HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-03-03 Arts Culture Commission MinutesEdina Art Center Board
Mayor's Conference Room, Edina City Hall
4:00p.m.
Members Present: Gene Andersen, Dolores Dege, Mike Kelly, Linda Kieffer, Heather Randall King, Ken Rosland,
Alexandra Sifferlin, Ruth Valgemae and Jim Van Valkenburg
Members Absent: Sandra Clark and Liz Eisenbrey
Staff Present: Brad Benn, Diana Hedges, Phil Johnson and John Keprios
CALL TO ORDER
Meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of last month's meeting were read and amended as follows, before being approved. Outreach Activities/ Public
Art Committee: Linda Kieffer clarified that the art glass panels for hallway displays would involve expenditures of about 75
thousand dollars rather than the 25 thousand quoted in the minutes.
JURIED SHOW — Delores Dege
As the new volunteer chair for the Juried Show, Dee reported that a letter soliciting sponsors had been included in the
director's handouts. Diana Hedges asked if the previous years letters had included a thank you to those who had donated.
Ruth Valgemae replied that donors had been sent a hand written thank you letter in the past. The letter was reviewed and
approved. Brad Benn reported that two judges had accepted — Norman Holen and Dale Redpath. The next meeting of the
Juried Show committee is Tuesday, June 14, 2 pm.
MEDIA STUDIOS — Phil Johnson
Phil Johnson reported that the Media Studios had been mentioned in that morning's Fixit column in the Minneapolis
Tribune. Several calls had already been received and this publicity is likely to generate significant Do It Yourself business
for several months. He continues efforts to get back on the Pat Miles radio show. Phil passed around a sample of a color
printed CD disk. A new Epson Ink Jet Printer recently obtained will allow offering a premium-level product to those
customers transferring movies or pictures/slides to DVD. Rather than taking home a disk with hand written label, the new
printing capability will produce a label and personalized graphics printed in color directly on the disk. Mike Kelly asked
what was being done to solve the problem mentioned in last month's meeting pertaining to the special Elmo movie
projectors needed for the movie transfer process. These projectors are increasingly scarce and spare parts are virtually
impossible to find. Everyone in the transfer business is using these projectors and the competition for them is intense. Phil
clarified that movie projectors had last been produced about 25 years ago and that everyone in the business is using some
variation of the Elmo projectors or other costly, specially modified projectors. He will evaluate a recently announced
modified projector to determine if it performs as advertised. It may be necessary to budget $3,600 next year to obtain this
type of projector rather than continue to repair the current Elmo projectors.
OUTREACH ACTIVITIES AND EDINA PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE — Linda Kieffer
Linda Kieffer reported that Edina Art Center works are on public display as follows: Pat Greer in the Restaurant at Jerry's
supermarket; with Susan Bublitz to display there next month. The Southdale Library has a new Director who has asked staff
and Friends of the Library to develop policies regarding art work in the building. Discussions continue with the Edina
Library staff for display of two-dimensional art on some of their walls. Staff has expressed concerns about security for
displays in the Community Room. Heather King asked if we had any art works stolen from any of the outreach venues and
Linda answered that we had not. Heather asked if there was any timetable for the Southdale Library question. Linda replied
that it was in the hands of the Friends of the Library. Linda further reported that a person who was interested in displaying
his Father's extensive collection of Italian paintings had contacted her. She will follow up with him to pursue possible
venues and dates.
The Public Art Committee will solicit submissions from glass artists around the themes of Minnehaha creek and the Old Mill
Site. From the submissions, the committee will choose 3 finalists and pay them $500 each to design final works. The winners
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Work will be submitted to the City Council for final approval. The Utility Bill Checkoff program proposal will go to the City
Council at the June 21st meeting. The proposal is for a $1 checkoff donation each billing period to be dedicated to Public
Art. The committee has adopted a logo. Linda will bring it to the next Board meeting. David Kroos, the architect for the new
City Hall will also attend the next meeting.
DIRECTOR'S REPORT — Diana Hedges
Diana asked John Keprios to give an overview of discussions around restructuring of the Art Center Board. John began by
citing the history of the Board. It was originally formed as a Park Board subcommittee. Currently it is the only group of its
type that has members appointed by the City Council. Other similar groups function differently i.e., more like
subcommittees.
Ken Rosland added that many other groups function as advisory boards rather than as a working board. The discussions
about term limits should recognize this difference for working boards. Perhaps, it is time to consider board membership for
non-residents who could make unique contributions to the Art Center in terms of influence and fund raising. He will write up
a recommendation to that effect.
Mike Kelly asked if making the Art Center Board an independent board would expose it to additional pressure to become
entirely self-supporting? Ken Rosland commented that the Art Center will not be self-supporting financially and it is
important to recognize that it is an important part of the fabric of the community. Johns Keprios added that it is important
that efforts continue on fund raising.
Ruth Valgemae asked whether being part of the Park and Recreation organization exempt the board from teini limits policy.
John Keprios answered that it would not, just as it would not exempt the Historical Society or Crime Fund boards.
Heather King asked if an independent board would be more susceptible to danger from membership changes on the City
Council if the new council members were not supporters of the arts? John Keprios replied that this would not make any
difference in such a case.
Linda Kieffer asked if there had been further thought of having the Community Foundation help with fund raising for the Art
Center. There was no information available.
Linda Kieffer raised the issue of independent decision-making authority for the Public Art Committee, rather than requiring
approval of the Art Center Board. John Keprios expressed his opinion that the Public Art Committee should function as a
standing committee of the Art Center Board. Ken Rosland agreed stating that the City Council will not want two art groups
to report to them. The present initiatives should continue but ultimately should function as a standing committee. John
Keprios added that the Art Center Board should give the Public Art Committee specific authority but not attempt to micro-
manage its programs and initiatives. Ken Rosland suggested that, if asked by the Council, the response should be that the Art
Center Board and the Public Art Committee would meet to formulate recommendations for structure and bylaws.
OTHER BUSINESS
Ken Rosland asked what had become of the idea for the utility check-off of odd cents rather than a $1 donation. That would
be much more likely to succeed because the mindset would be that it is easier to round off the amount when writing the
check and entering it in the check register. John Keprios responded that the Logis organization had judged it too difficult to
administer on the accounting end. Most Board members agreed with Ken Rosland's logic and asked John to raise the issue
with City Administration again.
Dee Dege distributed a flyer for the Festival of Arts Minneapolis Mosaic scheduled for June 2-4. She has a student in the
show.
Brad Benn reminded everyone that volunteers were still needed to work shifts at the Edina Art Fair, June 3-5.
Next Board Meeting will be June 23 at 4pm at the Art Center.
ADJOURNMENT -The meeting was adjourned at 5:10 pm.