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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-12-08 City Arts Commission Meeting - Approved Meeting Minutes Newport Beach City Arts Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, December 8, 2022 Regular Meeting – 5:00 PM 1000 Avocado Avenue Newport Beach, CA 92660 I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER – 5:02 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Commissioners Present: Arlene Greer, Chair Maureen Flanagan, Vice Chair Leonard Simon, Secretary (left at 6:00 p.m.) Marie Little, Commissioner Barbara George, Commissioner Commissioners Absent: Wayan Kaufman, Commissioner (excused) Meghan McNulty, Commissioner (excused) Staff Present: Melissa Hartson, Library Services Director Camille Escareal-Garcia, Cultural Arts Assistant Staff Absent: Guests: Richard Stein, Arts Orange County Nicholas Thurkettle, Arts Orange County Matteo Tannatt, guest juror Lisa M. Berman, guest juror III. NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC IV. PUBLIC COMMENTS None. V. CONSENT CALENDAR A. Approval of Minutes of the November 10, 2022, City Arts Commission Meeting 1. Draft of 11/10/2022 Minutes Chair Greer called for comments/revisions to the minutes and heard none. Commissioner George noted that she was not present for the meeting. Motion made by Vice Chair Flanagan, seconded by Secretary Simon, and carried (5-0-0-2) to approve the November 10, 2022 meeting minutes as presented. AYES: Greer, Flanagan, Simon, Little, George Newport Beach City Arts Commission Meeting Minutes December 8, 2022 Page 2 NOES: None ABSTENTIONS: None ABSENT: Kaufman, McNulty B. Consent Calendar Items 2. Financial Report – Review of financial information Library Services Director Hartson reported that the finances were stable, and the expenses reflected were from the Student Art Exhibition and the watercolor installation in the Lobby Gallery. 3. Cultural Arts Activities – Monthly review of cultural arts activities from the Library Administrative Office for upcoming Library and City arts events and services Library Services Director Hartson reported that they would discuss the Student Art Exhibition later in the meeting. The watercolor exhibit at the Lobby Gallery was nice and everyone was encouraged to go. The next CAC meeting was Thursday, January 12, 2023. The Student Art Exhibition will go on display in January. Chair Greer called for the public comment on the Consent Calendar but there was none. Motion made by Secretary Simon, seconded by Vice Chair Flanagan, and carried (5-0-0-2) to approve the Consent Calendar. AYES: Greer, Flanagan, Simon, Little, George NOES: None ABSTENTIONS: None ABSENT: Kaufman, McNulty VI. CURRENT BUSINESS A. Items for Review and Possible Action 4. 2022 Student Art Exhibition Prize Winners Staff recommends that the City Arts Commission approve the winning submissions for the 2022 Student Art Exhibition as selected by the ad hoc subcommittee. Chair Greer introduced the item and directed the CAC to Page 20. She called for the staff report. Library Services Director Hartson reported that they had doubled the submissions to the Student Art Exhibition from the prior year. There were 183 entries total. The subcommittee recommended awards in each category. The submissions were included in the CAC’s packet for review and the works would go on display in January. Chair Greer commended Commissioner George and Secretary Simon for their work on the ad hoc subcommittee. She asked if they had anything to add. Newport Beach City Arts Commission Meeting Minutes December 8, 2022 Page 3 Commissioner George thought it was an honor and privilege to work on the event and she was pleased that the event had grown and looked forward to its continued growth. Secretary Simon asked if there were 180 submissions. Cultural Arts Assistant Escareal-Garcia said there were 183 submissions. Secretary Simon said that the majority of the submissions were Pre-K through 3rd grade. He thought there were about 114 in that category, and it was very difficult to pick out the 4 best. Each category had good competition and he thought there were some true budding artists in Newport Beach that should be encouraged. Commissioner Little asked Library Services Director Hartson how many of the 183 submissions were Newport Beach residents. Cultural Arts Assistant Camille Escareal-Garcia said that out of the 183 entries, 58 were Newport Beach residents and 10 were in the Newport Mesa Unified School District for a total of 68 Newport Beach participants. There were 115 non-residents entered, but 8 of the winners were from Newport Beach. The information was not provided to the judges when selecting the winners. Vice Chair Flanagan noted the overwhelming participation of the younger children and asked if that was due to a specific school. Commissioner George explained they received the name of the piece, the art, and the grade. It was encouraging that so many people were interested in what was going on in Newport Beach. Commissioner Simon noticed that there were several submissions in the younger group that looked the same. He suggested that came from a