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HomeMy WebLinkAboutArts Commission - 10/03/2005 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE ARTS & CULTURE COMMISSION MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2005 7:00 P.M., CITY CENTER 8080 MITCHELL ROAD ATRIUM ROOM III COMMISSION MEMBERS: Steve Mosow, Chair; Lois Larson, Heather Olson, Ann Rorem, Soni Styrlund, Diane Zielke STUDENT MEMBERS: Sarah Erickson, Michael Kientzle, Grace Li COMMISSION STAFF: Sandy Werts, Staff Liaison Peggy Rasmussen, Recording Secretary SUPPORT STAFF: Bob Lambert, Director, Parks & Recreation Services; Laurie Obiazor, Manager of Recreation Services I. ROLL CALL Chair Mosow called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. The resignation of Commissioner Styrlund was announced. Student Members Erickson and Li were introduced. Kientzle arrived later and was introduced at that time. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Olson moved, seconded by Larson, to approve the agenda as published. Motion carried 5-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 12, 2005 MEETING MOTION: Rorem moved, seconded by Zielke, to approve the minutes of the Arts and Culture Commission held on September 12, 2005, as published. Motion carried 5-0. IV. REPORT FROM EDEN PRAIRIE PLAYERS Werts reported that next season's brochure for the Eden Prairie Players has been sent out. It begins with "A Collection of One Acts" October 7, 8 and 9 at the Riley-Jacques Barn, followed by "Cemetery Walk" on October 22. The world premier of"It Wasn't Murder", by Jamey Olsen, will be performed in February at the Eden Prairie High School Auditorium. "Oliver!" will be the summer musical to be performed at the Staring Lake Park Amphitheatre next June. The season ends with the 2nd Annual Summer Children's Theater Workshop. V. OLD BUSINESS A. Eagle Sculptures Rorem reported she had contacted Hart Johnson at TivoliToo, which makes sculptures out of urethane, filled with foam and with a steel infrastructure. This is ARTS & CULTURE COMMISSION MINUTES October 3, 2005 Page 2 more durable than fiberglass. Rorem showed a photo of an eagle sculpture TivoliToo made for another city. However, the city decided not to go ahead with the project, and it would be available for Eden Prairie to use. TivoliToo gave her information about how they make the sculptures, and the costs connected with it. For the Peanuts statues, a sponsor paid $2,500 per statue. If the sponsor wanted to have it in front of their business, they could buy it for $4,500. There was an auction of the remaining sculptures. The artists received $1,000 to decorate a sculpture. A sponsor could choose from a book of renderings made by the artists. Rorem said she also checked with Fiberstock, located in Buffalo. They build their sculptures out of fiberglass. There is no price break because they construct them individually, resulting in higher costs than TivoliToo. With Fiberstock, the City would have to provide a prototype of the sculpture. Johnson told Rorem that because Eden Prairie is in Minnesota, he would be willing to work with the City to reduce the cost. He offered to come to a meeting of the Commission, or meet with a few Commissioners, to talk about the process, the costs, etc. Werts said corporate sponsors to provide financing would be needed before the project could begin. Mosow asked the Commissioners if they believed this project is worth pursuing, disregarding the cost and effort involved. A business plan would have to be created and then figure out where the resources are coming from. Olson said they should find out what people in the community think would be an appropriate image for Eden Prairie. Zielke agreed that it should be introduced to the public first. It would be preferable to do this before neighboring communities get the same idea. Rorem suggested displaying prototypes in the mall so people could see them. She also wondered if a few could be set up at the Foundation Ball. Werts said money would be needed to cover the cost of these prototypes. Rorem said TivoliToo would send out the necessary forms if the Commissioners said they were interested in doing this within the next year. Payment can be spread over time. Mosow wondered if there would be a monetary obligation at the time a letter of intent is signed. Rorem said she would ask Johnson if the City would have to put money down at that time. Mosow said the Commission could present this idea as a concept to the City Council. Rorem offered to print out more copies of the prototype eagle to show the Council. Olson said this could also become a school district and citywide project. Li noted that the Peanuts statues brought a lot of tourists to St. Paul, and if Eden Prairie did