Cary Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department 
Public Art Advisory Board

MINUTES

Wednesday, March 8, 2004 6:00 p.m.

Page-Walker Arts and History Center

119 Ambassador Loop, Cary, NC

Web Site: www.townofcary.org

ATTENDANCE: Carol Aupperle, Chair; June Finkbeiner; Luan Harmeson; Rajesh Patel; Barbara Petty; Carl Regutti; Ella Williams; Marilyn Yeske

STAFF: Lyman Collins; Nancy Novell; Vicki Hayes

ABSENCES: Julia Kunkel Morrison

GUESTS: Laura Harrar, Cary Visual Arts, Director

A. CALL TO ORDER – Carol Aupperle, Chair

B. MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 18, 2004 June Finkbeiner moved to approve the minutes as written. Carl Regutti seconded. Motion to approve the minutes passed unanimously.

C. REVIEW BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES Carol Aupperle reviewed the Public Art Advisory Board’s role and responsibilities for considering public art approvals. By way of example, she explained in October 2003 a local business, Cinelli’s, located at 1305 Kildaire Farm Road, had commissioned an artist to design a mural on the outside of the building. Because the mural was going to be visible to the public it was necessary for the artist to present his proposal to this Board for review. Carol explained that while she did not personally like this mural design, the design had gone through the process of coming before the Public Art Advisory Board, received appropriate approval, and is now completed. She said she feels that the mural fits the space perfectly and made the point that Board members will have personal preferences about art work, and that they should feel free to express their opinions, whatever they may be. Also the Board should be willing to listen to all opinions and remember that it represents the public which will have a wide range of opinions. Carl Regutti asked if there was a way to discuss the proposals for public art without the artists being in the room. Lyman Collins explained the meetings are public and the board needs to take this into consideration when items like this are brought before them. The board should understand that in this case, this piece will not be owned or maintained by the Town. Barbara Petty asked how as board members are they supposed to react to the public if they do not like a piece. Lyman said to listen to the public and bring back their likes, dislikes and other feedback to the board for discussion. Carol reviewed the following excerpt from Policy Statement 116, Art in Public Places.

Purpose The purpose of this policy is to create a sound public process for the acceptance of public art and development of public art projects. Through a cooperative effort between the private and public sectors, the Town of Cary will enhance public places with diverse and high quality art work, thereby recognizing public art as a cultural resource, and a source of community pride.

3. The board will use the following standards and criteria for judging and making recommendations for the acceptance of public art works:

1. Relationship and appropriateness to the immediate location (architecturally, topographical and landscaping, scale, materials and other site specific limitations and physical attributes).

2. Long-term durability and maintenance (reviewed by staff).

3. Safety (conformance to structural and fabrication standards and applicable safety codes) and liability (reviewed by staff).

4. Installation costs, site preparation costs, and insurance considerations (reviewed by staff).

5. Local community standards, social factors and public response.

6. Quality, aesthetic and design standards.

7. Objectives of project.

8. Accessibility and quantity of public contact with the artwork and site.

9. Diversity in artwork types, styles and distribution.

10. Public art project priority plan for locations and type of artwork.

D. TOWN HALL CAMPUS GATEWAY PROJECT Lyman Collins discussed with the board the history of how the project began. Cary Visual Arts (CVA) proposed working with the Town to develop a gateway sculpture for the Town Hall campus. CVA distributed nationally a Call for Qualifications to artists who have a background in such projects. There were over 100 applications received. Staff from the Cultural Arts Division as well as from the Planning Department met with the committee which reviewed the prospects and chose three artists. The artists gave 30-minute presentations of their visions and involvement with the community for this project. Catherine Widgery was selected and plans began. Throughout the planning process meetings with CVA, council members, staff and the public began to provide feedback to the artist. At this time the project has gone before CVA’s Town Hall Gateway Committee and the Discovery Committee. The project now has to go before the CVA Board of Directors for final approval and recommendation; Public Art Advisory Board for recommendation to Council; and to Town Council for approval. Carol Aupperle asked what staff needed from this board tonight. Lyman explained staff has three recommendation the board needs to discuss and either approve, disapprove, or suggest one of their own. The three recommendations are: overall approval of the design; approval of etching the glass on the bridge; and consideration for phased funding on the other items.

