Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department

Public Art Advisory Board


MINUTES


Wednesday, May 21, 2008

6:15 p.m.

 

Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources

Conference Room

316 North Academy Street, Cary, NC  27511

www.townofcary.org

 

Present:  Carol Aupperle, Chair; Ginger Hayes; Pat Hudson; Gray Rinehart; Carl Regutti; Smythe Richbourg; Lejandro DeRomas, Teen Council Representative; Gale Adcock, Council Liaison;

 

Staff: Denise Dickens, Lyman Collins, Vicki Hayes

 

Guests:  Elizabeth Conner, Artist; Ed Meserve, Architect; Don Anderson, Sprint; Jimmy Campbell, Engineer; Rob Bacon; Todd Bryant, CVA Executive Director; Scott Fogelman, Budget Director

 

A.         Call to Order – Carol Aupperle, Chair

·         The meeting was called to order at 6:17 p.m.

           

B.         Roll Call

·         Noting those absent

Ginger Castle; Eric Forehand; Charles Rankin; Lauren Mincey, Teen Council Representative

 

·         Noting a quorum is present

Quorum was present at 6:17 pm

 

C.         Adoption of Agenda

·         Approval of DRAFT agenda

The agenda was amended to include Public Art Budget under New Business.

ACTION:  Gray Rinehart made a motion to approve the agenda with the amendment.  Pat Hudson seconded.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

D.         Minutes

·         Approval of DRAFT 16 April 2008 minutes

ACTION:  Ginger Hayes made a motion to approve the minutes.  Pat Hudson seconded.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

E.         New Business

·         Public Art Budget – Scott Fogelman, Budget Director

v      Carol Aupperle asked Gale Adcock to report on the Council’s Budget process. Scott Fogelman gave a brief overview of the budget process and how public art projects are incorporated into the process.  He distributed a hand out that detailed the recommended public art projects.  Councilor Adcock encouraged the Board to attend the upcoming budget hearings (May 29 and June 12) at the public meeting at Council meetings as they were opportunities to speak about support for public art.  If anyone has any questions, please feel free to contact Scott at scott.fogleman@townofcary.org.

 

·         Review Concepts for Alston Seal/Logo Art

v      The Alston Regional Activity Center is an area of approximately 970 acres at the intersection of I-540 and NC 55.  The area is divided into four areas, which will be comprised of neighborhoods and a mix of retail and office space.

v      The Board is being asked to give direction on the seal/logo art that will be used for community identity.  The Board was shown several concept drawings to rank.  Staff will compile the list and meet with the artist to give different options.

 

·         Donation Offer by Ikebana Artist, Lily Karmartz

v      The Australian artist Ms. Karmartz had a wonderful time during her artist’s residency the week prior to Spring Daze.  She is offering the painting “Nature Is My Paint Brush” to the Town of Cary.

ACTION:  Pat Hudson made a motion to recommend to Council acceptance of the painting to add to the Town’s art collection.  Gray Rinehart seconded.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

F.         Old Business

·         Streetscape Communication Tower– presentation artist Elizabeth Conner with architect Ed Meserve

v      The Communication Tower is a separate project from the Downtown Streetscapes project, but it will need to flow with the streetscape concept. 

v      The water tower will be taken down and the cell tower built on the same footprint.  The objective is to develop a design that will visually tie into the Downtown Streetscapes project.

v      The last PAAB meeting provided good feedback for the artist and the architect who took the comments and incorporated them into one of the 3 earlier concepts.

v      The core elements are the same; however the metal mesh was eliminated.  The lighting aspect is under review.

v      The Board still like the concept, but was concerned with the top not twisting like the middle of the tower. 

v      The Board wanted to make sure the color was something that would complement the round-a-bout.

v      Everyone was in general agreement that the concept was good and should continue to refine design and work on lighting. 

 

·         Minor Alteration of Site Plan review of Ashworth’s – permanent placement of public art

v      An application for Minor Alteration to a Site Plan has been submitted to the Town to convert the temporary artwork on the exterior of Ashworth Drugs to a permanent installation. 

v      Staff reminded PAAB that this artwork had been previously reviewed by this Board as part of the CVA Temporary Exhibitions public art placement application.

v      The artist would like to donate the temporary art on the exterior of the building to Ashworth’s.  The Town would not own nor maintain.

ACTION:  Pat Hudson made a motion to accept the site plan change to a permanent status.  Smythe Richbourg seconded.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

·         Walnut Street Park - update

v      The deadline for bids has passed.  The contract will be awarded in June.

 

·         US 1/64 Pedestrian Bridge Project - update

v      Department of Transportation still has the encroachment agreement, which we have been told should arrive to the Town in about a week. 

 

·         Sears Farm Road Park sculpture by Russ Rubert - update

v      At this time the sculpture by Russ Rubert has been taken out of use because of needed repairs.  The pole appears to be leaning, so staff, engineer, and a fabricator will be reviewing the piece for repair. 

 

·         Spring Daze Public Art Questionnaire Results - discussion

v      Thanks to everyone that volunteered for Spring Daze.  There was a modest reply to the questionnaires, but still useful information was gathered about priority areas for public art.  We will need to think of a more interesting way to solicit feedback for Lazy Daze.

 

·         Review 2008 Board Goals

v      The Board reviewed its goals.

 

G.                 Reports from Representative Organizations

 

Cary Visual Art (CVA) –Pat Hudson

v      Introduced CVA’s new Executive Director, Todd Bryant, will assume his new role on May 21, 2008l.

v      Planning for the Cary Outdoor Sculpture Competition and Exhibition is moving along.  A total of 39 artists applied by last Friday’s May 16th deadline.  Ten artists will be chosen to exhibit their works on Town Hall Campus from August 15, 2008 to June 18, 2009.  The Juror for the competition is Hand Foreman, Director and Chief Curator of the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts in Boone, NC.  CVA will present the proposed artworks to PAAB on June 18, 2008.

v      The Black Creek Greenway project (located at the intersection of NW Maynard & Chapel Hill Road) is going forward.  Three artist finalists were interviewed on Thursday, May 15.  Jim Hirschfield of Chapel Hill; Bruce Myers of Eastsound, WA; and Brad Spencer of Reidsville, NC.  The committee was split on the final candidate and did not reach a final decision on May 15.  Michelle has asked members to complete a rating sheet, while she conducts reference checks.

v      The West Regional Library project is going forward, with fabrication underway.  Installation may be complete by the end of June, but not confirmed.

v      Upcoming Public Art in Focus Lectures will be Elizabeth Conner on May 22, 2008.  Please call Michelle Normand 531-2821 with inquiries.

v      Presentation of 4 mixed media paintings are being offered to the Town.

 

ACTION:  Pat Hudson made a motion to recommend that Council accept the CVA offer of donation of four artworks purchased from the Fine Arts League of Cary.

Ø       Tabourets by Lynn Troy

Ø       Up the River Bank by Wendy Musser

Ø       Colorplay II by Sharron Parker

Ø       Dancing Trees by Wynn Easton

Smythe Richbourg seconded.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

·         Fine Arts League of Cary (FALC) – Carl Regutti

Ø       Carl confirmed that PAAB members were receiving the newsletter.

 

·         Other Organizations

 

H.         Public Speaks Out (opportunity for guests and members to address Board – limit 5 minutes per                 speaker)

 

I.          Adjourn

v      Smythe Richbourg made a motion for the meeting to adjourn at 7:55 p.m.

 

 

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 of 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 Vicki Hayes with any questions about this agenda.  The e-mail address is vicki.hayes@townofcary.org and the phone number is (919) 319-4560.