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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-01-2019 - CAC - Approved Minutes SPECIAL MEETINGNewport Beach City Arts Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, April 1, 2019 Special Meeting – 5:00 PM Newport Beach Central Library 1000 Avocado Avenue Newport Beach, CA 92660 I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER – 5:00 P.M. II. ROLL CALL Commissioners Present: Arlene Greer, Chair Michelle Bendetti, Vice Chair Wayan Kaufman, Commissioner Marie Little, Commissioner Commissioners Absent: Barbara Glabman, Secretary Miriam Baker, Commissioner Staff Present: Tim Hetherton, Library Services Director Natalie Basmaciyan, Library Services Manager III. NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC IV. PUBLIC COMMENTS Jim Mosher remarked that provisions prohibiting mass-produced pieces have been removed from Council Policy I-9. He asked when the City Arts Commission will recommend siting for the new sculptures. If the City Arts Commission decides to eliminate one of the pieces, he recommended Hope Springs Eternal as its replacement because the public ranked it highly. V. CURRENT BUSINESS A. Items for Review and Possible Action 1. Reconsideration of Pieces for Sculpture in Civic Center Park Exhibition-Phase IV – Staff recommends that the City Arts Commission reconsider the pieces Delilah and Mule Deer in terms of practicality. The Commission should also reconsider Pinnacle and Polished stainless steel sculptures as new information concerning the pieces has emerged since their recommendation for approval at the special meeting on March 21, 2019. Chair Greer reviewed the criteria used to evaluate submissions. Staff requests the City Arts Commission reevaluate Delilah in relation to the appropriateness of it being viewed by all ages. Commissioners felt Delilah is a beautiful piece with high artistic merit, but it could be considered risqué or inappropriate for children and could draw unwanted or undue attention as the loin cloth is rather low and the bottom of one breast is exposed. Newport Beach City Arts Commission Special Meeting Minutes April 1, 2019 Page 2 In reply to Jim Mosher's question, Library Services Director Hetherton advised that the criteria have been used for all phases of the Sculpture Garden. Mr. Mosher concurred with Commissioners' comments regarding Delilah. Motion made by Vice Chair Bendetti, seconded by Chair Greer, and carried (4-0-0-2) to remove the sculpture Delilah from the list of sculptures recommended to the City Council for Phase IV of the Sculpture Exhibition. AYES: Greer, Bendetti, Kaufman, Little NOES: None ABSTENTIONS: None ABSENT: Glabman, Baker Chair Greer reported staff requests the City Arts Commission reevaluate the sculpture Mule Deer as the antlers raise concerns about safety. Commissioners liked Mule Deer; however, the antler points are a safety concern. Commissioner Kaufman believed the sculpture could be sited in a way that reduces the temptation and one's ability to climb on the piece. The sculpture would look really nice on an elevated site. Commissioners reviewed photos of the sculpture in an effort to determine the sharpness of the antler points. Library Services Director Hetherton commented that people would be more likely to slip and fall onto the sculpture if it is sited on a slope. Jim Mosher indicated the safety issue is overstated because the obvious sharpness of the antler points will deter people from climbing on it. The piece seems to be small and is not artistic. Library Services Director Hetherton advised that the height of Mule Deer appears to be 5 feet 2 inches to the top of the antlers. Motion made by Vice Chair Bendetti, seconded by Chair Greer, and carried (4-0-0-2) to remove the sculpture Mule Deer from the list of sculptures recommended to the City Council for Phase IV of the Sculpture Exhibition. AYES: Greer, Bendetti, Kaufman, Little NOES: None ABSTENTIONS: None ABSENT: Glabman, Baker Chair Greer noted the first and second alternate selections for the Sculpture Exhibition are Contender and START Now. The correct dimensions for Pinnacle are 36 inches high, 42 inches wide, and 37 inches deep. Other sculptures selected for the Sculpture Exhibition are smaller, and Pinnacle has high artistic merit. Pinnacle tied for seventh in the public survey, and the panel ranked it fifth. Jim Mosher advised that he would not select Pinnacle, but the public ranked it highly. Newport Beach City Arts Commission Special Meeting Minutes April 1, 2019 Page 3 Motion made by Commissioner Little, seconded by Commissioner Kaufman, and carried (4-0-0-2) to retain the sculpture Pinnacle with the corrected dimensions as a final selection in the list of sculptures recommended