HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Public Art Selection Committee - 05/10/2022South Burlington Public Art Committee - Approved Minutes
5/10/22 12:00 PM
In Attendance: PAC Committee: Penne Tompkins, Amanda Holland, Ilona Blanchard (Staff),
Trice Stratmann, Jessica Manley, Jean Chaulot, Sophia Babbitt / Beta Team: Katie Clark, Laurie
Brooks, Melanie Craig, Jeff Hodgson, Art Klugo
Meeting Agenda:
12:00 Convene Meeting
● Review and approve meeting agenda
● Select Scribe
12:02 Opportunity for Public Comment on items that are not on the agenda
12:07 Hear from BETA Technologies about Public Art in their new development project
12:55 Other Business
1:00 Adjourn
Meeting Objective: Development Review Board (DRB) advised Applicant (Beta) shall meet
with the Public Art Selection Committee (PAC) for assistance developing a customized
hardscape for the portion of the project which will be open to the public. The objective of the art
shall be to attract visitors to the portions of the project open to the public who might otherwise
not visit the site.
Materials: Beta PDF
Meeting Minutes:
PAC called the meeting to order at 12:10 PM
Introductions of PAC & Beta Team:
Katie Clark - co-owner of Beta Technologies, head of Creative/culture
Laurie Brooks - team member, support public art installations
Melanie Craig - been w/ Beta for 2.5 years
Jeff Hodgson - Wagner/Hodgson public landscape architecture
Art Klugo - oversees the permitting process working w/ Katie
PAC: Clarified purpose of meeting and hear their ideas for Art building, request for proposals
Beta, AK: Agreed preliminary call to get the convo started - they are flexible
- Provided overview of campus - redevelopment of 40 acres south end of the airport has
been a quarry or RV/Commercial storage
- Opportunity to revitalize - redevelopment along Williston Rd
- Phase A & Phase 1B
● White building - facility (left) is where they are looking to start the placement of art -
(right) side is a 3-year development timeline
● Child Care center (lower right)
● Future commercial building
● Upper L shape building - hanger/cultural training center
Beta, KC: Overseeing coordination and development of art installation
- All employees take flight lessons
- flight school has significantly grown
- Envisions schools, girl scout troops, clubs and visitors to use the space and hopes to
create STEM programs, green aviation, aviation technology
- Has facility locations in Williston, Plattsburgh and Montreal - bring together in one place
- Mentioned the shipping art container - encourage public/PAC to come visit
PAC: Asked is the L shape building where the current building is?
Beta, AK: No - all buildings above are new (current building is off screen to upper left)
- Development consists of 5 acres of solar - geo-thermal heat/cool - rainwater harvesting,
storm water treatment, bike path, open space
- Important to be a good neighbor and elevate public art community
● Orange box - current art exploration
● Blue dots - potential future art locations
JH: Provided overview of art placement of 1st Location:
● Phase 1A entrance to building adjacent to walkways
○ Closest to door - sculpture - planting to left
● 3 orange dots - TBD potential future locations
● Other art location placements:
○ Pollinator garden - recessed to store water - sculpture
○ Williston road frontage (blue dots)
○ Lawn area to the right - sitting area - potential art location
PAC: Asked what is the time frame?
Beta, AK: Public art tied to occupancy - envisions a 12-month process - goal is to have
complete/in place by April 1, 2023
PAC: Asked is the $50,000 for the first sculpture? Or total budget?
Beta, AK: Given scale of building we need recognize whatever form, function, shape - envisions
the sculpture/art to have some scale so does not get lost
Beta: Asked to clarify their role/PAC role?
PAC: Other city projects in the district - same idea:
1. start with a budget
2. put out a call to artists/request for proposal (slightly different as the contract will be
between Beta and the artist)
- Example of public library seasons clock - national outreach - process/development took
over a year
Beta, KC: Values and feels strong to keep business here - local artists - Invested a lot - family is
important.
PAC: Clarified if KC envisioned the art to speak to Beta’s mission?
- Should KC incorporate “must haves”/visions/mission into an RFP?
- Should the PAC be the Trusted Advisor to support Beta in drafting the RFP (be
part of the team - rather the customer)?
PAC Advised process:
1. Alerted to a public space where art is needed
2. Confirm budget/funding
3. Call to artists - receive artist feedback on their existing work
4. Choose 3-4 artists that best match criteria/RFP and ask them to create a model sample
5. Confirm final selected artist
PAC: Asked in the presentation you shared - what is your intent/philosophy - what parts
would be open to the public?
PAC: Asked when you looked at art locations such as blue dots that might change (even
initial recreation space) would the art evolve over time?
Beta, AK: Clarified the Blue dots - tie artwork to phase of development not actual location
Beta, KC: Advised the future vision (big picture) is that walkways/paths interconnect all facilities
- experience that encompasses gardens, sculptures, monkey bars - connect to existing public
bike baths
PAC: Clarified that PAC has a different decision process is established by a Council resolution -
the committee is advisory to the City council.
Beta, KC: Asked who chooses the art?
PAC: See us more as an advisory, support in the RFP process, resources
Beta: Would like to solicit their own employees and local Vermont artists
Beta, KC: Asked do you write an ad?
PAC: Ask Artists to send a CV, type of work they do, and to submit a proposal
Have an outreach list of art schools, museums, studios
- I.e. received 31 applications - winnowed it down to 3
Beta: Asked about the DRB’s intent?
PAC: Suggests DRB was looking for PAC to serve as advisors to guide process and to ensure
the art connects with and is available to the public
PAC Asked what are you required to have and the level of involvement you want to have?
Beta, AK: Advised the DRB is leaving it up to Beta/PAC to craft the process of partnership. We
already checked off step 1 of having a preliminary meeting.
Next Steps:
Beta: Suggests a PAC tour of Beta - so PAC has the same foundational starting point
- Beta would need time to plan group/individual
PAC: Clarified we are a city committee - complicates arranging meetings, etc.
- Suggests Beta to think about how to manage/support on a practical basis to be helpful
without tying them to city open laws, etc.
- Envisions Beta send a recommended process of how PAC might be involved
Beta will send the slidedeck which was presented.
PAC Invited BETA to attend next PAC meeting 5/17 6:30 PM
Meeting adjourned at 1:07 PM