HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-01-16 Public Arts PACKET
Public Arts Advisory CommitteeAgenda
January 16, 2025
Regular Meeting
4:00pm–5:30pm, Siskiyou Conference Room
51 Winburn Way
Agenda
I. (4:00) CALL TO ORDER:
a) Welcome
b) Quorum count
II. (4:10) LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
“We acknowledge and honor the aboriginal people on whose ancestral homelands we work – the
Ikirakutsum Band of the Shasta Nation, as well as the diverse and vibrant Native communities
who make their home here today. We denounce the egregious acts of the colonizers and
government and recognize the horrific impacts that still exist today. We honor the first stewards in
the Rogue Valley and the lands we live and depend on: Tribes with ancestral lands in and
surrounding the geography of the Ashland Watershed include the original past, present and
future indigenous inhabitants of the Shasta, Takelma, and Athabaskan people. We also recognize
and acknowledge the Shasta village of K’wakhakha - “Where the Crow Lights” - that is now the
Ashland City Plaza.”
III. (4:15) APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a) December 19, 2024, regular meeting
IV. (4:20-4:30) PUBLIC FORUM (for items not on the agenda; up to 3 minutes per speaker)
V. (4:30-4 :45) LIAISON REPORTS
a) City Council Liaison, Gina DuQuenne
b) APRC Liaison, Jim Bachman
c) Community Development Liaison, Veronica Allen/Brandon Goldman
VI. (4:45-5:15) DISCUSSION ITEMS and MOTIONS (up to 10 minutes per topic)
a) Introduce Emily Simon from SERJAC
b) Say Their Names Memorial
c) We Are Here – update from subcommittee members (first meeting to be held 1/17)
d) PAAC Strategic Plan – Susan MacCracken Jain to lead Strategy Update – build on
Strategy overview/timeline from November & December meetings. Discuss
everyone’s needs/wants statements for the audiences from December meeting.
Discuss possibility of scheduling a Special Session for Strategic Planning
VII. (5:15-5:30) OTHER BUSINESS UPDATES and ACTION ITEMS (up to 5 minutes per item)
a) Marking Ashland Places II – Update
b) ODOT Controller Boxes – Update
Note: Anyone wishing to speak at any Public Arts Advisory Committee meeting is encouraged to do so. After you have been recognized by the
Chair, give your name and City of residence. You will then be allowed to speak. Please note the public testimony may be limited by the Chair.
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Public Arts Advisory CommitteeAgenda
c) Public Art Maintenance – Update
d) Crosswalks – Update
e) Playwrights Walk - Update by Citizen Group members
f) Micah Blacklight “Ancestors Future - Crystalizing Our Call” – Update
g) Wayfinding Signs – update & finalize committee volunteers
VIII. ROUND TABLE - Member open discussion of project ideas or opportunities (2 minutes each)
IX. (5:30) ADJOURNMENT - Next Meeting Date: Thursday, February 20, 2025 @ 4:00 pm
Note: Anyone wishing to speak at any Public Arts Advisory Committee meeting is encouraged to do so. After you have been recognized by the
Chair, give your name and City of residence. You will then be allowed to speak. Please note the public testimony may be limited by the Chair.
Page 2 of 2
Public Arts Advisory CommitteeMeetingMinutes
DRAFT
December 19, 2024
Regular Meeting
4:00-5:30 PM, Siskiyou Conference Room
51 Winburn Way
Minutes
Committee Members Present:Liaisons & Staff Present:
Cassie Preskenis, ChairVeronica Allen, Associate Planner
Susan MacCracken Jain, Vice Chair Councilor Gina DuQuenne
Beca Blake Liaisons & Staff Absent:
Ken Engelund Jim Bachman, Parks and Rec Commissioner
Heather Warden Special Guests:
Russell Copley Brandon Goldman, Community Development Director
Tish Way Peter Finkle, WalkAshland
Christi McClain Kate Womack, Applicant for PAAC membership
I. (4:00) LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
“We acknowledge and honor the aboriginal people on whose ancestral homelands we work
– the Ikirakutsum Band of the Shasta Nation, as well as the diverse and vibrant Native
communities who make their home here today. We denounce the egregious acts of the
colonizers and government and recognize the horrific impacts that still exist today. We honor
the first stewards in the Rogue Valley and the lands we live and depend on: Tribes with
ancestral lands in and surrounding the geography of the Ashland Watershed include the
original past, present, and future indigenous inhabitants of the Shasta, Takelma, Athabaskan
people. We also recognize and acknowledge the Shasta village of K’wakhakha - “Where the
Crow Lights” - that is now the Ashland City Plaza.”