class assignment. He thought that schools and teachers really participated in the pre-K to 3rd grade classrooms. Chair Greer called for the public comment and heard none. She called for a Motion. Winners for the 2022 Student Art Exhibition were recommended by the Student Art Exhibition Ad Hoc Subcommittee as follows: Pre-K through 3rd Grade: • 1st Prize - Josephine Bergougnan, Snuggling Puppies • 2nd Prize - Dean Brown, The American Flag • 3rd Prize - Shirley Gu, I Love Beach • Honorable Mention – Deborah Jung, Chameleons with Their Favorite Books 4th Grade - 7th Grade • 1st Prize - Milana Dederich, Running Wild • 2nd Prize - Berkley Jacobsen, A Girl’s Best Friend • 3rd Prize - Sara Shaw, Pink Player • Honorable Mention – Claire Hong, Sunset’s Plumeria Newport Beach City Arts Commission Meeting Minutes December 8, 2022 Page 4 8th Grade - 12th Grade • 1st Prize - Marina Zive, Untitled • 2nd Prize - Reese Holladay, Rwanda • 3rd Prize - Hannah Lieberman, Bangers n’ Mash • Honorable Mention – Kiara Cortez, You(re) Picasso Motion made by Secretary Simon, seconded by Commissioner George, and carried (5-0-0-2) to approve the winning submissions for the 2022 Student Art Exhibition as selected by the ad hoc subcommittee and listed above. AYES: Greer, Flanagan, Simon, Little, George NOES: None ABSTENTIONS: None ABSENT: Kaufman, McNulty 5. Curatorial Panel Assessment of Submitted Works – Sculpture in Civic Center Park Exhibition, Phase VIII The curatorial panel, which includes the City Arts Commission, will recommend submitted works for inclusion in Phase VIII of the Sculpture Exhibition in Civic Center Park Public Online Survey. Once the public survey has closed, ten sculptures and three alternates will be presented before the City Arts Commission for review before a final recommendation to City Council at the February 8, 2023 regular meeting. Library Services Director Hartson introduced Arts Orange County (Arts OC) so they could review the record number of submissions received for Phase VIII. The curatorial panel reviewed pieces on artistic merit, durability, practicality, and site appropriateness. Chair Greer asked how the public comment should be handled. Library Services Director Hartson thought they should look at the pieces in batches of 20 and then take the public comment and move on to the next set of 20. Richard Stein, President and CEO of Arts OC, said that was not how they intended to do the presentation, but the public would be allowed to comment. He explained that Arts OC was the official local arts agency in the County of Orange. The Sculpture Exhibition in Civic Center Park began in 2013 and was to include 10 works per year for a 2-year exhibition period. To date, 70 works have been exhibited. The selection process involved the CAC, outside expert judges, and a public survey. The City Council reviewed and approved the final selection. He introduced Nicholas Thurkettle, Program Coordinator at Arts OC, Joe Lewis, Professor of Art at UC-Irvine, and Patrick Brien, VP and COO at Arts OC. He then introduced the guest jurors, Lisa M. Berman and Matteo Tannatt. Arts OC was contracted in October and the call for artists was issued October 10th, the call for submissions closed on November 30th. Mr. Thurkettle assisted artists via the helpline during the submission period. The online review by the judging panel began on December 1st and concluded December 7th. The purpose of the meeting was to select finalists for the public survey ranking. Arts OC would present the survey rankings to the CAC on January 12, 2023. Upon approval, artists would be notified of their provisional selection. He anticipated the City Council would hear the item on February 14, 2023. Following that, Newport Beach City Arts Commission Meeting Minutes December 8, 2022 Page 5 the artists would be notified of their selection and the contracting phase would begin. The concrete pads and footings would be installed in May in preparation for the deinstallation of Phase VI and the installation of Phase VIII. The first public viewing of Phase VIII would be during the annual City Art Exhibition. There were 78 eligible submissions received whereas there were only 43 in 2021. For the public survey, Arts OC recommended the top 29 ranked works, which constituted 37% of the submissions. In 2021, there were 25 works included in the public survey. The 2022 submissions held a higher ranked average than the 2021 submissions. The submissions were from California and 11 other states, but 45% of the top ranked works were California artists. About 2/3rds of the artists were male, which was consistent with past exhibitions. In 2021, the public survey had 346 individuals cast over 1,000 votes. They were hoping for a robust response to this year’s poll. He thanked the CAC and staff for its work and explained that he planned to run through all 78 submissions and then show the top ranked 29 works. They had detailed information related to the judges’ rankings for each piece. Secretary Simon asked if he felt that the matter would be handled that evening. Mr. Stein assured him that he would move quickly. He displayed a map of Phase VI and Phase VII