HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-04-05 Public Arts MIN
Minutes
Public Art Commission
April 15, 2011
Special Meeting
Attendance
Commissioners: Davis, Bussell, Edson, Friend, Garrington, Pugh, Slattery (council) Seltzer
(staff)
Absent
Wilerson
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 8:15 a.m.
Approval of Minutes
Minutes were approved with corrections
Committee Chair
Bussell has served as chair of the PAC for two years with Edson serving as vice chair. The
committee thanked Bussell for her work and welcomed Edson as new chair. The committee
unanimously voted to appoint Davis as new vice chair.
Calle Response
There were two responses/submissions to the Calle Schulpture Garden RFP.
Site Visit: Garrington showed a number of photos taken from various location around the
Gateway Island and on the island to illustrate the numerous site lines towards the space. She
commented there was a lot of pedestrian traffic passing through the space. Trees partially
obscure the site lines from the library but it is visible from the bus stop and the library steps.
General discussion on whether the piece should be tall and therefore visible from a distance
on Siskiyou Boulevard or if it should be scaled for pedestrians.
Vales about Art: Davis presented a photo show of public art in other communities and
recent acquisitions of public art. She also provided a list of values to be considered including
artist qualifications, artist vision, community response, and PAC Vision.
General discussion of the importance of being able to “defend” the selection based on context
and merit.
Council/Community Values: Friend presented a list of Council Values as they relate to
government, citizens and sense of place.
The group agreed the presentations were very beneficial. There was general discussion on
the material presented. Bussell commented the major works of Public Art are in major
metropolitan cities and that Ashland is a small community and the PAC should consider that
as they move forward. Others commented that Ashland may be small geographically and in
population but that it has a cosmopolitan atmosphere and people visit from all over the
country, AHS has a extensive Chinese exchange program, SOU also has ties to Korea and
Mexico. Ashland is not a “typical” small town and that it is important the quality of the piece
reflect the quality of the community. “We need to keep the bar high.”
Comments were made that it should not be purely representational. No statues of historic
figures, it should put Ashland in the context of the world today. Art of this time in history.
It was suggested that since the Gateway is the anchor to the downtown it is also the anchor to
Siskiyou Boulevard. Should the art “extend” down Siskiyou towards SOU? Maybe, ne large
piece on the island and two smaller, similar pieces along Siskiyou? How important is it the
piece is visible from the Boulevard?
It was decided that each commissioner would review the presentations and come up with a
list of individual preferences for discussion at the May meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 9:30