Cary
Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department
Public
Art Advisory Board
MINUTES
Wednesday,
April 20, 2005
6:00 p.m.
Temporary Council Chambers
Herb Young Community Center
101 Wilkinson Avenue, Cary, NC
Web Site: www.townofcary.org
ATTENDANCE: Carol
Aupperle, Chair; Mathias Bishop; Luan Harmeson; Julia Kunkel Morrison; Carl
Regutti; Smythe Richbourg; Larry Schessel; Ella Williams; Marla Dorrel, Council Liaison
STAFF:
Lyman
Collins; Nancy Novell; Vicki Hayes
ABSENCES: Rajesh
Patel
GUEST:
Karen Mills, Finance Director;
Laura Coats, Cary Visual Arts, Mary DePukan, Cary Visual Arts
A.
CALL
TO ORDER
–
Carol Aupperle, Chair
B. SPECIAL
PRESENTATION: ’05 BOND
REFERENDUM – Bill Coleman, Town
Manager
Karen Mills, Finance Director gave a
special presentation on the ’05 Bond Referendum to
include open space
and wastewater facilities.
The referendum asks Cary citizens to
give the town permission to use a special
type of financing, General Obligation (GO) bonds
for the projects.
General Obligation bonds are the least costly financing option available
for these projects.
She also gave a brief history of other bonds that have been presented
before Cary citizens since 1986 to present
and that the town has always used the money
in the manner in which it was presented to
the public. Ms. Mills showed a brief
video about
the “05 Bond Referendum” and asked the
committee if they had any questions. After
answering various questions, Ms. Mills
thanked the Board for their time.
C. Minutes
Carl Regutti moved to approve the
minutes of March 16, 2005. Julia
Kunkel
Morrison seconded the motion.
The motion passed unanimously.
D.
BOARDS
AND COMMISSIONS RECEPTION – Carol Aupperle
Carol
Aupperle reported to the Board that she had attended the Boards and
Commission Reception on April 5, 2005
and was presented with a
proclamation.
She passed around the proclamation for everyone to see.
E. TOWN
HALL CAMPUS GATEWAY PROJECT
·
Update on Gates of Light
Carol
Aupperle welcomed Mary Kamm, past president of Cary Visual Arts (CVA) to
the meeting.
Carol explained the Board has been working with this project since 2002
and has
invested a considerable amount of time to its efforts, but unfortunately CVA
has decided
to withdraw its support for the corner piece.
Mary Kamm thanked the
Board for
their hard work and contributions to this piece.
However, with the continued
rising cost
of materials, the uncertainty of how long it would take to raise the additional
funds and
what effects additional fundraising would have on the Cary Art Ball, CVA
decided not
to continue its participation in the
“Gates of Lights” corner sculpture.
Mary Kamm explained that Mayor McAlister did express there would be some
kind of
gateway
project at that site. Luan Harmeson
said this was a 50-50 project and thought
it was
distressing to receive a letter from CVA. Why
did CVA not attend a Public Art
Advisory
Board meeting to discuss their concerns? Mary
said there were discussions
with staff.
Lyman Collins stated staff learned about the decision just before letters
were
sent.
Carol
explained this project pre-dated the inception of the Public Art Advisory Board
and
the Public
Art Master Plan, and that now there are checks and balances in place as
indicated in
the Public Art Master Plan. She said
the Board will be better prepared to
accomplish
the next project. Mary Kamm
explained CVA does not want this to happen
again in the
future. Julia Kunkel Morrison feels
this Board was totally ignored by the
Town and CVA,
any concerns or issues should have been discussed with the Board.
Julia explained she is volunteering her time to assist the Town and CVA
and feels her
time was not
well used. Julia stated that she can
appreciate CVA’s decision, but feels
it was
handled improperly. Luan asked if
cost was the biggest issue. Mary explained the
CVA Board was
concerned with the rising cost and the public’s approval and said that
CVA did not
have an issue with the design. Julia
asked if the doors were completely
closed on
this piece. Mary explained at this
time she is not in a position to answer that
question and
said that CVA made the decision to set aside the project containing 100
stainless
steel columns on the corner.
Carol
explained we can not change this decision, but we do need to give everyone time
to further
discuss the future plans. We are
very lucky to have the bridge portion of this
project to
look forward too. Marla Dorrel
explained the idea of asking Catherine to scale
back on this
design should be set aside. Carol
felt the partnership would continue with
CVA, and the
Board Members can always talk with Council. Carol
said we still want to
have a
partnership with CVA Nancy explained CVA has the opportunity to have a
representative sit on this Board by applying by December 1 to serve on the
Board. She
mentioned
that last year no one from CVA applied. Mary
said CVA is still looking for
other
resources. Carol said the Public Art
Advisory Board has invited a CVA
representative to attend all Public Art Advisory Board meetings, and that Pat
Hudson
has agreed to
be the CVA representative.
