04/07/2022 - Minutes (3) \ I/ '.
ERIN MENDENHALL `_ n, ::'::; -I = BEN KOLENDAR
MAYOR s .." .. DIRECTOR
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DEPARTMENT of ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Salt Lake City Art Design Board Meeting
April 7,2022
5:00—7:00 pm
Webex Online
PRESENT: Tiffini Porter Meggie Troili Alejandro Moya
Angela Dean Michael Mejia Colour Maisch
Staff Members
Renato Olmedo-Gonzalez,Public Art Program Manager
Taylor Knuth,Arts Council Assistant Director
Rocio Vasquez Cisneros,BIPOC Emerging Fellow
Stakeholders:
Hoang Nguyen,Chair of the Midtown Business District Community Organization,a
stakeholder for Life on State public art project
Isapela Freeman,Assistant to Hoang Nguyen
Jena Carver,Salt Lake City Transportation Division and project manager for Life on State
Call to Order,Welcome, and Introductions
Ms.Meggie Troili called the meeting to order.
II. Approval of March 16tb,2022 Minutes
Ms.Angela Dean motioned to approve the minutes as written,Ms.Colour Maisch seconded,and all board
members present voted in favor.
III. Life on State call for artists discussion and commission recommendation
Mr.Renato Olmedo-Gonzalez recapped the Life on State public art project.He clarified that Ms.Hoang
Nguyen,from Sapa Investments,was invited to participate in the decision-making discussions through her
role as Chair of the Midtown Business District,a community group who participated in the development
of this public art project. The geographic boundaries of the Midtown Business District encompass the area
surrounding State Street(from 600 to 1700 South and the area between 200 East and West Temple).In
total,there were 90+individual eligible proposals from 61 different artists,many of whom were first-time
applicants.The total project budget is$87,878,including artist commissions and artwork fabrication.The
eight selected artists will receive a commission of$1,500 for their design. One of the primary goals for
this project is to contribute to the symbolism of State Street and build upon its historical significance.
Supporting emerging artists,those without previous public art experience,and other underrepresented
artists was also a priority in the development of the Life on State public art project.The Art Design's
Board recommendation will be sent to the Mayor for final approval.The fabrication and installation will
happen during Summer 2022 and the project will be completed this fall(tentatively October 2022).
Ms. Jena Carver from the City's Transportation Division explained that the original plans for the Life on
State project originally aimed to cover State Street between 600 South and 900 South,but due to the rise in
cost of material prices, the project had to be reduced to cover the block between 600 to 700 South and a
portion of the 700 to 800 South block. The Transportation Division's goal for the Life on State project are
to make the corridor more pedestrian friendly, lively, and incorporate more green spaces. Mr. Olmedo-
Gonzalez explained that the artwork will stay within the boundaries of the project's construction and the
This document constitutes the official minutes from the Salt Lake Art Design Board's April 7,2022 convening.
artwork will be ultimately placed in front of various restaurants,entertainment venues,and other businesses
on State Street.
Based on the Art Design Boards previous ranking of all eligible proposals,27 unique artworks were
presented to the Board as a shortlist to be discussed during the meeting.An opportunity for Art Design
Board members and stakeholders present was made to bring forward any artworks not on the shortlist that
any individuals present felt strongly about discussing further with the entire the group.Designs may be
modified slightly to accommodate the neon fabrication if the fabricator requests such changes to be made.
Ms. Troili suggested that the Board begin their discussion by addressing the various themes explored by
artists in their proposals.Prevalent themes included lowrider car culture,food/drink/entertainment,
historical events associated with State Street(e.g., 1983 floods and the width of the street itself,which
allowed an ox cart to make a complete U-turn),and other symbols typically associated with Utah and Salt
Lake City.
Mr. Olmedo-Gonzalez presented the shortlist of designs in a slideshow format and included other designs
not on the original shortlist the board requested to review. The board discussed their desire for the selected
designs to have State Street site-specificity.
Ms.Nguyen pointed out that the Midtown Business District Community Organization also made a short
list of designs. There were four proposals in particular that both the Art Design Board and Midtown
ranked as high:Low Rider by Mr.Alexander Billany,Elephant by Mr.Brighton Sampson and Mr.
Christopher Henderson,Polynesian Tribal by Ms. Tikuafu Kelani,and Urban River by Mr.Rob Bellshine.
These were elevated for immediate discussion.
The board discussed the Elephant design and its connection to State Street.According to the artists'
proposal letter,the design was based on the real-life story of Princess Alice,an elephant that escaped the
Liberty Park Zoo in the early 20th century and roamed the streets of Salt Lake City.The artist statement
was reviewed,and some comments were made regarding the artists'mention of Highway 89,which is a
designated name for the historic route that runs through today's State Street.It is important to note that the
artists'proposal letter only mentions Highway 89 as an allegory of the elephant's"refusal to be bound"
and the"freedom shared for decades by travelers and road-trippers along the historic Highway 89."
The Board discussed Mr.Billany's Low Rider designs along with a similar car design by Mr. Sanchez-
Conejo.The Board concluded that Mr.Billany's design is more effective,clearer,and shows movement in
a clever way.Mr.Alejandro Moya worried that these car designs could potentially be mistaken by a logo
of a company or business because of their location on State Street.