and explained that Phase VIII would replace the Phase VI works. It was possible that works from Phase VII would be moved due to placement issues. He then listed each work and its artist while showing the works to the CAC. Following the run-through, he noted that there was a tremendous variety of styles, materials, sizes, scale, and subject matter. There were also quality differences both subjectively and objectively. He praised the pool of submissions and indicated he would present the 29 works that ranked the highest, with a 4.63 or more and allow for discussion. Secretary Simon asked for confirmation that they were looking at the top 29 from the Commissioners. Mr. Stein said that it was the Commissioners and outside jurors. Got Juice by Stephen Landis was ranked first in Phase VII but was severely damaged in an accident enroute and was unable to be repaired quickly. They urged Mr. Landis to resubmit—which he did, and the work was included in the list of 29 for Phase VIII. He then presented the rankings by the City Arts Commission and guest jurors of works proposed to be included in Phase VIII of the Sculpture Exhibition in Civic Center Park Public Online Survey. After listing the works, he stated that they could discuss any that the CAC saw fit. Chair Greer asked if they could receive a jury score sheet. Nicholas Thurkettle stated that they were in a spreadsheet that he had mailed to Library Services Director Hartson. Chair Greer requested that those be sent to the Commissioners. Secretary Simon stated that Mr. Stein had shown 29 images, but several of them were tied. Mr. Stein said that was correct. Newport Beach City Arts Commission Meeting Minutes December 8, 2022 Page 6 Mr. Thurkettle said that they wanted to know if anyone wanted to consider removing a piece from the qualification pool for safety issues or other possible issues. They also wanted to know if anyone wanted to advocate for another piece to be added to the survey. The 29 works were simply where Arts OC thought they should start. Secretary Simon confirmed that if nothing changed from the conversation, then the 29 works displayed would be included in the public survey. Mr. Stein said that was correct. Secretary Simon asked if there had to be 29. Mr. Stein said that there could be any number so long as it was manageable for the public. In 2021, there were 25 works in the survey and there was good public participation. This year, the score of the top works was significantly higher so it was a give and take. Secretary Simon asked how many works were being selected. Mr. Stein stated that 10 would be selected with 3 alternates. In 2021, they had 4 alternates due to a tie. They did use an alternate in 2021 and almost every year one was necessary. Commissioner George asked if there were any works that should not have been submitted that were included. Mr. Stein indicated that there were 10 submitted works that were ruled ineligible. For example, one piece was supposed to be shown in a light box in a gallery. Others had no practical way to be installed outside. One piece had both an electrical and a water feature, which was not feasible. Some works that were questionable from a rules standpoint were passed along to the jury anyway. Chair Greer suggested the Commissioners look through their list to see if anything was missing. Also, she wanted to hear about any safety concerns the CAC had related to the works. Commissioner George thought Half Moon by Ray Katz was beautiful but had many sharp edges. Mr. Stein stated that work was currently not in the qualified pool. Commissioner George confirmed that another work was not included as it was very small. Mr. Stein said that it was at the smaller end of what would work in the environment. The artist could be asked about the work as sometimes it was possible to dull the edges. Joe Lewis, who works with Arts OC during the sculpture installation, noted that the piece Half Moon by Ray Katz would be higher off the ground on a platform about 36 inches tall. Secretary Simon agreed that the sculpture being raised on a platform would alleviate the possibility of a sharp edge hurting someone. Newport Beach City Arts Commission Meeting Minutes December 8, 2022 Page 7 Mr. Stein thought that it was not climbable. Chair Greer asked if any Commissioners wanted to run through the top 29 one at a time. She suggested that they go through them in the way they were ranked. Upon reviewing the sculpture Confluence #102 by Catherine Daley and sharp edges at the base, Mr. Stein noted that one of the top works in the last phase, Prey by Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson, was perceived to have a potential safety issue with the talons. They worked with the artist to place black rubber on the talons. Prey needed several repairs and Confluence #102 raised similar issues. Secretary Simon inquired about the material. Mr. Stein explained it was aluminum. Mr. Thurkettle thought the horizontal surfaces were plexiglass. Mr. Stein said that the hardware was stainless steel, but the rest was aluminum. He noted that they had reached a sculpture with horns, Efram by James Burnes. He thought that there