Civic Arts Program

Office of Economic Development

Minutes

Wednesday, January 26, 1999

Civic Arts Commission

North Berkeley Senior Center

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Levine at 6:40 p.m.

Roll Call

Susan Levine, Sherry Smith, Jo Ann Schneider, Adam David Miller, Larry Kelp, Maria Villasenor, Stuart Sidells.

Staff: Mary Ann Merker-Benton, Civic Arts Coordinator, Bill Lambert, Manager of Office of Economic Development.

Public Comment

None

Approval of November minutes

Approval of November and December minutes: November minutes approved as presented.

December minutes approved, concerning spelling of the name Berkeley Poetry Festival’s Louis Cuneo (misspelled as Cunso).

Chair’s Report

Early in January Mayor Shirley Dean met with her commissioners. Levine requested that all Civic Arts Commissioners establish relationships with their council member and suggest a similar meeting if the council member doesn’t already hold them. There is a need to move along on issue of increased staffing. Merker-Benton is a great Coordinator, but cannot do everything that need to be done in her allotted time, and now several public art projects are in the works.

Action Items

AApproval of Library Gates Commission.

Steve Huss reported that jury panel awarded the commission to artist Miles Karpilow to design, create and install 8 X 8-foot French food-style wood gates. Karpilow is a 35-year resident of Berkeley, a long time crafts person and woodworker.

Motion (by Smith, seconded by Miller, approved unanimously): The Civic Arts Commission approves the commission as presented.

Lambert explained that he was attending because this is an historic event for the city, approval of the first piece of public art (officially) in Berkeley.

B.Approval of Dr. Elias Katz as a volunteer consultant to the Civic Arts Commission for Art Access research.

Dr. Katz would focus on the needs of artists who are disabled and organizations in the community with programs on arts and disabilities. Two projects currently are a) with Arts Access Network directory to bring together people with common interests, including producing a newsletter in February; b) a newsletter for arts access. Dr. Katz wants to donate time to work on these two projects over the next two months. He is well known around the world for his work and teaches at John F. Kennedy University.

Motion (by Smith, seconded by Villasenor, approved unanimously): to approve Dr. Katz in his volunteer role.

Merker-Benton reported that she met with Eric Dibner and Bill Lambert, and Dr. Katz can set up office in the Arts Coordinator’s office, which dovetails into the NEA grant we applied for.

  1. Presentation to City Council on Library gates and successful process for Public Art. Bill Lambert reported that the City Council and City Manager should receive notice of the award before it is announced to the news media. Commission should make a presentation to City Council, and staff can request time for a presentation. Public art committee will meet to discuss the presentation.

Motion (by Miller, second by Smith, approved unanimously): Commission to make a presentation as soon as possible before City Council on the city’s first juried public art commission.

Discussion Items

A. Public Art Committee Update Addison Street.

There was no meeting. For Addison Street the first meeting of the jury for public art is February 3, with Miller as Commission representative. Public Art Committee Freeway bicycle bridge update: A meeting is to be scheduled with Commission representatives, staff and others on how to handle public art for the bridge.

  1. Assignment of grant site visits update.

All grants recipients were assigned representatives from the Commission; those previously assigned to now-departed commissioners were assigned to those present.

  1. Berkeley Cultural Trust update.

Miller attended previous meeting, reported that those attending discussed membership in the Trust, and who should be a member: individuals, representatives, or whole groups. Levine added that it was clear that staff and Commission are invited to BCT meetings, but can’t vote. BCT will be an advisory body to the Commission. At February 16 BCT meeting Miller and Villasenor will make a presentation.

D.Civic Arts Commission opening.

Commissioner Smith called individuals who had been suggested as possible replacements for recently departed Commissioners.

Ultimately, the City Council members from vacant districts must appoint replacements.

E.Process for Public Art Redevelopment.

Amtrak train station is under the auspices of the Redevelopment Fund. Ted Burton in OED has put in request for grant that would include a gated walkway around the train station. It would be public art, under the Percent for Art ordinance.

F.Report on Bayer Public Art.

Sidells, who served as a jury panelist for the Bayer Fountain Commission, said that Michael Acker was the unanimous choice for the fountain project.

  1. Status of Civic Arts staffing and of letter to City Council.

There is interest from City Manager’s office in working on the need for increased Arts staffing to insure the increased workload is complete. Geri Washington is a two-month temporary employee to help with arts community database. Also, intern Carolyn Haydu, who helped with second Public Art workshop, will be able to help (see Staff Report, G).

Staff Report

A. and C. Status of City Contracts.

Staff has received a signed contract from Consuelo Underwood to work with Grants Committee on the grants restructuring process, specifically in updating the grant application form.

  1. Cultural Plan update.

No Report

D.Retreat.

There is some carry-over money for retreat. A facilitator is needed. Commissioners picked the date April 1, for the retreat.

E. State Technical Assistance Meeting in Los Angeles.

Merker-Benton leaves January 27th for four-day meeting in Los Angeles.

  1. Cultural Facility Definition for Private Development. Postponed until next month.
  2. Intern update.

Intern Carolyn Haydu, who assisted with second Public Art workshop, will work with the Arts Coordinator 12 hours per week through June.

Adjournment

Meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.