6/2/2022 - Meeting Minutes L y,
ERIN MENDENHALL `_ n, ::'::; 6 = BEN KOLENDAR
MAYOR .." . DIRECTOR
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DEPARTMENT of ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Salt Lake City Art Design Board Meeting
June 2,2022
5:00—7:00 pm
Finch Lane Gallery&Webex Online
MINUTES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE PENDING APPROVAL
PRESENT: Tiffini Porter Meggie Troili Alejandro Moya
Michael Mejia Colour Maisch
Guests
Valerie Price,former Public Art Program Manager for Salt Lake County Arts&Culture
Makaylah Respicio-Evans, Salt Lake City Public Lands Planner
Staff Members
Renato Olmedo-Gonzalez,Public Art Program Manager
Felicia Baca,Arts Council Director
Brenda Alavez,Public Art Program Coordinator
EXCUSED:
Call to Order,Welcome
Ms.Meggie Troili called the meeting to order.
Mr.Renato Olmedo-Gonzalez introduced a new Staff Member,Ms.Brenda Alavez,Public Art Program
Coordinator.All those present took turns introducing themselves.
II. Approval of May 5,2022 Minutes
Ms. Troili motioned to approve the minutes as written,Ms. Colour Maisch seconded, and all Art Design
Board members present voted in favor.
III. Poplar Grove—Public Art Project Discussion
Guest Ms.Makaylah Respicio-Evans introduced the Poplar Grove Sports Courts project.This will take
place in Poplar Grove Park(800 S Emery St, Salt Lake City,UT 84104).The current tennis courts are in
failing condition and will be replaced;Parks and Public Lands Department is currently conducting
community outreach and stakeholder engagement to decide whether this project will encompass keeping
the two existing tennis courts or retrofit the site to allow six pickleball courts in their place.Ms.Respicio-
Evans provided visual aids of what the courts could look like and declared that the biggest question for the
Art Design Board is whether to have the commissioned art limited to the borders of the court or whether to
include the playable area of the courts in the artwork as well.
Mr. Olmedo-Gonzalez proposed selecting artists from Pre-Approved Artist Pool for this project to speed
up the commission and art-selection process.The Board discussed the best way to reach out to this pool of
artists and whether to reach out to only muralists.It was determined that it would be best to have Mr.
Olmedo-Gonzalez contact all artists from the pool individually with information regarding the scope and
expectations of the project and asking for a letter of interest from artists.The Art Design Board will decide
on which artists to commission and/or whether they would like to start the process for a Request for
Proposals(RFP)from the artists that have submitted the letters of interest during next month's Art Design
Board meeting in July.
This document constitutes the official minutes from the Salt Lake Art Design Board's June 2,2022 convening.
IV. Public Art Process—Professional Development
Guest Ms.Valerie Price introduced a method of commissioning artists as an alternative way of handling a
Request for Qualifications(RFQs).In Ms.Price's experience,artists have responded very well to this
method.
This process works best for larger commissions and commissions with a large budget and is geared toward
experienced artists.The process entails scheduling an in-person interview with the artist based on their
portfolios.In this interview all stakeholders would be present including but not limited to the architect,
project manager,Art Design Board and so forth.The goal of this interview is to determine whether the
artist could work well in a group and meet the directives and needs of all stakeholders. The artist would
also have a chance to think through the process of installation and any site-specific challenges.A
reimbursement or stipend is given that covers travel and accommodation for artists selected for interviews.
With this method,the committee is hiring an artist and trusting the artist and their process instead of being
solely focused on a proposal.Ms.Price emphasized that for this process to work,all city staff and
stakeholders must be honest,upfront,and specific about their expectations for the project.With this
method,the artist is also much more involved throughout the process and is a more integrated member of
the team rather than an afterthought or an independent contractor who only gets involved toward the end
of the project.
Ms.Felicia Baca noted that there may be limitations in implementing this method given the specific
language in the ordinance that requires art to be approved by the Mayor.Further consideration and
research are needed to understand how this would fit in with the ordinance and whether there is a large
enough budget for this process.
V. Art Design Board vacancy—Candidate Discussion
Mr. Olmedo-Gonzalez informed the Board that Ms.Jen Lopez,a potential Art Design Board candidate,
was not able to be interviewed.-Mr.Olmedo-Gonzalez and the Board agreed to table any discussion on
candidates until next month's meeting.
VI. Public Comment
No public was present.
VII. Other Business/Adjourn
Ms.Baca reported that the budget presentation for the Arts Council for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 had gone
well. Part of the ask is to create a CMS software for the public art collection.We will hear back about
whether this was approved soon.
Ms.Maisch motioned to close the meeting;Mr.Michael Mejia seconded and all members voted in favor.
Next meeting:July 7,2022,at 5:00 pm
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