HomeMy WebLinkAboutArts Commission - 03/03/2008 APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE ARTS & CULTURE COMMISSION
MONDAY, MARCH 3, 2008 7:00 P.M., CITY CENTER
8080 MITCHELL ROAD
PRAIRIE ROOM
COMMISSION MEMBERS: Ann Rorem, Chair; Heather Olson, Vice Chair;
Kelly Brandon, Karen Busack, Farida Kathawalla,
Steve Mosow, Rita McCormick
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: Amber Mayer, Nicole Garbowicz, Katy Johnson
CITY STAFF: Sandy Werts, Recreation Coordinator
RECORDING SECRETARY: Katie Hood
I. ROLL CALL
Rorem called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Rita McCormick was absent. Robyn
Seaton attended to report on the Eden Prairie Players. Tina Breidenbach attended to
report on the Community Band.
II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION: Olson moved, seconded by Mosow to approve the agenda as printed. Motion
carried 6-0.
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - FEBRUARY 11, 2008
Page two, third paragraph change "... the barn..." to "...the Riley Jacques Barn..."
Page three,paragraph four change "...the construction." to "...the road construction."
Page four, paragraph three change "...of are may..." to "...of art may..." Page four,
paragraph three change "...could be online." to "...could be posted online."
Page five, paragraph two change "...Art Academy has an art program for children at their
Community Center." to "...Art Center offers an academy for children who are dedicated
to art." Page five, paragraph three change "...wireless." to "...wireless access."
Page six,paragraph two remove "The October Artist can expand into September if
needed."
MOTION: Busack moved, seconded by Olson to approve the minutes as corrected.
Motion carried 6-0.
ARTS & CULTURE COMMISSION MINUTES
March 3, 2008
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IV. EDEN PRAIRIE PLAYERS AND COMMUNITY BAND UPDATE
A. UPDATE ON CURRECT PROJECTS OF THE EDEN PRAIRIE PLAYERS
Seaton said the performances for Jake's Women have been completed. The
performances had the smallest audiences in recent years.
Broadway On The Prairie will hold auditions on March 24 and 25, 2008. The
performance will be on June 20-21 and June 27-29, 2008.
Auditions will be held in April 2008 for the Children's Theatre workshop.
Scripts are currently being read for One Acts. A decision should be made by the
end of March 2008 for the directors and shows.
B. ART CENTER RECOMMENDATION
A memo was distributed concerning the name of the Sampson Building. At the
February 26 meeting, Seaton said the Eden Prairie Players discussed their concern
for calling the Sampson Building an "Arts Center". The Eden Prairie Players are
concerned if the building is called an Arts Center, the community will dismiss any
future recommendation for a performing arts center. The Eden Prairie Players
Advisory Committee passed the following recommendation.
Eden Prairie Players Motion: The Eden Prairie Players Advisory Committee
recommends that the term visual arts be attached to the name of the art center to
create a clear distinction between visual and performing arts.
The Eden Prairie Players would like the motion to be discussed during the task
force meetings regarding the Sampson Building.
Rorem said the memo would be taken to the Art Center Task Force Meeting.
Olson asked if there are auditions for the Children's Theatre Workshop. Seaton
said there are auditions. The children who are in the Children's Theatre Workshop
only pay the fee once they make it through the auditions.
Kathawalla asked when the auditions are. Seaton said the notices are in the
newspaper, the Parks and Recreation Brochure and all the information can be
found at www.edenprairieplayers.org.
C. UPDATE ON CURRENT PROJECTS OF COMMUNITY BAND
Breidenbach said the Jazz on the Prairie Big Band played in Woodbury and drew
a large crowd. The concert seasons for the Community Band and Jazz Band are
set and are very busy. All information and schedules for the Community Band can
be found at www.epcommunityband.org.
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March 3, 2008
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Currently, two fundraisers are being planned; one selling Bachman's gift
certificates and the other a garage sale. Werts said the sale would be May 3, 2008
at the Homeward Hills Park Barn. Seaton said the Eden Prairie Players rummage
sale would be April 19, 2008.
Breidenback said trumpet players are still needed for the tour to Greece. People
can still join until March 20. Players need to be 18 years old or if they are minors,
their parents need to go with them.
V. OLD BUSINESS
A. 2008 WORK PLAN—FINAL RECOMMENDATION
Olson recommended the 2008 Work Plan be reordered by date. The following is
the updated 2008 Work Plan.
1. Assure the Arts and Culture Commission has a full roster by February 25,
2008
2. Research potential art grants that will support new programs such as an art
crawl or public sculpture by March 31, 2008
3. Complete proposal for the use of the Sampson Building by March 31,
2008
4. Invite Janet Jeremiah to speak on the major center area and discuss the
role of public art by May 12, 2008 commission meeting
5. a. Explore the development of an Eden Prairie Artist Network by June 30,
2008
b. Offer the first event by November 1, 2008
6. Revise Arts Resource Directory by August 31, 2008
7. Assist in the development of programming for the arts center if/when
approved by December 31, 2008
MOTION: Mosow moved, seconded by Busack to approve the changes to the
2008 Work Plan. Motion carried 6-0.
B. REVISION OF ART RESOURCE DIRECTOR/ARTIST NETWORK
Werts suggested asking that the Performing Arts, Studio Arts, and Supporting
Organizations section of the Residents Guide be added to the Arts Resources
section. Mayer said La Dance Fatale should be added. Kathawalla said all of the
email addresses ending in mn.rr are now part of comcast.net. Kathawalla said her
email and Kathy Nomura's email should be changed to @comcast.net.
