HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/04/2011 - Minutes � � Ctll'OF RENTON
DEC 14 2011
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RENTON MUNICIPAL ARTS COMMISSION
Meetin�Minutes
October 4, 2011 Renton City Hall
4:30 pm Conferencing Center(7`h Floor)
Municipal Arts Commissioners Present: Patricia Pepper,Jerri Everett, Peter Hartley, Bill Huls, Doug Kyes
and Britt McKenzie.
Municipal Arts Commissioners Absent: Sarah Eldridge, Brook Lindquist, Evelyn Reingold, Wesley Van
Doren and Denise Zullig
City Staff Present:lennifer Davis Hayes,Community& Economic Development
Vincent Orduna, Cultural Arts Coordinator
Vivienne Lietz,Administrative Secretary,Community& Economic Development
Elizabeth Stewart, Renton History Museum
CALL TO ORDER: Commission Chair Pepper called the meeting to order at 4:30 pm.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: COMMISSIONER PAT PEPPER PRESENTED THE MINUTES FOR SEPTEMBER TO
THE GROUP. PETER HARTLEY MOTIONED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS WRITTEN,SECONDED BY DOUG
KYES. COMMISSIONERS CONCURED, MOTION CARRIED.
PUBLIC ART PIECE OF THE MONTH: Pat Pepper gave clues on a local art piece—the artist is Lorna
Jordan and the art has"many rooms." Peter Hartley guessed it was"Waterworks." There's limited
parking and poor signage which makes it difficult to find. Pat passed around a piece on George
Tsutakawa that she had seen recently in Port Townsend.
Guests: Pat Pepper welcomed Natalie Gress to the meeting; Natalie would like to be the youth
commissioner.
CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: lennifer Davis Hayes passed around the folder for people
to review.
MASTER PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
Fall Equinox Meeting on 9/22
• Feedback
• Better marketing
• Create a flyer next time that can be attached to email or posted on a web page
• Check technology thoroughly ahead of time to make sure everything is working correctly
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October 4,2011
• Less activities so there's more focus
� Pecha Kucha was well received
' • Designated photographer next time
• Decide on a theme and then make decisions on whom to invite to present
• Pat felt the opportunity to vote on the grant was very good. It created great exposure for the
events in Renton. Maybe reformat the application in a way that better show cases the
information. Pat likes the small grants and feels they are very community oriented.
• Thanks to Liz Stewart for presenting this time!
Britt McKenzie made a motion that RMAC officially register with the Pecha Kucha Organization (pa-chok-
cha) as a Pechu Kucha city. She explained that the group who started Pechu Kucha had created an
organization and if we register,then we can host official Pecha Kucha event. Both Doug Kyes and Natalie
Gress are willing to take on that role. PETER HARTLEY AGREED WE SHOULD REGISTER WITH THE PECHA
KUCHA ORGANIZATION,SECONDED BY DOUG KYES. COMMISSIONERS CONCURED, MOTION CARRIED.
For Spring Arts Equinox,Jennifer suggested Uptown Glassworks as a possible venue. Other possible
venues are Harambee, Evergreen City Ballet, Renton Civic Theatre and Carco Theatre. We should
schedule the Arts& Heritage open house prior to SIFF coming. Liz noted the event they held in June was
mostly Renton arts and heritage people. It would be good to do a similar event in 2012 for hotel and
restaurant people to build awareness about SIFF-Renton and what's available in Renton. Should we
combine the two events and integrate/overlap them? The Chamber used to do a tour of hotel staff out
in the community to restaurants and other venues and it helps people to connect. Allied Arts members
are happy to help with this event. Jennifer and Liz will discuss and come up with a proposal for the next
meeting. Notifications would need to go out early February; the invite would need to be ready late
January. The group would like to build upon the success of the last equinox meeting.
Britt mentioned the commission has been invited to some neighborhood association meetings,
Kennydale and North Renton. It's an opportunity to talk about the Master Plan and how they can be a
part of it. Two or three commissioners attending each meeting would be effective—we could also ask a
volunteer to come along, possibly someone from Allied Arts. Jennifer gave Britt the postcards to
distribute at the meeting.
Committee Updates
Performin�Art in Renton—The next meeting may be rescheduled to a later date to provide for time for
committee tasks.
Galvanizin�proiect-The group met(8—10 people),there was some brainstorming of ideas of what a
galvanizing project might be. The reason for the brainstorming is that a committee did not decide if the
bridge lighting project was the priority and Denise felt that the group should think about all ideas and
analyze them before proceeding. Peter explained the history of the "Lighting the Bridges" galvanizing
project and that there may be difficulties with the lighting that were identified by the Department of
Fish &Wildlife. They have compiled a list of possible projects and general criteria—it must be
monumental and seen by pedestrians as well as drivers. Liz has the list and will sort and categorize. The
information from the Department of Fish and Wildlife did not kill the project;we could direct the lights
upwards not down. Color Spectrum is also important, the type of wavelengths to use. Who will do the
research? Some thought the responsibility could be up to the artist. We would apply for a grant to do a
feasibility study—one member wondered if Portland has already done it can't we use their study.
