Lawrence Arts Commission

Minutes of March 14, 2007

Present: Evie Rapport, Chair; Elizabeth Hatchett; Tom King; David Loewenstein; Margaret Morris; John Reeves; James Schaefer; Leslie von Holten; Sandra Wiechert

Absent: Donna Griffin; Liz Kowalchuk

City Liaison: Michael Tubbs

Guest: Del Christensen

A. The meeting was called to order by Commission chair Evie Rapport at 7 pm in the meeting room of Fire Station #5. New Commissioner, Leslie von Holten, was introduced.

B. The Minutes of the Feb. 14 meeting were reviewed. Commissioners King and Morris moved and seconded the Minutes be approved as corrected. Motion passed.

C.1.a. Commissioner Rapport announced Anna Cook, Lawrence High School junior, will attend our April and May meetings as a Youth in Local Government representative. 

b. On Feb. 20, commissioners Rapport, Kowalchuk, and Wiechert and liaison Tubbs will meet with City Manager David Corliss for an LAC discussion and budget review.

c. Liaison Tubbs distributed his new cards. His work office is now located at the east end of the lower level of the Riverfront Mall. His phone is changed to 832-3178.

d. The final report for the 1995 grant from the Kansas Arts Commission has now been submitted. Now the LAC can seek new KAC grant funding.

e. The Public Art Review magazine was passed around, as well as two editions of

The Sourcebook of Architecture and Interior Art.

f. Commission Chair Rapport and others want to know more of the origin and funding of percent for art projects. She will discuss this with City Manager Corliss.

g. Rapport and Tubbs reported on a Kansas Arts Commission Strategic Planning session they attended in March. Others from Lawrence included Ann Evans, Luellen Crane, and LaVerne Squires. They and other attendees spent the day brainstorming and seeking nationwide arts information.

D.1. Del Christensen addressed the LAC with his concerns about KREOS, the Kansas River Expression of Soul project. Previously the LAC had approved this project following spirited discussion and with the encouragement of the then-director of Parks and Recreation. The project is now on indefinite hold. Christensen lives near the proposed woods, within walking distance of downtown, and sees no reason to alter the site. He has sought but finds limited information on the organizers and any plans. He questions what “temporary art” really is, as do all the commissioners. Permanent and donated art policies were discussed. Commissioners are concerned about all the above, as this is new territory and we feel we need guidance. Liaison Tubbs will advise us of City Commission meetings where KREOS will be discussed. An issue of Lawrence.com containing an article on this project was passed around.

2. Conflict of Interest forms were filled out by all commissioners. These will be kept in Liaison Tubbs’ office. We all need to read the city ethics and regulations documents provided in our appointment packets.

LAC March 14 Minutes, pg. 2

C.2.A. Commissioner Morris reported that the April meeting will be to review grants applications, due March 26. Commissioners with possible conflicts of interest will need to recuse themselves during discussion.

2.B. Commissioner Reeves reported the current outdoor downtown sculpture exhibit will come down March 29. Future Man has already been removed due to damage. The new installation process will begin April 13. Of the 27 applications received, Parks and Recreation staff eliminated 3-4 due to safety and stability concerns with up to 5 more being conditional. A CD has been sent to the juror who will make choices by April 1.

2.C. In the absence of Commissioner Kowalchuk, no Percent for Art report was given.

2.D. & 2.F. Commissioner Wiechert had neither a Phoenix Award report nor an Arts and Culture Roundtable report.

2.E. Commissioner Hatchett reported on website development. Commissioners King and Loewenstein had taken photos for her and Andrea Wertzberger, website developer. Commissioners agreed that educational and public relations components are very important. Commissioner Rapport likes the exchange of art information from other sources. She wonders if we should have grant and program information on our website plus a bulletin board and links to other art agencies.

There was brief discussion of concerns about the Stan Herd art project east of the Kaw River Bridge made for a Bert Nash Community Mental Health celebration. The flowers and vase created from rocks are eroding and falling away. Both funds and volunteers are needed to restore it.

E.1. Commissioner Rapport updated a list of committee members:

Budget and Finance: Rapport, chair; Kowalchuk, Wiechert

Liaison to KREOS: Commissioner King will attend known meetings and take

watchful notes.

Commissioners Loewenstein and Schaefer want more workshops. They want Lawrence artists to know of more area resources. Rapport will send a full committee list.

E.2. The LAC’s Strategic Planning Retreat will be Saturday, April 21, 9 am-2 pm, at the Indoor Aquatic Center. A light breakfast and lunch will be provided. Before this retreat commissioners are requested to re-read Commissioner Loewenstein’s retreat proposal and a forwarded document from Lee’s Summit. They should then email to Commission Chair Rapport what they want to discuss at this planning retreat. From a public relations standpoint, commissioners need to show the public it is getting good use of the money given to LAC.

F. Commissioners Morris and Reeves moved and seconded to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed at 8:50 pm. The next meeting will be Wednesday, April 11, at 7 pm in the

Fire Station #5 meeting room.

Respecfully submitted,

Sandra Wiechert, Secretary