might be a way to address the sharp edges with the artist. Mr. Thurkettle noted the horns were over 7 feet off the ground. Secretary Simon stated that children climbed things. Mr. Stein said that people might place their toddlers on the shoulders. Chair Greer inquired about durability of Cosmic Tan by Sergey Gornushkin and if it was similar to Windswept, a sculpture from Phase IV. Secretary Simon thought Cosmic Tan was made of fiberglass and high-grade automotive paint. Chair Greer said that the Windswept sculptor also worked in the automotive industry. She thought the durability would be fine. Secretary Simon asked if the artist provided the pole for the sculpture Newport Glider by Ilya Idelchick. Mr. Stein thought that the artist supplied it but that could be clarified in the process. Chair Greer thought that the works in the top 29 were strong. Mr. Stein reminded the CAC that the images of the sculptures generally did not do them justice. Chair Greer commented that she loved all of the mosaic pieces. She brought up a potential safety issue for the sculpture Lockdown by David Tanych related to a pinch point for children’s fingers. Newport Beach City Arts Commission Meeting Minutes December 8, 2022 Page 8 Secretary Simon asked who would turn the key. Chair Greer thought it could be a problem. Secretary Simon suggested that if that work was popular the artist should be asked about it. Chair Greer asked if the CAC could view the video. Mr. Thurkettle apologized that the video was not included in the PowerPoint. He offered to pull it up on his tablet. Chair Greer explained the mechanism and voiced concerns about how hands could get pinched. Secretary Simon asked for a second time who would know to turn the key. Chair Greer stated that it was an interactive sculpture. Mr. Stein asked if the key was able to be removed from the keyhole. Chair Greer asked the Commissioners if they looked at the video on YouTube. Mr. Stein indicated that he would try to bring it up. Commissioner Little asked if the artist could keep the key stationary. Cultural Arts Assistant Escareal-Garcia offered to bring up the YouTube video. Mr. Stein explained that it was in CaFÉ. Commissioner Little again asked if the artist could be asked to remove the interactive feature. That was a logical solution. Mr. Stein noted that it would depend on the artist if they wanted to permanently alter the work. Secretary Simon repeated that if they had not seen a video, they would not know it was interactive. There also would not be instructions telling people to turn the key. Mr. Stein thought people would try it regardless. Chair Greer thought the artist’s intent was for the work to be interactive. Mr. Stein stated that the video was not on YouTube and that he believed the artist uploaded it directly to Café. Chair Greer thought that it was problematic if the artist intended the work to be interactive to tell them that they did not want it to be. Newport Beach City Arts Commission Meeting Minutes December 8, 2022 Page 9 Mr. Stein said they could simply ask the artist for a solution. Chair Greer thought that was a good place to start. Mr. Stein explained that some artists did not read guidelines and ultimately understood limitations. He stated that he would try to email the file to Cultural Arts Assistant Escareal-Garcia but that it was very large. He again offered to show the jury and the public the video on his tablet. Cultural Arts Assistant Escareal-Garcia did not believe the email would go though. Mr. Stein showed the video on his tablet. The sculpture was ranked 23 out of 29. Chair Greer suggested they not worry about it. Mr. Stein thought if it ranked highly in the public poll, they could address the issue with the artist. He returned to the slideshow and again noted sizes of the works. He asked if there was anything listed in the 29 works that the CAC felt did not belong there and should be removed. Secretary Simon stated that the lock was the only real concern that elicited conversation. Commissioner Little said she was not particularly fond of that piece. Chair Greer agreed. Mr. Thurkettle thought the safety concern there was the keyring on the ground. He worried about twisted ankles. Chair Greer asked if Commissioners should bring up any pieces that were not included in the 29 which they wanted to advocate for. Mr. Simon said that was welcome and asked for the guest juror’s thoughts. Matteo Tannatt, guest juror, stated that he liked the piece Alexander the Great by Andy Marquez. Chair Greer asked if the microphone was on and indicated that Mr. Tannatt could not be heard. Mr. Tannatt recommended that Alexander the Great be submitted into the survey as a replacement for Lockdown. Mr. Stein reported that the artist said the sculpture was self-balancing with no visible supports under the seating area, and that the backrest was inspired by traditional Egyptian headwear. Secretary Simon asked if the piece was to be sat on. Newport Beach City Arts Commission Meeting Minutes December 8, 2022 Page 10 Mr. Stein said that it was and read the artist’s description aloud. The overall ranking was 4.13. Chair Greer had given it a 5 