03-17-1999 Packet
THE
SALINA
ARTS
AND
HUMANITIES
COMMISSION
211 W Iron' P.O. Box 2181 . Salina, KS 67402-2181 . 785-826-7410 . fax 785-826-7444. e-mail: sahc@midusa.net
SALINA ARTS AND HUMANITIES COMMISSION
TIME:
4:30 P.M.
/
MEETING:
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 1999
1. Focus Time:
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SMOKY fiLL MUSEUM COMMUNITY ROOM
PLACE:
AGENDA:
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2. Minutes
3. Staff Reports (see enclosed) - questions/important points?
4. Smoky Hill Museum
a. "Let's Play"
. b. Director's Search
5. Smoky Hill River Festival Update
6. Other
a. Grants Session - feedback
'b. Public Art
c. Youth Development Employment Program - update
7. April 21 Meeting - Cindy Bray presentation
Please call 826-7410 if you are unable to attend.
Note: In order to conserve paper, the enclosed materials may be copied on both sides.
Jane Alsop, Chair I James Hall N, Vice Chair I Debora Cox, Secretary
Lou Ann Dunn, Tom Gates, Murray Gorman, Randal]. Graham, Jeffrey Ingles, Charles Kephart, Ellen Morgan,
Kristin Seaton, Kristen Stelljes, Steve Thompson, Cannen Wilson I Martha Rhea, Executive Ditector
THE
SALINA
ARTS
AND
HUMANITIES
COMMISSION
211 w: Iron. P.O. Box 2181 · Salina, KS 67402-2181 .785-826-7410. fax 785-826-7444. e-mail: sabc@midusa.net
TO:
SALINA ARTS AND HUMANITIES COMMISSIONERS
RE:
UPCOMING EVENTS THAT ARE SIMPL YNOT- TO-MISS - AND
NEED YOUR PRESENCE!
FROM:
MARTHA RHEA
DATE:
MARCH 11, 1999
Two dates to get on your calendar because it's important that you are there! _
· Thursday, March 18,5:50 p.m. - opening of "Let's Play," the Museum's major
exhibit of 1999 and a Horizons Grant recipient. An added attraction is a
demonstration by YoYo Man, yo-yo champion Bill Weaver.
· Thursday, March 25,9 a.m. - special tour of "The Body Show," the Salina Art
Center's current exhibit. Saralyn Hardy, who will lead the tour and talk about the
issues surrounding as well as the exhibit itself, curated the show.
Good work yesterday - we, Salina, the arts, etc., etc. are lucky to have you!
Jane Alsop, Chair / James Hall W,"Vice Chair / Debora Cox, Secretary
Lou Ann Dunn, Tom Gates, Murray Gonnan, RandalJ. Graham,Jeffrey Ingles, Charles Kephart, Ellen Moq::an,
Kristin Seaton, Kristen Stelljes, Steve Thompson, Carmen W1lson / Martha Rhea, Executive Director
" ..
SALINA ARTS AND HUMANITIES COMMISSION
FEBRUARY 17, 1999
The monthly meeting of the Salina Arts and Humanities Commission was held at the Smoky Hill
Museum Community Room on Wednesday, February 20, 1999, at 4:00 p.m. In attendance were: Jane
Alsop, Debora Cox, Lou Ann Dunn, Tom Gates, Murray Gorman, Randal Graham, James Hall IV, Jeff
Ingles, Kristin Seaton, Kristen Stelljes, Steve Thompson, and Carmen Wilson. Staff members present
were Martha Rhea, Lana Jordan, Sharon Benson, Karla Prickett, and Darlene Stottmann.
Alsop called the meeting to order.
MINUTES
Wilson moved that the minutes of the January 20 meeting be approved; Gates seconded. Motion
carried.
STAFF REPORTS
Gates asked Rhea how meeting with Alan Stolfus (Salina Journal) went. She said they discussed need
for person to write reviews of exhibits, theatre productions, etc. Will form a small panel (representatives
from SAC, SCT, Bluestem, etc.) to identify and talk about issues; Journal will get input too. Also
discussed The Calendar - getting it on our Web site, possibly a cut-out section in the Journal- ideas
that will defInitely be pursued.
