HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/3/2023 - Minutes
RENTON MUNICIPAL ARTS COMMISSION MINUTES
Tuesday, October 3, 2023 – 6:00 pm
Renton City Hall – Conferencing Room (726) or via Zoom
Members Present: Bill Huls, Evelyn Reingold, Janna Kushneryk, Kaie Wise, Marsha Rollinger, Marvin
Rosete, Mary Clymer, Susan Jessick
Staff Present:
Jessie Kotarski, RMAC Staff liaison
Guests
Ashley Long, Sound Transit
Barbara Luecke, Sound Transit
Ali Cohen, Commission Applicant
Amy Hsieh, Commission Applicant
Celestial Bean, Resident/artist
Ali Cohen, a Commission applicant, residing in North Renton for three years, currently employed at RTC in
downtown Renton. A multi-talented individual with interests in music, painting, and poetry. Actively
involved with the RDP, including hosting the Art Tour downtown. Expresses a keen interest in contributing
to and being involved in the community.
Amy Hsieh, a Commission applicant with five years in Renton, is a project manager at a tech company and
is concurrently pursuing a Master's degree in jewelry and sculpture online.
Celestial Bean, a Renton resident, is actively engaged in working on a grant proposal. She has a diverse
background, having owned a screen-printing shop and previously managed the Film Frenzy. Celestial has
contributed to the local art scene by running an art magazine for the City, focusing on a directory of local
art activities and events. Currently, she is working on a quarterly publication titled RAD (Renton Art
Document) and is seeking a grant as seed money. The publication aims to be free, supported by small
business advertising and sponsorships.
Ashley Long from Sound Transit's Art Program provided updates on various projects:
• South Renton Park & Ride: The mural size was reduced due to temporary fence weight limitations,
causing installation delays.
• Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Art Planning: Property acquisition for BRT planning led to integrated artwork
for the entire site project. STRIDE Shelter artwork includes integrated art panels for a consistent look
across stops on the 44th Station in Renton. Judson Studio was hired for art fabrication using durable
materials like glass.
• 405 and 522 Line BRT STRIDE Shelters: One artist is assigned for each line, with restrictions to avoid
driver distraction (art on one side only). RFQs and artist shortlist development are ongoing, and Arts
Commission members will be involved in suggesting artist panel members.
• South Renton Transit Center: Unique shelter designs focusing on glass, including clerestory and
windscreens, integrated into the facility. There are 4 or 5 shelters at the Rainier/Grady Transit Center.
The artist selection process prioritizes qualifications over proposals, and artists will be encouraged to
research the community for a design/theme recommendation that resonates with the community.
Correspondence & Announcements:
• Heros Concert by Army Field Band: November 4, 7 pm - IKEA Performing Arts Center
• Pippin at Renton Civic Theatre: Current shows canceled due to COVID; hopeful reopening on
Friday, October 6
• Fall Family Concert - October 22, 2 pm - Allied Arts hosted
• SoCoCulture Meeting: November 9, 9:30 am to 12 pm - Auburn Postmark Center for the Arts
o Focus on Art Master Planning Process
• Key to Change Events:
o October 7 - "Unmute the Voices" at the Key to Change studio
o October 14 - Joint event with Symphony at 7 pm
o Arts Commission asked for an introduction; Bill or Marvin may do the welcome
Approval of Minutes: A motion was made and carried to approve the minutes from the September
meeting. MSC (Mary/Marvin)
Budget Update:
• No changes have occurred since September.
• $200 is still available in the 2023 Arts & Culture grant (earmarked funds).
• $6,050 remains in the support grant from 4Culture.
• There is funding available for promotions and roadshow, with room for potential sponsorships or
funding for fall events.
Promotions Committee update:
• Scarecrow competition: Volunteers needed for the event on Saturday, October 28 from 1 to 4pm
(looking for judges to participate from 12pm to 3pm).
• Costume contest: Volunteers needed (looking for judges to participate 1:00pm to 4:00pm).
• Sponsorship discussion: Sponsorship opportunities were discussed, with a recommendation to invite
potential sponsors to submit Letters of Intent (LOI). The commission is excited about the sponsorship
prospects and encourages interested parties to submit their LOIs by the specified deadline.
Roadshow Committee update: The Roadshow Committee provided an update during the meeting. The
next performance on the agenda is the Halloween event, featuring Mikey the Rad Scientist.
Grants Committee update:
The Grants Committee highlighted that a Grant Q&A session is scheduled at the Renton Library on
Tuesday, October 10, from 6 to 7 pm. Additionally, the first round of funding for 2024 is set to close on
October 13. The CREA Makerspace received a notable 48 applications, with 18 of them meeting some
need-based criteria. To support the broader creative community, 6 weeks of makerspace membership will
be granted to the remaining applicants. Furthermore, the completion of the mural by Craig Cundiff was
acknowledged as a significant achievement.
Old Business:
Arts & Culture Space - Tommy Segundo from CreNative Designz has received the key to the Arts and
Culture space. The plan is to have a soft opening on Monday, October 9, in honor of Indigenous People's
Day.
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 7:28pm.