but thought it was unique and that it merited a higher score. Mr. Stein stated that the lower rankings were from Commissioners George and Little. Commissioner George felt that the exhibition had a bench. She would consider it in the future, but currently preferred more variety. Commissioner Little stated that it was a nice piece. Because she could not see how the weight was supported, she was concerned. The City was very concerned about liability. She asked if the pine was varnished or finished in resin. Mr. Stein stated that it was described as an inlay. Commissioner Little asked if there was any protective finish. Mr. Stein said that it was not mentioned. Commissioner George asked if they could find out the weight capacity. Mr. Stein stated that was not indicated but that the work was made of steel and weighed 475 pounds. If the engineering was correct it should withstand quite a bit of weight. Commissioner Little asked if the artist was an engineer. Mr. Stein explained that it said it was “functional as a floating bench.” Commissioner Little thought that was subjective without numbers backing it up. Mr. Stein indicated that he would look into the artist’s educational background. Lisa M. Berman, guest juror, asked if the CAC only wanted one functional art piece at a time. Mr. Stein said that there were no rules regarding what was put before the public. There was a bench in Phase I which was beautiful and functional and the current bench in Phase VII, A Novel Idea. He did not know that there was ever more than one submitted in a Phase. A Novel Idea would continue to be exhibited for another year. Commissioner Little stated that there was not a lot of seating in the park. She did not think that the CAC would object if they felt the piece were worthy of being in the running. She did not wish to discard it because it was a bench. Chair Greer said that the public could decide. Mr. Tannatt stated that he appreciated the sculpture as a three-dimensional form. It was less recognizable as one approached it. That was why he liked the piece. Newport Beach City Arts Commission Meeting Minutes December 8, 2022 Page 11 Mr. Stein said that the artist had a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy, service in the Marine Corps, and was comfortable around tools. He hoped that assisted the CAC with their engineering concerns. Chair Greer reminded Mr. Stein he was leading the meeting. Mr. Stein summarized that he heard a concern about the lock and safety and that maybe it should not be included. Then he heard from Mr. Tannatt that it could be replaced by Alexander the Great. They had no reason to think it was unsafe to sit on in the same way as The Kissing Bench, since neither had structural engineering paperwork. The process was to see what people liked and then once a serious interest was identified, they approached the artists. It was possible to include it provisionally while Arts OC called to get more reassurance about its sturdiness. Commissioner Little believed that it was probably okay. Mr. Stein did not believe that it would be very dangerous. He assured Commissioner George that the CAC would discuss the results of the public poll. It was the public’s exhibition, and it was up to them what would be seen in the park. They have had conversations in the past about similar works being too close to each other and things like that. Ms. Berman thought the piece had merit and personally liked the interactive capability as a functional art bench. Commissioner Little stated that it really had grown on her in the past few minutes. Between the bench and the lock, she believed the bench was better. Chair Greer agreed. Mr. Stein asked if Secretary Simon had to leave. Chair Greer stated that they knew he was leaving in advance. In regard to Alexander the Great, she liked the color and the stainless steel. The CAC strived to engage the younger population and she thought it would do that. Mr. Stein said it was up to the public. He asked if there were any other works they wanted to discuss. Chair Greer asked if a piece needed to be removed from the list of 29. Mr. Stein stated that they could offer 30 if they wanted to do so. Chair Greer indicated that she was very happy with the list of 29. She had nothing to add. Commissioner George also did not have anything to add. She asked when the survey would be live for the public. She knew people that were very interested in getting involved in the vote. Newport Beach City Arts Commission Meeting Minutes December 8, 2022 Page 12 Mr. Stein explained that the poll was scheduled to be launched on December 10. The polling software was updated so that each visitor would receive a randomized slide show. That was something that they always wanted to do and were pleased about it. Mr. Tannatt made a passion plea for Date Dial. Chair Greer said it was a cool piece and very interactive. Mr. Thurkettle explained that someone had raised a safety concern and thought that it was Chair Greer. Mr. Stein stated that the circles were moveable. Chair Greer said her notes indicated she worried there was a climbing issue. That might be mitigated with a sign. Mr. Stein thought that