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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/10/2025 - Meeting Minutes ERIN MENDENHALL 31,t DEPARTMENT of COMMUNITY Mayor and NEIGHBORHOODS TAMMY HUNSAKER Director Salt Lake Art Design Board Meeting Wednesday, December loth, 2025 5:00 — 7:30 pm *Due to unforeseen technical difficulties, half of the recording of the December meeting is unavailable. In consultation with the Salt Lake City Recorder's Office and the Boards and Commissions Division, it has been confirmed that these written minutes shall serve as the official and formal record of the meeting PRESENT: Nate King Wisam Khudhair Tiffini Porter Michael Mejia Colour Maisch Amanda Stewart 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: Michelle Buhler GUESTS: Dane Hess, Social Worker, Salt Lake City School District Browne Sebright, Project Manager, Redevelopment Agency Kate Ithurralde,Art in Public Places Manager, Salt Lake County Mission: To amplify art in Salt Lake City to enrich, enhance, and build a dynamic city where art and artists thrive. AGENDA I. Call to Order and Welcome Ms. Colour Maisch welcomed everyone to the meeting and read the mission of the Art Design Board. Everyone in attendance introduced themselves. II. Approval of November 5th, 2025 meeting minutes Ms. Maisch made a motion to approve the minutes, and Mr. Nate King seconded.All Board members in attendance voted in favor. III. 9-Line Trail/West Side project Mr. Renato Olmedo-Gonzalez presented an overview of An Iconic Public Art Installation for Salt Lake City's West Side — 9-Line Trail public art project. The 9-Line Trail is a multi-use pathway that spans Salt Lake City's West Side, connecting neighborhoods, supporting recreation and active transportation, and creating opportunities for community gathering.As identified in multiple master plans and supporting documents,key areas along the trail offer strong potential for public art that celebrates the diversity and vibrancy of the West Side. SALT LAKE CITY CORPORATION 451 SOUTH STATE STREET,ROOM 404 WWW.SLC.GOV P.O.BOX 145460,SALT LAKE CITY,UTAH 84114-5460 TEL 801.535.6230 The Salt Lake City Arts Council's Public Art Program, in partnership with the Community Reinvestment Agency(CRA),West Side residents, and other stakeholders, seeks to commission an artist or artist-led team to create a community-informed public art installation along the 9- Line Trail on the West Side. For the purposes of this public art commission,the project area has been defined as the public right of way within the g-Line,west of I-15 freeway. The selected artist will build on extensive community engagement already completed,with the goal of creating a landmark artwork that reflects the West Side's culture,history, and shared values while fostering belonging, community identity, and civic pride. This project advances Mayor Mendenhall's 2023 goal to commission iconic public artworks on the West Side that are grounded in community input and reflect residents'values of belonging, identity, and resilience.To support this goal, the Public Art Program led multiple community engagement efforts, including online surveys, in-person outreach, and community conversations at the Glendale Branch Public Library. The first phase of the initiative launched in summer 2024 with a Request for Qualifications for Glendale Park, resulting in the selection of Matthew Mazzotta as the commissioned artist. Through a series of engagement events with West Side residents,youth, and community leaders, Mr. Mazzotta gathered insights on place, identity, and belonging, and feedback from the Glendale Park process, along with ongoing neighborhood conversations, helped shape the structure, goals, and priorities of the g-Line Trail public art commission. Mr. Olmedo-Gonzalez presented an overview of the project scope for the g-Line Trail public art commission. The project seeks to commission an artist or artist-led team to create a community- informed public artwork for Salt Lake City's West Side that reflects shared community values, fosters a sense of belonging, represents the area's culture,history, and people, and serves as a landmark for both the city and surrounding neighborhoods. The artwork will build on findings from the 2023 and 2025 community engagement reports. He also reviewed the project area, identifying the primary site at goo West and goo South, along with several secondary locations, including goo South at Redwood Road,Navajo Street, the Jordan