HomeMy WebLinkAboutArts Commission - 01/05/2009 APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE ARTS & CULTURE COMMISSION
MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2009 7:00 P.M., CITY CENTER
8080 MITCHELL ROAD
PRAIRIE ROOM
COMMISSION MEMBERS: Ann Rorem, Chair; Heather Olson, Vice Chair;
Ana Armstrong, Farida Kathawalla, Steve Mosow,
Elizabeth Petry-Lee
CITY STAFF: Sandy Werts, Recreation Coordinator
Lindsey Scott, Art Center Coordinator
STUDENT MEMBERS: Nicole Garbowicz, Katy Johnson
RECORDING SECRETARY: Katie Hood
I. ROLL CALL
Rorem called the meeting to order 7:05 p.m. Commissioner Kathawalla was excused.
II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Olson said she thanked Sherry Butcher, on behalf of the Arts & Culture Commission, for
all of her work on the City Council.
MOTION: Mosow moved to approve the Agenda as written, seconded by Armstrong.
Motion carried 4-0.
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF DECEMBER 8, 2008 MEETING
• In section VI. C. change "three dimensional piece of art" to "mural like three
dimensional piece of art".
MOTION: Petry-Lee moved to approve the December 8, 2008 minutes as corrected,
seconded by Armstrong. Motion carried 4-0.
IV. EDEN PRAIRIE PLAYERS and COMMUNITY BAND UPDATE
Werts said On Golden Pond rehearsals started tonight. Adds were placed on the
Minnesota Play List for directors of the One Acts and for staff for Peter Pan.
Community Band had their Share the Warmth Concert and the ensembles at the
Arboretum. Rehearsals start Thursday for the Community Band.
Mosow said he received an email for free admission for certain nights for On Golden
Pond. Werts said they are looking for helping with the house by passing out tickets, etc.
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January 5, 2009
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V. OLD BUSINESS
A. Art Center Update
Werts previously distributed information updating the Commission on the Art
Center. A copy of the invitation was passed out to the Commission. Werts said Jay
Lotthammer will present a request to the City Council at the January 6 meeting
asking the City be allowed to move forward on making the ADA and other code
required changes the code required changes. These minimum changes could allow
the Art Center to open for classes. Werts said Mrs. Sampson has agreed to give the
City the $29,000 needed to make these changes.
Mosow asked what are the contributions received to date, for the Art Center. Werts
said the contributions to date are nothing significant. A foundation grant will be
released once the building is done. MRAC was applied for bathroom renovations.
Werts said around $29,000 is the cost for the renovations for the building to be
compliant. A significant amount of the renovation cost was for the parking lot
upgrades. There were more costs in the proposal for extra upgrades to the building.
The glass blowing upgrades will probably be not completed at this time. The
classes, at the Art Center, may be able to start in April.
B. Artist Network Get Together
Werts previously distributed memo regarding the Artists Network. Werts said the
first gathering will be Tuesday, February 17 from 7 — 8:30 pm in the Atrium at City
Hall. Invitations will be sent out the last week of January. Punch, coffee and dessert
will be served.
Werts said the purpose of the meeting is to bring Eden Prairie Artists of all
disciplines together to initiate involvement in art related activities and to create a
community among artists. Artists will be invited to send a photo of their work to be
included in a notebook. The notebook will be on display during the gathering.
Werts said the program will include the following:
• Presentation on the artist network
• Showcase the January/February artist
• Presentation by Mary Carroll on her Egyptian Water Lily project
• Discussion about the possibility of having an Eden Prairie Art Crawl
• Update on the Art Center
• Discussion on what the next step would be
Werts said invitation will be sent to artists who exhibit in Art on City Walls, those
listed in the Resource Directory and the Eden Prairie Players Advisory Committee.
Werts asked the Commission to set the date aside, so the Commission members
could attend.
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January 5, 2009
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Olson asked if the artists have to submit a piece of art. Werts said she will make it
optional. The Commission added the International School, Eagle Ridge Academy
and Hennepin Technical Collage on the invitation list. Werts said the invitation
could be put in the newspaper.
Mosow asked what is hoped to be achieved at the end of the Artist Network's
gathering. Werts said it is a future network for promoting activities. Olson said the
gathering is partly social. Mosow asked if there would be any value for presenting
the plan for public art. Olson suggested having the ability to let people talk about
things they'd like to talk about. Mosow suggested mentioning the opportunities to
become engaged in the art community in Eden Prairie (Commission Members, Art
Crawl, etc.).
Olson asked if the Art Center still needs teachers. Werts said other Art Centers have
never had to recute teachers because all of the teachers come to them. Olson said it
would be nice to go around the room and have everyone introduce themselves.
Werts said if 35 to 50 people come, it would be a lot. Werts said up to 150
invitations could be sent. Olson said email communications could be a start for
communicating. Mosow said City Channel could be a place for a videotape or for
information to be posted. Olson said the information could be posted on the
website. Werts said the agenda could be refined at the next meeting. Werts said the
Artist Network could meet quarterly. If the Artist Network was facilitated by the
Commission, quarterly would be as often as it could be probably meet. Olson
suggested the middle of May for a second gathering.