SMOKY HILL MUSEUM
Referring to information from Cindy Bray, Rhea said Kephart, Alsop and Graham have been part of the
group working with Bray in designing the new floor plan. Will be topical, not just chronological, and
give a solid context that allows for changing areas within larger areas that would allow more
exploration. Responds to ongoing community dialogue. Getting into fInal stages, so if there are things
of concern, make notes and turn in to Rhea. Bray will be back April 21 at the SAHC meeting. Alsop
said the plan is directly related to input from the survey that went out in the fall about what people hoped
to see in the museum. Re directors search: Rhea said announcements are in all regular magazines this
month, with much phone calling and direct contacts also. Last week City had had seven calls of interest.
Word is out; Rhea feels good about that; interesting to see what comes in. Application deadline is
March II. .
HORIZONS GRANTS SESSION
The next grant session will be Wednesday, March 10,4:30 p.m. Jordan will send packets with
assignments as presenters. Very important to have good attendance. Will be reviewing six
Organizational and two Advancement & Change grant applications. Jordan also noted the [mal report
from Brett Maltbie. Quite exciting - has asked him for fIrst CD and will share with Commissioners
when it arrives.
OTHER
Rhea said staff has been working on KAC operational support grant which gets mailed tomorrow; USD
305 grant, for drama curriculum consultant, has been sent already. Rhea was at KAC meeting today -
SAHC and Horizons grant process noted more than once as a good example for grant process.
Before beginning agenda item number 6, "Art in Public Places," the meeting moved into the Foundation
agenda.
ART IN PUBLIC PLACES
Rhea gave background on today's presenters - John D' Angelo, city arts coordinator for Wichita; and
Kent Williams, artist/consultant who's done several public art projects and is currently working on the
new Salina animal shelter. Paula Wright, member of Public Art Task Force, and animal shelter
architect, Warren Ediger, were also present. General discussion followed, with Hall voicing concern
about the kiosk at Salina's airport - information outdated; not a good first impression of our city.
Ediger gave an update on the animal shelter: Site is just north of Carver Center; have preliminary design
and budget is set. Will start on drawings in another month and construction in early summer. Gates
asked if there is a percentage of the budget allotted for public art. Ediger: Extent of building budget
used will depend on what part will include public art; some costs of materials could be changed over to
that. Rhea said Kent Williams met with Rose Base and Paul Richardson from the animal shelter this
morning. Have good sense from them that it is a place where the full gamut happens, a place of respect;
also very strong educational thrust, i.e. role people have in dealing with animals responsibly.
Kent Williams showed slides and spoke about the Wichita public art program, and specifically the
pedestrian bridge he designed which has been completed for one year. (Consulting on city projects
slated for "public art" program. One percent of overall cost is starting figure. In Wichita, generally the
people who figure budgets try to follow it.) Public Art consultant works up-front on projects with
architects, engineers, city staff, and helps determine opportunities for integrating art in the projects.
Later in process artist may be selected/competition decided on/artwork from high school incorporated,
etc. Referring to the pedestrian bridge project, Williams said the waterline was in 1997 CIP plan; City
decided to see ifboth could be done together with a modest budget increase. First proposal tried to hide
water pipe. Williams feels there is a gray zone between what is art and architecture and what is art and
public art. Feels high art is more akin to an artist's individual expression/soul. Public art is more
temporal, may only last 100 years - for the public - aware of its audience. Williams worked with
structural engineer - he ultimately converted sketches into construction documents that went out to bid.
Bridge Project - identified late in process as opportunity to include public art - so late that when
Williams was brought on hands were tied, because already design on the boards. City said it was
preliminarily approved, don't change, just attach something to it. Engineer group, both private sector
hired to do drawings and city staff. Presented to group that reviews public art projects; original solution
completely refused partly because of sight issues - nicer part of river - affects quality of built
environment. Makeup of public group: less than 10 -landscape architects, graphic designer, at large
community, architect. One group appointed by City; other a task force pulled together by City manager
(hand-picked); now City is in process of combining those two groups. Original design similar in terms
to placement of columns - simple piers with U-shaped collar on top; pipe running through; and
walkway, a 10 ft vertical solid surface - inhibited view looking up and down river. Incorporated little
things: crossing at a 10-15 % angle rather than perpendicular; added arch and crest to bridge and pipe
;: -.."
which was not necessary. Plaques: Engage person traveling across the bridge. Late addition, because
something constructed incorrectly and change in lighting. Taking them out would have been cost
prohibitive, so added steel plaques with relevant information to how the river functions: 357,492 sq mi.
is total watershed that feeds river to that point in square miles, velocity of river is . . . , etc. Each had
corresponding cast bronze element - i.e. glass vile found during excavation of riverbank. Good example
of how mistake worked out; also good example of solution.