Read by Cassie Preskenis
II. (4:03) CALL TO ORDER:
a) Welcome
b) Quorum count – achieved
c) Introductions – new members, presenters, guests
d) Announcements – Today was Ken’s last meeting with the PAAC as a member
III. (4:10) APPROVAL OF MINUTES – November 21, 2024, Study Session meeting
a) Ken Engelund motioned to approve the minutes with no corrections; the motion
was seconded. No discussion. All AYES.
Note: Anyone wishing to speak at any Public Arts Advisory Committee meeting is encouraged to do so. After you have been recognized by the
Chair, give your name and City of residence. You will then be allowed to speak. Please note the public testimony may be limited by the Chair.
Page 1 of 3
Public Arts Advisory CommitteeMeetingMinutes
IV. (4:11-4 :15) LIAISON REPORTS
a) Community Development Liaison, Brandon Goldman; Update to Committee
Structures, Sabrina Cotta would like to speak to PAAC members in February with
updates. Velocity repair expected to be completed by the end of the week.
b) City Council Liaison, Gina DuQuenne; restructuring of committees, City Council Study
Session work plans updates, SERJAC member Emily Simon to start attending in 2025
ACTION ITEM: email the work plans from council study session to PAAC members
c) Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission Liaison, APRC Liaison Jim Bachman;
Absent (*Note, Liaison Bachman has never attended a PAAC meeting).
V. (4:15-4:17) PUBLIC FORUM (for items not on the agenda; up to 3 minutes per speaker)
a) Peter Finkle – Update on ODOT boxes: first 3 are done with 3 more expected in 2025,
Working on an Article for the first 3 boxes, is there a limiting factor as to why we can
only do 3 a year?
b) Beca Blake – Siletz Tribe purchased over 2,000 acres of Table Rock land that was
possibly part of the original treaty that was not honored
VI. (4:18-5:30) DISCUSSION ITEMS AND MOTIONS (up to 10 minutes per topic)
a) Wayfinding Signs – Jordan Rooklyn presented on city project to implement
wayfinding signs, wanting to start small and expand if successful, creating a
Wayfinding Advisory Committee and would like at least 1 representative from the
PAAC to advise, hoping to start meetings in January and installations by October,
$150k budget NOT from PAAC allocation
b) John Pugh Mural – QR code on side of mural at ground level to access stories from
tribes relating to the mural to provide native voices and stories as they prefer to live
by mouth than documentation, changes made to the woman representation to be
more in line with tribal roles/expectations, discussion on why widening the curtain
would lose the optical illusion, QR code portal also adds in opportunity to include the
details that were lost/removed from the original mural, more information is
available on the website wherethecrowlights.org
th
c) We Are Here – Beca Blake suggests celebrating the 20 anniversary (2026) of the We
Are Here statue installed on the North end of town in 2006, first nation contacts seem
receptive to the idea but there is no proposed design, SOU indigenous day is in
October and POW-WOW is in April – both offer good opportunities, several ties to
other indigenous works in town including SOU (student rep position still open), Christi
suggests that SOU could commission a music piece, Russell Beebe could be
involved, suggests a subcommittee form for recommendations, proclamation not
needed at this point - usually good advertising if done 1-3 months before the event
and could use a City Council public forum to inform
ACTION ITEM: email Beca, Tish, Heather, Christi to setup a meeting time for their
new We Are Here Subcommittee
d) PAAC Strategic Plan – Susan Jain to lead Strategy Update – continuance from
Note: Anyone wishing to speak at any Public Arts Advisory Committee meeting is encouraged to do so. After you have been recognized by the
Chair, give your name and City of residence. You will then be allowed to speak. Please note the public testimony may be limited by the Chair.
