HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-08-07; Arts Commission; Minutes; Regular SessionARTS COMMISSION
Minutes
Aug. 7, 2025, 5:30 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER: 5:31 p.m .
ROLL CALL: George, Carrillo, Ferone, Nassiri, Breyer, Clark
Absent: Chung
INVOCATION: None.
Council Chamber
1200 Carlsbad Village Drive
Carlsbad, CA 92008
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Vice-Chair George led the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Minutes of the regular meeting held June 5, 2025
Motion by Commissioner Breyer, seconded by Commissioner Ferone, to approve the minutes as
presented. Motion carried, 6/1 (Chung-Absent).
PRESENTATIONS: None.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
CONSENT CALENDAR: None.
PUBLIC HEARING: None.
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS:
1. UPCOMING WILLIAM D. CANNON ART EXHIBIT: Receive a presentation on the planning and
preparation for the upcoming exhibit, "Printed & Stitched". (Staff contact: Alyson Benford,
Library & Cultural Arts Department)
Recommended Action: Receive the report.
The Commission received the report.
Programs & Venues Coordinator, Curator of Exhibitions, Alyson Benford, shared a PowerPoint
presentation (on file in the Office of the City Clerk).
Commissioner Breyer and Commissioner Ferone inquired about the focus and participants of
the exhibit. Commissioner Nassiri asked for a reminder on the process of picking artist(s) for
gallery exhibitions and how far in advance are exhibits booked out. Programs & Venues
Coordinator Benford explained the process.
Aug. 7,2025 Arts Commission Regular Meeting Page 2
2. VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK ARTIST FINAL CONCEPT PRESENTATION AND APPROVAL:
Receive a report from city staff and presentation from artist Gordon Heuther and approve
the final design for the Veterans Memorial Park public art. (Staff contact: Krystal Roa, Library
& Cultural Arts Department)
Recommended Action: Receive the report and approve the final design.
The Commission received the report.
Program Manager, Krystal Roa, joined by Parks & Recreation Planning Manager, Nick Stupin,
shared a PowerPoint presentation (on file in the Office of the City Clerk).
Commissioner Ferone asked the artist if the metal bars on the inside of the sculpture will be
raised enough to prohibit skateboarding. Artist Gordon Heuther confirmed the bars are
raised an inch out to deter skateboarding. Commissioner Ferone commented that this
sculpture is not representative of the memorial to veterans as that will be in the lower plaza
area and that all information about the plans of the park can be found on the City's website.
Commissioner Breyer wanted to confirm that children will not be able to climb the structure.
Both Mr. Heuther and Parks & Recreation Program Manager Stupin confirmed they will not
be able to. Commissioner Breyer also asked questions about park amenities which were
addressed Park Planning Manager Stupin.
Commissioner Nassiri asked for the dimensions of the sculpture. Mr. Heuther replied that he
would like to make the sculpture as big as possible but aiming for 16 feet. Commissioner
Nassiri asked what is the timeline. Program Manager Stupin advised it would be about 18 to
24 months.
Motion by Motion by Commissioner Ferone, seconded by Commissioner Breyer, to approve
the final design of the Veterans Memorial Park public art design. Motion carried 6/1 (Chung
-Absent).
3. ARTS COMMISSION COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS: Review and vote to approve Arts
Commission committee assignments for fiscal year 2025-26 or the length of the project. (Staff
contact: Craddock Stropes, Library & Cultural Arts Department)
Recommended Action: Review and vote to approve Arts Commission committee
assignments for fiscal year 2025-26.
Cultural Arts Manager Craddock Stropes presented committee assignments for fiscal year
2025-26.
Commissioners Nassiri and Breyer requested to be placed on a public art subcommittee.
Commissioner Ferone made a motion to add an additional Commissioner to each of the
Monroe Street Pool and Robertson Ranch Park public art projects. Commissioner Breyer
seconded. Motion carried 6/1 (Chung-Absent).
