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FAC 01-23-07 APPROVED MINUTES FINE ARTS COMMISSION Regular Adjourned. Meeting, Conf. Rm. A 10300 Torre Avenue Cupertino Tuesday, January 23, 2007 7:00 P.M. CITY OF CUPEI\TINO PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE At 7:08 p.m. Chairman Robert Harrison called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL Present: Chairman Robert Harrison, and Commissioners Nancy Canter, Michael Harkins, Jessi Kaur, and KC Chandratreya. Absent: None. Staff present: City Clerk Kimberly Smith. 1. Introduction of new Commission members The commission welcomed Ms. Jessi Kaur and Mr. KC Chandratreya, who were appointed by City Council to terms ending 2011 and 2010 respectively. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2. Minutes of November 28, 2006. Canter moved and Harkin seconded to approve the minutes of November 28 as presented. The motion carried with Chandratreya and Kaur abstaining, since they did not serve on the commission at the time of that meeting. PRESENTATIONS 3. Proposal for a Veteran's Memorial sculpture - presentation by Donna Axelson and Sandra James regarding a sculpture by Sandy Procter. Sandra James, Donna and Corky Axelson distributed a folder of materials including a brochure of the artist's work, the fundraising brochure, and some renderings of the proposed memorial and its plaza. Sandra James indicated that the sculpture will be of Matthew Axelson and his partner James Suh. The sculpture is 1 ~ human size and will be very interactive so that people can touch it, sit, or walk around it. Actual Navy Seals will be used as models with accurate weaponry and clothing. It is hoped that the sculpture will create a place for contemplation and give honor to those giving their lives in all branches of the military. The design, fabrication, etc. bring the total for the sculpture to $400,000. Approximately $120,000 has been raised and members of the community have donated their time to assist with the design phase. The design is focused on creating an introspective opportunity for people and will be accessible from either side. Names of people in Cupertino will be shown on the memorial wall and brick pavers will be available for purchase. It was noted that it would be nice to have patriotic quotes engraved on the benches, for example, "In the truest sense freedom cannot be bestowed, it must be achieved" by Franklin Roosevelt. Harkin moved and Canter seconded to recommend that the City Council accept the donation and design of the walkway, wall, and sculpture. The motion carried unanimously. January 23, 2007 Cupertino Fine Arts Commission Page 2 4. Presentation by City Architect Terry Green regarding art for Mary Avenue Pedestrian Footbridge Terry Greene and Tom Aidala reviewed renderings of the bridge, sketches of the sculpture proposed for the Cupertino side of the bridge (a family of pheasants on boulders, and a hawk perched above eyeing them). The bridge is 18 feet wide with a walkinglbiking path that is 12 feet wide. The bridge goes over Interstate 280 and ends near Homestead Road. The total for the project is $10,880,000. Funding for the projects consists of $1.5 million from the City, $7 million from VT A, $100,000 from the City of Sunnyvale, and the remaining from grants. The landscaping will embrace native landscaping and be rather barren. The sculptures would be made of bronze, larger than life, and set in a plaza marked with the cardinal points. The proposed sculpture will mark the location of Mary Avenue, tell the direction, and modestly participate with the landscape. The center would be animal forms found in California landscape; non-aggressive such as Quail, and be 2 ~ to 3 feet high. The expected completion date is April 2008. Commissioner Canter stated that she would like to see some resolution to the hawk's pole as it feels unresolved and to address it from a safety point as well. Commissioner Chandratreya suggested that some consideration be given to a bicycle theme and perhaps consider giving the poles a bicycle wheel spoke effect. Commissioner Harkin suggested making the bridge more organically connected to landscape by continuing the poles out in the landscape as a sculpture effect and plant the hawk up on one of them. Mr. Aidala stated that he will return with a solution. A maquette will likely take place in four to six months. Terry indicated that a council presentation needs to occur to engage Tom and the Foundry. Harkin moved and Kaur seconded to recommend that Tom Aidala be retained as the project architect and the Nordhammer Foundry be used for fabrication; that Mr. Aidala will report back to the Fine Arts Commission, as design concepts are further developed, by providing additional sketches and maquettes for commission review. The motion carried unanimously. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 5. Status ofPinn Brothers "Oak Park Village" public art requirement (continued from November 28) The City Clerk showed photographs of another sculpture by artist Ulrich Pakker which illustrated a portion of glass illuminated by internal LED lights inside the stainless steel, and adjacent to the hollow glass portion. She explained that the visibility of the glow at night will depend greatly on the amount of ambient light from surrounding street lights and buildings. Chandratreya moved and Kaur seconded that the sculpture, previously accepted in concept at the meeting of November 28, include the most powerful lighting that the artist can provide without adding additional cost for experimental approaches. They also asked that the artist arrange that the light would lit during the hours of dusk to dawn. The motion carried unanimously. 6. Preparation of a Percent-for-Art ordinance and "developer's guidelines" document) continued from November 28). This item was continued to the February 27 meeting. January 23, 2007 Cupertino Fine Arts Commission Page 3 WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS 7. Letter from Distinguished Artist Corinne Okada Takara detailing how she has used the award money. Chairman Robert Harrison reviewed the letter and remarked how effectively she had used the money to benefit other art students by purchasing supplies and teaching. The commission agreed that recipients of future awards should also be asked to provide a written report on how they used their award money. The commission will also consider amending the nomination form to ask for that intention to be stated in advance. 8. E-mail and flyer from the studio of Gary Lee Price (see the FAC mail basket) This item was continued to the February 27 meeting. COMMISSIONER REPORTS 9. Arts-related news updates from Commissioners There was no discussion on this item. 10. Report from Mayor's meeting with commissions, and select representative to attend future meetings (these occur the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 8:00 a.m.). Jessi Kaur will attend the February 14 meeting, and KC Chandratreya will attend April 11. NEW BUSINESS 11. Discussion of sculpture garden and/or sculpture locations in community. This item will be discussed at a later meeting. STAFF REPORTS .12. 2007 meeting schedule and planning for the year's work program. The commissioners discussed items they would like to consider at their next meeting for their 2007 work program. These included completion of the developer's guidelines for public art (as part of the city's ~% for art program); an "Arts Master Plan" The February agenda will include discussion of plans for the 2007 Cherry Blossom Festival and the 2007-2008 Fine Arts Commission budget. Some ideas for the budget included: Two $500 awards for Distinguished Artists in the categories of performing arts and visual arts; $200 for a dinner for current and former Distinguished Artists in conjunction with the 2007 Cupertino Jubilee; $500 to initiate a Chalk Art Festival, possibly to celebrate the Veteran's Memorial dedication planned for this year; and additional funding for the Euphrat Museum of Art (which received $2000 last year). The City Clerk said that she would contact the Euphrat Museum for a report on their events planned for the year. January 23, 2007 Cupertino Fine Arts Commission Page 4 NEWS ARTICLES 13. Media coverage There was no discussion on this hour COMMISSION REORGANIZATION 14. Selection of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson ADJOURNMENT At 9:50 p.m. the meeting was adjourned. The next regular meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 27.