HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Public Art Selection Committee - 01/08/2019
South Burlington Public Art Committee
575 Dorset Street
South Burlington, VT 05403
(802) 846-4107
www.SouthBurlingtonVT.gov
facebook.com/CityCenterSouthBurlington
Meeting Minutes
for the Tuesday, January 8, 2019 5:30 PM meeting
in the Champlain Room, 575 Dorset Street
In Attendance: Trice Stratmann (Chair), Jennifer Kochman, Jean Sebastien Chaulot (Vice-Chair),
Amanda Holland, Michele Bailey (Vermont Council on the Arts)
Also in Attendance: Ilona Blanchard (Staff), Mark Coel (Library Board of Trustees)
1. Call to order
Trice Stratmann called the meeting to order at 5:35 PM. No changes were made to the agenda.
2. Minutes
Penne Tompkins name was incorrectly spelled. Michele asked that the word “convey” be struck and a
quote be added. Jennifer Kochman moved that the minutes as amended be approved. Michele Bailey
seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously.
3. Public Comments
No public comments were made.
4. Project Update
Ilona Blanchard and Mark Coel gave a brief overview of the 180 Market Street project. Finishes were
shown with the caveat that many of the project was still in the value engineering stage, meaning that
many modifications were occurring to reduce cost while retaining function and quality. Several spaces
were highlighted. These included the paved area to the east of the main entry, the main lobby, and the
two stairs – the west front corner stair, which would remain lighted at night and is floor to ceiling glass
on all through levels, and the monumental stair in the library lobby that goes to the second floor of the
lobby. The exterior east wall on the ground floor was also identified as an opportunity.
5. Public Art Selection Process – 180 Market Street
Ilona Blanchard explained that she had made some edits to the Call and intended to send it out as soon
as possible.
The Committee discussed the call for art and the direction to the artists. Trice Stratmann said that it
would not be good to be visually competing with “the Hive”, the public art on the Allard Square
property, which is quite large and vertical on the face of the building. She also like the idea of a bench,
but only if it is comfortable to sit on.
There was a discussion regarding how to structure the budget – should it be divided up among the
spaces? The total amount of $50,000 was confirmed, from which honorariums for proposals would also
be awarded.
Overall there was a discussion of how much guidance to provide artists generating proposals. There
seemed to be some areas with strong potential, but the committee is also open to possibilities the artist
may see.
Michele pointed out that the Call contained a lot of language that pulls this together.
The strongest areas were seen as those most visible to the public: seating area on the exterior, the main
lobby wall, the 2 stairs.
The committee asked that the artists be provided with plan and elevation of the areas with dimensions.
They also asked that the Call not require an artist’s statement. Ilona Blanchard mentioned was a lot of
confusion among less experienced artists about what the artist statement is the last call. The letter of
interest could function as a place where artists could provide their intentions.
The committee asked if the Call would go out to Vermont artists. Ilona Blanchard stated that the call
would go out to all the artists who requested the prior RFQ, many of which were located in Vermont,
and may local venues including local galleries, 7 Days, the Vermont Arts Council, and the South
Burlington artists listserv.
There was a question regarding should the call list recyclable materials? Michele Bailey said she
sometimes uses the words “The Committee has identified an opportunity for environmentally friendly,
recycled and/or local materials”.
Michele Bailey also will send some additional edits for the Call which Ilona Blanchard will incorporate
prior to sending out.
6. Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 7 PM.