Building, 400 South Vine Street, Urbana, Illinois MEMBERS PRESENT: Barbara Hedlund, Jenelle Orcherton, Sara Jones, Jason Patterson, Pat Sammann, Jessica Snyder MEMBERS EXCUSED: Eric Jakobsson STAFF PRESENT: Brandon Boys, Economic Development Manager; Morgan White, Public Arts Intern; Sukiya J. Reid, Recording Secretary; OTHERS PRESENT: Susan Bywaters, Lara Orr 1. CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL AND DECLARATION OF QUORUM The Urbana Public Arts Commission was called to order at 4:31 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 January 10, 2017 meeting were reviewed by the Commission. With no changes proposed, Mr. Sammann made a motion to approve the minutes. Ms. Jones 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  February 14, 2017 5. COMMUNICATIONS • Presentation by 2016 Urbana Arts Grants Recipient: Lara Orr Ms. Sammann introduced artist Lara Orr. She gave a slide-show presentation on her project titled, Iguales, which was a large scale public art installation on the fence of the Leal School playard. The installation consisted of nine images and 18 panels. She stated that the purpose of this installation was to engage the community in public art in the midst of their normal day-to-day routines. The project was a great conversation starter among the students at the school, and people walking by in the neighborhood. She thanked the Commission for the grant received. At the conclusion of the report, questions and comments from the Commission were heard. • Presentation by 2016 Urbana Arts Grants Recipient: Susan Bywaters from La Nuova Aurora Opera Ms. Sammann introduced artist, Susan Bywaters. She gave a presentation on her project, King Arthur: A Semi-Opera by Henry Purcell and John Dryden La Nuova Aurora Opera. The project was made up of a 7- person production board, two choreographers, a 28-person cast, and a 9-person orchestra. There were two performances that took place at McKinley Presbyterian Church (about 20 attendees), and Wesley United Methodist Church (about 100 attendees). Half of the suggested door donations received at Wesley United Methodist Church went to the Wesley Food Pantry which benefits the Urbana-Champaign community members by both fighting hunger and promoting childhood literacy. 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 Mr. White 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 Artist of the Corridor, Mr. White reported that the current show features landscape paintings and drawings by Lori Fuller. The opening reception was on December 14th from 5:00-6:30pm and was attended by approximately 25 people. Lori’s exhibition will run up until March 3, 2017. • With regard to Art Now, Mr. White reported that in February, Art Now highlights the work of local artist and art educator Lara Orr who creates beautifully intriguing tiles and fabrics. Episodes are aired every Monday at 6:30pm, with reruns every Tuesday at 11:00 pm, and are available on YouTube. The March episode will feature Capoeira Angola. All Art Now episodes can be found online on the Art Now YouTube channel or http://www.urbanaillinois.us/artnow. • With regard to the Urbana Sculpture Project, Mr. White reported that a web-based, downloadable sculpture guide is now available for download on the city website at urbanaillinois.us/sculptures. Postcard-sized flyers are also being distributed to promote the new sculptures throughout the city. • With regard to Open Scene, Ms. Horwitz reported that four artists had been selected to lead weekend intensives at the IMC with youth and adult participants. The artists include Derek Linzy, Andrea Perkins, Mother Nature, and Hill L. Waters/Lisa Fay. These weekend intensives will include art workshops, dialogues, and public showcases, to explore a theme of social justice and/or community development through an artistic 2  February 14, 2017 discipline. Public events will take place on selected Fridays from 6 pm to 8 pm and on selected Sundays from 2 pm to 4 pm. All events will take place at the Urbana- Champaign Media Center (UCIMC). A full schedule of dates and times is below: Open Scene Schedule Derek Linzy (music composition) Friday, Feb. 24th, 6-8pm, UCIMC Sunday, Feb. 26th, 2-4pm, UCIMC Andrea Perkins (storytelling) Friday, March 10th, 6-8pm, UCIMC Sunday, March 12th, 2-4pm, UCIMC Mother Nature (hip-hop performance) Friday, March 24th, 6-8pm, UCIMC Sunday, March 26th, 2-4pm, UCIMC Hill L. Waters/ Lisa Fay (theatre) Friday, April 14th, 6-8pm, UCIMC Sunday, April 16th, 2-4pm, UCIMC • With regard to the Boneyard Celebration, Mr. White reported that Citispace can no longer perform the proposed “Unity Project” at the Boneyard Creek Crossing on April 8, 2017. Staff will arrange a different event at this location as part of the annual Boneyard Arts Festival in cooperation with 40 North. • With regard to Marketing, Mr. White reported that the program’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts now have 1,332 page likes (an increase of 26 likes), 1,880 followers (an increase of 34 followers), and 413 followers (an increase of 30 followers), respectively. There are two Urbana Public Arts Program ads featured on SmilePolitely.com, which promote Art Now and the Urbana Arts Grants Program. • With regard to Urbana Arts Grants Program, Mr. White reported that this year, we received 46 applications requesting $151,605, while this is a strong showing; it is a decrease in total number of applicants from last year and amount requested. Last year’s cycle we received 62 applications requesting a total of $193,566.86. The deadline to apply for Arts Grants passed on February 6, 2017. With the support of the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS) in the amount of $500, the total amount available for funding this cycle is $48,000. The Urbana Arts Grants Program has been promoted through social media, the e- newsletter, a Smile Politely ad, and print materials. Staff held two separate information sessions at the University of Illinois and the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center. A total of about 20 people attended. • With regard to the Public Arts Coordinator Position, Mr. White reported that with the departure of Pauline Tannos, the Public Arts program is currently being staffed by Interim Public Arts Coordinator, Brandon Boys and Public Arts Intern, Morgan White, with additional support from Economic Development Specialists, Libby Horwitz and William Kolchowsky. Advertisement to fill the full-time Public Arts Coordinator position is expected to begin in the coming days. • The date for the next Public Arts Commission meeting is set for Tuesday, March 14, 2017 at 4:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. 6. OLD BUSINESS There was none. 3  February 14, 2017 7. NEW BUSINESS There was none. 8. ANNOUNCEMENTS Ms. Sammann stated that Ms. Jones had been doing a great job with Art Now, and would be continuing in that role. However, if anyone else would be interested in doing it, she asked that they volunteer. Ms. Sammann also announced that Katie Harrell, who was present in the audience, had applied to become a member of the Commission and was currently awaiting approval from the City Council. 9. ADJOURNMENT Ms. Sammann made a motion that the meeting be adjourned. Ms. Jones seconded the motion. With no further business, Ms. Sammann declared the meeting adjourned at 5:08 p.m. Submitted, Sukiya J. Reid, Recording Secretary 4