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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/02/2025 - Meeting Minutes ,`purl r4rr rr ERIN MENDENHALL LORENA RIFFO-JENSON MAYOR DIRECrOR rrrer ruu pN� DEPARTMENT of ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Salt Lake Art Design Board Meeting Wednesday,April 2"d, 2025 5:00—7:20 pm PRESENT: Tiffini Porter Colour Maisch Michael Mejia Nate King Jen Lopez STAFF MEMBERS Felicia Baca, Executive Director,Arts Council Laurel Cannon Alder, Deputy Director,Arts Council Renato Olmedo-Gonzalez, Public Art Program Manager,Arts Council Amy Childress, Public Art Program Coordinator,Arts Council EXCUSED: Jen Lopez GUESTS: Ronnie Pessetto,Executive Director,Seven Canyons Trust Britney Helmers,Program Director,The Blocks Arts District Merinda Starnes,Program Manager,The Blocks Arts District Jann Haworth,Finalist,"Unifying Artworks" Jason Manley,Finalist,"Unifying Artworks" Lenka Konopasek,Finalist,"Unifying Artworks" Sarinda Jones,Finalist,"Unifying Artworks" Trent Call, Finalist,Unifying Artworks" Mission: To amplify art in Salt Lake City to enrich, enhance, and build a dynamic city where art and artists thrive. I. Call to Order, Introductions, and Welcome Ms. Colour Maisch welcomed everyone to the meeting and stated the Art Design Board's mission. II. Approval of March 5*h, 2025 Meeting Minutes Mr. Michael Mejia put forward a motion to approve the March 5th, 2025 minutes as written,Ms. Maisch seconded. Everyone in attendance voted for approval. III. Hidden Waters—Temporary Artwork Donation Mr. Renato Olmedo-Gonzalez gave a brief overview of the approval process for donations of artworks to Salt Lake City and had everyone introduce themselves.Following this,a presentation was given on the "Hidden Waters"project, a collaboration between Seven Canyons Trust and the Blocks Arts District. Representatives Ronnie Pesseto, Britney Helmers,and Merinda Starnes introduced their organizations and explained how the project originated with a shared goal of increasing artist visibility in downtown Salt Lake City.The"Hidden Waters"project consists of eight unique"Water Drop"artworks created by different local artists and installed on utility poles along North Temple between State Street and 400 West.These pieces pay tribute to Salt Lake City's hidden urban waterways,including its creeks,the Jordan River, and the Great Salt Lake.The project not only educates the public about the city's hydrology but also highlights key areas like City Creek Park and the Folsom Trail project,which plans to daylight a section of City Creek.Through art and storytelling,it aims to foster a deeper connection between residents and the city's natural water systems,while also encouraging pedestrian movement across the east and west sides of North Temple and emphasizing the cultural significance of water in the region. Stakeholders in the project include Seven Canyons Trust,the Blocks Arts District,the Salt Lake City Arts Council,the Cultural Core Budget Committee,and others.A call for artists by Seven Canyons Trust ran in July 2024, drawing 15 applicants,with eight artists selected and compensated$1,20o each.The team worked with city partners to secure installation sites and coordinated with the Downtown Ambassadors and the contractor who manages the downtown banner program to ensure ongoing maintenance.The commissioned artists are Pablo Ayala,Trent Call,Trevor Dahl,Cara Jean Hall,Bill Louis,Vicky Lowe, Sawyer Stroud, and Kate Wolsey.An unveiling event for the project is scheduled for April 11, 2025, beginning with a pre-tour gathering at the McCune Mansion and followed by a guided tour of the artwork starting at City Creek Park. The Board was impressed with the project.Ms. Colour Maisch made a motion to approved, according to Ordinance, "Hidden Waters"be installed on City property.Ms.Tiffini Porter seconded and all Board members voted in approval. IV. Unifying Artwork finalist presentations Ms.Amy Childress presented an overview of the"Unifying Artworks for Parks,Trails and Open Spaces Bond Sites"public art project,which will commission four artists or artist-led teams from the 2023-2025 Pre-Qualified Artist Pool to create original public artworks at 20 sites across all seven Council districts currently being reimagined through the Parks,Trails, and Open Spaces General Obligation(GO)Bond. This public art project is being funded through the 1.5%for art from the GO Bond. Each selected artist will design a 1-2-foot-tall figurative sculpture inspired by Salt Lake City's parks and natural spaces.These models will then be used to cast five bronze replicas per design,which will be installed at the sites that have been designated for the project.Metal Arts Foundry will be contracted for bronze casting and fabrication. The Board reviewed the project's artistic goals,which emphasize celebrating nature's beauty,playfulness, and emotional impact; representing the distinct natural features and biodiversity of Salt Lake City; and reflecting the city's cultural history and community diversity.The project also aims to align with the GO Bond's environmental goals, such as improving air and water quality. Five artists—Jann Haworth, Lenka Konopasek,Jason Manley, Sarinda Jones,and Trent Call—were selected as finalists by the Board during their March 5th, 2025 meeting to create proposals for the call.Each will present a io-minute proposal to the Board,followed by a five-minute Q&A session.The Board will then choose four artists to recommend to the Mayor for final selection. Ms.Jann Haworth presented her proposal to the Board, sharing her background as a practicing artist originally from England who has lived in Utah since 1997 and worked across various media including fabric, ceramics, and layered paintings. Drawn