HomeMy WebLinkAboutDraft Minutes - Public Art Selection Committee - 10/15/2019
South Burlington Public Art Selection Committee
575 Dorset Street
South Burlington, VT 05403
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Champlain Room
DRAFT Meeting Minutes
In Attendance: Trice Stratmann (Chair), Jean Sebastien Chaulot, Amanda Holland, Penne
Tompkins, Michele Bailey
Also in Attendance: Ilona Blanchard (Staff), Jennifer Murray (Library Director), Philip
Godenschwager, Lance Van Vogelpoel.
At 5:40 PM, Trice Stratmann called the meeting to order and the committee reviewed and
approved the meeting agenda.
There were no comments from the public.
Jean Sebastien made a motion to approve the September 17 & 30, 2019 minutes as presented,
Penne seconded the motion, and they were approved unanimously.
Presentation of the Concept for 180 Market Street – Ilona Blanchard provided the 360
panoramic view from the Project Architect giving a perspective view of the artwork if a bit of
the ceiling edge were removed at the edge of the monumental stair opening to the second
floor. Jennifer Murray noted that any revision to the library building needs to be conscious of
and respectful of Library acoustical needs.
Philip Godenschwager presented his revised concept which replaced the two sides of the box
(previously black and white activity and item snapshots specific to South Burlington), with a
birds eye view of the past (typical Vermont village) on one side and a birds eye view future (City
Center road/development layout) on the other side, including a plane flying in towards the
airport. He also proposed moving the leaves that encircle the box to the bottom of the box as
opposed to the top.
Philip explained that this proposal keeps the theme of the night sky along the top as the sky and
uses LED lights to put a blue wash along the column.
Penne asked if the leaves were dual sided or are they on the inside or the outside. Philip
explained they will be inside the bottom of the box. Jennifer Murray asked if light would also
be along the back of the column. Answer: Yes.
There was a discussion regarding the size of the box, which is slightly smaller than originally
proposed at 3.3’. Philip explained that this was needed to keep the project under budget. Trice
South Burlington Public Art Selection Committee
575 Dorset Street
South Burlington, VT 05403
asked it could move to a different column. No - this is the only one it really fits on. There was
a brief discussion regarding the budget – Philip is trying to make the piece work for the last
10%.
The committee discussed the side scenes, for example, whether there was ever a village in
South Burlington, and whether the community would respond positively or negatively to such a
specific depiction of the City Center plan (which was only conceptual, although very
recognizable). Penne asked if it could be generalized more.
There was a discussion about fabrication – Philip is going to paint most of the glass. Jennifer M.
asked if a transom over the library - visible to the general public in the building – was a
possibility. Philip had thought about using the transom earlier, but wanted the piece to be
sculptural and less window like. He also stated that Public Art can be in the strangest places to
be discovered. He noted that the stair was one of the locations identified by the Public Art
Selection Committee initially. Michele commented that having it on the stair column is a really
unique way of using a column and space.
Jennifer Murray asked if it needed to be more representative of South Burlington. There was a
discussion of whether South Burlington had ever had a church with a spire. Trice wondered if it
made sense to have less land and continue a line around from the back. Philip replied that the
line on the back represented the moon. There was a discussion about things that represented
South Burlington. Philip reminded the committee that he is trying to tell a story – about that
we are in Vermont and the past and the future.
Trice suggested that the Committee could send things to Philip.
Ilona will send maps, historical books on South Burlington.
Everyone will send images for Ilona to forward to Philip by October 28th.
Penne made a motion for the meeting to adjourn, Jean Sebastien seconded the motion and the
meeting was adjourned at 6:30 PM.