there were other works that were more attractive to climbers. It was a very interactive piece. He asked if there were any objections to adding it to the survey and heard none. Mr. Thurkettle indicated that it was very close to the jury score cutoff. Chair Greer asked if Commissioner Little had anything to add. Commissioner Little was very pleased with the selections. Most of the pieces she ranked as 7s were included. One she really liked that did not make it was Compass Turtle. She liked the color and thought it was nice to have splashes of color in the garden and that it was nautical. Mr. Stein asked the CAC if they thought it looked like a finished work or if it was a rendering. Mr. Thurkettle stated that one looked like a rendering and the other picture did not. Mr. Stein suggested there could have been some Photoshop done. Mr. Thurkettle said that he would review the application. Mr. Stein noted that one of the rules was that the piece had to exist at the time of application. They did not accept concept art. Commissioner Little said that they had not deemed it ineligible. Mr. Thurkettle explained that upon initial review it did not trigger alarms. It might not stand up to scrutiny. Commissioner Little stated that the photo did appear as though it could have been Photoshopped. If that was the case, then it was ineligible. Newport Beach City Arts Commission Meeting Minutes December 8, 2022 Page 13 Mr. Thurkettle noted that the application indicated that the work was never publicly exhibited. That might explain the lack of pictures. Commissioner Little found it interesting what artists submitted. Mr. Stein mentioned that an artist had once delivered a work that was not submitted, and they had to reject it. Commissioner Little thought there was nothing to discuss further on the piece. Mr. Thurkettle read the piece’s information and assumed that since the weight was included the piece existed in some form. Mr. Stein stated that the matter could be handled the next day with a phone call to the artist if the CAC wanted to include it. Commissioner George scored it as a 6. Chair Greer thought it was good. Commissioner Little stressed that she would like the piece if it existed. Chair Greer liked Travel by Edo Rosenberg but thought there was already enough abstraction. Mr. Stein confirmed that Compass Turtle should be included after verification. Commissioner George agreed that it should if it was qualified. Mr. Stein asked how they felt about Lockdown. Chair Greer stated that if it could be mitigated, then she did not want it eliminated. Mr. Stein said that Arts OC would look into it. Chair Greer said that it would be included subject to the mitigation of the issues. Mr. Thurkettle said that was a total of 32 works for the public survey. Commissioner George noted that it was only 32 if all the pieces were qualified or mitigated. It was tentatively 32. Mr. Thurkettle said that everything was dependent on what they could determine the next day in order to stay on schedule and launch the poll by December 10. Mr. Stein thought several concerns would be alleviated by the public vote and suggested that they take the public comment. Chair Greer called for the public comment. Newport Beach City Arts Commission Meeting Minutes December 8, 2022 Page 14 Jim Mosher, Newport Beach resident, was pleased that the CAC was willing to provide the public with more than 29 pieces to vote on. He thought the Alexander the Great bench was striking and also liked Lockdown. In the past, it was mentioned that the public survey would display a grid of thumbnails of all the works, but 29 did not work out for a grid. He said that he did not know if the current plan was to have a grid. Mr. Thurkettle replied that they planned to troubleshoot the poll the next day and review the display options. They were not concerned with the final number of offerings; they just needed a starting point. Mr. Stein said that there was a natural break in the rankings that dictated the top 29. Mr. Mosher agreed and stated again that the grid might be a problem. He proposed that the sculptures Banned Books by Richard Starks and One World by Lynne Streeter be added to the survey. The public seemed interested in sculptures that involved books, so he thought they should be able to vote on Banned Books. One World was less abstract, and the public should be allowed to vote for that as well. Chair Greer confirmed there was no further public comment. She asked the jury if they had anything to say about One World. Ms. Berman said that she did not rank it highly in artistic quality and execution. There were other pieces that would address the public nature quality. Mr. Tannatt stated that he was initially concerned about the low scale of One World and that was why he did not choose it. However, including the sculpture might include small children as an audience. What he liked most was the world map on the turtle’s back. Mr. Stein pointed out an image where the map was more visible. Mr. Tannatt stated that he was for it. Banned Books was subjective and rubbed him the wrong way and almost scared him. It might ring true with the audience, and he