something similar it would attract interest and encourage more people to get involved in the arts. Werts mentioned a project in Charlottesville, Virginia, called "Art in Place", where there were permanent mounts for sculptures that were changed every year. Artists applied to get their sculptures placed for a year. The Commissioners agreed this would be a possible idea for a sculpture garden in Eden Prairie. ARTS & CULTURE COMMISSION MINUTES October 3, 2005 Page 3 B. Planning for Commission Workshop with City Council The Commissioners reviewed the Art and Culture Commission's charter from the City. Mosow pointed out that the Commission's role is advisory only. In meeting with the City Council, the Commissioners want to learn what they can do in terms of promoting the arts, according to the Council's vision for the community. The Council can give the Commissioners ideas about increasing access to the arts. In reviewing the City's 2003 Strategic Plan, Olson noted under Key Objectives, item 3 states "The City will create and promote a positive community identity." Mosow said the branding idea creates a sense of community and a sense of destination for Eden Prairie. The idea of using eagle sculptures around the City could help to accomplish this. He said the Commission is not necessarily making strong recommendations at this point,but will ask the Council how to proceed. Werts recommended that the Commission meet with the Council once or twice a year to let them know what the Commission is doing and receive their input. The art resource piece that appeared in the Resident's Guide, as part of the Eden Prairie News, was noted as part of the promotion of community awareness of the arts. Werts said Southwest Publishing, publishers of the Resident's Guide, would not allow dates for events to be included in the Guide, and did not include the pages of arts activities that the school district submitted, so this directory is not as useful as it could be. Olson suggested having a social gathering of the artists in the directory as a follow up event, or perhaps asking them to be in a focus group for the Commission. As part of their meeting with the Council, Werts suggested using some parts of the power point presentation she saw at the Minnesota Recreation and Park Association's 2004 annual conference. She would ask for permission. The Commissioners reviewed the arts and cultural programming now in place, under the direction of staff liaison Sandy Werts. Art on City Walls — Commissioners agreed this is one program they would like to expand, and perhaps more people would see it if it were in a different location. Li said there are many places in the high school where art could be shown. Werts pointed out the problem with hanging a person's art somewhere else is that the City would lose control of providing security for it. Staring Lake Concert Series — Werts said this program is very successful and could continue to expand. Attendance at the concerts depends on the weather, the night of the week, the group that is performing and how much promotion the groups do themselves. Werts said it is becoming more difficult to hire groups for$500. KidStock — Werts said this has been an extremely successful program for children during the summer. The average attendance is 300. ARTS & CULTURE COMMISSION MINUTES October 3, 2005 Page 4 Fridays at Purgatory Creek — This is a new music program, held on Fridays during the noon hour at the Purgatory Creek Recreation Area. Not as many people walked over during their lunch hour as had been hoped. Li suggested putting out flyers in shops where people eat lunch in the neighborhood. Werts said she would like to have more businesses sponsor the entertainment, but doesn't have the time it takes to contact them. Winter Theater — Werts said this is the fifth year the community theater will be using the high school for its winter performance. The production is the world premier of "It Wasn't Murder" by Jamey Olsen, a local playwright. Kientzle said the school newspaper might include an article about the performances if they get a press release with the date and the cost of tickets, etc. The school also has a television news program. Werts said she submitted a list of activities she received from Community Education to Southwest Publishing for the Resident's Guide, but they wouldn't publish them because they did not want to include the dates of activities. Rorem wondered if next year the publishers would consider adding a tear-out section that would include dates. Dinner Theater at Cummins Homestead — Werts said the Eden Prairie Players are not planning performances at the Cummins Homestead in the fall of 2005. Instead they are performing the one-act plays at the Riley-Jacques barn. In