John D' Angelo talked about Wichita's public art program, which started in 1990. Fortunate to have
visionary city manger who has seen value; several task forces studied thoroughly before it got started;
many good artists to draw upon for educational process. Public art is not museum or collectible art - is
art for public realm. Not placed objects - not beneficial, not long-term solution. Think of public art in
context of temporary.
Slide presentation and commentary:
. Examples from other cities
· Piers for highway, integrated into retaining wall (Kellogg/Oliver in Wichita) talks about time and
relative passage oftime as you travel). Public art not without criticism. Use icons from own
community.
· Bridges on Douglas and Maple Streets, Vicky Scurry, artist. Next year will add tower elements,
being fabricated now. Creative solution to very utilitarian problem.
· Solution to flooding in Phoenix. Some don't scream art, some are very representational.
. Downtown redevelopment - what does it look like to visitors to city.
. Phoenix medallions.
. Electrical substation - don't have to be ugly, fun and playful.
. Tree grates and tree guards. Small things that make the city beautiful.
. 21st St police station - students at NE High School created designs. Process involved learning what
it takes to get approval. Controversy - images representing diverse population in north community -
research, development of designs, make presentations. City lot, shared wall between two properties
- private sector helped raise money. Share maintenance.
· Old Town - fountain at south police station - project that came late.
· Keyhole art - memorial for fallen Wichita police officers.
· 13 th St bridge - early 50s figures as part of pre-cast of bridge. Sensitivity to bring artisan and
architect together.
· Richard Bergan - old farm implements to static sculpture that allows sculptural form to be part of
environment. In keeping with area. .
· Mainstreet - controversial - Osage Indian pattern - special materials. Indigenious fish and leaves of
river and park that bridge is entrance to.
Process:
Create design team - for example, architect, artist, landscape architect, engineer. Professionals who
come together to come up with most creative solution to design problem. Art and Design Review Board
is evolving - process more efficient. RFP goes out, all designers know artist is part ofteam. Present
team to city; discuss conceptual ideas. Consultant, then either becomes artist or recommends someone.
Integrating arts and architecture is a more positive approach from both cost benefit and visual end
product. Not without trials, but works positively. Education process for artists and designers. Rhea:
How does the public get involved and what do they do? All design should be reviewed by community
you're putting it into. Have early in conceptual stage; however have visuals. Significant issues involved
- ethnic?, etc. Artists have wonderful tendency to look at history and environment and blending. Want
it to fit neighborhood. Have meeting so they can define criteria. For example - Bridge: Public Art
Board and City Managers Review Team didn't like utilitarian look. Sent back and came back with
sculptural pipe, non-traditional color. Review bodies and citizens have input into design to help shape
and form it. Community Plan - At Wichita, everything on block has to conform to certain standard
requirements. Criteria set so to not spend wasted design time. Better defined criteria, easier to find
creative solution. Design competition for a prize (small amount of money plus opportunity to get two
jobs). Stakeholders meeting - everyone with investment - River Festival, Delano merchants, area
businesses. Bleacher to hold people to view river during festival. Input should happen before design
team selected; then let them take input and create it into something that fits into budget.
Rhea: Not unusual for public art program to be part oflocal arts agency. D'Angelo: Some things done
in beginning of public art program: design symposium - over 300 people (city staff, architects,
engineers, artists, landscape artists) - brought in speakers (designers, urban planners) to talk about
public art and how it works in other cities. Then local panels as part of one day seminar. Then series of
smaller individual workshops. Has to be geared to city. Artist community has to be brought along.
Some look at fearfully; others see it as wonderful opportunity. NALAA hosts pre-conference every year
- wonderful resources to learn from. Don't be trapped into doing just like someone else. Wichita
conservative community - be aware and respectful of. Political issues. Look at things that have been in
city a long time. Rhea: Good foundation of community involvement and process. D'Angelo: With
public art program philanthropic on private side has increased significantly. People see beautification
occurring and want to be part ofthat effort. Divine: Do you actively solicit sculptures? Donors bring
ideas and through process of dialogue come up with what fits and what doesn't. Now talking about
collection -longer life span than a bridge. Large maintenance issue. Gates: What kind of controversy?
