HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-09-18 Public Arts PACKET
Public Arts Advisory CommitteeAgenda
September 18, 2025
Regular Meeting, 4:00pm–5:30pm
Siskiyou Conference Room, 51 Winburn Way
I.(4:00) CALL TO ORDER:
a.Welcome
b.Quorum count
c.Announcements
d.Land Acknowledgment (attached)
e.Labor Acknowledgement (attached)
II.(4:05) APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a.August 21, 2025, regular meeting
III.(4:10) PUBLIC FORUM (for items not on the agenda; up to 3 minutes per speaker)
IV.(4:15) LIAISON REPORTS
a.City Council Liaison, Gina DuQuenne
b.APRC Liaison, Michael Gardiner & APR Staff Liaison, Rachel Dials
c.Community Development Liaison, Veronica Allen
V.(4:20) DISCUSSION ITEMSand MOTIONS (up to 10 minutes per topic)
a.Mural Fest & Fringe Fest Task Group Update & Possible Recommendation
b.Guanajuato Heart Task Group Update & Possible Recommendation
c.Meeting Frequency, Start Time, other possible changes
d.Pioneer Mike Discussion
VI.(4:50) OTHER BUSINESS UPDATES (up to 5 minutes per item)
a.Budget Update - entering new biennial budget season
b.Art Maintenance Report/Update
c.Traffic Signal Box Selection Panel Update
d.Playwrights Walk Plaque Update
VII.(5:10) ROUND TABLE - Member open discussion of project opportunities (2 mins. each)
VIII.(5:30) ADJOURNMENT - Next Meeting: Thursday, October 16th, 2025 @ 4:00 pm
Note: Anyone wishing to speak at any Public Arts Advisory Committeemeeting 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
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, 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.”
Labor Acknowledgement
We also pause to recognize and acknowledge the labor upon which our country, state, and
institutions are built.
We remember that our country is built on the labor of enslaved people who were
kidnapped and brought to the U.S. from the African continent and recognize the continued
contribution of their survivors. We also acknowledge all immigrant & indigenous labor,
including voluntary, involuntary, trafficked, forced, and undocumented peoples who
contributed to the building of the country and continue to serve within our labor force. We
acknowledge all unpaid care-giving labor.
To the people who contributed this immeasurable work and their descendants, we
acknowledge their indelible mark on the space in which we gather today. It is our collective
responsibility to critically examine these histories, to repair harm, and to honor, protect,
and sustain their contribution to our society.
Note: Anyone wishing to speak at any Public Arts Advisory Committeemeeting 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 CommitteeMeetingMinutes
DRAFT MINUTES
August 21, 2025
Regular Meeting4:00-5:30 PM
Siskiyou Conference Room, 51 Winburn Way
I.(4:06) CALL TO ORDER:
a)Welcome
b)Quorum count - achieved
c)Announcements – Sue Sears Introduction
d)Land Acknowledgment – read by: Sue Sears
e)Labor Acknowledgement – read by: Tish Way
Attendance
Present:
Vice Chair, Susan MacCracken Jain
Kate Womack(via zoom)
Heather Warden
Russell Copley(via zoom)
Tish Way
Sue Sears
Gina Duquenne, City Council Liaison
Absent: Chair Cassie Preskenis; Emily Simon, SERJAC Liaison; APRC Liaison, Michael Gardiner
Staff Present: Veronica Allen, Staff Liaison; Rachel Dials, APR Staff Liaison
II.(4:12) APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a)July 17, 2025, regular meeting
Motion: Tishmoved to accept the minutes as presented
Second: Heather Warden
Vote:All ayes - motion passed unanimously (MacCracken Jain, Womack, Warden,
Copley, Way, Sears)
III.(4:13) PUBLIC FORUM
a)Don Daniels, Mural at 149-167 E Main St, (received digitally) – PAAC interested
b)Caroline Lion, Public Art Installation Non-profit (received digitally, will be at next
meeting)
IV.(4:15) LAISON REPORT
a)APR Staff Liaison, Rachel Dials – Parks & Rec upcoming meetings, Butler Fountain
update
b)City Council Liaison, Gina DuQuenne - none
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 CommitteeMeetingMinutes
c)Community Development Liaison, Veronica Allen–Guanajuato Heart touch-ups
needed prior to install, Velocity update, resignation of Christi McClain at last
meeting, discuss possibility of changing meeting times/frequency
V.(4:20) DISCUSSION ITEMS-FORMAL ACTIONS& MOTIONS
a)Mural Fest & Fringe Fest Task Group Update –have not yet met
b)Traffic Signal Box (TSB) Update–Selection Panel met and made recommendations
to the PAAC for the TSB located at Tolman & Ashland Street, Walker & Ashland Street,
and Mountain & Siskiyou Blvd. The selected pieces in order are“Field Notes & Folks”
by Arzoo Adhikari, “Hummingbirds & Hands”by Dylan Fram, and “Whimsical Birds &
Plants”by Jessica Lee Findleton.