September 2006 they are thinking about doing another play at the Cummins Homestead. Summer Musical — Werts said these productions have been going on since 1991 and draw thousands of people, even people from outside Eden Prairie. Youth Summer Theater Workshop — This was the first year the workshop has been held. Werts reported that there was standing room only for the performances. Ticket sales more than covered expenses. A Collection of One Acts — These performances are scheduled for October 7, 8 and 9 at the Riley-Jacques barn. They are hoping for an attendance of 100- 150 people over the three performances. Community Band — The band is going strong after 31 years, and a new director has been hired. There is both a Concert band and the Jazz on the Prairie Big Band. Poetry pen Mike—This activity is co-sponsored with the library. Werts said this has really grown in popularity over the last couple of years. English teachers at the high school receive information about this opportunity for their students, and it is also in the high school's daily bulletin. Arts and Antiques in the Garden —Werts said this event has been held in June for the past three years at the Cummins Homestead and is growing in ARTS & CULTURE COMMISSION MINUTES October 3, 2005 Page 5 popularity. However, to get more antique dealers involved next year, Werts said she is thinking about advertising in publications used by antique dealers. Cemetery Walk — This event is scheduled for the evening of October 22. Werts is looking for actors to play the parts of prominent citizens from Eden Prairie's past who are buried in the cemeteries. Last year it was canceled because not enough people signed up to come. Riley-Jacques Twilight Special - This past summer three programs were held at the barn. The first was in June, when 75 people came to hear the Middle Spunk Creek Boys perform. The second program was a "Ma and Pa Kettle" movie, which only attracted 13 people, probably due to the hot and humid weather on July 16. The third event on August 13 was a barn dance with a caller and live music, attended by about 65 people. Olson wondered if they could promote these events by putting flyers at various places. The Commissioners would be willing to help distribute them. International Festival —Werts said more help would be needed if it is put on again next year. Olson suggested having a parade, instead of the festival, with costumes, prior to the festival, at either Staring Lake or Eden Prairie Center. Sunbonnet Day - This event has been held for 25 years. The new location at the Riley-Jacques Farmstead on September 11 worked out well. This year included a farm theme. Three Eden Prairie farmers sold produce and displayed old farm equipment. The barn was used for the entertainment venue. A Cummins House Christmas — Werts said usually125-150 children and adults attend this event. The number is limited by the size of the facility. Mosow said he would work with Werts on the meeting with the City Council. He offered to frame out some power points and then would meet with Werts to put it together. He asked that the Commissioners send any comments to Werts. VI. NEW BUSINESS A. Selection of Vice-Chair for Commission Werts asked the Commissioners to let her know if they are interested in being vice-chair. This person would take over a meeting when the chair is not able to be present. Mosow said this item would be held over to the next meeting. VII. REPORTS OF STAFF AND COMMISSIONERS ARTS & CULTURE COMMISSION MINUTES October 3, 2005 Page 6 A. Eden Prairie Resident's Guide—Art Promotion There are six pages in the art promotion portion of the Resident's Guide. Included was a listing of arts and crafts available in Eden Prairie, with the names of local artists. Organizations sponsored by Eden Prairie, such as the Community Band and the Eden Prairie Players, were also included, but no information about event dates. An additional report was made under V. D. B. Eden Prairie Reads Update Olson reviewed the upcoming events. The first event is on Tuesday, October 18, at the high school, when Judith Guest, the author of "Ordinary People" will be speaking, following discussion groups at 6:15 p.m. There will be several events focusing on healthy thinking. One of them is a presentation about "The Adolescent Brain" on November 1. Also on November 1, there will be an art class called "Unmasked" where people will create a mask of themselves. The Family Health Walk is on November 5 around Purgatory Creek Recreation Area. VIII. PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS None IX. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Larson moved, seconded by Rorem, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0. Mosow adjourned the meeting at 9:07 p.m.