admitted that he was not aware of the reaction to the previous book sculptures. Based on that, he was also in favor of including it. Ms. Berman thought the center piece of Banned Books was aggressive and that did not resonate with her. She asked if there was already a bench with books and if it was interactive. Several people said that there was a book bench, and that people could sit on it. Ms. Berman asked and received confirmation that the book bench sculpture would remain during Phase VIII. She stated that they could have as many books as possible since they were meeting in a library. Her only response to the piece was that it was somewhat aggressive. She was in favor of exploring other works involving books. Mr. Stein thought that the artist intended to make a statement with the piece. Mr. Thurkettle noted that the Library was involved, and the exhibition was at the Civic Center and there was no better place for conversations triggered by the work to happen. Newport Beach City Arts Commission Meeting Minutes December 8, 2022 Page 15 Chair Greer thought artistic merit was very important and Ms. Berman stated that other pieces left out of the public survey had more artistic merit. Commissioner George thought it was a strong piece, but it was not one of her top scores. She thought the sculpture garden was a place to enjoy and thought the current bench personified the City’s personality. Vice Chair Flanagan stated that she liked it and had rated it a 6. Mr. Stein observed that what Commissioner George said was similar to the feeling he got from the public. They often wanted reassurance in their experience in art as opposed to being challenged. He found the work more challenging than any that had been exhibited in the park. In Phase I, there was a sculpture that looked like nuclear silos and many of the public disliked it and felt threatened in some way. The austerity of the piece made people find it off-putting. Some people did not like abstract or contemporary art and looked for the reassurance of figurative or colorful work. The most popular piece in Phase VII was Got Juice and he noted that other favorites were accessible, colorful, and whimsical. The craftmanship was not always immaculate, but the public loved them. Civic art had a different relationship with the public, but it was worth including both pieces in the public poll. Chair Greer noted that they needed to consider that the piece would be shown for two years. A larger group of people might find it offensive because of how it was presented. She thought that they should stay away from anything too offending, violent, or graphic. The garden was designed to allow people to feel peaceful and allow for reflection. Commissioner Little indicated that she did not give the piece a high rating. The name Banned Books was negative, and it invoked destruction. She thought everyone had their fill of protesting and negative energy. She gave One World a 7. In her judging, she tried to look for things that were whimsical and would draw small children. She thought that One World fit that description. She also appreciated the texture and the coloration and thought it was okay for children to climb on. Vice Chair Flanagan was not as crazy about One World but thought that the public should decide. There were enough people interested, so she suggested both sculptures be included. If the public wanted a controversial piece, then that was that. Mr. Tannatt noted that Banned Books might inspire reflection on society and that the Library could tie a shelf in with the sculpture. Mr. Stein asked if Library Services Director Hartson had any thoughts. Library Services Director Hartson stated that there was a banned books week every year that was recognized by the American Library Association. The Library also recognized it. Ms. Berman added that she was not against discussion or discord. It was very important for communities to have those discussions. Based on the images provided, she did not feel that the artistic merit was there as the execution was not to the level she would have Newport Beach City Arts Commission Meeting Minutes December 8, 2022 Page 16 appreciated seeing in the exhibition. That was really the crux of her decision. She loved the idea and thought it was very important but stressed that the execution was her issue. Mr. Stein announced that the consensus was to exclude Banned Books. Chair Greer agreed that was correct. Mr. Stein announced that the consensus was to include Compass Turtle and One World. Chair Greer stated in light of the Library’s banned books week, the CAC would invite something like Banned Books in the future, just not that particular piece. Mr. Thurkettle stated that 33 works would be available for the public’s consideration, assuming they were able to settle the concerns on Lockdown and Compass Turtle. Chair Greer repeated that she liked the interactive aspect of Lockdown and thought children would love playing with it. The safety issue needed to be resolved. Mr. Stein confirmed that the original 29 pieces would be included plus Date Dial, Alexander the Great, Compass Turtle, and One World. Sculptures selected to be