Page 2 of 3
Public Arts Advisory CommitteeMeetingMinutes
November meeting. Susan led the discussion on the top 3-5 audiences from
November meeting that members identified.
ACTION ITEM: Veronica will send the entire group the photo of the audiences, PAAC
members are to bring their wants/needs statements for each of the audiences to
the January meeting.
VII. (5:30-5:35) OTHER BUSINESS UPDATES and ACTION ITEMS (up to 5 minutes per item)
a) Marking Ashland Places II - Wait on APRC involvement
b) ODOT Controller Boxes - Updated earlier in meeting
c) Public Art Maintenance - Updated earlier in meeting
d) Crosswalks - SOU follow-up needed
e) Playwrights Walk - 2 successful meetings, possibly need new plan/timeline?
f) Micah Blacklight - Micah deciding on non-profit for fundraising, meeting with parks
foundation
VIII. ROUND TABLE - Member open discussion of project ideas or opportunities (2 minutes each)
a) Beca had the Phoenix mayor reach out about starting their own PAAC which Beca
will chair
b) Upcoming events: Jan 17 - Election follow-up, Jan 18 - Women’s march, Jan 20 - MLK
festival
IX. (5:35) ADJOURNMENT - Next Meeting Date: Thursday, January 16 @ 4:00 pm
Audiences
identified were:
Art travelers, state
reps, audience for
ODOT boxes, city
manager/council,
audience for
Ashland as arts
center, OSF,
chamber &
businesses, travel
guides/influencers,
foodies and retreat
seekers, therapeutic
community, BIPOC
tourists, SOU
community, OLLI
members, local
philanthropists,
visual arts, theater
goers, writers.
Photo: December 19, 2024, Brainstorming Study Session, Strategic Plan Development.
Note: Anyone wishing to speak at any Public Arts Advisory Committee meeting is encouraged to do so. After you have been recognized by the
Chair, give your name and City of residence. You will then be allowed to speak. Please note the public testimony may be limited by the Chair.
Page 3 of 3
Memo
DATE: January 16, 2025
TO: Public Arts Advisory Committee
FROM: Veronica Allen, Associate Planner
DEPT: Planning
RE: Discussion and Business Items - Project Backgrounds/Update
Say Their Names Memorial – A memorial for Black Americans that have
lost their life to racial violence over the last several years. The memorial is
put together by local artists and volunteers. Each t-shirt attached to a
chain link fence at the Railroad Park on A Street consists of a name of a
person that has lost their life to racial violence. The memorial has been
vandalized many times with the most recent in December 2024. The
subcommittee hopes to have a more permanent piece installed at some
time in the future to go alongside the current Say Their Names Memorial.
We Are Here – Subcommittee formed with Beca, Tish, and Christi to
th
anniversary in 2026 of the We Are
identify how we can celebrate the 20
th
Here Statute; first meeting will be on January 17
PAAC Strategic Plan – Susan Jain to lead Strategy Update, building on the
information from the November and December meetings. PowerPoint
presentation in packet. Discuss the “homework” from December meeting
to identify each person’s needs/wants statements for each of the
audiences that were identified in the December meeting. Discuss the
possibility of scheduling a Special Session for Strategic Planning to
complete the process.
Marking Ashland Places II – Together, the PAAC and the Historic
Preservation Advisory Committee (HPAC) were charged by the City
Council to create a sculpture for each of the four Historic Districts in
Ashland to be titled, Marking Ashland Places (MAP). The first sculpture was
placed in the Historic Railroad District in Railroad Park with the
participation and support of APRC. This was funded by PAAC and the City
and is referred to as the MAP I project. Several months ago,
Planning Department
20 East Main Street Tel: 541.488.5300
Ashland, Oregon 97520 Fax: 541.552.2059
ashland.or.usTTY: 800.735.2900
Memo
the PAAC and HPAC made a recommendation to APRC for the placement
of an art installation in the Downtown Historic District at the entrance to
Lithia Park. The art piece is proposed to be funded by PAAC funds through
the approval of City Council and in coordination with APRC
representatives. A presentation to APRC was made and a motion was
passed requesting an APRC Commissioner and staff person to join the
task group for moving the Marking Ashland Places (MAP II) project
forward. MAP II was put on hold until APRC could develop requirements for
placing artwork in the parks. The APRC Policy on Art in Parks has since
been approved.