River Oxbow area, and the I-15 underpass. These locations were identified as key opportunities for public art along the West Side of the g-Line Trail. The total commission budget for the project is $420,000,which includes artist fees, materials, fabrication, labor, insurance,transportation, installation, travel, and engineering.Artists are required to include a minimum io% contingency in their budgets. This commission is not tied to a larger city capital project, and the selected artist will be responsible for all site preparation, permitting, and any infrastructure modifications necessary for installation. Mr. Olmedo- Gonzalez also outlined the project schedule, noting that finalists will develop proposals through February 2026 and present to the Art Design Board on March 4, 2026,with engineering, fabrication, and installation anticipated from summer 2026 through summer 2027. Finally, Mr. Olmedo-Gonzalez reviewed the artwork goals and artist qualifications. The artwork should demonstrate a strong artistic vision, enhance placemaking, promote neighborhood pride, reflect the diverse cultural identities of the West Side, align with the goals of the g-Line Trail, and be informed by community-centered strategies and sustainable design practices. It must meet all safety, accessibility, and maintenance standards, including ADA requirements. Qualified artists should demonstrate professional experience with site-specific public art of similar scale, a commitment to community-informed practice,the ability to meet deadlines and budgets, and a willingness to collaborate with the Art Design Board, stakeholders, and community members. Given the 9-Line Trail RFQ's parameters, Mr. Olmedo-Gonzalez noted that the 9-Line Trail public art opportunity differs from the Glendale Park commission (together referred to as the West Side commissions) in that this project includes a proposal development phase prior to final artist selection and allows for up to four finalists to be advanced. In this context, the Board was encouraged to consider including a local artist or artist team among the finalists, as well as to consider a broad range of artistic approaches and practices that may not typically be advanced, in order to support a diverse and dynamic finalist pool. A total of 143 artists and artist teams applied to this Request for Qualifications. Prior to the meeting, the Board reviewed and scored the submitted qualifications. Mr. Browne Sebright, CRA Project Manager, did not review artist qualifications but participated during the Board's discussion of the project. The Board will select up to four finalists to develop detailed proposals, which will be presented at the March 4, 2026, Board meeting. Finalists will be asked to propose an artwork that considers multiple potential locations along the 9-Line project area. The shortlist included the top 40 scoring artists and was color-coded,with the top 18 artists in green and the subsequent 22 artists in yellow. The green artists listed by top score include Volkan Alkanoglu, Paula Castillo, Forma Studio,Yanoe x Zoueh, Matthew Geller, StudioKCA, Day Christensen, Sujin Lim,Anaisa Franco, Soonju Kwon and Erika Chmielesky,James Peterson, Elena Manferdini,Jiyoun Lee-Lodge's team with Amanda Jaen Jones, Scout Invie, and Mike Whiting, Civic Space, Christopher Weed, Ripon DeLeon, Godon Huether, and Shagun Singh. The yellow artist listed by top score include Joseph O'Connell, RLD Studio, Patrick Marold, Hernan Gomez Chavez, Stephen Glassman, Sean Orlando, Ben Butler, Don Redman, Jim Hirschfield, and Sonya Ishii, Ilan Averbuch, Gloating Museum,Jennifer Tran and James Shen, Benjamin Ball,Adam Frank, Heath Satow,Aphidoidea and Saunders, Joshua Sarantitis and Athena Steen, Joe Thurston, Chris Rench, Rodrigo Nava, Pete Goldlust and Melanie Germon, and Natasha Johns-Messenger. Mr. Olmedo-Gonzalez reviewed each artist included on the shortlist, and the Board engaged in discussion of the candidates. He asked whether there were any artists the Board wished to move from the"yellow"category to the"green"category for further consideration. Board members requested that Jennifer Tran&James Shen, and Floating Museum be advanced for discussion. Board members expressed strong interest in the work of Natasha Johns-Messenger, Sujin Lim, Soonju Kwon and Erika Chmielewsky,Jiyoun Lee-Lodge,Team Matthew Geller,Volkan Alkanoglu, Paula Castillo, Civic Space, and Forma Studio. Several members spoke positively about Paula Castillo's engagement process and