Lawrence Arts Commission

Minutes of November 14, 2007

 

Present: Evie Rapport, Chair; Donna Griffin; Elizabeth Hatchett; Matt Herren; Lora Jost; Tom King; John Reeves; Leslie vonHolten; and Sandra Wiechert.

Absent: David Loewenstein; Margaret Morris.

City Liaison: Michael Tubbs

 

A. The meeting was called to order by the chair, Evie Rapport, at 7:10 pm in the Jayhawk Conference Room of Fire Station #4.

B. The Minutes of the October 10 meeting were reviewed and accepted.

 

C. Regular Agenda Items

   1.  The chair thanked all concerned with the Phoenix Award ceremony and reception on Nov. 4. The consensus was that it was well organized, well attended, and well received by all involved. She thanked John Reeves for taking over 150 photos and putting them on a CD. Nominees and winners will each receive photos. Several photos will be put on the website.

    2. A. Commissioner Hatchett reported that applications for grants should be open in early January with a due date in February. Commissioners questioned if the grant application time frame should be open ended. Commissioner Reeves proposed rolling submissions. Commissioner vonHolten will start meeting with this Grants Committee.

       B. Commissioner Griffin reported the Outdoor Downtown Sculpture Exhibit committee had met, and from three proposed jurors had selected Bill Buchen of New York. His biography will be needed for the website and brochure. The postcard will go out soon, with the printed deadline for proposed sculpture submissions to be Jan. 28, 2008, at 4 pm. The LAC email and web address will be on all materials. Winners will be notified in mid-March. The new sculptures must arrive April 25 between 9 am and 3 pm.

The annual Walking Tour to view the installed sculptures will be Saturday, June 7, 5:30-8:30 pm. Commissioners suggested miking the juror and recording his comments for the website so that those not attending could hear the juror’s interpretations.

           Commission chair Rapport reported that George Woodyard, a Rotarian who with other Rotarians had worked with Parks and Recreation to develop the new Rotary Arboretum for Lawrence’s Sesquicentennial, had proposed having city sculpture at the Arboretum. Perhaps this could be an ODSE piece or an orphan sculpture. Commissioners thought this was a fine idea, although it is too late to act on it this year. It was felt Rotary should help with the financing of such a project; possibly by applying for a Kansas Arts Commission grant.  

       C. Commissioner Wiechert expressed appreciation to all commissioners for their attendance at the Phoenix Awards, and to Staff Liaison Tubbs for all his work with the whole Phoenix Awards process. She felt very positive about the entire process. Attendance was reported at 228.

 

 

 

 

Lawrence Arts Commission Minutes, Nov. 14, 2007                                                                  Page 2

 

       D. Commissioner King reported on his Nov. 1 committee meeting concerning the new LAC website. He hopes the website can be enabled for podcasts and photo galleries.

He hopes that by the end of the year some of the old website can be transferred to the new. He plans to report on how to update this new site. He requested commissioners send him links to be put on the new site.

       E. Commissioner Jost reported on a Kansas Arts Commission grant writing workshop. She reviewed a presentation on factoring in proposals to serve those with disabilities which should be included in grant proposals. This may be required in order to comply with state and federal guidelines.

Commisssioner Jost reminded the LAC that it may again apply for a KAC grant after March 2008. She has a goal to meet with her new committee, Fundraising and Project Development, in November or December. Commissioners talked of new ideas and projects for this committee.

       F. Commissioner Wiechert reported on the many upcoming citywide arts and cultural events as announced that noon at the Arts Roundtable. Commissioner Hatchett who also attended the Roundtable added to this, including her own work with the Wakarusa River Heritage Museum.

 

D. New Business

    1. The nominating committee includes commissioners Wiechert, chair; Hatchett; Jost, King, and Morris. They will meet to choose a slate for chair, vice chair, and secretary before the next regular meeting.

E.  Unfinished Business

The chair and the commissioners decided to put off discussion of the proposed Administrative Policy Manual until the December 12th meeting.

F. Commissioner Items

    1. Liaison Tubbs said a letter needs to be sent to the City Commission expressing the LAC’s wishes to amend or change several clauses in Resolution 5966. It was moved and seconded by commissioners Hatchett and King for the executive committee to draft such a letter and send it to the City Commission. The motion passed.

    2. Commissioner Morris’ first LAC full term ends in January, and she will not seek reappointment.  Commissioner Herren will seek reappointment for his first full term.

    3. Liaison Tubbs reported on the many fine compliments given by sculptors Gail Simpson and Aristotle Georgiades at the dedication of Beacon, their Percent for Art sculpture recently installed at Fire Station #4. The two artists spoke highly of the Lawrence Arts Commission and of Lawrence’s openness and acceptance of art.

   4. Commissioner King proposed a possible LAC event to be held in the Lawrence Arts Center, sort of a public “meet the commissioners” event to introduce ourselves and thus publicize existing and new activities of the LAC.

 

Commissioners Griffin and vonHolten moved and seconded that the meeting be adjourned. The motion passed at 8:50 pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Sandra Wiechert, Secretary