John: Expenditures or subject matter. Example - "Black Power" - true meaning is unity, not meant to
separate cultures. People in community will misunderstand true meanings - education process -
community is better because of that - not caught up in words. Stelljes: How do you repair damage to
artwork? John: Have had little to no maintenance when appropriate for area. People buy into
beautification - have a certain pride. Maintenance costs fairly low, done by parks department.
Graham asked Kent Williams how long involved public art area and where received training? Williams:
Have been doing it 3 Y:z years off and on; becoming public art consultant can come from different paths.
His born out of combination of education in architecture, but a more individual commitment to pursing
fine arts endeavors. Happened out of being involved in architecture.
D' Angelo: Small groups throughout country - training seminars put on- educational courses in
California to train public art administrators - happen through arts commissions. Have to keep valuing
what beautification brings to your community. About making people feel welcome - quality of life
issue. Training wise, best are national level public art programs that are asking artists to participate.
Rhea: Also now some grant programs that are specifically defined by public art. Encouraging artists to
work publicly. Transportation Intermobile Act - funding for enhancement of traffic-ways. Part of
transportation plan - Wichita looking at overpass problems for trains. Artists used to creating very
individual work - doesn't fit every artist. Have to learn architect's language; artists have wonderful way
of adapting. They're not afraid to ask, "Why not? - why can't we do this?" Art doesn't have to scream
at you - better if it doesn't.
/dms
SA&HCSTAFFREPORTS
February~arch,1999
Please review this past month highlights of staff activities, and come to the March
meeting with specific questions and comments.
Martha Rhea
. Museum Items: continued work with Mary Kay Ingenthron regarding staff-building
and short-term planning; Monday morning staff meetings; specific planning for
"Let's Play" and Museum activity at River Festival; continued personal contacts with
variety of sources regarding potential candidates for director's position.
. Public Art: continued work with Kent Williams, art consultant, about the Animal
Shelter; met with architect, city planner, and animal shelter people to review
preliminary sketches and directions.
. Festival: held in-depth, "we are here" meeting to check progress and timeline before
moving into many mailings and the variety of jury processes; began recruitment of
sponsors for Patrons breakfast.
. Participated in city staff meeting to review Capital Improvements direction for 1999,
and the next four years. Public Art was definitely placed on the table!
. Journal: set meeting with Journal staff and arts people to explore the review issue;
requested meeting with new reporters to learn more about SAHC and its programs;
began initial planning for clip-out calendar of arts events in Encore.
. Prepared for, yet attended and contributed only a bit to grants session for
organizations.
. Spoke to Leadership Salina class about the SAHC and the arts scene in Salina.
. KAC: worked with Bill Keens to finalize plans for retreat with Commissioners to
explore possibilities for establishing a statewide trust; plan to attend meeting March
16 in Topeka.
Sharon Benson
General:
. Spring Poetry Series, publicity, education outreach, and technical
. Art a la Carte publicity
. Some initial evaluation with students involved in the Youth Development program
. Preparations for Contra Dance, April 9th, featuring the Plaid Family
Festival:
. Jury Processes for Food, Games, and Artist in Action Projects, notification &
contracts
. Working with Museum/Pastimes Exhibit/Staff to develop a "Hokey Pokey" Area
(Priscilla Howe as resource)
. Children's Area recruitment of volunteer workers, supplies
AlE:
. Priscilla Howe, 4th residency of the year at Hawthorne School, March 22-26
. Kelly and Diana Werts, American Folk Dance Residency, April 5-9
. Rod Molzahn, 1 st person Shakespeare interpretation for High Schools - April 26/27;
also workshop at Salina Community Theatre in preparation for summer Shakespeare
production
Karla Prickett
· Took a trip to Emporia to work with Terry Maxwell and Eclipse Printing on the
Festival T-Shirt printing process.
· Working with Bo Bo to load slides for the Four Rivers Craft Market and Fine Art
Show jurored processes. Also borrowing and setting up slide machines and
developing paperwork for the jury sessions. Four Rivers juries on March 12, Fine Art
on March 15. Notifications of acceptance will be mailed by March 25.
· Met with Marie Chapman, Lana, and Sharon to go over technical and signage needs
for the Festival.