Designs by Mr.Rojas,Ms. Tukuafu,and Ms. Shattler were also discussed in detail.Ms.Troili asked for
Ms. Shattler's Pink Moon design to be moved up on the list of top choices,as it represents the LGBTQ+
communities that have thrived on State Street.Mr.Mejia expressed his enjoyment of the colors and
overall design within the Polynesian Tribal proposal,a sentiment shared by the board;this proposal was
subsequently moved up.
The board reviewed various designs referencing the historic 1983 flood that transformed State Street into a
rushing urban river.The board members agreed that Mr.Bellshine's design might need to be modified to
accommodate neon fabrication and questioned the integrity of the design,given its detail and complexity.
Ms. Troili asked for Ms.Valerie Jar's design of Tea Dumplings to be moved up.The board members liked
the connection to the various Dim Sum restaurant that used to be on State Street and their wish to see an
Asian artist and theme represented within the project.Ms.Veronica Perez' design,Migration and
Transformation,was moved-up for discussion.Ms.Tiffini Porter expressed her appreciation for the design
and the themes of migration and belonging the artist brough through her proposal,which referenced State
Street as an"artery".Ms.Troili expressed a worry for the butterflies included in her in her proposal and
how these could be adapted into neon; slight changes might need to be made to simplify Ms.Perez's
design.Overall,the board shared their enthusiasm over the representation Ms.Perez's proposal would
bring to the entire project.
Ms.Porter requested to pull up images of all the designs that featured ox carts.Mr.Mike Murdock's
design was discussed as fun and lively,although Ms.Porter expressed a level of hesitation because Mr.
Murdock had recently received a mural commission from the Public Art Program.Ms. Troili asked to still
consider the proposal given its aesthetic elements.Ms.Troili expressed a desire to see more fun colors
added to Ms.Emma Ryder's Ox Cart U-turn.The board agreed that both designs of oxen accomplish the
same effect and ultimately chose to move Ms.Ryder's design forward because of its effective simplicity,
cleverness,in addition to the fact that the artist has not been previously commissioned by the Public Art
Program.
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Ms.Porter invited the board to start filtering out designs that accomplished the same and asked if the
proposals by Ms. Shattler and Ms.Tukuafu were too similar in purpose.
Ms. Colour explained that the Polynesian Tribal design accomplished several including representing
Polynesians,Utah symbolism,and LGBTQ+communities.Both designs were kept at the top of the list.
The Board agreed to move up Mr.Chuck Landvatter's design Man Talking with Music Notes. They
discussed that even though he is a recently commissioned artist by the Public Art Program,the themes of
music and its enjoyment by people should be represented in the final collection of designs.
Mr.Michael Mejia mentioned that he was not keen on including one of the designs representing the
historic 1983 flood of State Street.Ms. Troili explained that there were a number of artists who responded
to that theme through their proposals and conveyed her wish to see a design commemorating this historic
event in the final selection.
Group members discussed the top designs and their connection to State Street.Most of the designs
discussed had a strong connection.Mr.Olmedo-Gonzalez explained that although a connection to State
Street was encouraged to artists in the call for artists guidelines,this was not a rigid requirement.
The Board discussed the designs that were ranked highest following the evening's discussion.Further
discussion on whether including a design representing the historic 1983 flood continued,but a majority of
the Board ultimately decided not to include these designs for aesthetic reasons.
Ms.Maisch made a motion to extend the meeting by twenty minutes,Mr.Michael Mejia seconded,and all
board members voted in favor.
Mr. Taylor Knuth recommended that the Board review their personal notes to ensure all designs were
discussed thoroughly and prevent any hesitancy in the decision.
Ms.Nguyen asked to review Ms. Cara Jean-Hall's design one more time.It was determined that it was not
strongly connected to State Street and it did not move forward.
Mr.Mejia made a motion to recommend the following designs to Mayor Erin Mendenhall for
commission,Mr.Moya seconded the motion:
• Alexander Billany—Low Rider(front view)
• Veronica Perez—Migration and Transformation
• Chuck Landvatter—Man Talking with Music Notes
• Emma Ryder—Ox Cart U-turn(with color changes)
• Liz Shattler—Pink Moon
• Valerie Jar—Tea Dumplings
• Kalani Tukuafu—Polynesian Tribal
• Ryan Perkins—Great Basin Rattlesnake
All members present,except for Ms.Angela Dean,voted in favor of recommending this grouping for
commission.Ms. Dean's dissenting vote was made because of her wish to include a design that reflected
the historic 1983 flood that ran through State Street.
Mr. Troili suggested that the Board recommend one or more designs as alternatives in case one of the
selected artists is not able to fulfill their commission.Ms.Maisch made a motion to select Mr.Jeff
Griffin's design of the 1983 floods and Mr.Murdock's design of an ox cart as alternatives.Mr.Moya
seconded this motion and all members present voted in favor.
IV. Public Comment
No public was present.
V. Other Business/Adjourn
Mr. Olmedo-Gonzalez reminded the board about the opening of Out of the Blue on Monday,April 11,
2022 at 6:00 p.m.to 7:30 p.m.On Saturday,April 23,2022 there will be a celebration at Glendale Park for
Glendale Gather Blocks.
Ms.Maisch motioned to close the meeting;Ms.Dean seconded and all members voted in favor.
Next meeting:May 5,2022,at 5:00 pm
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