Motion: Heather moved to approve the Selection Panel’s recommendations and
recommend their approval to the City Council at their next available meeting,
th
tentatively the September 16meeting.
Second: Tish Way
Vote:All ayes -motion passed unanimously (MacCracken Jain, Womack, Warden,
Copley, Way, Sears)
Additional discussion: a list of interested artists/previous submittals will be compiled
either together or separate from other interested artists list to utilize for future years.
This list could be shared with Don Daniels (business owner) who shared interest via
Public Forum in having a mural added to his business.
c)Guanajuato Heart Task Group -have not yet met, but Jordan Rooklyn referred a
group interested in improving the plaza to this group
VI.(4:34) OTHER BUSINESS UPDATES
a)Budget Update –miscommunication, will be provided at next meeting
b)Art Maintenance -Velocity repair estimate will be tentatively provided at next
meeting;numbers being compiled for future estimated maintenance of John Pugh
mural once donated to the city. Rio Amistad, Ethel E. Reid, and Inorganic Compound
are having contracts drafted for the artists to do the repair work.
c)Ancestor’s Future Update –no update at this time–Cassie out, Micah Blacklight
mural, 501(c)(3) created
d)We Are HereMuralUpdate –no update at this time, “we are here” is in error and
should refer to the work being done by Micah Blacklight (“Wherethe Crow Lights”)
being done in studio and available to the public on First Fridays
e)Playwright’s Walk Plaques Update –presentation from Ken Engleund and Senora
Chella of Amigo Club. Proposal to have 2 identical plaques created to celebrate the
th
55Anniversary of the Sister City relationship with Guanajuato. Both plaques would
be in Spanish and English. One plaque to stay in Ashland and one to go to
Guanajuato. A local artist could be selected for the art, a Spanish playwright for the
quote (Senora Chella shared examples), and Jack Langford would cast the plaques
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 CommitteeMeetingMinutes
as done before. The cost would be $9,000 for the two plaques to be created and
installed. Thepresentation states that the Guanajuato plaque will be externally
funded by private investors and requeststhat previous funding for approved City
Hall plaque be re-allocated to this plaque to expedite its creation. It was not stated
what would happen with the City Hall plaque, or the proposed location or art of the
Sister City plaque.
Motion: Heather moved to approve the re-allocation of funds from the City Hall
plaque to the Guanajuato sister plaque, with the secondary plaque to be externally
funded.
Second: Tish Way
Vote: All ayes -motion passed unanimously (Womack, Warden, Copley, Way, Sears,
and MacCracken Jain abstained)
f)Strategic Planning –moved from last meeting but delayed to a future meeting
g)M.A.P Discussion –moved from last meeting but delayed to a future meeting
h)PAAC Timeline Planning –moved from last meeting but delayed to a future
meeting
VII.(5:12) ROUND TABLE/ANNOUNCEMENTS
a)Guanajuato Heart (location TBD) may need touch-ups, investigatethe possibility to
utilize the marketing budget ($1,000)that was allocatedif unused.
b)Susan MacCracken Jain updates: she has left the Guanajuato Heart Task Group to
allow Sue Sears to join; the Thalden Playwright’s Walk Plaques are moving along;
Jack Langford’s Gallery showing on August 22; Oregon Peace Trail endis in Ashland
and suggests having David Wick come to address the PAAC at a meeting for
identifying what it means to be a destination point on the trail,Susan to email
Veronica the contact information for David Wick who is organizing the Peace Trail
c)Heather Warden updates: will send invitation to Veronica to send to PAAC group for
30 Year Celebration and fundraiser for AshlandGallery Association
d)Possible meeting time/frequency changes will be discussed at next meeting
VIII.(5:29) ADJOURNMENT -Next Meeting Date: Thursday, September 18,4:00 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.