included in the survey sorted by curatorial panel’s scoring: • Got Juice by Stephen Landis • Tulip the Rockfish by Peter Hazel • The Seagull Has Landed by David Holz • Confluence #102 by Catherine Daley* o Concerns regarding sharp edges of glass bottom were raised during the meeting. If the artist is able to fix this safety issue, the sculpture will remain on the public online survey. • Balthazar the Bulldog by Patricia Vader • Pearl Infinity by Plamen Yordanov • The Goddess Sol by Jackie Braitman • Inchoate by Luke Achterberg • Miseria Justorum by Bilhenry Walker • Efram by James Burnes* o Concerns regarding sharp horns on the sculpture were raised during the meeting. If the artist is able to fix the safety issue, the sculpture will remain on the public online survey. • Cosmic Tan by Sergey Gornushkin • Newport Glider by Ilya Idelchick • Magnify by Kirk Seese • Umbel Series: A Feast of Flowers by Jeni Ward • One Another by Maxwell Carraher • The Memory of Sailing by Zan Knecht • Kissing Bench by Matt Cartwright • Invertadude by Carrie Fischer • Fish in the Sky by Adrian Susnea Litman • Seasons by Norman Moore Newport Beach City Arts Commission Meeting Minutes December 8, 2022 Page 17 • The White Queen by Cheryl Tall • Metal Tree by Pontus Willfors • Lockdown by David Tanych* o Concerns regarding safety of the kinetic locking mechanism were raised during the meeting, as well as requests to remove the extra key lying on the ground that could be a tripping hazard. If the artist is able to fix those issues, the sculpture will remain on the public online survey. • Be Kind by Matthew Hoffman • Namaste by Robert Jordan • Divergent (with I) by Andrew Light • ROGUE by Billy Criswell • PALMZILLA by Heather Langle • Why by Ron Whitacre Sculptures also to be included in the survey after discussion/public comment: • Date Dial by Melanie Piech • Compass Turtle; The Five Directions by Rachel Slick* o Photos in application appeared to be concept art. Arts OC will reach out to the artist to confirm if the sculpture is already in existence or was merely a concept submitted. • One World by Lynne Streeter • Alexander the Great by Andy Marquez Motion made by Chair Greer, seconded by Commissioner George, and carried (4-0-0-3) to approve the selected works (as listed above) for inclusion in the Phase VIII of the Sculpture Exhibition in Civic Center Park Public Online Survey. AYES: Greer, Flanagan, Little, George NOES: None ABSTENTIONS: None ABSENT: Kaufman, McNulty, Simon (left meeting at 6:00 p.m.) Mr. Stein thanked the guest jurors for their help. Chair Greer also thanked the public for their comments. B. Monthly Reports 6. Surf Film Exhibition Ad Hoc Subcommittee Commissioners Marie Little, Arlene Greer, and Maureen Flanagan Commissioner Little reported that the ad hoc subcommittee met twice since the last CAC meeting. First they met with three members of the Newport Beach Arts Foundation (NBAF) to discuss the idea of the NBAF hosting the Surf Film Exhibition. The CAC could not hold the event itself as it was a fundraiser. Following that meeting, she gave a formal presentation to the NBAF that Chair Greer and Commissioner McNulty also attended. A few Board Members seemed reluctant, but the majority of members were receptive. The NBAF was considering the idea and had not notified anyone of their decision. She hoped Newport Beach City Arts Commission Meeting Minutes December 8, 2022 Page 18 by the next CAC meeting they would have an answer. The Surf Film Exhibition would be a very easy way to raise funds for the CAC. Vice Chair Flanagan indicated she was at the original meeting and the NBAF seemed enthusiastic. Chair Greer stated that they would hear an update in January. 7. Newport Beach Arts Foundation Liaison Commissioner Meghan McNulty, Maureen Flanagan, and Arlene Greer Chair Greer noted that Commissioner McNulty was ill and unable to attend. She reported that Commissioner Little gave an extensive presentation on the Surf Film Exhibition and repeated that they had not heard back from the NBAF on that yet. There was not a reconciliation on the finances for Art in the Park yet. She would report on that at a later date. The NBAF had a holiday party scheduled for 12/13/22 at 6:00 p.m. at a member’s home. She called for the public comment on the monthly reports and heard none. VII. CITY ARTS COMMISSION ANNOUNCEMENTS OR MATTERS WHICH MEMBERS WOULD LIKE PLACED ON A FUTURE AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION, ACTION OR REPORT (NON-DISCUSSION ITEM) • Announcements: None. • Future Agenda: None. VIII. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS Jim Mosher, Newport Beach resident, pointed out that although the NBAF existed as a fundraising body to support the CAC, he was not aware of any rule or law that prevents the CAC from hosting a fundraising event. He thought that they could host the Surf Film Exhibition if the NBAF did not want to host it. That was untraditional but possible. Chair Greer asked if staff wanted to make a clarification. Library Services Director Hartson stated that fundraising was not in the purview of the CAC. IX. ADJOURNMENT – 6:56 p.m. Approved by: Arlene Greer