ACTION: June Finkenbeiner made a motion to accept the overall approval of the design. Barbara Petty seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Carl Regutti asked if the budget needed to be brought up. Lyman explained the cost for the corner piece; stone seating; bridge; and filling in the swale would total $412,651. Cost to modify the floor bluestone pavers in Bldg. D is unknown at this time. The etching on the bridge glass and the floor in Bldg. D are issues that we can’t go back and do later. Once they are done, they are done. The projects could be considered in phases: Phase 1 – etching glass on bridge; Phase 2 – modifying bluestone floor pattern in Bldg. D; Phase 3 & 4 – Gateway piece on corner and stone seating. June Finkbeiner thought the top priorities should be to work on the components as they progress. Barbara Petty wanted to clarify what June was saying. June Finkbeiner clarified that the board would have an opportunity to review the phases as they progress.

ACTION: Barbara Petty made a motion that the board review each phase as they progress. June Finkbeiner seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Meril Yeske asked if the bridge would extend into the buildings. Lyman Collins explained there would be two bridges on the inside connecting the Council Chambers into buildings A and B on the second floor. The bridges inside would not be lit. Ella Williams asked how much outside light would the bridges receive Lyman said it would receive natural lighting from outside. The board agreed it would be nice to have the inside glass etched, but with the budget being over they would recommend to use the money elsewhere.

ACTION: Meril Yeske made a motion to accept the bridge design as presented by Catherine Widgery and move forward immediately. June Finkbeiner seconded.

Barbara Petty asked if CVA has agreed to the bridge design. Laura Harrar, Executive Director of CVA, said the Gateway Committee and Discovery Committee had recommended approval but the final decision is up to the CVA Board. Barbara Petty suggested that the motion be amended contingent on sharing the cost 50/50 with CVA. Lyman said that CVA is a partner on every aspect of the design. They will vote to approve the entire design and all components. Carl Regutti said the CVA recommended that they not partner with the cost of filling the swale.

ACTION: Meril Yeske amended the motion to read as follows: To accept the bridge design as presented by Catherine Widgery and to move forward immediately with the anticipation of CVA’s approval. June Finkbeiner accepted the amendment. Motion passed unanimously.

ACTION: Carl Regutti made a motion that Council considers etching the glass bridges on the interior pending the availability of funds. If funds are limited the Board would recommend using the money elsewhere. Meril Yeske seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Carol Aupperle said it was time to consider phased funding for the following: the columns; floors and stone seating. Carl Regutti said this is a time sensitive area. Lyman Collins explained staff is prepared to recommend a figure for the FY05 Capital Improvement Budget that would earmark funds for this project. Carl felt very strongly that staff request Catherine provide a correct model showing the topography in scale. Carl felt the board had an obligation to the citizens of Cary to ensure this design would work well with the area. Meril Yeske asked if it was possible to get a computer generated version. Rajesh Patel said Nancy Novell had contacted him about creating a computer model. He explained he had been talking with Catherine and would hopefully have a completed version by the next meeting. Once the model is complete we can revisit the issue. Barbara Petty agreed with Carl that the overall design needs to be strong enough to be appreciated at ground level.

ACTION: Ella Williams made a motion to support consideration of phased funding for the following: the columns; floors; and stone seating. Carl Regutti seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Lyman said staff is considering right now putting the original funding figure in the CIB for FY05. The figures would be considered by Council and they would decide as part of the overall FY05 Budget process. Fundraising strategies could be considered to narrow the funding gap.

ACTION: Carl Regutti made a motion that staff request Catherine Widgery to correctly show the topography of the land with the swale filled in and the 100 columns to scale. Barbara Petty seconded. Carl said PAAB has an obligation to the community to bring the best art and he is concerned about taxpayers and Council. He said he hasn’t seen what it really looks like. Lyman asked who would pay for the model and said that the design phase contract called for 2 models, which Catherine has provided. Carl withdrew his motion.