C. Public Art Proposal—Mary Carroll
Information regarding the updated proposal of the The Blue Egyptian Water-Lily:
Lotus of Ancient Egypt fountain was previously distributed to the Commission. The
picture of the fountain has moved in to the fountain by the pavilion at Purgatory
Creek. Werts said after discussions with the Parks and Natural Resources Manager,
Stu Fox, Mary Carroll learned the fountain spray can't be modified. The suction on
the fountain is very strong, and draws a lot of muck and debris into the fountain,
which would require it to be dismantled and cleaned mid-summer.
Werts said Mary Carroll went back to the drawing board and modified the proposal
to place the fountain in the smaller fountain at the park. Carroll is aware of times
soap is poured into the fountain causing it to be shut down to be cleaned. Carroll is
also aware of people sometimes put their hands and feet into the fountain. Werts
said the smaller scale art piece is made of individual pieces and the water is
adjustable.
Werts said a letter has been sent to Mary accepting her offer. The letter and
Carroll's proposal have been given to Forecast: Public Artworks. Forecast will
review the application in early January. Carroll should hear in early February.
Carroll will contact the City as soon as she knows anything about the grant.
ARTS & CULTURE COMMISSION MINUTES
January 5, 2009
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VI. NEW BUSINESS
A. 2009 Budget Update
Information regarding the 2009 budget proposal was previously distributed to the
Commission. Werts said the City Budget was approved at the December 16 City
Council meeting. In 2008, cuts were made to our 2009 budgets. Werts said she is
not aware of additional cuts to be made at this time.
The following are cuts made for the 2009 budget:
• The Riley-Jacques Barn Twilight Special Performances budget will be
reduced by $1,000. One of the four performances was planned to be
eliminated. Werts said she has found she should still be able to have four
performances.
• The Staring Lake Concert Series budget will be reduced by $6,000. Eight of
the 24 concerts will be eliminated. Werts said by hiring groups who are paid
$500 or less, there should be able to have four concerts in July. The season
is not starting until June 14, and the musical will be the last two weekends in
June. This will cut back the total number of concerts.
• The Purgatory Creek Concert Series on Friday's will be eliminated,
reducing $3000.
• Arts and Special Events seasonal program assistant will be reduced by
$1500. Werts said there are still hours to employ someone very part time to
help.
• The KidStock's budget will be reduced by $600. The number of Concerts
will be reduced from ten to eight. The series will begin June 23 and end
August 11.
Werts said she is not sure what will be proposed for 2010 and 2011. Werts said in
Minneapolis Artists who perform haven't been paid in ten years.
B. 2009 Work Plan
The 2009 Work Plan was tabled until the end of the meeting.
The Commission developed a rough draft for the 2009 Work Plan as follows.
1. Fill Roster
2. Seek funding (private and public) to support the Art Crawl.
3. Promote and conduct a fall Art Crawl.
4. Establish quarterly meetings with the Artist Network.
5. Revise the Art Resource Directory.
6. Develop suggested criteria for the placement and thematic content of Public
Art.
7. Seek funding for a feasibility study for Public Art locations.
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8. Advise and consult on Public Art selection for Commercial Development.
9. Participate in the Art Center Opening.
C. 2009 Commission Appointments
Information regarding the Commission Appointments was previously distributed to
the Commission. Werts said Commission recruitment will begin in January, with
appointments usually made at the first Council meeting in March. This year there
are three positions which expire on March 31, 2009 (Farida Kathawalla and Ann
Rorem). Both are eligible for reappointment. In addition, there is the vacancy left
by Rita McCormick. All three appointments will be for three years. Armstrong said
she will be moving out of Eden Prairie in March, so she will be unable to finish her
term.
Werts said letters will be sent to Farida and Add with information on how to
reapply. The schedule for the Candidate Open House and Interview Nights has not
been set. The Commission will receive the information when it is available.
Werts said the Commission members should continue talking to potential
candidates and encouraging them to apply. Information should be up on the City's
website soon.
Mosow suggested there could be a presentation about being on the Commission at
the Artist Network gathering. Werts said the last week in January there should be an
open house for the Commissions. Olson suggested there be information about the
Commission Appointments on the invitation for the Artist Network gathering.
Werts said three of the positions are three years and one position would be two
years.
VII. REPORTS OF STAFF AND COMMISSIONERS
1. Amphitheatre Update
Information regarding the Amphitheatre Update was previously distributed to the
Commission. Werts showed examples of the decking to the Commission. Werts said
the summer musical, Peter Pan and the Concert Series (Starring @ Staring and
KidStock) will be back at the Staring Lake amphitheatre. The seating area has been
rebuilt. More recently product has been selected to rebuild the deck and reside and
reroof the building. This will occur later this spring and should be ready for when the
theatre moves to outdoor rehearsals for the musical.
Werts said the flooring will be a plastic composite type of material that will last
indefinitely. The siding will be lap siding, instead of plywood type of siding now on
the building. It is cement based. The flooring will be grey and the siding and trim will
be in corresponding complementary colors.
2. 2009 Meeting Schedule
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The 2009 meeting schedule was previously distributed to the Commission. The
meeting dates are:
• January 5
• February 9
• March 9
• April 13
• May 11
• June 8
• July 13
• August 10
• September 14
• October 12
• November 9
• December 14
Rorem arrived at 7:50 pm.
VIII. PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
Upcoming Events
• Art on City Walls—Molly Paulson—Water Colors,Acrylics and Oils
• On Golden Pond
IX. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Mosow moved, seconded by Rorem, to adjourn the meeting. Rorem
adjourned the meeting at 8:20 p.m.