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October4,2011
Art Center: Doug Kyes is on the steering committee for the current library building. A Cultural Arts
center was discussed which could include an art gallery and a dance space. Committee members want
to bring the Cedar River into it which could mean putting a glass window in the floor. The next meeting
is Monday,October 10, 7:30 pm at the library. Liz explained the steering committee came up with a list
of possible uses for the building. There will be public meetings and we can encourage artists to attend
which would add weight to the meeting. Jennifer reiterated that completing the business plan would
help make the Art Center a much more appealing case for this building or any other in Renton. artsEast
is an organization that has been working with art centers in Kirkland and Issaquah. We could partner
with them regarding programming.
Jennifer passed around the contact"hands"we received at Renton River Days and asked commissioners
to review them and initial if you are willing to follow up with a quick thank you call to them.
Arts Commission Committees
Resource Development: Peter spoke with Denise about the committee past and potential future
direction of the committee. We learned at the Fall Arts Equinox meeting that Kellie Anderson from
Rainier Ballet is interested in doing some research on grants.
1%for Arts:The 4 Cow project is on hold for now. The RFQ is drafted and would need to go before City
Council for review before publishing. The South Renton neighborhood committed to raising$10,000 for
the project. The Commission would also need to decide the amount to commit to this project. It was
suggested to contact art fabricators with the RFQ including Artech and Seattle Opera Scenic Studios.
Rainier Avenue—The City plans to publish the bid for the entire transportation project in October and
begin work early next year. The art project will be installed towards the end of the construction
timeline. It will be the globes, poles and mosaic on the seating wall. The Commission has decided not to
pursue the west side plaza of Rainier Avenue due to lack of funding.
Communications&Marketing—no update. The committee's role is to help the whole commission with
communications and marketing, such as making flyers and writing artictes to submit. Information to
consider is to work with a school for interns. The committee members could also write articles for the
Art in Renton newsletter and create a joint calendar. The group could communicate to neighborhood
associations and do various other community outreach. Jennifer suggested we provide people
interested in helping more specific tasks and see if they can help out. Peter would like to see more
artists who are willing to help implement this plan. How do we reach out to them and get them
involved, it would be a good strategic starting point. The Commission should utilize the Google calendar
and document sharing but need to figure out the permissions. Jennifer and Vivienne will fix the
permissions and walk through the resource at the next meeting. Please bring your laptop if you have
one.
Commission Proiects
Carco Theatre—The next installation of the artist will be at 10 am on Saturday,October 15. The next
artist is a joint team and they take photos and paint on them. They will host an artist reception on
November 5, 5—7 pm. Peter and Bill will help with installation if they can. Feedback on the current
artist is folks are not sure what it is but they like her work. It makes people quizzical. Applications are
currently being accepted for 2012.
Library architecture design team—Jennifer passed around the art related notes from the KCLS Open
House meeting to give an idea of what was discussed. More information is on their website. Demolition
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October 4,2011
of the Big 5 building may happen in January and the new library building will begin construction later in
the year. We need to look at the art in the existing Renton libraries and determine new locations,
whether it's in the new library or another building. It would be nice to allow the tapestry of the salmon
to stay in the current building over the Cedar River because of the connection. This is an opportunity for
us to showcase the best pieces in our current collection and to increase exposure.
Henry Moses Honoring Pole—The plaque for the rededication was made but the quality was not
acceptable. Jennifer is working with the vendor to correct this problem. Jennifer will research other
plaque making firms since the one used in the past didn't reply to several calls and e-mails. Others
suggested contacting LA Frames or West Coast Awards.
SIFF/FilmFrenzy—There are 16 applications for the FilmFrenzy. The films will be 4 minutes or less and
completed within SO hours between Friday,October 7, 5 pm and Sunday,October 9,7 pm. This year
there will be a screening of all the films at Renton Civic Theatre on Monday, October 24,7 pm, Curvee
Awards Gala at Renton IKEA Performance Center on Tuesday,October 25,7 pm and Downtown FilmTalk
at various locations on Wednesday, October 26, 7 pm. Renton Civic Theatre has found a 15 x 24 screen
and a projector to show the films. There is a meeting in October re: SIFF-Renton in 2012.
Commission Budget—This month's report includes the small grants"Make Art Happen in Renton."
Restoration of the Arts will be a guest next month and talk about the program.
New Business—Doug has all the hands that were drawn at Renton River Days and asked if we wanted to
make it into something. He's done this before with previous Renton River Days drawings and it now
hangs in the Highlands Community Center. Bill asked about the art in empty store fronts in Renton.
Fred Lund had worked on that project and stores have since been leased. We need to check where the
silhouettes are and we can store them in Carco basement.
Adiournment: The October 4, 2011, meeting was adjourned at 6:15 p.m. The next meeting will be held
on November 1, 2011, in the Conferencing Center at 4:30 pm.
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