her finalist presentation for the Glendale Park project,while also noting concerns about how that process translated into final artworks. The Board was particularly intrigued by Jiyoun Lee-Lodge's team,which includes Amanda Jane Jones, Scout Invie, and Mike Whiting, and noted the strength of the team's collaboration. It was highlighted that this is a local team and that Jiyoun Lee-Lodge and Scout Invie were previously finalists for the Pioneer Park public art project, making them a strong option if the Board wished to include a local team.The team of Soonju Kwon and Erika Skotnes was also noted as local and already represented in the Public Art Program's collection. Several Board members expressed curiosity about the type of proposal Floating Museum might develop, noting it would likely differ significantly from other submissions, though Mr.Wissam Khudhair expressed reservations about advancing Floating Museum as a finalist. Mr. Khudhair did, however, express support for Matthew Geller's work and noted he could envision a successful installation along the 9-Line Trail. The Board expressed interest in selecting finalists who would offer a broad range of proposals. Ms. Maisch proposed Jiyoun Lee-Lodge's team, Civic Space, Forma Studio, and Floating Museum as the finalists. Mr. Khudhair did not support the inclusion of Floating Museum as a finalist. It was noted that unanimous agreement among Board members was not required. Mr. Olmedo-Gonzalez asked Mr. Browne Sebright whether he had any concerns with the proposed finalists, and Mr. Browne Sebright indicated that he had none. Ms. Maisch made a motion to select Jiyoun Lee-Lodge's team, Civic Space, Forma Studio, and Floating Museum for recommendation to the Mayor for An Iconic Public Art Installation for Salt Lake City's West Side— 9-Line Trail project. Ms. Tifini Porter seconded.All members in attendance except Mr. Khudhair voted in favor. Mr. Khudhair voted in favor of all selected finalists except Floating Museum. 1V. 2026-2028 Pre-Qualified Artist Pool Ms.Amy Childress presented an overview of the 2026-2028 Pre-Qualified Artist Pool and introduced Ms. Kate Ithurralde, Public Art Manager for Arts in Public Places at Salt Lake County,who serves as a community stakeholder for the Pool.A total of 143 Utah-based artists and artist-led teams submitted applications from across the state. Ms. Childress reviewed the purpose of the Artist Pool,which is to support Utah-based public artists, streamline artist selection for time-sensitive city projects by bypassing the RFQ process, and provide a vetted roster for developers,local businesses, and City departments seeking artists. Inclusion in the Pool signifies that artists have been pre-qualified by the Salt Lake City Arts Council as professional, capable of managing projects from concept through completion, and producers of high-quality public artwork. She also shared examples of past Pool projects and outlined the timeline, noting that the Board would select artists during this meeting and that selected artists would be added to the Public Art Program website in January. Ms. Childress then reviewed artist eligibility, noting that the Pool is open to emerging, mid- career, and established Utah-based artists and artist-led teams working in all aesthetic styles and disciplines.All applicants must reside in Utah,teams of any size may apply, and artists may apply both individually and as part of a team. Finally, Ms. Childress outlined the selection criteria and scoring process.Applications were evaluated based on artistic merit, experience and qualifications, community engagement, site responsiveness, durability of materials, and the ability to meet deadlines and budgets. The scoring rubric,which was shared with applicants during the application period,weighted artistic merit at 6o percent, experience and qualifications at 30 percent, and community engagement at io percent. Ms.Amy Childress went over the Shortlist,which was color-coded by Green (Artists who scored 8o% or above),Yellow(Artists who scored 70% or above) and Red (Artists who scored 625% or above). There were 46 artists in green, 19 artists in yellow, and 24 artists in Red. The Green Artists included, Rob Beishline (Tooza Design), Heath Satow, Richard(Chuck) Landvatter, Day Christensen, Jiyoun Lee-Lodge, Matt Monson, Traci O'Very Covey, Chuck Berrett,Joseph Toney,Jann Haworth, Michael Murdock, Elizabeth Carrington, Lindsay Huss, Gregory Ragland, Lenka Konopasek, Trevor Dahl, Liberty Blake, Mason