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Memo
DATE: September 18th,2025
TO: PAAC
FROM: Veronica Allen, Associate Planner
RE: Public Forum Submittal–Request for Assistance
Caroline Lion –Save The Art (Submittal for Public Forum)
The attachedletter from Caroline Lion outlines her intent to form a
non-profit centered around sharing art to benefit fire prevention
and safety. Caroline would likeassistance in the form offinding
board members, a curator, finance manager,editor,and an
attorney, as well as locating artistsvia an open announcementto
participate in the exhibition.While the scope of the non-profit and
its exhibition is outside the scope of the PAAC’s role, locatingor
suggestingartists,providing contacts, or help getting the word out
could bedone by individual members of the PAAC.
Planning Department
20 East Main StreetTel:541.488.5300
Ashland, Oregon 97520Fax:541.552.2059
ashland.or.usTTY: 800.735.2900
ğƌƌźğƓĭĻ ǞźƷŷ ƷŷĻ ŭƚğƌ Ʒƚ ƦƩƚƷĻĭƷ ƭĻƓƭźƷźǝĻ ǞƚƩƉ
ŅƩƚƒ ƷŷĻ ƓĻŭğƷźǝĻ ĻŅŅĻĭƷƭ ƚŅ ǞźƌķŅźƩĻ ğƓķ ĭƌźƒğƷĻ ĭŷğƓŭĻ͵ LƓ ƭƚ ķƚźƓŭͲ źƷ Ǟźƌƌ ĭƚƓƷƩźĬǒƷĻ Ʒƚ ƷŷĻ
źƓƷĻƩǞĻğǝźƓŭ ƚŅ ğƩƷ ĻĭƚƭǤƭƷĻƒƭ ğƓķ ĭƚƒƒǒƓźƷźĻƭ źƓ ƷŷĻ tğĭźŅźĭ bƚƩƷŷǞĻƭƷͲ ğƓķ ƌğƷĻƩͲ {ƚǒƷŷǞĻƭƷ͵
Goal: I want to create exhibitions in San Francisco and/or Portland from June through
September of art and important collections that are owned privately or publicly in Ashland and
the surrounding area. Entrance fees at these exhibitions would be small but the profit would go
to fire prevention and safety. A small percentage of sales (some pieces could be for sale) would
go to this same effort. The pieces would therefore be relatively safe during fire season.
Meanwhile, the people of Portland and San Francisco would be able to view a portion of the
treasure of art stashed away here in Southern Oregon. The art would be made up of museum
pieces, gallery pieces, and that of local artists.
Process: This organization is now being reviewed for registration by the state, and once
accepted, it will become a nonprofit. Second, I need to meet possible donors and foundations
that would see the importance of this project. Third, I need to collect more information and
locate possible board members. Of course, I will need to find a curator, a finance manager, and
an attorney. Next, there would be an open announcement to the public to see who might be
interested in saving their art free of charge during these four or five months. Then, in June, the
art would be carefully and professionally transported to the chosen exhibition spaces.
What I presently need: I would appreciate legal help (donations welcome) in the creation of a
nonprofit as well as contracts for the art owners for when the time comes. I also would
appreciate contacts with any foundations or donors. This will be an expensive undertaking.
While I can write grants, I would appreciate an editor. Finally, any ideas are welcome!
What I have done: I have talked to the Regional Arts and Culture Counsel in Portland as well as
the Portland Art Museum. The responses were very positive. I have also reached out to the Fort
Mason Center in San Francisco and have applied for business registration (State of Oregon).
Who I am: I hold a PhD from the Shakespeare Institute, University of Birmingham, Stratford
upon Avon, UK and am a twenty-five-year resident of Ashland. I have worked in nonprofits,
know how to get things done, and love art. I have a proven track record as a supporter of the
arts and humanities.