11-04-2010 (Public Arts Advisory) Minutes Id" Public Arts Advisory Board
CITY OF WYLIE
Minutes
Special Called Meeting
November 4, 2010 — 6:30 p.m.
Wylie Municipal Complex
Council Chambers
2000 Highway 78 North
CALL TO ORDER
Announce the presence of a Quorum.
The meeting was called to order at 6:38 p.m. by Chair Stewart Matthews. In attendance were board
members Kathy Spillyards, Polly Harrison, Thomas Gaudreau, Deya Harris, and Erin Dougherty. Board
member Ashley Burt was absent.
Staff present included Public Information Officer, Craig Kelly and Carole Ehrlich, board
liaison/secretary.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
• Discussion regarding the December 4, 2010 2nd Annual Wylie Arts Festival
(C. Kelly, PIO and C. Ehrlich, PAAB Liaison)
Board member chairs reported on the planning progress for the 2nd annual Wylie Arts Festival.
Polly Harrison- Entertainment reported that several school choirs and possibly bands had committed to
perform in the event. Craig Kelly reported that the new Recreation Center fitness team had requested
to demonstrate exercise activities in between the individual entertainment slots.
Kathy ,Spillyards, Vendor Booth member, reported that close to 60 booths were currently approved for
the event with anticipation that many more applications would be received in the next few days.
Erin Dougherty, Volunteer Committee, reported that she was and Craig Kelly met with CERT
representatives to plan the volunteer program for the event. She noted that more volunteers were
needed for vendor assistance in setting up and taking down. Board member discussed alternate shift
for the board to cover the entire day.
Craig Kelly and Stewart Matthews, Sponsorship Committee, reported that $5,500 in sponsorships had
been committed with a few more anticipated. Kelly also reported that advertising would begin with the
Wylie News, Connection Magazine, and the E-Wylie and the city newsletters.
.
• Update to the Municipal Complex Art Projects for Site #1 Site #2 and Site
#3; Update Founder's Park Art Project.
November 4,2010 Wylie Public Arts Advisory Board Meeting Minutes 2
Staff/Board Discussion
Staff liaison Ehrlich reported on the progress for Municipal Complex, Site#1, Site#2 and Site#3 art projects and
the progress at Founder's Park. She noted that the projects were coming along nicely. The large granite
monoliths were scheduled to be brought in by crane, one at a time to be place on the poured footings on
November 9th and continue into the 10m of November. She asked members to come out and watch these large
pieces of granite be placed in their final art sites.
Ehrlich reported during the action items listed for tonight's meeting some small alterations were being requested
by some of the artists. She reported that minor alterations to the art piece will be brought by the artists as they go
through the fabrication process to insure the art is the best presentation it can be.
BUSINESS ITEMS
1. Consider and act upon approval of the minutes from the October 21, 2010 Public
Arts Advisory Board meeting. (C. Ehrlich, PAAB staff liaison)
Board Action
A motion was made by board member Dougherty, seconded by board member Gaudreau to approve
the minutes from the October 21, 2010 PAAB meeting with one change (removing the S from CERTS).
A vote was taken and the motion passed 6-0 with board member Burt absent.
2. Consider and act upon recommendations to the Wylie City Council concerning
the dedication plans for the Wylie Municipal Complex Public Art Projects 1, 2 and
3. (C. Ehrlich, PAAB staff liaison)
Board Discussion
The board discussed at length the options for the art dedications for the new Municipal Complex. Board member
Gaudreau stated that he felt the dedications should be done on the same day. PAAB chair Matthews commented
that he believed all three buildings needed to be open and operational prior to the dedications. He felt that spring,
after the proposed March 2011 opening of the Library would be a good time to have the dedications. The board
members felt the city should wait until the Library was open and the landscape had started to green up, perhaps
sometime around the first part of April would be a great time to have a one day celebration for the art at the
complex.
Board members discussed asking each artist (Living Lenses and Steve Gillman) to prepare a work shop the
public could attend to learn about the artist and the art piece commissioned for the site. Members felt this would
give the public a chance to meet the artists, ask questions and take ownership in the art.
The board discussed at length, the options of having the art dedications as part of the building dedication or
opting to make the art dedications a separate event.
Board Action
A motion was made by board member Gaudreau, seconded by board member Harrison to make the
following recommendations for the art dedications at the Wylie Municipal Complex:
• Recommend having the art dedications on the same day after all three buildings are
operational.
November 4,2010 Wylie Public Arts Advisory Board Meeting Minutes 3
• Conduct workshops/ "meet the artist" sessions for the public in the new Smith Public
Library as part of the dedication planning.
• Recommend planning the dedications sometime in April 2011 after the dedication for the
new Wylie Municipal Complex.
A vote was taken and the motion passed 6-0 with board member Burt absent.
3. Consider and act upon the final approval of the elevation lines, text, font size and
placement of the etched quotes for Art Site #1, Wylie Municipal Complex by artist
Steve Gillman. (C. Ehrlich, PAAB staff liaison)
Staff/Board Discussion
Board liaison Ehrlich addressed the board stating that Steve Gillman had requested some final recommendations
for his art piece. They included final approval of the height, font size and verse wording for the etching that will be
placed on each monolith. Ehrlich reported that Gillman had recommended a height of 53" from the bottom of each
monolith to the top of the first line of the verse. She explained that this recommendation was made to insure the
wording was low enough for children to read.