Fetzer,Jessica Wiarda, Smock and Roll,Andrew Rice, Paul Heath, Scout Invie, Michael Whiting,Trent Call, Kellie Bornhoft, Brian Christensen, Jared Neves,Josh Scheuerman,Jason Manley, Bill Louis, Mark Rane, Garth Franklin, Brooklyn Ottens, Caroline Nilsson, Cole Eisenhour, Carel Brest van Kempen, Kevin Arthofer, Sarinda Jones,Valerie Jar, Emily Nicolosi,Aimee Odum, Fred Conlon, Dallas Graham,Aziza Abdieva The Yellow Artists included Isaac Hastings, Pablo Ayala, Ben Wiemeyer, Evan Jed Memmott, Elizabeth Walsh, Rebecca Pletsch, Denyse Davis,Joy Dutta, Sri Whipple, Donna Pence,Abigale Palmer, Scot Olson, Chad Farnes, Kate Wolsey,Al Denyer,Alise Anderson, Sarah Hawkes, Shiya Zeng, and Lizzie Wenger. The Art Design Board reviewed the Green and Yellow artist categories and discussed whether any Red or lower-ranked artists should be brought forward for consideration. Ms. Ithurralde recommended Margaret Willis, Rob Fuerer, and Alethia Rodriguez. Mr. Olmedo-Gonzalez recommended Ashley Kinser, Leon Araujo, Kate Jarman-Gates, and Joshua Graham, and Ms. Maisch requested consideration of Zak Jensen. Mr. King emphasized the importance of selecting artists who have demonstrated the ability to successfully complete projects and work professionally. The Board approved the 46 artists and artist-led teams who scored 8o% or higher and focused further discussion on select Yellow and Red applicants. Ms.Amy Childress went through all the submissions of the yellow artists and artists that were requested to be discussed for the board to discuss. From the yellow section and other requested artists Isaac Hastings, Ben Wiemeyer, Elizabeth Walsh, Rebecca Pletsch, Denyse Davis,Joy Dutta, Sri Whipple, Donna Pence, Scot Olson, Chad Farnes, Kate Wolsey,Al Denyer, Lizzie Wenger, Margaret Willis, Zak Jensen,Ashley Kinser, Leon Araujo and Alethia Rodriquez were approved by the board for the Pool. Ms. Maisch made a motion to approve Rob Beishline (Tooza Design), Heath Satow, Richard (Chuck) Landvatter, Day Christensen,Jiyoun Lee-Lodge, Matt Monson, Traci O'Very Covey, Chuck Berrett, Joseph Toney,Jann Haworth, Michael Murdock, Elizabeth Carrington, Lindsay Huss, Gregory Ragland, Lenka Konopasek, Trevor Dahl, Liberty Blake, Mason Fetzer,Jessica Wiarda, Smock and Roll,Andrew Rice, Paul Heath, Scout Invie, Michael Whiting,Trent Call, Kellie Bornhoft, Brian Christensen, Jared Neves,Josh Scheuerman, Jason Manley, Bill Louis, Mark Rane, Garth Franklin, Brooklyn Ottens, Caroline Nilsson, Cole Eisenhour, Carel Brest van Kempen, Kevin Arthofer, Sarinda Jones,Valerie Jar, Emily Nicolosi,Aimee Odum, Fred Conlon, Dallas Graham,Aziza Abdieva, Isaac Hastings, Ben Wiemeyer, Elizabeth Walsh, Rebecca Pletsch, Denyse Davis,Joy Dutta, Sri Whipple, Donna Pence, Scot Olson, Chad Farnes, Kate Wolsey,Al Denyer, Lizzie Wenger, Margaret Willis, Zak Jensen,Ashley Kinser, Leon Araujo and Alethia Rodriquez for inclusion in the 2026-2028 Pre-Qualified Pool. Mr. King seconded the motion.All Board members in attendance voted in favor. V. Public Comment No public comment was received. VI. Other Business/Adjourn Mr. Olmedo-Gonzalez gave updates on the Public Art Program. The Request for Qualifications for the Fairmont and McClelland Shared Trail public art project closed, and about 3o artists applied. The Board will receive those applications to review through CaFE. The Request for Qualifications for A New Mural for Out of the Blue public art project is open and will close January 2"d. Ms. Felicia Baca provided an update to the Board on Matthew Mazzotta's proposal for An Iconic Public Art Installation for Salt Lake City's West Side— Glendale Park project. The Mayor's Office, including the Homeless Outreach and Community Engagement teams, requested revisions to the proposal. Four primary concerns were identified: duplication of amenities already present in the park; maintenance issues related to the rotating disks and the potential for high maintenance costs; increased vandalism risk associated with large wall surfaces; and conceptual concerns. Specifically, there is concern that the artwork could be interpreted as portraying the community as having"broken homes,"which could be harmful to the community. Mr. Mazzotta has been informed of these concerns and has expressed willingness to revise his proposal. The Public Art Program has also requested that he develop an alternative proposal for consideration. Ms. Porter made a motion to close the meeting, Mr. King seconded.All Board members in attendance voted in favor.