Anyone wishing to submit comments can do so by sending an e-mail to PC-public-testimony@ashland.or.us with the subject line “Advisory Commission Hearing Testimony” by 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 14, 2022.  Written testimony received by these deadlines will be available for Public Arts Commissioners to review before the hearing and will be included in the meeting minutes.
 
The public can speak during Public Forum or to any item on the agenda.  If you wish to speak to an item during the electronic meeting, send an email to PC-public-testimony@ashland.or.us by 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 14, 2022.  Please provide the following information:  1) make the subject line of the email “Advisory Commission Hearing Testimony”, 2) include your name, 3) specify the date and commission meeting you wish to virtually attend or listen to, 4) the agenda item you wish to speak to, 5) specify if you will be participating by computer or telephone, and 6) the name you will use if participating by computer or the telephone number you will use if participating by telephone.
 
If you would like to watch and listen to the Public Arts Commission meeting virtually, but not participate in any discussion, you can use the Zoom link below to join the meeting as an attendee. 

Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://zoom.us/j/92492575062?pwd=azdWVDlNYWZwWEI4N2czUWtDWDdKZz09
Passcode: 400076

1. CALL TO ORDER 

Vice-Chair Stanley Smith called the meeting to order at 8:33 a.m. via Zoom.
 

Commissioners Present:		Staff Present:
Ken Engelund Cassie Preskenis Stanley Smith Laura Bloom Joel Frank Destiny Young		Aaron Anderson, Associate Planner Johanna Tuthill, Associate Planner   APRC Liaison: Jim Lewis (absent)   Council Liaison: Stefani Seffinger
Absent Members: Jennifer Longshore		Members of the Public: Andy Stallman Peter Finkle John Pugh

 

2. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA

• “How to fund public art”
• “How does the PAC apply the lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion into the work they do?”
• Presentation by John Pugh

 

3. PUBLIC FORUM
   John Pugh gave a brief presentation with examples of his work showing his architectural illusions, and walked the PAC through the initial concept that he has created for the Elks lodge wall. The concept ties in the original Chautauqua domes breaking apart like an egg, and setting the stage for a Lithia Park scene with subtle evocations of Shakespeare.

 

4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Commissioners Engelund/Preskenis m/s to approve the minutes as presented. Voice Vote: ALL AYES. Motion passed 5-0.

 

5. LIAISON REPORTS  
    
   • Council Liaison – Stefani Seffinger – Councilor Seffinger informed the Commission that the Ashland High School had given a presentation to the City Council regarding the Land Acknowledgement Otterlifter Canoe project. They are now scheduled to return at a City Council Regular meeting. She also mentioned that the City budget remains the greatest issue before the Council, and that some cuts have begun to be made. A survey will also go out to the Residents of Ashland regarding the budget sometime in May.
   • Community Development Liaison – Associate Planner Aaron Anderson added that the Ashland high School would be going before the Council at their April 19, 2022 meeting. This meeting will also be the start of in-person meetings for the Council. Mr. Anderson requested that a Commissioner should be present to represent the Otterlifter Project. Commissioner Preskenis stated that she would attempt to attend and that Commissioner Young had offered to attend as well.

 

6. OTHER BUSINESS

• Nominations and vote for new Public Arts Commission Chair
  Commissioner Smith announced that he should not be considered for Chair due to his busy schedule. Commissioner Bloom nominated Commissioner Engelund, who accepted. 
   

Commissioners Bloom/Preskenis m/s to appoint Commissioner Engelund to Chair of the Public Arts Commission. Voice Vote: ALL AYES. Motion passed 5-0.
 

7. PAC WORKPLAN
   • Golden Connections by Jennifer Corrio and David Frei
     • Status of sculpture – Commissioner Smith gave a brief update regarding the dedication ceremony scheduled for April 23, 2022. The Commission will be bringing a table, chairs, refreshments, as well as a red ribbon and scissors for the ceremony.
     • Public Works Superintendent Mike Morrison will bring the Medallions and set up a sound system for the ceremony.

• Plaque –
  1. Design – The Commission discussed changing the verbiage on the Plaque to allow for the placement of additional medallions in the future. Commissioners Young and Engelund stated that they had written a revised version of the plaque to remove mention of the number of medallions placed.
  2. Commissioner Smith mentioned that the Commission had passed a motion to add the QR to the plaque at the March 18, 2022 meeting. Commissioner Engelund commented that a new motion can be made to revise this.
  3. The map and QR code were also removed from the plaque. There was general discussion over the verbiage for the plaque.
  4. The Commission discussed using various stone types use as the base of the plaque. The use of cement was briefly discussed but rejected. Commissioner Frank assured the Commission that he can get a final quote on the plaque once the verbiage is finalized.
• Masterworks Medallions – Mr. Anderson briefly updated the Commission on the progress of the medallions. He reported that Historic Commissioner Dale Shostrom is continuing to work with Public Works regarding the location of one of the medallions. Commissioner Shostrom is also preparing drawings that will then be used for the bidding process for the concrete contractors.

 

8. GOALS AND ACTION ITEMS

• “How to fund public art”

• “How does the PAC apply the lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion into the work they do?”
  Commissioner Preskenis informed the Commission that they had been approached by the Social Equity and Racial Justice Commission (SERJ) about sending an member of the PAC to attend their June meeting to discuss how they apply the lens of diversity and equity to their projects. She suggested that the Commission could consider beginning their meetings with a land acknowledgement. Commissioner Smith agreed that equal opportunity and inclusion of minority art and artists is an important discussion to have.
  
  Commissioner Preskenis remarked that she would not be comfortable addressing SERJ without the Commission having a greater understanding of what equity means to the Commission and how it selects its art pieces. Commissioner Smith suggested that Commissioner Preskenis give the Commission a presentation to educate it on equity and inclusion at the May 20, 2022 meeting. Commissioner Bloom spoke to the Commission’s evaluation of public art and that they need to consider equal opportunities for all without unintentionally excluding any groups. Commissioner Preskenis expressed enthusiasm for providing the Commission with a presentation at the May   meeting.
         
• Say Their Names – Update
          Jessica Freedman from the Say Their Names Committee have selected a piece and plan to come before the Commission at the June meeting.
   
• Partnerships with Community Art Organizations
          Commissioners Smith and Preskenis have been working on uploading all of the Commission’s known contacts from other art organizations into a searchable database.
   
• Community Engagement – First Fridays
          Commissioner Engelund gave a brief update regarding the engagement plan for First Friday. Commissioners Longshore, Preskenis, and Engelund will be assisted by Peter Finkle with their presentations at the First Friday in May. 
   
• Ashland High School Intern – Status Update
          Mr. Anderson informed the Commission that they could not solicit the hiring of an intern, but added that if a student approached the Commission about involvement then that would be permissible.
         

9. ADJOURNMENT   - 10:00 AM
   Next Meeting:  May 20, 2022

10. ATTACHMENTS

Minutes from March 18, 2022 meeting