ODOT Controller Boxes – ODOT Traffic Signal Box Beautification Project is
one that the PAAC initially envisioned in 2022. Phase 2 will be a
continuation of the work completed in Phase 1, the beautification of
nineteen utility boxes throughout Ashland. As seen in many culturally
robust cities across the US, large utility boxes, while a necessity for our
cities, also provide an opportunity for public art and engagement in the
form of an urban canvas. Phase 1 of the project (approved and completed
between 2009 and 2015) resulted in the transformation of the “necessary”
utilitarian objects into works of art that enhance our city’s visual
landscape. In Phase 2, artists will paint three of the Oregon Department Of
Transportation traffic signal boxes, \[also referred to as ODOT boxes\].
The theme of phase 2 is Neighborhood Public Artworks. The Goal of the
project is to increase interest in public art and participation from
community members through the process of painting the artists’ designs
onto the ODOT boxes. In this phase, the PAAC invites artists to submit a
design proposal that incorporates community participation in painting
the ODOT boxes. Three boxes have been completed in Phase 2 as of the
beginning of 2025.
Public Art Maintenance – Maintenance of current and future Public Art
pieces, collaborating with Parks, Admin, and Public Works’ Mike Morrison to
get a schedule/plan together and assess the costs. Staff is having a
meeting on January 14, 2025, to discuss this further, including cost
th
assessment; staff will provide an update at the January 16 meeting.
Planning Department
20 East Main Street Tel: 541.488.5300
Ashland, Oregon 97520 Fax: 541.552.2059
ashland.or.usTTY: 800.735.2900
Memo
Crosswalks – Artwork must be designed to represent historic events near
the project site. First completed crosswalk project is located at the
entrance of Lithia Park on Winburn Way in the Ashland Downtown Historic
District. This project is part of the City of Ashland Beautification Initiative,
aimed at enhancing the visual appeal and cultural richness of our historic
downtown area. The artwork by Glory Nylander is titled, “Walking
Upstream.” Nylander researched historical information about Ashland,
and it was the Shasta people that captured her attention. The artwork by
Glory Nylander is titled, “Walking Upstream.” Nylander researched
historical information about Ashland, and it was the Shasta people that
captured her attention.
Playwrights Walk - This concept plan explores an idea to create a
Playwright Walk in Ashland that will encourage locals and tourists to walk
and explore a designated route, viewing plaques that celebrate a diverse
range of local and famous playwrights from different periods and
backgrounds. The quotes will offer insight into universal themes of life,
love, struggle, and triumph. The concept is being made possible by
fostering partnerships between philanthropists, local organizations, and
government entities. Update to be provided by Citizen Group members;
OSF and SOU continue to work on developing quotes and design for future
plaques.
Micah Blacklight “Ancestors Future - Crystalizing Our Call” – trying to
secure funding/sponsorship through a non-profit, possibly the Parks
Foundation non-profit
John Pugh Mural – Update was provided by John at the December 19,
2024, meeting. PAAC has approved of the revisions, work is ongoing.
Bonus: Wayfinding Signs – Subcommittee to be formed by Jordan
Rooklyn in the Admin department. Jordan would like one (2 max) PAAC
member(s) to act as representatives on the subcommittee to address
public art concerns, ideas, etc. Meetings are to start in late January or
early February with installations starting in October. The installations will
NOT affect any PAAC funds. Discuss members to appoint; Heather has
already volunteered at the last meeting.
Planning Department
20 East Main Street Tel: 541.488.5300
Ashland, Oregon 97520 Fax: 541.552.2059
ashland.or.usTTY: 800.735.2900