· Met with Festival Coordinators and emergency preparedness professionals to discuss
implementation of an on-site response plan for the Festival.
· Sent out letters to the Festival "invited" artists for the pre-Festival exhibit at the
Country Club. Artists will send work in late April. The exhibit will begin May 1.
. Working on the Art Patron Program mailing list with committee.
· Meeting with representatives working on the Animal Shelter project (Public Art).
Lana Jordan
· All the on site visits by the evaluators (10) for Horizons Organizational and
Advancement & Change grant applications occurred. Follow up with each and the
necessary paperwork for the grant session was put in place. Grant session occurred
and grant applicants have been informed of the results.
· The business, professional and super supporter fundraising campaigns are underway
and we are beginning to receive contributions. Super supporters is moving along.
Some of the long time supporters - information site (NationsBank) and trams (UMB)
- are in transition.
· Nancy Richardson is the new Festival technical assistant trainee. Marie Chapman has
indicated probable retirement in a couple of years, therefore we are getting prepared.
. 99% of the entertainment for the Festival is on board. Completion is near.
· Continue to meet with Festival committees and work on technical aspects.
THE
SALINA
ARTS
AND
HUMANITIES
COMMISSION
211 W. Iron . P.O. Box 2181 . Salina, KS 67402-2181 . 78~26-741O . fax 785-826-7444 . e-mall: sahc@midusa.net
TO:
SALINA ARTS AND HUMANITIES COMMISSIONERS
RE:
$1000 REMAINING IN ADVANCEMENT AND CHANGE
FROM:
MARTHA RHEA
DATE:
MARCH 12,1999
At the weekly staff meeting on Thursday morning, we were all talking over the grants
session - and feeling very grateful that we have the process we have and the
Commissioners who carry it out with such a sense of responsibility and care. And an
idea came up that we would like you to consider.
Traditionally dollars that are not spent do not get spent later, but rather provide a cushion
. that helps to grow our investments. Since there is $1,000 left in Advancement and
Change (because of the up to $5,000 that was transferred from Special Projects) and since
the over-all dollars requested were the highest ever requested in the four years of the
program ($40,000), here's a suggestion. Why not split the $1,000 between the Theatre
and Art Center, with a strong recommendation that the dollars go toward enhancing the
organizations' grant writing skills. I emphasize recommendation because it's not our
place to get too nit-picky and micro-manage, but this addresses both Commission
concerns and getting the dollars where they belong - in the hands of the organizations.
We'll deal with this during Item 6a on the agenda. And needless to say, other
suggestions are welcome!
Jane Alsop, Chair / James HaIl IV; Vice Chair / Debora Cox, Secretary
Lou Ann Dunn, Tom Gates, MIllT3Y Gonnan, RandalJ. Graham, Jeffrey Ingles, Charles Kephart, Ellen Morgan,
Kdstin Seaton, Kdsten Stelljes, Steve Thompson, Cannen Wilson / Martha Rhea, Executive Director
REMEMBER THAT THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES COMMISSION
MEETING BEGINS AT 4 P.M. THIS DAY, SO WE CAN BE READY
FOR CINDY' S PRESENTATION. PACKETS WILL BE MAILED ON
FRIDAY OF THIS WEEK.
Sneak Preview -
Smoky Hill Museum's
Permanent Exhibit Concept/Design
by
Cindy Bray, exhibit consultant,
and the people of Salina and Saline County
Wednesday, April 21 4:30 p.m.
Smoky Hill Museum, 2nd floor
- a time for presentation and discussion -
Cindy Bray, an exhibit consultant from Oklahoma, has been working with the Smoky
Hill Museum for nine months in the development of a long-term (often referred to as the
"permanent") exhibit for the first-floor space. She has spent many hours with the Inner
Group of Museum staff, and an Outer Group of Arts and Humanities Commissioners and
Friends of the Museum members. She also used over three hundred questionnaires
circulated throughout the area, tours of the county and city, and diverse focus groups of
people to seek out what describes and distinguishes this place, in order to develop both a
concept and exhibit plans.
This coming Wednesday, Cindy will present her final work as part of an Arts and
Humanities Commission meeting, with full explanation and discussion. Cindy's
presentation is scheduled from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Community Room on the 2nd
floor of the Museum. It's important that you are there - to learn, to question, and to
even be amazed!!