to the City Council for Phase IV of the Sculpture Exhibition. AYES: Greer, Bendetti, Kaufman, Little NOES: None ABSTENTIONS: None ABSENT: Glabman, Baker Chair Greer reported the artist has renamed Polished stainless steel to Wind Swept and will provide three figures rather than four. The City Arts Commission may reconsider its selection of Wind Swept as an alternate because the number of figures has changed. Rick Stein, Arts Orange County, believed the artist is not familiar with the submission process and did not verify the information in his submission forms. The public ranked the sculpture second, and the panel ranked it tenth. In response to Chair Greer's queries, Mr. Stein advised that the heights of the three pieces vary slightly. He will request the artist send the three tallest pieces for installation. Commissioners preferred three figures over four figures. The sculptures are contemporary and interesting. Motion made by Chair Greer, seconded by Commissioner Kaufman, and carried (4-0-0-2) to retain the sculpture Wind Swept f/k/a Polished stainless steel consisting of three figures as an alternate selection in the list of sculptures recommended to the City Council for Phase IV of the Sculpture Exhibition. AYES: Greer, Bendetti, Kaufman, Little NOES: None ABSTENTIONS: None ABSENT: Glabman, Baker Mr. Stein indicated Contender was selected for Phase III but was not available when installation began. Contender was replaced with a similar but taller sculpture entitled Be Still and Know. Commissioners supported moving Contender from the list of alternates to the list of selections, stating Contender will add diversity to the Sculpture Garden, look imposing, and cast interesting and beautiful shadows. The sculpture is better suited to a lower area of the Sculpture Garden. Mr. Stein reported siting for the sculptures has not been determined. In answer to Jim Mosher's inquiry, Chair Greer indicated the alternates are ranked as Contender first, START Now second, Exposed third, and Fallen Sky fourth. Two alternates will remain if the City Arts Commission moves two of the four alternates to the list of selections. Newport Beach City Arts Commission Special Meeting Minutes April 1, 2019 Page 4 Motion made by Commissioner Little, seconded by Vice Chair Bendetti, and carried (4-0- 0-2) to replace Delilah with Contender in the list of sculptures recommended to the City Council for Phase IV of the Sculpture Exhibition. AYES: Greer, Bendetti, Kaufman, Little NOES: None ABSTENTIONS: None ABSENT: Glabman, Baker Chair Greer noted START Now ranked ninth in the public survey and tied for 14th in the panel voting. Commissioners discussed siting for the sculpture, the rear of the sculpture, ensuring the rear of the sculpture is visible, and ensuring light reflected from the sculpture is not a hazard. The sculpture will draw a strong response from millennials. Jim Mosher suggested many people may wonder why the sculpture is there if they do not understand its artistic message. Motion made by Chair Greer, seconded by Commissioner Little, and carried (4-0-0-2) to replace Mule Deer with START Now in the list of sculptures recommended to the City Council for Phase IV of the Sculpture Exhibition. AYES: Greer, Bendetti, Kaufman, Little NOES: None ABSTENTIONS: None ABSENT: Glabman, Baker Chair Greer noted the remaining alternates are Exposed and Fallen Sky. Jim Mosher suggested the City Arts Commission select a third alternate. In the past, alternate sculptures were needed to replace sculptures withdrawn by the artist. Chair Greer proposed adding R.M.A.B as a third alternate. Hope Springs Eternal needs to be illuminated, and the City Arts Commission is trying to avoid illuminated sculptures. A Commissioner and Library Services Director Hetherton raised safety concerns in relation to R.M.A.B. Vice Chair Bendetti asked about the possibility of displaying Hope Springs Eternal without illumination. The sculpture was popular with the public. Mr. Stein reported Hope Springs Eternal was not intended to be illuminated necessarily. Jim Mosher advised that the photo of Hope Springs Eternal in the public survey did not show it illuminated. Motion made by Commissioner Kaufman, seconded by Commissioner Little, and carried (4-0-0-2) to add the unilluminated sculpture Hope Springs Eternal as the third alternate to Newport Beach City Arts Commission Special Meeting Minutes April 1, 2019 Page 5 the list of sculptures recommended to the City Council for Phase IV of the Sculpture Exhibition. AYES: Greer, Bendetti, Kaufman, Little NOES: None ABSTENTIONS: None ABSENT: Glabman, Baker VI. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS None VII. ADJOURNMENT – 6:06 P.M. Chair Greer adjourned the meeting at 6:06 p.m. Approved by: