07/30/2020 - Special Meeting Public Art and Design Board Meeting Minutes July 30, 2020
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
m
ap
® e
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, July 30, 2020
2:00 PM
Special Meeting / Virtual
Main Library - Council Chambers
Public Art and Design Board
Page 1
City of Clearwater
Public Art and Design Board Meeting Minutes July 30, 2020
Roll Call
Present 4 - Chair Jerri Menaul, Vice Chair Eric Seiler, Board Member Jonathan
Barnes, and Board Member Danny Olda
Absent 3 - Board Member Neale A. Stralow, Board Member Michael Potts, and
Board Member Jennifer Barbaro
Also Present - Christopher Hubbard - Cultural Affairs Coordinator, Patricia O. Sullivan
- Board Reporter
1. Call To Order
The meeting was called to order at 2:05 p.m. Chair Jerri Menaul, Vice
Chair Eric Seiler, Board Members Jonathan Barnes and Danny Olda
attended the meeting using communications media technology. Also
participating in the meeting were Cultural Affairs Coordinator Christopher
Hubbard and Board Reporter Patricia Sullivan.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily
discussed in that order.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve the June 11, 2020 Public Art & Design Advisory Board minutes.
Member Seiler moved to approve the minutes of the June 11, 2020
Public Art & Design Board meeting as submitted in written summation.
The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
3. Citizens to be Heard Regarding Items Not on the Agenda: None.
4. New Business Items
4.1 Approve the proposed finalists and alternate for Sculpture360: Season X.
Cultural Affairs Coordinator Christopher Hubbard said the Board had
directed staff to focus the Sculpture360: Season X call on sustainability
and recycling themes and limit artists to Florida residents. Of 17
submissions, 4 were repurposed and only one showed proposed
materials (the selection panel did not choose that piece).
Mr. Hubbard presented photos of the Sculpture360: Season X selection
panel's recommendations: 1) "Paradox"by Robert Cordisco, 2) "Ring
Canopy"by Lucy Keshavarz, 3) "Festival Blue"by Clayton Swartz, and 4)
alternate sculpture "Tree"by Gus and Lina Ocamposilva. All artists were
Florida residents.
Admiration was expressed for Clearwater artists Gus and Lina
Ocamposilva.
Page 2
City of Clearwater
Public Art and Design Board Meeting Minutes July 30, 2020
Mr. Hubbard said the Ocamposilvases previously participated in
Sculpture360. Their sculpture "Reaching for Knowledge" was displayed in
front of the Clearwater East Community Library at St. Petersburg College.
An alternate sculpture for Sculpture360 was chosen should an approved
piece not be available.
Member Seiler moved to recommend approval of the slate of
finalists and alternate for Sculpture360; Season X. The motion
was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
4.2 Review an update on the placement of public art at Crest Lake Park.
Review an update from city staff regarding the placement of public art at
Crest Lake Park. Staff has met with the park's design firm Dix Hite and has
identified several potential sites for public artwork.
Mr. Hubbard said potential public art placement locations at Crest Lake Park
included the event lawn, lake overlook, entrance garden to the children's
area and by the boardwalk, launch beach, and dog park. Between 3 and 6
art pieces could be commissioned depending on size. Art pieces, which
could be created by one or more artists, needed to be integrated into the
landscape or hardscape and securely mounted to prevent theft. Rotating
artwork could be mounted on permanent pads. Theme ideas included
native fauna and flora or chrysanthemums and gladiolas that reflected
local history. The Call to Artists will be released mid-August.
4.3 Appoint a Public Art & Design Board member to the Crest Lake Park selection panel.
Appoint a Public Art & Design Board member to chair the Crest Lake Park
selection panel. This panel will be responsible for reviewing applicants, the
identification of a short list of finalists, and the selection of a project artist.
Consensus was to appoint Member Jonathan Barnes to represent the
Public Art & Design Board on the Crest Lake Park selection panel which
will be formed in late September/early October. Other panel members
included Michael Lavery or Matt Anderson representing the Parks &
Recreation Department, Joanna Siskin or other resident representing the
Skycrest Neighborhood Association, arts professional Kelly Ciociola, an
art conservator, and arts professional Catherine Corcoran, a landscape
architect.
4.4 Review an update on the placement of public art at the Clearwater Gas System Utility
Complex.
Review update regarding placement of public art at the Clearwater Gas
System Utility Complex. Staff has met with the Gas System's assistant
Page 3
City of Clearwater
Public Art and Design Board Meeting Minutes July 30, 2020
director and has identified the west fagades of buildings #3, #4, and #8 as
sites for the placement of public artwork.
Mr. Hubbard said he had walked the complex with Clearwater Gas System
Assistant Director Brian Langille re public art placement that would be visible
to the public from a distance. Most of the complex had significant Gas
System traffic. He presented a photo of a rear wall about 35 feet from the
Pinellas Trail that faced the Pinellas Trail and Blanche. B. Littlejohn Trail.
The public artwork could be a mural, fixed mosaic, or other enhancement.
The Call to Artists will be released in early September. He had a list of 145
muralists who previously applied to create downtown murals.
It was recommended that the Call to Artists limit applications to Florida
residents.
4.5 Appoint a Public Art & Design Board member to the Clearwater Gas System Utility
Complex selection panel.
Appoint a Public Art & Design Board member to chair the Clearwater Gas
System Utility Complex selection panel. This panel will be responsible for
reviewing applicants, the identification of a short list of finalists, and the
selection of a project artist.