to the opportunity to work with bronze and explore different patinas, she proposed a sculpture inspired by nature: a large,tipped egg with feathers underneath.The egg symbolizes the magic and wonder of discovering a nest or egg in a park, an experience she personally cherishes,having collected eggs throughout her life. Each bronze replica of the sculpture would feature a unique colored patina to further emphasize individuality and natural beauty. Mr.Jason Manley,a sculptor and professor at Weber State University,presented his proposal to the Board,highlighting his decade-long experience in public art and his existing works across Utah,including a collaborative piece at the Utah State Capitol. His artistic focus lies in merging poetry with sculpture, particularly through cast metal, and he is especially interested in challenging traditional notions of monuments by exploring abstract and conceptual forms. His proposed sculpture,titled Strata,is a three- dimensional poem that takes the shape of a boulder or cloud mass,inspired by the layered formations and erosion patterns found in Utah's natural landscapes.Constructed from individual wax letters cast in silicone molds,the sculpture will be assembled through a meticulous additive process,then carved and melted to create a flowing,organic form.The result is a poetic structure where some text is visible while other parts remain obscured,inviting viewers to discover fragmented stanzas and engage in open interpretation. Ms. Lenka Konopasek presented her proposal to the Board. Last year, Last year she rescued and cared for a blind,defenseless baby squirrel named Woody that had fallen from a tree in her garden,an experience that deepened her understanding of squirrel behavior and the human impact on urban wildlife.While squirrels are often seen as vermin,to her,they are a perfect symbol of the symbiosis between nature and people in a city setting, noting their adaptability, social behaviors, and ability to thrive alongside people. She believes that her sculpture would become a beloved symbol in any city park. Her proposed artwork, titled Woody, the Urban Squirrel is a sculpture of a squirrel, approximately 20-24 inches high, designed to fit on a 12x12 inch pedestal.The final piece will feature more detail while maintaining a stylized, abstracted appearance. She would like the pedestal to be set at an accessible height, allowing people of all ages and abilities to touch and engage with the sculpture.The bronze finish would be in a natural bronze color with a greenish patina. Ms. Sarinda Jones presented her proposal to the Board. Her piece is inspired by Bonneville Lake,a vast body of water that once covered much of what is now Utah and has left behind a legacy of stunning shoreline features and diverse ecosystems.The lake's remnants include the Great Salt Lake and various freshwater lakes that dot the landscape, such as Utah Lake and Bear Lake.The Bonneville Shoreline Trail, which follows the ancient shoreline, serves as a reminder of the lake's former grandeur.The shoreline of Bonneville Lake showcases an array of natural formations,from rolling hills to rugged cliffs,creating a dynamic and ever-changing landscape.These features are not just visually striking;they also support various wildlife and plant species,contributing to an intricate ecosystem that reflects the resilience of nature. Her proposed sculpture will be a 2 foot by 2400t figurative seashell,featuring a combination of green-blue patina and natural smooth bronze finishes.This color palette will evoke the colors of the lake and its surroundings,symbolizing the mingling of water and earth.The sculpture will embody the fluidity of water,capturing the essence of the shoreline's waves while also standing as a solid reminder of the land's history. Mr.Trent Call presented his proposal to the Board. He showed a video of his sculpture in motion. His proposed artwork,titled Rumble and Roll,is a 24"x 19"sculpture of a seven paneled beachball with legs. Each of the seven sections has a specific`counter-reliefed'pattern to represent the heptadic sequence or seven stages of life.The beachball wears a bowtie and a whimsical propeller beanie because it is both sophisticated and absurd.The propeller hat, spawned by the sci-fi community,comes from bygone era of io cent comics and space lasers and personifies the ball's sense of creativity,wonder and dreams of the future. He chose not to include facial features on the beachball to make it more abstract.There were concerns about the placement of the hat being an easy target for vandalism.Mr. Call was open to changing how the hat was attached to the rest of the sculpture. He is interested in the possibility of mixing patinas for the finish or the possibility of doing each replica a different patina. The Board reviewed and discussed five sculpture proposals,incorporating stakeholder feedback and sharing individual impressions.City stakeholder Tom Millar, ,raised concerns about the durability of Mr. Manley's letter-based sculpture,fearing vandalism,but appreciated the artistic approach of several others. He found Ms. Haworth's egg concept simple and open-ended, saw potential in Ms. Konopasek's squirrel as a mascot for the GO Bond project,and favored Ms. Sarinda Jones's sculpture for its abstract,recognizable form and muted elegance.Mr. Call's proposal also received positive feedback,though Millar noted it might appear awkward when placed on a pedestal. Board members discussed how each piece might suit different parks.Mr.Michael Mejia imagined Ms. Konopasek's squirrel sculpture fitting well in Liberty Park.Ms.Jen Lopez started making a list of where each sculpture could potentially be placed.There was interest in how the sculptures would look either on a pole or