Aug. 7,2025 Arts Commission Regular Meeting Page 3
Commissioner Ferone nominated Commissioner Breyer to serve on the Monroe Street Pool
public art project. Commissioner Nassiri seconded. Motion carried 6/1 (Chung-Absent).
Commissioner Breyer nominated Commissioner Nassiri to serve on the Robertson Ranch Park
public art project. Commissioner Ferone seconded. Motion carried 6/1 (Chung-Absent).
Commissioner Breyer made a motion to approve the subcommittee assignments as
amended. Commissioner Ferone seconded. Motion carried 6/1 (Chung-Absent).
4. CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR SELECTION: Accept nominations and adopt resolutions selecting a
Chair and Vice Chair for the Arts Commission for fiscal year 2025-26. (Staff contact: Craddock
Stropes, Library & Cultural Arts Department)
Recommended Action: Adopt the resolutions.
Cultural Arts Manager Craddock Stropes opened the floor for nominations for Chair and Vice
Chair positions for the Arts Commission for fiscal year 2025-26.
Commissioner Breyer asked for protocol on electing someone to the Chair position who is not
present. Manager Stropes advised that the Commission may nominate whomever they want.
Commissioner Clark made a motion to table the vote to the next Arts Commission meeting
on Sept. 4, 2025. Commissioner Ferone seconded the motion. Motion passed 4/2/1 (Breyer,
Carrillo -Opposed, Chung -Absent).
COMMISSION COMMENTARY AND REQUESTS FOR CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS: The
Commission Members make brief announcements, brief reports of their activities and requests
for future agenda items.
CULTURAL ARTS MANAGERS COMMENTS:
Cultural Arts Manager Stropes commented on the following:
• Thanked the support organizations for their contributions to the gallery reception and
Pop Up Art activities at this season's TGIF concerts
• The return of Pop Up Art at TGIF Concerts and the start of pre-concert TGIF activities have
been a success
• It has been gratifying to see the three $10, 000 sponsors at the TGIF concerts and each
one has had a presence at each concert. Requests are still coming in to be a sponsor
• Saturdays in the Courtyard concert series are continuing this Saturday with Dylan's Steel
Drum Band at 5 p.m. in the courtyard
• The Cultural Arts department is trying to encourage a festival atmosphere in Carlsbad per
the Arts & Culture Master Plan, which is to promote, specifically, cultural festivals. Last
Saturday, we welcomed the Creative Cultures Arts Festival to the Library Learning Center
and had a successful and diverse crowd of about 100 attend. We will continue to work to
implement the measures called for in the Arts & Culture Master Plan
Aug. 7, 2025 Arts Commission Regular Meeting Page 4
• We are pleased to welcome back the return of Club Pelican summer camp
• The Cultural Arts office had a booth at Art in the Village
• Agreements are out for the Community Arts Grants for the current fiscal year. Thank you
to the Arts Commission for their support and approval of the grants
• A "Grantee Spotlight" section has been instituted on the website, and we will be inviting
Grantees to present at Arts Commission meetings so the Commission, as well as the public
at large, can stay up to date and engage with the grantees
• The Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce has asked Manager Stropes to provide a quarterly
column in the Chamber's Carlsbad Business Journal
• The City is moving forward with an application to the California Arts Council Cultural
Districts program which designates cultural districts in various geographic areas
statewide. There are currently 17 cultural districts in the state and the next round of
funding would allow for 10 more. If the City receives the designation, it comes with.
$10,000 of grant funding that would allow us to focus on the Village and the Barrio as a
cultural destination and be recognized for its historical heritage
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Commissioners are invited to the William D. Cannon Art Gallery Public Reception for the current
exhibit "Printed & Stitched":
William D. Cannon Art Gallery
Saturday, Aug. 16, 3 to 5 p.m.
1775 Dove Lane
STAFF COMMENTS: None.
ADJOURNMENT: 7:09 p.m.
/Ar' I Donovan
Senior Office Specialist