Carl
Regutti asked Marla Dorrel if there was a general feeling that the money for the
corner
sculpture be used for public art. Marla
explained she could not answer this
question
because Council has not discussed this issue.
ACTION: Julia Kunkel
Morrison made a motion to recommend to Council the money
slated for
the “Gates of Light” be kept in the budget for public art.
Luan Harmeson
seconded the
motion. The motion passed
unanimously.
Smythe
Richbourg and Ella Williams abstained from the vote, because they felt the
money and the
project were two separate issues. They
wanted time to think about
the option
more and wanted that to be clearly expressed in the minutes.
Lyman
Collins
explained that an abstained vote is considered as a “yes” vote.
·
Update
on etching of glass for the Glass Walled Pedestrian Bridge
Lyman Collins explained staff is working with the Engineering Department, but
there is no
firm time
line. Carl Regutti asked if the
glass manufacturer had changed. Lyman
stated
the glass
manufacture had changed and it is the contractor’s responsibility to provide
the
glass.
Carol Aupperle explained the bridge could be used a teaching mechanism
for
math since
the design involves a mathematical formula in the spiral design.
She said it
would be good
to get the public involved in a fun and educational way.
Smythe
Richbourg
asked if there was a way to superimpose the image over the town and then
map out
points in conjunction with the public art. Smythe
explained this was another
way to reach
the public. Lyman felt these ideas
were great. Nancy Novell said she
would take
these ideas to Catherine when she is here to oversee the glass installation.
Nancy
explained Catherine’s next visit is not yet scheduled, but it should be
sometime
this summer.
Carol asked if this activity could be combined with the dedication.
F.
US1/64
PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE
·
Update
Nancy Novell
explained staff is developing a staff report at this time to take to Council.
Once the report is complete she will e-mail everyone a copy.
Lyman Collins stated the
Board’s
recommendation will be included in this report.
Carl Regutti suggested working
with a local
high school art teacher to design silhouette images for the bridge.
Lyman
liked the
idea of working with students, but explained there are certain constraints with
the bridge.
He said that anyone interested could submit a response to the Call for
Artists.
G.
SPRING
DAZE
·
Discuss
Public Art Advisory Board booth and volunteer schedule
Nancy
Novell thanked everyone for volunteering. She
explained she would have copies of
maps for
distribution identifying the locations of the Town’s public art collection.
There
will be
poster with photos of the Town’s
public art collection which could be used for
discussion
with citizens. Mary Kamm said CVA
will also have information on the pieces
that are
privately owned.
H.
OLD
BUSINESS
·
Sears Farm
Road Park
– Russ RuBert sculpture update
Carol
Aupperle thanked Marla Dorrel for sending the email from the private citizen who
had good
things to say about the sculpture. Nancy
Novell passed around photographs
of the
sculpture for the Board to view. She
explained Mr. RuBert spent two days
installing
the piece. Nancy explained she has
been door to door talking with some of
the neighbors
about the piece and asking them to keep an eye out and report any
problems.
The sculpture and benches have been well received by the neighbors and
indications
are that the neighbors are enjoying it. Nancy
was told by one neighbor
that the kids
in the surrounding neighborhoods wait in line to have their turn sitting
and spinning
on the piece.
I. NEW
BUSINESS
·
Potential
new projects
Nancy Novell explained there is a new dog park being proposed by Godbold Park.
The
Town has
approximately 25 – 30 surplus fire hydrants that are no longer in use and are
currently in
storage. A potential opportunity
might be to use the fire hydrants to create
public art
and incorporate them into the dog park. Smythe
Richbourg asked when the
park would be
installed. Lyman Collins explained
the target is this summer. Julia
Kunkel
Morrison thought the Call to Artists should be open to local designers.
Mathias
Bishop
suggested inviting West Cary Middle School students to assist with some aspect
and to have
community involvement. Ella Williams
suggested having the kids submit
ideas.
Carol Aupperle felt an artist should design the piece and have help from
the
community.
Marla Dorrel asked the Board what issues do you want to accomplish or
goals.
Carol felt a sub-committee should be formed and involve the Cary Dog Park
Club, local
artists and citizens. Carol asked for a volunteer to chair the sub-committee.
