DRAFT
Minutes
Public Art Commission
September 17, 2004
Regular Meeting Minutes
51 Winburn Way 8:15 a.m.
Attendance: Commissioners: Todd (Chair), Bayard, Benson, Young, Longshore, Markell
Jackson (Council liaison)
Seltzer, (Staff Liaison)
Absent: Wilkerson, Benson
Guests: Ann DiSalvo
Consent Agenda
Minutes of the August 20 meeting were approved with corrections. Bayard motion, Longshore second.
Report on Council Meeting, August 17, 2004
Todd reported that the PAC request for funding was not covered at the council meeting on September 7 due to time constraints but that it is on the council agenda for September 21. He encouraged commissioners to attend, though he will be unable to attend. Seltzer distributed the packet of information that council will receive prior to the meeting.
Jackson explained to the commission that the Lithia Artisan Guild has had to withdraw their $2000 commitment to the Calle project as the money is needed to construct a fire wall in Briscoe School.
Committee Reports
· McGee Memorial: Submitted written report is attached. Longshore and Benson met. Longshore reported that research reveals that the McGee and Neill families were grocers and members of the Elks. The sub-committee identified possible locations for the memorial. One possible site is the Cantwell area on Oak Street. Longshore met with the property owner who was intrigued and supportive of locating the memorial on or near his property. Potential art forms were also identified, Longshore noted that aculpture in the form of stone, metal or glass is highly desirable. The sub-committee will continue to meet to develop a timeline and other next steps.
Todd asked new commissioner Markell to serve on the McGee memorial sub-committee. Markell agreed.
· Calle Guanajuato Seltzer reminded the commission that the RFP is posted on the web in both English and Spanish. There was some discussion about means to "get the word" out about the RFP both locally and in Guanajuato. Bayard, chair of the Calle sub-committee will coordinate a meeting of the group in the near future.
· Funding No report. Bayard will coordinate a meeting of the sub-committee in the near future. Todd, chair of the sub-committee will be out of town.
SOU Public Art Lecture
Seltzer reported that the Schneider Museum hold a lecture series each year. Mary Gardiner and Sharon Dvora are planning one of the lectures in late February or early March to be on Public Art and will invite Richard Brock from Seattle. In addition to the lecture there will be break-out training sessions for Public Art commissioners the next morning including participants from Medford and Grants Pass.
Items from Commissioners
Young asked commissioners to spread the word that space was still available for artists at Briscoe School.
Guest Ann DiSalvo reported that the Ashland Community Food Store grant applications are available in January.
****************************************************
Minutes of McGee/Neill Memorial Subcommittee Meeting
September 2, 2004, 1 - 2 pm
351 Morton Street
PAC Members Present: Jennifer Longshore, Richard Benson
Others Present: none
Agenda
* Background of the fund
How much - $19,000
From whom - Estate of Everett Henry McGee
Who it is to commemorate - McGee & Neill families (see attachment)
* Mandate for the memorial
Location - Within Ashland
Timeline - As soon as possible
* Potential sites
Parks - Triangle… too small, low traffic, competition with existing art, use primarly by students
Calle - Conflict with other memorials, limited space
Streets - Pioneer near Armory, N Main, Ashland Street gateway, E Main gateway
Interior Public Buildings - Insufficient public visibility
Private land w/Public Right of Way - tbd
* Potential forms of art
Sculpture - Highly desirable: Stone, Metal, Glass … durable
Mural/Painting - potential conflict with existing code à not desirable
Fountain / Waterfall - Maintenance problems à not desirable
Furniture / Bench / Lighting - Highly desirable … functional/practical benefit
Garden / Landscape Element - Maintenance problems, repetition à not desirable
* Next steps / action list
Define / refine list of forms appropriate - Later
Review RFQ process - Later
Develop jury profiles / composition - Later
Develop timeline for project through installation & dedication - Next
Consider appropriate artists criteria (residency? experience?) - Later
Identify/Contact controlling authority on potential sites - Immediate
Fire station/Gresham & Siskiyou - JL
Elks block - RB
Pioneer Street near Armory - JL
Ashland Food Co-op - RB
Behind Furniture Depot - RB
McGee/Neill Memorial
Honorees:
v Everett Henry McGee, 07/27/1909 (Ashland, OR) - 12/30/2002
o Son of James McGee & Olive Wing
o Husband of Donzella Neill (d. 10/25/95)
o Brother of Raymond & Vernon
o Grocer - Lake of the Woods, East Side Grocery (Iowa & Morse), Market Basket (Sisk & Beach) w/ Dick Neill (brother-in law, co-owner). Co-owned Fidegar Building/Pioneer Village Shopping Center (below Armory) w/Dick Neill.
o Minister of Phoenix Church of Christ for 10 years
v James Henderson McGee, 10/21/1877 (Clarinda, IA) - 08/15/1972
o Husband of Olive Wing (m. 1905)
o Osteopath - 2 years, Graduated Kirksville, MD School of Osteopathy
o Retail merchant - dry goods of Beebe, Kinney & Drake; McGee's Dry Goods and Ready to Wear (Elk's Building/Penny's Store)
o Built 140 E Main building
o Charter member of Chamber of Commerce, Lithians, Mason, Shriner, Elk's Club, Kiwanis Club, School Board, city council
o Member of Church of Christ
o One of first to build at Lake of the Woods
o Shakespeare Festival supporter
v Richard (Dick) L. Neill, 07/18/1911 (Spokane, WA) - 06/20/1991
o Husband to Cora E. McDonald (m. 08/20/1960)
o Step Father to Helen Climpner & Marguaret Louise Khilnani
o Brother to Donzella McGee
o Ashland Mayor (1953 - 1968), City Councilor (1949 - 1953?)
o Memorial contributions to Presbyterian Church of Medford & Phoenix Fire Department Rescue Unit
o Instrumental in Hospital construction
o Grocer at Market Basket (Sisk & Beach) w/Everett McGee (brother-in law, co-owner). Co-owned Fidegar Building/Pioneer Village Shopping Center (below Armory) w/Everett McGee. Owned & operated Plaza Grocery from 1957 - 1961.
o Man-of-the-year for Chamber of Commerce in 1968
o Director for the League of Oregon Cities
o Director of the Independent Grocer's Association of Oregon
o Resolution from City of Ashland honoring him for contributions to City
o Member of Elks, Masons, Shriners, Past Patron of Alpha Chapter of the Eastern Star #1
o Member of Presbyterian Church in Medford