Minutes
Public Art Commission
August 15, 2014
 
Attendance
Commissioners: Bussell, Friend, Garrington, Clark, Slattery (council liaison), Seltzer (staff),
 
Absent:
Hepford
 
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 8:30 a.m. 
 
Minutes: Minutes of the July meeting were approved with corrections
 
Gateway Updates
Responses to the outreach questions continue to trickle in.  Input cards are available at the Library.  Notice soliciting input was distributed by the Art Center and the Chamber of Commerce.  Garrington will follow up with the AGA.  Slattery suggests asking the Mayor to include the PAC on one of his Town Hall meetings.  Information is posted online and was included the City Source newsletter.
 
Artist Pete Beeman toured the site with Garrington and Roger Stoller White will arrive today to view the site.  John Buck arrives in Ashland on August 27; Bussell will host.
 
Susan Zoccola has not indicated when she will come to Ashland.
 
The committee also discussed the possibility of asking the artists to return to Ashland in the spring to present their concepts rather than waiting until the fall. 
 
Mural Review Process
The group agrees there needs to be another step in the process for a review of the mural prior to final approval.  Comments were made that directing the artist to make changes at the final review could be problematic.
 
Seltzer will review the draft guidelines and insert the new language and bring it to the PAC for final review and approval.
 
Utility Boxes
The group discussed the need to “get the word out” about the utility box RFP.  Alyssa will ask the Art Center to send out the information, and others will follow through with various organizations.  Bussell reported the RFP is posted on the Southern Oregon Artist Resource newsletter.
 
The due date for submissions is September 4.  Seltzer will send a letter to residents near the two locations inviting them to sit on the selection panel.  The selection panel will meet either September 8 or 9.  The meeting will be set once the participants are selected.
 
The PAC agreed there needs to be a review process for the utility boxes.  Seltzer will draft language for PAC review.  It was also noted that there needs to be a review process for sculpture and eventually a single document explain the review process for all installations.
 
Public Art on wall adjacent to Earthly Goods
Friend explained that the Downtown Beautification Improvement ad hoc Committee voted to allocate $18,000 towards public art to enhance the walkway between New Theatre and East Main Street adjacent to Earthly Goods and Starbucks.  The direction from the ad hoc committee is to commission art to be affixed to the half wall and to incorporate seating.  It was suggested that the art could be affixed to the wall of Earthly Goods.  Seltzer explained that is private property and requires the cooperation of the property owner.  Slattery suggested asking the Mayor to contact the property owner.
 
The group decided it first needs to define the process before involving the property owner.
 
Watershed Art Group
Garrington reported that the group received $2500 for their project.  There was general discussion about the group partnering with the Public Art Commission and discussion about the objective of the project.  It was suggested the group be invited to an upcoming PAC meeting.
 
Meeting adjourned at 9:45.