a concrete pedestal,or the option of physically integrating it into structures being built in the park,like the top of a building or sign. Opinions varied on the proposals among Board members. Some Board members,like Ms.Maisch,felt Ms. Jones's piece was the least playful and interactive, even if elegant and beautiful.Mr.Mejia and Mr. King considered both Ms.Jones's and Mr. Manley's submissions as outliers,with Mr.King calling Ms.Jones's piece too accurate and others feeling it lacked uniqueness.Ms. Porter viewed Ms.Jones's work as better suited to a gallery setting than a park. Finally,Board members shared individual preferences and noted representation gaps in the city's Public Art Collection.Mr.Olmedo-Gonzalez pointed out that neither Ms. Haworth,Mr. Call,nor Mr.Manley currently has work in the collection. Despite some concerns about how Ms. Haworth's egg sculpture would look on a pedestal,Ms. Porter appreciated both her concept and Mr.Manley's.Ms. Lopez favored Mr. Call's design,while Mr. King felt Mr. Call's proposal was the most successful overall. Ms.Maish made a motion to approve Ms. Haworth,Ms. Konopasek,Mr.Manley, and Mr. Call to be sent to the Mayor for Recommendation for commission for the"Unifying Artworks for Parks,Trails and Open Spaces Bond Sites"public art project.Ms. Lopez seconded the motion.All Board members voted in favor. V. FY23-24 Artwork Deaccessions —Partial Deaccession of 200 West Planters Ms.Childress gave an overview of the Public Art Program's Deaccessioning Process and the Artwork Deaccessioning Policy and Guidelines.The Public Art Program conducts routine maintenance checks on the permanent collection and makes recommendations for deaccession .Then the Art Design Board recommends artworks for deaccessioning to the Mayor. Once the Mayor approves the recommendation, the Public Art Program sends a Transmittal to the City Council notifying them of the deaccession.At the request of the Administration and City Council,deaccession recommendations happen once a year, typically in the spring. According to the Artwork Deaccessioning Policy and Guidelines adopted by the Salt Lake Art Design Board on December 2, 2021,an artwork may be removed from the permanent collection if it requires excessive or unreasonable maintenance beyond what was originally anticipated,if it is damaged or deteriorated and the cost of repair outweighs its aesthetic,monetary,or cultural value,or if its condition has deteriorated to a point where restoration is unfeasible,impractical,or would compromise the integrity of the original work The Public Art Program is recommending that the 200 West Cycle Planters by John Riddle and Paul Heath be partially deaccessioned.The 200 West Planters are a collection of 21 painted concrete planters in vibrant colors, some with added mosaic tile strips.This artwork was installed along 200 West between North Temple and 700 South in 2013.In March 2024, 6 planters were deaccessioned due to corrosion, including cracks,chipped concrete,and tiles. In June 2024,three of these were vandalized with offensive,antisemitic graffiti and were quickly painted over by the Graffiti Abatement team,unaware that they were part of the Public Art Collection. Salt Lake City Council was notified of this upcoming deaccession in Fall 2024 through our annual Maintenance Transmittal,which the Art Design Board also received. Ms.Porter made a motion to recommend the partial deaccession of 3 of the 21 remaining"200 West Planters"to the Mayor. VI. Public Comment No Public Comment was received VII.Other Business/Adjourn The engagement process for Fleet Block is underway. Community and Neighborhoods and Real Estate Services have published an RFQ for developers for the site.The Public Art Program will be working closely with Public Lands to develop the public space with an artwork honoring the legacy for the site. Board members can be part of an advisory group for the artwork if they are interested and will remain updated throughout the process.The Public Art Program will be overseeing the artwork commission for the site.The commission budget for this project is about$350,000 and will be funded through the 1.5% for art from the GO Bond. The Public Program is under contract with Glendale Park artist Matthew Mazzotta.The Public Art Program,in collaboration with Matthew Mazzotta,is planning three engagement events. Two of the engagement events will be"Outdoor Living Rooms"and an engagement process developed by Matthew Mazzotta,where he brings a living room into community spaces to create a familiar atmosphere for residents to talk about their community.The Outdoor Living Room events will be held April 24th from 6-8 pm at the Rose Park Smith's Grocery Store parking lot, and the second one will be held at the International Peace Gardens from 1-3 pm during the Art @ the Garden event.The third engagement event will be a roundtable with West Side leaders at the Glendale Library from 1:30-3 on Friday,April 15th. Board members are encouraged to attend all the outreach events. The Mayor approved the recommendation for the two new Art Design Board members,Wisam Khudhair and Michelle Buhler.Following advice and consent by Council,the Board members are expected to join the Board during their May 7th, 2025 meeting. Finch Lane Gallery exhibition submissions are open until April 27th.Project Support Grants are open till June is', and General Operating Support grants are open until April i8t1i. The Salt Lake City Arts Council is preparing for budget season.The Salt Lake City Arts Council is expecting a flat budget. However,the City Council has requested that the Salt Lake City Arts Council make a proposal for a mural program.Mr.Olmedo-Gonzalez put together a proposal that was sent to the Council. Ms. Lopez closed the meeting.