Werts said information should be updated by the fall. This would allow the Artist
Network to be held at the Sampson Building. Kathawalla said it would be helpful
to have a script to work by, so everyone is consistent. The following was drafted
as a script for the phone calls regarding updates to the Eden Prairie Residents
Guide.
ARTS & CULTURE COMMISSION MINUTES
March 3, 2008
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Hello, my name is . I am on the Eden Prairie Arts and Culture Commission.
You have been listed in the Eden Prairie Residents Guide under Art Resources. I
am calling to verify the information and ask if you would like to be listed. The
commission would like to start an Artist Network to:
(Talk about ideas for the Artist Network)
Would you like to be notified of any upcoming Artist Network events? The first
will occur in the fall of this year.
Then talk about how they would like to be notified of events.
Kathawalla asked when this statement will be given to each of the Commission
Members. Werts said the statement will be refined and sent out prior to the next
meeting. The updates should be completed by the June meeting. Rorem said the
updates need to be completed before November to have enough time to plan the
gathering.
C. CONTINUING DISCUSSION ON ART CENTER
Werts suggested the Commission request that the minutes of the Art Center Task
Force be sent out to everyone before the next meeting. Olson asked if Mrs.
Kaerwer's house was discussed. Werts said it was discussed and there hasn't been
a tour scheduled yet. Werts passed out copies of the Art Center Topic Areas.
Olson asked if any major steps have been taken yet. Werts said no major steps
have been taken yet. Kathawalla said it needs to be determined what the
uniqueness of the Art Center is. Kathawalla said glass blowing could be a unique
art. Werts said the Arts & Culture Commission Student Members are welcome to
attend the Task Force meetings. Rorem said the courses offered by the Park and
Recreation were reviewed at the last meeting. Unique opportunities were trying to
be determined for the building. Would clay be an option? Werts said she and
Laurie Obiazor met with Susan Anderson,retired Director of the Bloomington Art
Center, and she had suggestions of how to use the space. Mosow said the
challenge is function follows form in this case, and the building is more
accommodating to the "messy" arts.
Mosow said some of the discussion for the Sampson Building centered on fine vs.
visual arts. Olson asked what the dance facilities are like around town. Mayer said
there are a number of studios around town. The Community Center has a few
spaces for dance. There is the local studio, The Dance Arts Centre. Werts asked if
the Dance Art Centre is in an industrial area. Mayer said it is. Olson asked if the
Sampson Building would work for a theatre space. Busack said the acoustics
would not be good. Kathawalla said the space is too broken up. Busack said there
is a stage in the old gym at the Eagle Heights Spanish Immersion School. Werts
said the stage there is limiting. Busack said the old gym has permanent bleachers.
Olson asked what it would cost to winterize Riley Jacques Barn. Rorem said it
may change the historical aspect of the building. Rorem said there is the old
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March 3, 2008
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theatre in the Eden Prairie Mall. Rorem said Scheel's takes up a lot of the old
movie theatre.
Werts passed out a copy of the Art Center Items/Topic Areas. Olson asked if the
Art Center Items/Topic Areas are being addressed in order. Werts said they are
not being addressed in order. Rorem said Eaton Corporation may have money to
donate. Werts said Lotthammer would like to start slow with Art Center programs
and build the program over time. Werts said the potential collaborative
partnerships will be talked about tomorrow. Olson asked if the businesses are in
Eden Prairie. Werts said the businesses may want to get into the Eden Prairie area,
for example MacPhail. MacPhail needed small rooms and a long term contract.
The space might work for MacPhail's "Musical Trolley" program for
preschoolers.
Kathawalla asked if the programs for children are going to be put in the potential
Art Center. Werts said it is a possibility. Rorem said she would like to have more
adult and less children programs. Rorem doesn't want it to be an Art Center only
for the children. Busack said the Commission didn't say and Art Center only for
children. Rorem said she will bring up the topic at the next meeting of the Task
Force.
Kathawalla said Batik on wood is an idea. Minnetonka is offering this art and it is
unusual. Werts said it is an art with wax. Kathawalla said it is bees wax and is a
simple yet tedious process. Olson said rug making sounds like an interesting idea.
Busack said there is a large space for rug making. Kathawalla said she is not
interested in having children's programs taking up all of the space at the potential
Art Center. Olson said metal sculpture is another idea. Busack asked if the Art
Center was programmed for adults, would the classes would it be filled?
Kathawalla said yes. Kathawalla has friends driving to Minnetonka from Eden
Prairie to take classes. If there are unique classes people will come.
VI. NEW BUSINESS
A. COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS
Werts distributed a memo about the Commission appointments. The City Council
interviewed the four candidates for the two openings on the Arts and Culture
Commission on Monday, February 25. Official action will be taken by the City
Council at the Tuesday, March 4 council meeting. Letters will be sent to the
candidates and new appointees on March 5. All new appointments are scheduled
to start April 1.
A City Commission orientation session is scheduled for 7 pm on Wednesday,
March 26, 2008 for all new and reappointed commission members. Information
will be sent to the new and reappointed commissioners.
Monday, April 28 is the annual Board and Commission banquet. The outgoing
commissioners are recognized for their service and the current commissioners are
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thanked for their commitment. Representative Jim Ramstad will be the guest
speaker. The students were encouraged to attend.
VII. REPORTS OF STAFF AND COMMISSIONERS
None
VIII. PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
A. ART ON CITY WALLS — STEVE HASKIN - WATERCOLORS
IX. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Kathawalla moved, seconded by Olson, to adjourn the meeting. Motion
carried 6-0. Rorem adjourned the meeting at 8:25 pm.