HomeMy WebLinkAboutDraft Minutes - Public Art Selection Committee - 05/10/2018 South Burlington Public Art Commi ee
575 Dorset Street
South Burlington, VT 05403
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Thursday, May 10, 2018
7:00 pm
Champlain Room, 575 Dorset Street
DRAFT Mee ng Minutes
In Attendance: Trice Stratmann (Chair), Jennifer Kochman, Jean Sebastien Chaulot, Amanda Holland,
Michele Bailey (Vermont Council on the Arts), Penne Tompkins
Also in Attendance: Ilona Blanchard (Staff)
1. Call to order
Trice Stratmann called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM.
There was some discussion regarding a later item on the agenda, the location of the bike share.
2. Minutes
Jennifer Kochman moved that the minutes be approved with minor changes as discussed. Amanda Holland seconded the
mo on and the mo on passed unanimously.
3. Public Comments
There were no public comments.
4. City Staff Report
Ilona Blanchard provided an update to the Commi ee regarding City Center Market Street is out to bid, City Center park
is opening on July 25 at 4 PM, the Garden Street/Williston Road intersec on project is currently in the right of way phase
but not an cipated to go out to bid this season.
She also clarified that the City Center park design team proposal included an ar st integrated into the project team.
While the ar st was unable to complete the project, the project consultants felt they had received enough direc on from
her conceptual stage comments to comply with her design intent – to intervene very lightly given the context. The
response of the consultants was to use wood from the site for several of the features including a log spiral and to allow
for temporary installa ons of art in the future.
5. Public Art Selection Process – SoBu Spaces Project
The Committee first looked at slides sent by Humphries Poli of public art in libraries, and then several
compilations of public library art available online. Additional art was googled and displayed – the sculpture in
the Davis Center at UVM, the LED video display at the San Diego airport and the Welcome sign at the
Atomium.
Ilona provided a status update on the project showing progress drawings for three levels of the proposed
Library + Senior Center+ City Hall.
Discussion re: Location Opportunities. The Committee discussed walls where there could be places for art –
there was general agreement that the wall just after the entrance to the library should be reserved as a gallery for
temporary art shows and not a permanent installation. Windows were seen as an opportunity to be stained or
etched. The large atrium was seen as an area where items might be hung and where a piece could be
experienced differently as you move around it. There might also be room for sculpture on the ground in the
lobby area, or a piece on the library open stair. There would also be space outside or space that bridged inside
and outside. Maybe between the library entrance and the elevator? There is a need for the auditorium to be
designed so that is usable for drama. Ilona noted that South Burlington City Center for the Arts is a stakeholder
on the project. Need to look at maintenance issues for any art installation.
Should incorporate appropriate mounting equipment to hang rotating shows. Ilona and Trice will coordinate on
identifying equipment for use in City facilities.
Discussion re: Design. The Committee discussed various ideas while viewing the images and after regarding the
design of public art and considerations. These included:
· Nice to have something that represents South Burlington
· The Atomium Welcome sign is nice because it is bright and people can climb and sit on it
· Language is a nice way to embrace people (Atomium Welcome is wri en in many languages) – at a school
mee ng the other day it was reported that 29 languages are spoken in South Burlington Schools as first
languages.
· Sculpture that includes light
· In the winter it would be nice to have light and greenery
· Something that illuminates or is transparent
· Poten al goal: bright & colorful
· Sculpture that relates to the inside and to the outside or con nues from outside to interior.
· Should sculpture say library or civic or are aesthe cs more important?
· Descrip on in the Call to Art should say mul -genera onal center
· Integrated into windows, either the glass itself (stained) or etching.
· Kine c sculpture
· Should there be one piece up front and center or mul ple pieces?
Discussion re: Process. Discussed whether call would be for artist qualifications only or process would include
a mock up of the specific installation. Michelle Bailey said that artists should be compensated for producing
ideas. Ilona Blanchard noted that the City had provided a stipend in the last call to art.
The Committee indicated it would like to make final decision based on a specific piece, not just the artist. The
call will include a two-step process – qualifications and then development of a specific art proposal with a
stipend provided for the proposal development.
Call to Art should include language to the effect of “Here are some possibilities the panel has identified.”
Question from Penne Tompkins: Should the Call to Art call for aesthetic goals or emotional goals?
Possibility of multiple pieces interesting, Ilona Blanchard to draft language for the Call to Art for consideration.
Ilona Blanchard to take discussion observations and use to develop a Call for Art for the project.
6. Adjourn
Amanda Holland moved to adjourn the meeting and the meeting was adjourned at 9 PM.