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HomeMy WebLinkAboutArts Commission - 07/22/2002 APPROVED MINUTES ARTS & CULTURE COMMISSION MONDAY,JULY 22, 2002 7:00 P.M. CITY CENTER 8080 MITCHELL ROAD PRAIRIE ROOMS A & B COMMISSION MEMBERS: Dianne Fesler, Chair; Susan Dickman, Vice Chair; Ann Birt, Cari Grayson, Freinde Mills COMMISSION STAFF: Tria Mann, Staff Liaison Peggy Rasmussen, Recording Secretary SUPPORT STAFF: Bob Lambert, Director Parks & Recreation Services Laurie Obiazor, Recreation Services Manager Nicole Weedman, Recreation Coordinator, Youth & Family; Stan Tekiela, Outdoor Center Programmer, Naturalist I. ROLL CALL Chair Fesler called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Birt arrived at 7:10 p.m. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Under V. A., Mann corrected the name of the book to "A New Angle." Motion: Dickman moved, seconded by Mills, to approve the agenda as published and amended. Motion carried 4-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES —May 13, 2002 Motion: Mills moved, seconded by Dickman, to approve the minutes of the Arts and Cultural Commission meeting held on May 13, 2002, as published. Motion carried 4-0. IV. OLD BUSINESS A. Jean Harris Memorial Design Committee Report 1. Status on the Selection of Artist Mann reported that the committee received six submittals from artists responding to Requests for Qualifications sent out to eleven artists. The submittals were reviewed by Mary Altman, a public art consultant; Barry Warner, the landscape architect for the Purgatory Creek Recreation Area Project; Bob Lambert and Tria Mann. All six were very accomplished artists. However, three were selected to be interviewed who had significantly more experience working with citizens' committees on projects similar to the memorial project. ARTS & CULTURE COMMISSION July 22, 2002 Page 2 The three artists made presentations to the ad hoc committee. Teri Kwant was selected unanimously to be the artist because the committee felt she was more sensitive to, and better able to respond to Mayor Harris's "Ten Rules of Life." Teri Kwant's experience in a variety of mediums demonstrates she has the ability to develop projects defined by a written script. The artwork could incorporate Jean Harris's "Ten Rules of Life", as well as reflecting other significant points about who she was in terms of being part of the community, volunteering, etc. A contract is being developed. The staff had hoped to present it to the City Council on July 16. It was pulled from that meeting because of wording in the contract. One of the City's attorneys will discuss the contract with Teri, and resolution is expected in time to present the contract to the City Council at its August 6 meeting. V. NEW BUSINESS A. Review and Discuss the McKnight Foundation "A New Ankle" Arts Development in the Suburbs The above book had been mailed out to members but did not arrive in time for them to review it prior to the meeting. Mann said the book was a chance to look at the results of the McKnight Foundation's work and reflect on where Eden Prairie's arts development stands compared with other suburbs. Dickman suggested reading the whole book and then discussing it, rather than one chapter at a time. The book talks about different communities, but there may be one or two that are of particular interest. Fesler suggested the commissioners read the book and come to the next meeting with highlighted sections. Mann said the Minnesota Regional Arts Council (MRAC) works with the McKnight Foundation in distributing funds. The seven-county metro area is considered separately from the rural area, and Minneapolis is considered separately from the suburbs. In rural areas, the funding is allocated on a countywide basis. Birt asked about the possibility of forming partnerships with other government agencies for arts funding. Mann said it is difficult to do but she would not rule it out. Birt asked about partnering with the International School, which draws some Eden Prairie students. Mann said she would look into what Eden Prairie's needs are for funding of the arts and where partnerships might be formed. In the past four years Eden Prairie has grown in the arts and is becoming better known in that regard. Mann discussed the possibility of using the Riley farm site for both performing arts and historical/educational purposes. The barn on the site could be used in the ARTS & CULTURE COMMISSION July 22, 2002 Page 3 future as a theater for performing arts. John Gertz, the City's Historic Preservation Specialist, will be meeting with staff about programming for this location and what will be needed to accomplish it. In addition, Mann said there has been discussion about whether the central building proposed for the Purgatory Creek Recreation Area should be used