Arts and Culture Commission Meeting

May 14, 2019 MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING URBANA ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION APPROVED DATE: May 14, 2019 TIME: 4:30 p.m. PLACE: City Council Chambers, Urbana City Building, 400 South Vine Street, Urbana, Illinois MEMBERS PRESENT: Sara Jones, Jared Miller, Jenelle Orcherton, Stacey Robinson, Patricia Sammann, Jessica Snyder MEMBERS EXCUSED: Katie Harrell MEMBERS ABSENT: Courtney Becks, Barbara Hedlund STAFF PRESENT: Brandon Boys, Economic Development Manager; Rachel Storm, Arts & Culture Coordinator; Sukiya J. Reid, Recording Secretary OTHERS PRESENT: None 1. CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL AND DECLARATION OF QUORUM The Urbana Arts and Culture Commission was called to order at 4:36 p.m. by Ms. Sammann. Ms. Reid took roll and a quorum was declared present. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The minutes of the April 9, 2019 meeting were reviewed by the Commission. With no changes proposed, Mr. Miller made a motion to approve the minutes. Ms. Snyder seconded the motion. All Commission members present were in favor of approval, and the minutes were unanimously approved as presented. 3. CHANGES TO AGENDA Ms. Storm stated that the grant presentation for Kelsey Langley would be moved to the next month’s meeting. She also stated that presentations from Nikki Hoesman- Read Across America and Justin McAdara-C U Jazz Festival would be added to the current agenda that evening. 4. PUBLIC INPUT There was none. 1  May 14, 2019 5. PRESENTATIONS  Presentation by Staff: Monthly Progress Report Ms. Storm 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.  Presentation by 2018 Grant Presentation: Luis Gonzalo Pinilla Ms. Sammann introduced artists, Luis Gonzalo Pinilla and Patricia Leon. They first announced that the opening of the mural project that they did in 2017 would be taking place that upcoming Friday, May 17th from 4-5pm at the Dr. Preston Williams Elementary School. They then gave a slide-show presentation on their project titled, Face is Only a Location, which reflects on identity as it relates to the experience of living in a cultural diverse community. The leading artist, Patricia Leon provided a series of 15 free workshops focused on photography mixed graphic media for 14 women of different nationalities from eight different countries. The work was displayed from April 6th at the Independent Media Center in Urbana. More than 100 people came to the opening night reception at the IMC. The work was also included in the Boneyard Arts Festival. They thanked the Commission for the grant received. At the conclusion of the report, questions and comments from the Commission were heard.  Presentation by 2018 Grant Presentation: Angela Baldus Ms. Sammann introduced artist, Angela Baldus. She gave a presentation on her project titled, The Confessional, which is a mobile gallery space that was built in summer 2018 by herself, Walter Wilson-Krannert Art Museum Exhibition & Installation Expert, and 3 others. The space was designed to be assembled and disassembled, and brought into different public spaces. Some of the places it was displayed at were: Outside of the South Studios of the School of Art & Design, Sipyard, and then St. Louis. Ms. Baldus stated that she intended to give the space to someone else who would continue to utilize it for the same reasons. She thanked the Commission for the grant received. At the conclusion of the report, questions and comments from the Commission were heard.  Presentation by 2018 Grant Presentation: Derrick Cordoba Ms. Sammann introduced musician, Derick Cordoba. He gave a presentation on his project, Win-Tet House Band, whose concept was to engage composers in the community that normally do not have access to professional musicians. The community was given the opportunity to submit original compositions, after which the band would rehearse the compositions, and then perform them. The composers were given the option to perform with the band or not. The first concert, which took place on October 28, 2018, was held in collaboration with the CU Jazz Festival. Mr. Cordoba stated that there was a pretty wide range of ages and backgrounds. The second concert had a Women Composers in Jazz Concert theme and took place on March 26, 2019 at the Iron Post. He thanked the Commission for the grant received. At the conclusion of the report, questions and comments from the Commission were heard. 2  May 14, 2019  Presentation by 2018 Grant Presentation: Niki Hoesman, Read Across America Ms. Sammann introduced Niki Hoesman, Community Program Coordinator from Urbana Park District. She gave a slideshow presentation of the 18th annual Read Across America Community Celebration, held at Lincoln Square Mall that featured over 40 hands-on literacy related activities. The event took place on March 3, 2018 from 10:00am-1:00pm. Celebrity greeters, rotary members, professional storytellers, and world language readers participated in the event in which over 3000 members of the community attended. Over 150 volunteers helped with the event. Ms. Hoesman thanked the Commission for the grant received. At the conclusion of the report, questions and comments from the Commission were heard.  Presentation by 2018 Grant Presentation: Justin McAdara, CU Jazz Festival Ms. Sammann introduced Justin McAdara, Executive Director of Music Defying Boundaries. Music Defying Boundaries is a nonprofit organization whose goal is to engage individuals with experimental and improvised music through education, performance, and documentation. The organization itself is a large umbrella organization, with CU Jazz Festival being one of the biggest arms they are associated with. The 2018 Festival consisted of a Jazz Brunch, VandoJam Session, Composer Workshop, and continued partnership with Audio & Visual Recording Classes at Allen Hall. Over 600 people attended the 4-day festival that ran from October 25-28, 2018. Mr. McAdara thanked the Commission for the grant received. At the conclusion of the report, questions and comments from the Commission were heard. 6. NEW BUSINESS There was none. 7. ADJOURNMENT Ms. Sammann made a motion that the meeting be adjourned. Mr. Robinson seconded the motion. With no further business, Ms. Sammann declared the meeting adjourned at 5:47 p.m. Submitted, Sukiya J. Reid, Recording Secretary 3