Lyman said he understands and appreciates the concern and desire by PAAB to be good stewards for the community. He said that the artist was selected based on her qualifications and that there comes a point where the board and the community will need to take a leap of faith in the artist, based on her experiences, expertise and vision. Carol Aupperle said that a leap of faith is important. She said that CVA provided an extensive list of criteria for artist selection and she knows that Catherine has done tremendous work before. Meril Yaske said she would like to see the computer generated version of this so they could be confident about being advocates for the project. Barbara Petty agreed with Carl and said she needs to be sure the essence of the design is going to be visually strong from the pedestrian level. Carol asked Rajesh Patel to move forward to produce the 3D computer animation of the model on the site.

Carol explained because Julia Kunkel Morrison could not attend the meeting she had prepared a written statement and asked that it be read at the meeting. The following is Julia Kunkel Morrison’s written statement. “Because I can not attend the board meeting of the PAAB on Monday, March 8^th I wanted to send a message of support. I know that since I am not physically at the meeting that I can not vote. I would like to express my support for the Cary Town Hall Gateway Project, Gates of Lights, by Catherine Widgery. I feel that Catherine has designed an excellent design solution which reflects Cary and that she took into consideration all the suggestions and feedback from the PAAB, CVA, the Town, staff and general public. I whole heartly feel that we support this project and send our recommendation of approval to Cary Town Council for this project as presented on March 2, 2004 . Please include this in the minutes of your meeting.”

E. BOARD MEMBERS - REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVE ORGANIZATIONS

Cary Visual Arts (CVA) Laura Harrar reported that the Robert Mangold temporary piece at Academy Street by Cary Elementary School was fixed at the artist’s expense.

June Finkbeiner distributed handouts. She mentioned the upcoming Temporary Public Art Exhibition for downtown Cary . She said that CVA’s Temporary Art Committee is looking at bringing to downtown Cary ten temporary works of public art for a one year exhibition. She distributed to each PAAB member a packet of photos of the pieces under consideration for the Board to see. A presentation of the temporary exhibit will be made at the next PAAB meeting.

Fine Arts League of Cary (FALC) Ella Williams reported on Sunday, March 7^th, the Fine Arts League of Cary (FALC) held two receptions one at Jordan Hall Arts Center for its “Doors and Windows” Exhibit and the other at HYCC for its 6^th Annual Teen Exhibit. Both receptions were well attended with 30 to 40 people at each event.

There were twenty-eight (28) students entered into the Teen Exhibit from seven area schools and many for the first time. First Place - $100, Second Place - $75, Third Place - $50 and Fourth Place - $25 were given. Those same amounts were given to the art departments of the winning student’s school. Honorable Mentions went to Greenhope, Enloe and South East Raleigh High School students.

The judge, Winnie Ferguson, herself an art educator, said that the quality of drawing skills and basic art techniques were excellent in all the works. The first prize winner who is now a freshman was home schooled and did not have formal art classes. Three of the entrants intend to study art at East Carolina State. The students were all able to talk with the judge who gave them additional pointers about their work and how to even make it more effective. One young man, a home schooled student, is being encouraged to attend two open studio groups in town to further his practice of art. FALC members are mentoring and teaching both of these groups, one at the Senior Center and the other at Jordan Hall Art Center .

As FALC reviews all its progress and its programs and making notes for future events, they are planning on finding new distribution avenues for the students to learn of this show for next year.

Other organizations

F. OLD BUSINESS

Public Art Advisory Board Vice Chair Appointment Carol Aupperle announced the Public Art Advisory Board Vice-Chair will be Julia Kunkel Morrison.

USA Baseball Committee Chair Carol Aupperle announced the USA Baseball Committee Chair will be Luan Harmeson.

Walter-Hines Page Bust Nancy Novell announced the Walter-Hines Page bust by Carl Regutti will be relocated in front of Page-Walker Arts and History Center. Nancy acknowledged that Carl donated to the Friends of Page-Walker a wax bust of Walter Hines Page to be placed in the library and thanked him for his donation.

G. NEW BUSINESS

H. ADJOURN