Smythe volunteered to be on the sub-committee.
With no other offers, Carol said she
would also
sit on the sub-committee. It is
anticipated this sub-committee would meet
sometime in
May.
·
Presentation on Greenway Tunnels – Carol
Aupperle
Carol
Aupperle gave a brief PowerPoint presentation on greenway tunnels.
The slides
she showed in
the presentation had some tunnels that were marked with graffiti.
She
explained we
need to start thinking ahead, so the tunnels could be used for public art.
She suggested that the board think about ways to get the public
interested to improve
the
appearance of these tunnels. There
is a new tunnel located near the new Lowe’s
store on NW
Maynard and Chapel Hill Road. Carol spoke
with the manager at the store
and she
explained that Lowe’s participates in a community special project each year.
This year the special project has already been identified, but we could
consider
contacting
them as a possibility for working on a public art project next year.
J. Reports
from Representative Organizations
·
Cary
Visual Art – Laura Coats
Permanent Exhibitions
Sears
Farm Road Park – The
sculpture and benches by artist Russ RuBert were
installed the first week of April.
CVA
has selected two paintings from the Fine Arts League of Cary Spring Show.
We purchased Oakwood Afternoon by Larry T. Dean and Still
Groovin by Susan
Hecht. The paintings will be brought
forward next month as proposed donations
to the Town of Cary.
The artworks were purchased for placement at the Cary
Tennis Center
Gates of Light
– The CVA Board of Directors has decided not to proceed with the
corner gateway component of the Gates of Light project.
The reasons for this
decision are: the continued and unknown rising costs of needed materials, the
additional fundraising effort needed to make up the estimated budget shortfall,
and the potential negative impact on CVA’s ability to generate funds for the
Art Ball.
Balancing Act II
at SAS
Soccer
Park
– The remaining landscaping at the site is
being planned by the Town of Cary.
CVA is planning a dedication for the piece
sometime in early summer.
Other Projects and Updates
Wishing Well
WakeMed
Cary
Hospital
Young Artists Exhibit –
The current
exhibition will be up until May 13th.
A reception for the artists and their
families was held on April 9th. CVA is planning a silent auction of
some
of the artwork during the Art Crawl event in the fall.
The Temporary Exhibitions
sub-committee visited Greensboro on March 23rd to tour
the current NC Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition and discussed prospective artworks
for
exhibition in Cary (beginning fall 2005). The
exhibition will be located in the Town
Center area, with particular emphasis on Academy Street.
The committee is also
investigating exhibitions of individual artists, including Patrick Dougherty and
Tom
Otterness.
The West Cary Proposed Site
Committee is researching approaches for public art
at the corner of Chapel Hill Road and Maynard.
The committee is seeking
additional volunteers. If you are
interested, please contact the CVA office at
531-8149.
The CVA Discovery Committee
researches artists, artworks, and sites for public art
in Cary. The committee, composed of
12 voting members, advises the CVA Board
of Directors about placements and acquisitions.
Meetings are held once a month
on Mondays at 4:00 p.m.
Visitors are welcome to attend the meetings.
If you
would like to attend the meetings, please contact the CVA office at 531-8149.
·
Fine
Arts League of Cary – Ella Williams
The
very successful Annual Show has only one week to be seen so we hope you are able
to view it. We had successful
publicity with several articles in the Cary News.
Our
Teen Show was very successfully executed by a committee of 10 with 47 paintings
entered from eight schools. The
exhibit will be on view until May 13th. And most of you
have the opportunity of viewing it
tonight in the HYCC lobby as you passed in or out of
this meeting.
We
have volunteers set and ready to give out information at the Community Area and
some to do demonstrations in the
Spring Daze Festival.
We
are looking at hiring a professional consultant to lead FALC members in
discussion
and planning for the future of the
organization.
We
look forward the fourth Thursday of each month to varied and interesting
presentations
with Barbara Gill a local portrait
artist being our presenter this month.
·
Other
Organizations
K.
ADJOURN
The
Town of Cary
is committed to providing all citizens with the opportunity to participate fully
in the public meeting process. Any person with a disability who needs an
auxiliary aid or service in order to participate in any meeting may contact the
Town Clerk at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. The e-mail address is sue.rowland@townofcary.org;
the phone number is (919) 469-4011; the TDD number is (919) 469-4012.
Please
contact the Vicki Hayes with any questions about this agenda. The e-mail address
is vicki.hayes@townofcary.org,
and the phone number is (919) 469-4061.