City of Lawrence

Lawrence Arts Commission

Meeting Minutes for Sept. 12, 2006

Members Present

Marlene Merrill, chair; Elizabeth Hatchett; Judi Geer Kellas; Liz Kowalchuk; Margaret Morris; Evie Rapport; John Reeves; James Schaefer; Sandra Wiechert

Members Absent

Dave Loewenstein

September Secretary

Evie Rapport

Staff Liaison

Michael Tubbs

A. Meeting was called to order at 6:33p.m. by Marlene Merrill, chair.

B. Commissioner Merrill asked that remaining months of the year have secretaries assigned so that minutes would be done as necessary. Commissioner Reeves will be secretary in October.

C.  Minutes of August meeting unavailable, because August secretary, Commissioner Mary Kennedy McCabe, has resigned from commission.

D. Old Business

          1. Kansas River of Soul Project: Commissioner Merrill requested that the Arts Commission make a final determination on whether to recommend the project to the City Commission. The project had been discussed at the August meeting, and artist/project creator Marie Thomson was again present to answer questions and present further information.

          Also present to speak in support of the project were Fred DeVictor, director of Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department; Sue Suhler, public relations director of the Lawrence Art Guild; and artist/sculptor Matt Kirby, who will create the first artwork planned for the River of Soul.

          Commissioner Merrill asked that Ms. Thompson address specific issues raised at the August meeting. These included clarifying the vision and scope of the project; presenting a master plan; and clarifying how Parks & Recreation will interact with the development and upkeep of the project.

          Ms. Thompson noted that the City Commission and Parks & Recreation had already selected and approved the site of the project, on the Kaw River between Burcham and Constant parks. The Arts Commission would be responsible only for reviewing and approving the artworks, which will be donated by artists, and overseeing whether the pieces meet the donated-art policies in city ordinances.

          Commissioner Hatchett asked Mr. DeVictor where Parks & Recreation stood in relation to the project. Mr. DeVictor said the department had been talking since January about the project and that its advisory board had approved the project and its site. He said that the flood plain along the river and access to the projected site were concerns.

          Ms. Thompson noted that the concept of environmental art that this project was built around was sound. The project would encourage people to visit the river and would protect wildlife by providing shelters and habitats. She said that the project was not requesting funds and that it had obtained commitments from outside agencies such as Westar to provide funds and volunteers to develop the site. She said an advisory board was being selected and that, if the Arts Commission approved the project, it could be expanded to provide more support for the project. For instance, she said, the Sculpture Guild and the Lawrence Art Guild could work with the Arts Commission to oversee selection of art/

          Commissioner Schaefer asked Mr. DeVictor whether the project resembled any others. Mr. DeVictor said it did not; for instance, the project volunteers would maintain the trail, not the city. Commissioner Schaefer noted that the River of Soul would create a new relationship between citizens of Lawrence and the city’s art projects.

          Commissioner Rapport asked about maintenance of the trails and the art pieces. Mr. DeVictor said the city would mow the area but that other upkeep would be the responsibility of the project board and volunteers.  Ms. Thompson said Westar Energy would be involved and that she had spoken with local scientists who were prepared to plant the project site. The Lawrence Art Guild will undertake to work with the project to develop tranquil, calming areas along the trail.

          Commissioner Hatchett noted that upkeep and development were important for the project’s success. She said she loved the concept but that practical upkeep would be challenging. Commissioner Morris expressed concern about how the project’s growth would be protected and managed in 15 years and hoped that the plans were sound enough so that the project would endure. Commissioners Merrill and Morris said that the support of the Art Guild would be crucial to the continuing success of the project.

          Mr. Kirby said the project did not have the usual relationship of art to the community. Many of the art pieces would be created and sited to eventually merge with the environment, as his planned project would do.

          Commissioner Merrill asked whether each sculpture would be approved individually, and Ms. Thompson said each artist would have to bring a proposal before the Arts Commission for approval.

          Commissioner Hatchett moved to approve the concept of the River of Soul with the understanding that individual art projects come before the Arts Commission for review under existing donated-art policies. Commissioner Wiechert seconded the motion.

