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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-10-27 Arts Culture Commission MinutesEdina Art Center Board Meeting Oct. 27, 2005 Edina Art Center 4:00p.m. Members Present: Gene Andersen, Dolores Dege, Liz Eisenbrey, Linda Kieffer, Ken Rosland, Ruth Valgemae and Jim Van Valkenburg Members Absent: Sandra Clark, Heather Randall King, Mike Kelly, and Alexandra Sifferlin Staff Present: John Keprios and Phil Johnson 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 approved after minor corrections. EDINA PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE — Linda Kieffer Public Art Committee Linda brought to the Board two requests. Linda's first request was for Board support in reaffirming the value of a system for rounding up the Utility bills to provide funding for Public Art. Logis had stated that it could not do so and suggested instead a check off of an added amount. The Public Art Committee remains convinced that the round up would be easier for people to agree to and that the check off would yield too little funding for the arts. Ken Rosland said that he agrees that Logis should be pressed to do the programming necessary to make a rounding up system work. Linda offered a motion that the EAC Board endorse a rounding up to the next dollar system for utility bills with the incremental funds going to benefit Public Art. Ken Rosland seconded. The motion was carried unanimously. The second request is that the board formally approve going ahead with the glass art project for the City Hall. The two artists who are finalists will be interviewed again on Tuesday morning, November 1. Following that meeting, the Public Art Committee will bring the proposal to a Workshop meeting with City Council members at 5:30 that day. This should lead to approval of the project and funding by the Council at the regularly scheduled meeting that evening. Discussion ensued as to the motif. Linda replied that the intended motif remains Minnehaha Creek. Ruth Valgemae asked what objections might be raised. Linda responded that two possible objections are that the building is OK as it is and that such a display would be permanent and some people might not like it. Many people, including David Kroos, one of the architects, feel the building would benefit from the stained glass. In terms of permanence, the glass could be replaced if necessary. Linda offered a motion that the EAC Board approve moving the Glass Art project forward to the City Council. Ruth Valgemae seconded. Discussion ensued. Ken Rosland suggested that the Board and the Public Art Committee be scrupulous in following procedures for this first initiative by the PAC. He further cautioned that if significant opposition to the project were encountered from Council members, that a deferral for further study would be preferable to a NO vote from the Council. Jim VanValkenburg added that Board support was vital to this project. A vote was called for. The motion was carried unanimously. INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS At this time, John Keprios suggested that guests be introduced. Two students from Metropolitan Community College, Angie Sip and Adam Shank, were attending as part of their class assignment to observe public committees in action. Phil Johnson was asked to meet with them after the meeting to provide background for the discussions and decisions during the meeting. (2) REPORT ON FALL INTO THE ARTS — Ken Rosland Ken reviewed some of the highlights from the Fall Into The Arts Festival held at Centennial Lakes in September. The weather was good and most of the artists were very satisfied with their locations and their results. Some of the artists located in the upper parking lots had more than usual space around their locations. That may have caused an impression that they did not have as much traffic as those artists located around the lake. Next year, they will be placed closer together in the upper parking lot. Ken also said that all children's activities will be moved to the Amphitheater next year. Artists were juried this year. There are also plans to hold an artists gathering on Saturday night so that they can get to know each other in an informal atmosphere. Dee Dege asked if the construction planned for the former Centennial Lakes theatre site will be a hindrance to next year's festival. Ken replied that while the festival is right next to the planned construction site that it may require shifting some parking but should not be a major hindrance. Ken took a few moments to describe what he had learned about the theatre site development plans. DIRECTOR'S REPORT — Diana Hedges Because she was teaching for the University of Wisconsin and could not be present for the meeting, Diana included a Carnival of the Arts Recap document in the members' meeting folders. The recap included questions and comments from Heather Randall King with responses from Diana and Carnival chairperson, Eddi Fesler. The questions and comments are not included in these minutes because of their length but are available upon request. The recap is included below: Notes from Diana> This was the biggest event that I have ever seen at the Art Center! We were expecting about 200 people and more than 800 showed up !I am still receiving entails and calls about how wondetfid it was. Special thanks go to Liz Kohane, Eddi Fesler, Mike Kelly (Peggy Kelly Family Fund), and of course the Art Center staff for making it such a huge success. Our main goals were to provide our community with a Cultural Arts event that celebrated diversity and increased the awareness of Art around the world. We wanted to expand our Cultural Explorations Program. We believe that we met our goals. Our marketing and publicity efforts began in May and included paid advertising in Minnesota Parent and the Edina Sun Current. Flyers were sent to the schools and press releases with photos were sent twice to our media list. We also advertised in our schedule and TCFAO paid for 5,500 postcards to our list and an additional 20,000 to other venues. 35 Posters with little business sized cards were placed around the area. We are already making plans for Sunday, October 8, 2006 for CARNEVALE DELLE ARTI (Be sure to ask Monica Sullivan and Ken Rosland about the gondola rides!) ...and thanks again for all of your support! Diana Diana also included a first draft document listing specialties and expertise areas for each Board member. She asked that the document be reviewed so that it can be finalized at the next meeting. Prior to adjournment, John Keprios noted that Board Approval of 2006 Fees and Charges will be needed by the end of November. Jim VanValkenburg responded that a special Board meeting would have to be held to accomplish that because the normal meeting date falls during the Thanksgiving Holiday period. ADJOURNMENT -The meeting was adjourned at 4:40 pm.