for an art center. The work on the recreation area is being done in phases over the next few years. The City wants to make it a vibrant part of the City's center. Mann said the Arts and Cultural Commission could help the City Council decide how to use these areas. The Commission should provide recommendations for arts programming to staff so decisions can be made for the 2003-04 budget process. VI. REPORTS OF STAFF A. Arts and Special Events Coordinator 1. Arts and Cultural Fall Programs a. Community Theatre Fundraiser Mann reported that the brunch fundraiser will be held on Sunday, October 27, from noon to 4:00 p.m., hosted by the Girarrosto Tuscano restaurant. Tickets are $40. They hope to sell at least 100. Actors from previous productions will participate, dressed according to the parts they played. There is also a blind auction, with some large-ticket items and some small. People won't know what they are bidding on until after the auction. The fundraiser committee is trying to get a celebrity to be the auctioneer and Mann asked the commissioners if they can suggest someone, or if they know of a way to get an item for the auction. Invitations will be mailed at the end of August. b. Cemetery Walk This event is planned for Saturday, October 12, at 7:00 p.m., leaving from the J. R. Cummins House. Actors from the Community Theatre will be in the Pleasant Hills and Eden Prairie cemeteries to "role play" prominent past citizens. Forty-eight people attended last year. C. Reviewed to Death This event will be held at the J. R. Cummins House on two weekends in November, beginning at 7:00 p.m. with hors d'oeuvres, followed by dinner, and then solving a "murder" that supposedly took place. A Community Theatre actor wrote the mystery plot for this very popular event, being repeated for a second year. ARTS & CULTURE COMMISSION July 22, 2002 Page 4 d. Sunbonnet Day This event is scheduled for Sunday, September 15, from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Cummins House. A baseball game has been added this year between the Halsey Hall Chapter-Quicksteps and the St. Croix Baseball Club. There will be demonstrations of spinning and candlemaking, hayrides, games and races for kids, storytelling, a costume contest, etc. Entertainment will be by Wild Goose Chase Cloggers. Mann said volunteers are needed to help with set up and clean up, to work at the ticket booth, to help with the old-fashioned costume contest and coloring contest. Commissioners can contact Sandy Werts if they are interested, at 949-8476. e. Art on City Walls Mann said she will be getting artists lined up for 2003 to display their work on the walls in the lower level of the City Center. She has had people on a waiting list, but it should not be necessary next year due to the newly expanded area that is now available. Artists are not just from Eden Prairie, although they have priority. Mann said she has never turned anyone down because of the quality of their work. This is the tenth year for Art on City Walls. Advertising is through the local newspapers, on the City's Web site, and the kiosk at the entrance to the City Center. f. Oktoberfest—Artists and Crafters Fair Mann reported that artists and crafters are being added to Oktoberfest during its thirteenth year as a City event. Only persons selling hand-made items they have made will have booths. They will be charged $25 per booth. The Kids Activity Tent is being sponsored by Anchor Bank, the first time that activity has had a sponsor. Dickman said she would put up notices at The Preserve. There might be people who sell items at The Preserve's Prairie Peddler fair who would be interested in displaying their wares at the City's Oktoberfest. Mann will be sending applications to Commission members, who can pass them on to artists and crafters they know. B. Meeting Schedule Mann reported she would be out of town on September 9, the date of the next scheduled meeting. The following meeting is scheduled for November 11, which ARTS & CULTURE COMMISSION July 22, 2002 Page 5 is a holiday for City employees. Mann recommended moving the dates back by one week, to September 16 and November 18. Motion: Dickman moved, seconded by Grayson, to change the dates for the next two meetings to September 16 and November 18, 2002. Motion carried 5-0. C. Resisnation of Commissioner Mills Mills reported that this would be her last meeting because she is moving to Minnetonka. She plans to contact City management about sending a formal letter of resignation to the City Council. Mann said staff would try to find a replacement by reviewing applications received for serving on various commissions. VII. ADJOURNMENT Motion: Birt moved, seconded by Dickman, to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried 5-0. Chair Fesler adjourned the meeting at 8:10 p.m.