          Commissioner Schaefer said that he still had questions. He asked whether a list of environmental scientists who had been consulted could be provided. He noted that changing an accessible wild place like the riverbank into a built environment could be good or bad.

          Commissioner Geer Kellas said that Mr. Kirby’s art project would actually stabilize the riverbank, which was a practical effect of the project. Also, she said, paths would be built so that wildlife habitats were not damaged.

          Staff Liaison Tubbs said that city policy requires that every donated artwork be approved by the Arts Commission. He would recommend an Arts Commission liaison with the River of Soul project.

          Commissioner Rapport expressed concerns about practicalities such as funding and maintenance of the art projects, of the habitat structures such as roosts, and of the trails.

          Commissioner Kowalchuk said that her concerns over the outline and organization of the project were unanswered. Because this would be an entirely new kind of project, she still had concerns about whether it would fit within existing legal structures.

          Commissioner Hatchett said she had supported the project from the first but that liability issues need to be addressed. Mr. DeVictor said the Parks & Recreation staff would review projects and individual pieces for safety and environmental soundness.

          Commissioner Reeves asked about the consultants for the master plan. Ms. Thompson said that the Parks & Recreation staff and Ron Pine of the Natural History Museum at the University of Kansas were the principal consultants.

          Commissioner Merrill then called the question and the Arts Commission approved the earlier motion 4-3 with 2 abstentions.

          2. Membership of the Outdoor Downtown Sculpture Exhibit committee for 2007: Commissioner Geer Kellas, chair of the 2006 committee will retain membership; Commissioner Reeves will be the 2007 committee chair. Commissioner Merrill suggested that they ask Commissioners Loewenstein and Schaefer to join the committee so that they could begin selecting a juror for the 2007 exhibit.

E. Regular Agenda Items

          1. Announcement from the chair: Commissioner Mary Kennedy McCabe has submitted her resignation from the Arts Commission because of commitments to her job as executive director of the Mid-America Arts Alliance. Commissioner Merrill expressed her hope that Ms. McCabe could again become involved in the community’s arts.

          2. Review of Committee Assignments: no action.

          3. Subcommittee Updates:

          a. Outdoor Sculpture: see Point 2 under Old Business above.

          b. Percent for Arts Fire Station #4: Commissioner Kowalchuk said Sept. 1 was the deadline for the request for qualifications and that about 40 had been received. The subcommittee will meet Sept. 26 to select the 3 finalists who will be invited to present maquettes.

          The sculpture for Fire Station #5 is at the foundry. It will be dedicated at the end of the year. The station dedication will be Sept. 29, and an open house is Sept. 30. Commissioner Kowalchuk said that several KU graduate students were cataloging and organizing an exhibit of objects relating to the history of the Lawrence Fire Department that would be mounted at the new station.

          c. Phoenix Awards: Staff Liaison Tubbs said that 3 applications had been received. Commissioner Rapport is preparing emails to members of the arts community urging them to submit nominations, and she said the Lawrence Journal-World had twice published a request for nominations. Sept. 27 is the deadline for nominations, and Staff Liaison Tubbs will prepare the nominations for distribution to the arts commissioners. Awardees will be selected at the Oct. 11 meeting.

          d. Grants: No news.

          e. Development Workshops: No news.

          f. Web Site: Commissioner Hatchett said that Andrea Wertzberger, who is working with Trent Flory to develop the Web site, would like to meet with the Arts Commission to share goals, ideas and research.

          g. Arts & Culture Roundtable: Commissioner Wiechert said that the roundtable had scheduled an Arts Day on Nov. 16 at which Lawrence groups could share information. The Arts Commission is invited to set up a table. Also, Staff Liaison Tubbs has been invited to the Oct. 11 roundtable to discuss his work with the Arts Commission.

          4. Staff Liaison Tubbs said that a year-to-date budget is being prepared and will be distributed to the Arts Commission.

          5. Commissioner Geer Kellas announced that sculptor Andrew Connelly, whose work “Indifferent Space” is on the 2006 Outdoor Downtown Sculpture Exhibit, lost his home and studio in a fire. He and his family were not present and were uninjured.

           Commissioner Geer Kellas moved to adjourn the meeting; Commissioner Wiechert seconded.