Ehrlich reported that Mr. Gillman was also addressing the lines in the stone on the west and east sides of the
monoliths. Gillman had explained that because he wanted the stones to appear proportionally similar even while
their heights would vary, it was necessary to use the drilling/splitting technique which resulted in the drill marks on
what would be considered the east and west sides of each stone.
Instead of fighting the drill marks, Ehrlich explained that Gillman had chosen to make the spacing of the drill
marks intentional, repeating the arithmetic progression of the spacing of the monoliths in the spacing of the drill
marks. She explained that because the drill marks are in places, enough to create a hand hold and opportunity for
climbing, he would chip away enough of each drill mark so as to eliminate the"attractive nuisance".
Ehrlich reported that Gillman had also requested to remove the incised cut originally proposed to help define the
drop in elevation of the site. She explained that he believed it would only serve to dilute the primary content of the
work; which is the text. Gillman had explained that he had come to realize that the incised lines that had originally
been proposed not only diluted the main content of the work but was a confusing element as well.
The board discussed each proposed recommendation. Members viewed the verses from different heights. Board
chair Matthews felt the verse was too low at 53". Board member Harrison agreed. Board member Gaudreau
asked if the height could be raised to 60-65" which would still allow children to view the verse but set the verse
higher for adults.
Board member Gaudreau reviewed the spacing between the verse lines. He recommended an additional 3/8" in
between each line. Board member Spillyards felt the lines were too close together and needed some additional
spacing to allow each line to be easily read.
Board Action
A motion was made by board member Spillyards, seconded by board member Gaudreau to:
• Set the top of the first line of each verse at 65" from ground level.
• Add 3/8" to each line space.
• Approve the final font size and font spacing and verse wording.
• Approve the removal of the "incised cuts" originally proposed to define the drop in elevation.
• Approve the drill marks on the east and west sides of each monolith as long as the artist "chips"
away enough of the drill marks to eliminate the opportunity to climb onto the monoliths.
A vote was taken and the motion passed 6-0 with board member Burt absent.
November 4,2010 Wylie Public Arts Advisory Board Meeting Minutes ° 4
4. Consider and act upon the final title for Wylie Municipal Complex Site #2
sculpture by artists Po Shu Wang and Louise Bertelsen (Living Lenses). (C. —
Ehrlich, PAAB staff liaison)
Staff/Board Discussion
PAAB liaison Ehrlich addressed the board stating that staff received a request from Living Lenses, artists for Site
#2 Municipal Complex art project, requesting reconsideration of the sculpture title from "Wishing Well" to either
"Voices of Wylie" or"The Voices of Wylie".
Staff asked the artists why they were making this recommendation to change the title. Po Shu Wang stated "The
reason we wish to change the title to"(The) Voices of Wylie" is because we see Wylie as a connected community
with a strong voice. We would like this to be present in the title."
Staff is requesting the board to take action regarding this request and choose the option they feel most
appropriate.
Board Action
A motion was made by board member Harrison, seconded by board member Gaudreau to approve the
final title of the Living Lenses sculpture for the Wylie Municipal Complex, Site#2 as "Voices of Wylie". A
vote was taken and the motion passed 6-0 with board member Burt absent.
5. Consider and act upon a recommendation regarding the height of the bases for
Founder's Park Art Project "CATCH" by Madeline Wiener. (C. Ehrlich, PAAB staff —
liaison)
Staff/Board Discussion
PAAB liaison Ehrlich addressed the board stating that Madeline Wiener has contacted staff requesting a change
in the height of the risers (bases) for her sculptures, CATCH. She stated that in thinking about the overall
presentation of the sculptures and the movement involved in their actions, she felt the bases at 18" were putting
them too high in the air. She explained that both sculptures are now "larger than life" and putting them up in the
air at 18"just seemed strange to her.
Wiener is recommending a height somewhere between 6" and 12" depending on the preference of the board.
Ehrlich explained that staff has included the minutes from the board meeting where the board discussed the
higher bases for additional seating and corresponding costs. The original height of the bases was to be 6" each.
When the board moved to increase that height to 18", a cost adjustment was approved amounting to an additional
payment of$2,000.
Ehrlich explained that staff is requesting the board to take action regarding this request and choose the option
they feel most appropriate for the sculptures. The board may also determine if the artist's fees need to be
adjusted according to the option chosen.
Board member Spillyards stated a reduction to 12" would still allow for seating for small children but would lower
to some degree the height of the sculptures. Board member Dougherty stated that she felt it was very important to
be able to view the faces of the thrower and the catcher. She suggested lowering the risers to some degree to
better accomplish this.
Board Action
A motion was made by board member Gaudreau, seconded by board member Harrison to approve a
revised height for each riser at 12" and request the artist to adjust down the artist fee by $1,000 from
$40,000 to $39,000 for the commissioned art. A vote was taken and the motion passed 6-0 with board
member Burt absent.
November 4,2010 Wylie Public Arts Advisory Board Meeting Minutes 15
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by board member Harrison, seconded by board member Gaudreau to adjourn the
meeting at 8:38 p.m. A vote was taken and the motion passed 6-0 with board member Burt absent.
tewart Matthews, Chair
.
Carole Ehrlich, ecretary