Consensus was to appoint Vice Chair Eric Seiler to represent the Public
Art & Design Board on the Clearwater Gas System Utility Complex
selection panel. Other panel members included Brian Langille,
representing Clearwater Gas System, a resident from homes fronting the
Gas System Complex and Pinellas Trail/Blanche. B. Littlejohn Trail, arts
professional Jenee Priebe representing SHINE Mural Festival, and arts
professional Melissa Davis representing Tampa Public Art.
4.6 Review a proposed gift of the "Poseidon: God of the Sea" sculpture and provide
comments.
Mr. Hubbard said a donor had offered the City a gift opportunity, a 10-foot
bronze sculpture "Poseidon: God of the Sea."He presented a photo of the
sculpture and rendering of the donor's vision for the sculpture to hold a
large trident and be mounted atop a City constructed fountain at one of 5
Clearwater Beach access points, a donor suggested spot atop a sand
dune was not permitted by law. Nearby Pier 60 Park featured a sculpture
of a Greek immigrant. The donor previously offered the sculpture to the
City of Tarpon Springs but that city declined as it felt the wall behind the
fountain in the donor's design was too large. The donor did not insist on
including the wall in Clearwater.
Mr. Hubbard said Clearwater tried to maintain cohesiveness throughout
its art collection, the sculpture was dissimilar from City artwork. He
Page 4
City of Clearwater
Public Art and Design Board Meeting Minutes July 30, 2020
preferred the Board choose original artwork rather than accept donations
that may be unsuitable. Considering the sculpture's style and excessive
costs for its hardscape, he recommended the Board not support its
acceptance.
In response to questions, Mr. Hubbard said the statue and fountain would
be approximately 13.5 feet tall. As proposed, the City would finance the
fountain's construction, operation, maintenance, and risk management,
he did not know if those costs would have to be subsidized by the Board's
discretionary fund.
Discussion ensued with comments that the offer was generous but
construction of a fountain for the sculpture would deplete the discretionary
fund and concerns were expressed that water in the fountain would not
deter public access to the trident or prevent mischief or injuries from the
sharp prongs. It was felt the sculpture did not complement Clearwater's art
collection and it was questioned if iconic beach locations were suitable for
a sculpture and fountain. Input from the City Council was requested before
the Board reached a decision.
5. Old Business Items
5.1 Review the current Public Art Fund balance.
The current Public Art Fund balance is $92,215. Upcoming expenses are 1)
$9,000 for Sculpture360: Season X; and 2) $1,000 for the extended loan of
sculptures "Gaia" and "In a Musical Atmosphere."
Mr. Hubbard reported the Discretionary Fund may be boosted by a $100,000
contribution from the Gas System complex's public art budget.
5.2 Review an update on the Public Art General Maintenance & Conservation Fund.
City staff has been working with Assistant City Manager Maxwell to establish
a Public Art General Maintenance & Conservation Fund. Staff has received
approval for this fund and a preliminary $20,000 will be made available for
the maintenance and conservation of the city's public art collection.
Mr. Hubbard said the Public Art General Maintenance and Conservation
Fund will receive an annual allocation of$15,000. Funds could be pooled
across years for large-scale maintenance projects. The fund will allow
discretionary funds to be directed to acquiring public art.
5.3 Review an update on public art programming in response to COVID-19 and social
distancing practices.
City staff has completed a pilot website for an interactive map of downtown
Page 5
City of Clearwater
Public Art and Design Board Meeting Minutes July 30, 2020
public art and placemaking projects. An initial 25 projects are listed, and
there are future plans to expand this listing to include all city and county
public art and placemaking projects, including the Clearwater Arts Alliance
signal box art wrap program.
Mr. Hubbard said Cultural Affairs had partnered with the CRA
(Community Redevelopment Agency) and CAA (Clearwater Arts
Alliance, Inc.) to create the web based interactive map of downtown art that
included photos of 25 art sites and information on each artist and artwork.
The easy to use interactive map provided information for self-guided walking
tours and included a link to CAA docent led, socially distanced tours.
Mr. Hubbard said the group was unable to invest in an app based delivery
system at this time. Clearwater announced the August 1 launch via press
releases. Tampa's unction planned to cover Clearwater downtown art for
its website.
5.4 Review an update on the progress of the Imagine Clearwater project.
Mr. Hubbard reported the Imagine Clearwater band shell was relocated to
the northeast section of Coachman Park, shifting some public art sites.
The value engineering stage was underway and eliminating some site
amenities. Significant public art was planned for the Civic Gateway. He
will continue to press for public art as a project priority.
Appreciation was expressed for Mr. Hubbard's efforts.
6. Director's Report
Mr. Hubbard presented photos of recently completed CAA wrapped
signal boxes funded by the Public Art & Design Discretionary Fund grant,
the butterfly decorated signal box in the Lake Belleview neighborhood
and the gladiola decorated signal box in Skycrest. Signal box art in the
Spring Branch and Valencia Park neighborhoods was in the planning
stage.
Mr. Hubbard said the CRA sought artists to design and paint murals on
downtown public and private properties. Applications were due September
1 with murals scheduled for completion by January 31, 2021. The stipend
for each mural ranged from $5,000 to $20,000 depending on size and
complexity. Six mural sites were confirmed, including the Cleveland
Street/Garden Avenue intersection.
In response to a question, Mr. Hubbard said expanding the mural program
Citywide would be discussed at the next meeting.
Page 6
City of Clearwater
Public Art and Design Board
Meeting Minutes July 30, 2020
Mr. Hubbard said early stage plans were considering the integration of
public art at the new Police substation project site in Countryside.
7. Board Members to be Heard: None.
8. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 2:55 p.m.
Attest:
oard Reporter
City of Clearwater
(Chai Pu.Iic Art & Design Advisory Board
Page 7