Salem Public Art Commission Meeting Minutes
May 19, 2015
The Public Art Commission (PAC) was held on Tuesday, May 19, 2015, in Room 313, Third Floor, at 120 Washington Street, Salem, MA.
Juliette Fritsch, acting chairperson, called the meeting to order at 6:04pm.
Roll Call:
Members Present: Juliette Fritsch, J. Michael Sullivan, Claudia Paraschiv, Ellen Hardy, Victor Miguel Cruz, and Deborah Greel, Public Art Planner was present.
Approval of April Minutes:
Hardy made a motion to accept the minutes as amended. Paraschiv seconded the motion.
Motion passes: 5-0
Continued Discussion on “Art Row” at Artists’ Row
Discussion: Sullivan asked about taking two parking spaces, bordering the proposed wall for hanging art, which would need approval from the City Council. Paraschiv mentioned graffiti art instead of curated art within the small spaces to activate the space and it would bring artists back to create more art. Fritsch said that whether it is graffiti or not the space needs to be curated to assure quality. She said that spaces become great because of the culture of street art and that Artists’ Row may have a way to go before that can happen. Hardy presented the idea to the artists in the Salem Arts Association and their feedback was the area was dirty, the wall moldy and a step down from having work inside the Row. Paracshiv asked about the purpose of the wall and could it be used for back alley
community expression as a weekend activity. Fritsch said it would still need programming. Sullivan suggested that this year to focus on the inside of Artists’ Row and its success. Fritsch mentioned that it is an idea worth pursuing in the future but there isn’t time to work it through for this season. Hardy agreed. Sullivan noted that next winter there could be put in place an opportunity for a competition for the panels for the 2016 Artists’ Row season.
Sullivan made a motion to not accept the proposal of “Art Row” on Artists’ Row as it stands. Cruz seconded the motion.
Motion passes: 4-1 Abstention
Discuss and Vote on Art Box selections and locations
Documents and Exhibitions: Artbox Applications selected by the Artbox Artist Selection Panel. Photographs of potential locations.
Discussion: The PAC voted to accept the recommendations of the Artist Selection panel of selected artists.
Commissioners invited Craig Nelson, the Artbox Artist Liaison, to assist with the determination of the pairing of the artwork with the boxes.
The following artwork and boxes were paired:
Amanda Beard – “Derby Woof” – Corner of Bridge Street and Flint Street
Jill Feron – “Totemic Animals” – Corner of Bride Street and Lemon Street
Kaleigh Foley – “Piscean Dream” – Webb Street walkway
Jeremy Lowther – “Marooned Pirate” – Highland Avenue
Erica Mazzeo – “The Wisdom Keeper” – Essex Street*
Kenneth Mitchell – “The Pirate’s Gamble” – Corner of Boston Street and Highland Ave.
*This location had been a previous Artbox but Nelson noted that it was never finished and the PAC decided to put more vibrant work on that box to bring more attention to the Artbox program.
Fritsch made a motion to accept the Artist Selection Panel recommendations of selected artists and pairing of the artists with the designated artboxes. Cruz seconded the motion.
Motion passes: 5-0
Other:
Intern for Public Art Inventory
Greel informed the PAC that Alanna Cole, a student from Montserrat College of Art, will be a 120 hour internship in the Planning Department to begin work on the public art inventory.
Artists’ Row Public Meeting
A public meeting to discuss Artists’ Row has been scheduled for June 16, 6pm. This is the next scheduled meeting for the Public Art Commission. Gachignard suggested that the PAC hold a brief meeting after the public meeting. She also requested that the PAC attend the public meeting.
Updates:
Greel presented the following information to the Commissioners:
Public Art Installation Schedule
The public art installation “Salem’s Connected World” by Liz LaManche began on Saturday, May 23rd and is scheduled to be finished by June 4th.
Artists’ Row
Greel said that the tenants have been working hard to get their spaces ready for the May 21st opening. This will be a soft opening with a scheduled Grand Opening on June 4th. Greel encouraged the PAC to visit the new tenants on the opening day.
Request for Proposals for Lease of Restaurant, Unit #3 in Artists’ Row
The committee to select a tenant for the restaurant space on Artists’ Row held their first meeting on May 8th to review the three proposals. Upon the review the committee had further questions which the Purchasing Agent will send the questions to those applying and will meet again by the end of May to review and recommend a tenant.
Public Comment
Councilor William Legault noted that he is excited for the opening of Artists’ Row and the changes that are taking place under the guidance of the Public Art Commission and the Public Art Planner.
Adjourn:
Sullivan made a motion to adjourn. Cruz seconded the motion.
Motion passes: 5-0
Meeting Adjourned at 7:05
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