Salem Public Art Commission Meeting
July 21, 2015
The Public Art Commission (PAC) was held on Tuesday, July 21, 2015, in Room 313, Third Floor, at 120 Washington Street, Salem, MA
Lillian Hsu, acting chairperson, called the meeting to order at 6:07pm.
Roll Call:
Members Present: Lillian Hsu, Ellen Hardy, Victor Miguel Cruz, J. Michael Sullivan, Claudia Paraschiv, and Deborah Greel, the Public Art Planner was present.
Approval of May Minutes:
Sullivan made a motion to approve the minutes. Hardy seconded the motion.
Motion passes: 5-0
Discuss and Vote on proposals
Documents and Exhibitions: Salem Boys & Girls Club ‘Nurtured Future’ Mural at the Point submitted by Elevated Thought
‘Proposal for Artists’ Row Mural’, Deanna Jacome; ‘Proposal for Artists’ Row’, Sheila Farren Billings; ‘Proposal for Artists’ Row Mural’, Mike Lash; ‘Proposal for Artists’ Row Mural’, Benjamin Stebbings
Discussion: Andre Daley, Teen Director at the Boys and Girls Club, presented the mural proposal ‘Nurtured Future”. Daley noted that the club has been working with Elevated Thought, a foundation that serves, inspires and develops communities through youth empowerment curriculum and city beautification projects. The Elevated Thought team is artists and educators that specialize in social justice focused on art curriculum and murals. Over a period of 12 weeks they worked with 14 teens to develop the theme of the mural, ‘Nurtured Future’.
Daley informed the PAC that the mural will be painted on a wall owned by the City located at the basketball court in Palmer Cove replacing an older, faded and graffiti tagged mural, which had been done years ago by the Salem Academy. Lt. Dennis King, who has been working with the Boys and Girls Club, could not attend the meeting but sent an email to Deborah Greel in support of the project. The email noted that he is working with Karen Partanen of the Park and Recreation Department who is also in support of this project. Funding for the project is through the Boys and Girls Club.
Paraschiv asked what materials are being used and Daley noted that after the old paint is scraped off by the youth and staff it will be painted with Ironlak Spray Paints, which are made from the highest quality of raw materials. She also suggested that the teen artists sign the word and that if possible, there be a plaque to let the public know about the project. Hardy stated that for the teens involved it is important to have their names on the mural to have something to look back to in future years. Paraschiv also suggested they if possible, they should document the process through digital media.
Hsu asked how the mural will be maintained and Daley anticipates it has a 10-15 year life span with the materials they are using. She stated that in five years the City and the Boys and Girls club look at and evaluates the condition of the mural.
Sullivan suggested that the mural should change every five or ten years and that the Boys and Girls club should check back in with PAC to update the imagery. He asked that there be a statement that the mural will be reassessed in five years.
Paraschiv made a motion to approve the ‘Nurture and Future’ mural in Palmer Cove by the Boys and Girls Club. Hardy seconded the motion.
Motion passes: 5-0
Murals at Artists’ Row submitted by Creative Salem
Discussion: Hsu said that before considering these proposals that the public art work plan and details of the plan and how the $10,000 budget is spent should be in place. The PAC would then have a process for soliciting murals. Sullivan said that it is a worthwhile discussion how to spend the $10,000 but said that the murals have been brought before the PAC to consider at this meeting. He recognized that the fee for the murals would come out of the current PAC budget. Hsu concurred that PAC has a ‘bird in the hand’ and should discuss the merits of the proposals.
Paraschiv and Hardy suggested that when the PAC work plan is developed that some funding be set aside for projects that will come before the commission that requests funding. Hsu said that the murals came through Creative Salem, who seemed to be acting as a curator and not a public process that was facilitated by the PAC. Greel noted that Creative Salem acted as a conduit by supplying information to the artists as a potential space for public art. Cruz suggested that there should be a list of public spaces that the City owns that can be potential art spaces.
Discussing the individual proposals Cruz noted that the Lash proposal was not complete and if he wishes to be considered in the future the proposal needs to come before the commission with a more developed piece of artwork. Sullivan said that the Billings proposal of the map theme didn’t belong on Artists’ Row, Ben Stebbins mural is a fine piece of art but the proposal from Deanna Jacome was the most complete. Paraschiv noted that the four proposals were not in concert with each other but the Jacome proposal of the tree mural perpetuates the tree theme works as there are large trees on Artists’ Row. She also suggested as a companion piece to the tree mural a chalkboard painted with green paint could be installed on the opposite wall of the mural for public interaction.
Sullivan made a motion to accept the proposal from Deanna Jacome to paint the tree with the following conditions: Artwork to encompass the panel between the brick and the base, edge to edge and installed on the left side of the building as you face the restroom. Cruz seconded the motion.
Mostion passes: 4-1 with one Absention by Hardy
Discussion and Vote on Application for Outdoor Vendor Space at Artists Row
Documents and Exhibitions: Application for Outdoor Vendor Space at Artists’ Row
Discussion: Greel explained that Artists’ Row need for new things to be happening to continue to engage the public. Hsu inquired about the time slots and locations and Greel informed the PAC of times, dates and locations of the spaces.
Sullivan asked when they are up and running which Greel noted that it will start as soon as the applications come in. Hsu asked about jurying the vendors and Greel explained that she will jury the work based on quality and non-competition with products presently being made and sold on Artists’ Row by the current tenants.
Hardy made a motion to accept the Application for Outdoor Vendor Space at Artists’ Row. Paraschiv seconded the motion.
Motion passes: 5-0
Discussion on developing a Public Art Work Plan for FY 2016
Documents and Exhibitions: Public Art Work Plan for 2015
Discussion: Greel noted that the PAC needs to begin work on the Public Art Work Plan for 2016. Sullivan suggested that we continue the discussion with the full commission. Discussion to continue at the August 18, 2015 meeting.
Updates:
Artists’ Row
Greel informed the PAC that the tenants are hosting weekly family friendly activities that are drawing many people to the ‘Row’. They are working on a promotional rack card and will be ordering 5000 to distribute.
ArtBox
Greel noted that the Artbox program for 2015 is nearing completion. Four murals were complete and two should be complete by the end of the month.
Request for Proposal Lease of Restaurant, Unit #3 in Artists’ Row
Greel said that the City will be signing a lease with Diane and Lee Wolf, owners of the Lobster Shanty. The five year lease will need to be approved by the City Council when they meet in September. The City has asked for significant investment in improvements in the restaurant and setting area and Greel will work closely with the tenants to ensure compliance.
Community Preservation Act funding for Restoration of three paintings in City Hall Council Chambers
Greel informed the PAC that the request for funding to conserve and restore three historic paintings had been approved by the Community Preservation Committee.
Public Comment:
City of Salem Councilors, Elaine Milo and Joseph O’Keefe addressed the PAC concerning moving the portrait of George Washington, now located on the second floor landing, to the City Council Chambers. The Councilors explained to PAC the history of the portrait and who donated it to Salem. They brought photographs from 1926 and 1988 of the portrait hanging in Council Chambers. Councilor Milo explained that former Councilor Joan Lovely brought an order to the council every year for 15 years to discuss the process of having the portrait moved back to City Council Chambers and Milo is now bringing the order forward. Councilor O’Keefe noted that the council tried to get the Peabody Essex Museum to have the painting cleaned, restored and moved but they were not successful in this endeavor.
Greel said that she would submit an eligibility application letter to the Community Preservation Committee in September.
Adjournment:
Hsu called for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Cruz made the motion to adjourn.
Paraschiv seconded the motion.
Motion passes: 5-0
Meeting adjourned: 8:05
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