HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-07-01; Arts Commission; MinutesMINUTES
Arts Commission Meeting
July I, 1999 • 4:30 p.m.
City Council Chambers
The Meeting Was Called To Order at 4:30 p.m.
Present: Commissioners Wood, O'Meara, Chartier Lignante, Shaw,
Commissioner Pynes arrived at 4:54 p.m.
Absent: Commissioner Willis
MINUTES FOR APPROVAL
No Minutes were available for approval.
OLD BUSINESS
Artwork for Carlsbad Golf Course
Arts Manager Connie Beardsley explained briefly the background of the artwork, reminding
the Commission that the original version had a caddy. The Commission at its August 1998
meeting asked to have the caddy replaced with a junior golfer. The artists, T.J. Dixon and
James Nelson agreed to make the change. The artwork was placed back on display in the
Library for public comment during June. The Commission is being asked to consider approval
of the artwork. Upon approval, the piece will be presented to various commissions that are
involved with the golf course for its approval before going forward for its presentation to City
Council.
Commissioner Chartier suggested that the Arts Office have a person that was really good at
golf look the piece over and make comments on the positions of the statues.
Commissioner Shaw stated she appreciated the artists' feelings about how the figures should
be constructed.
Commissioner O'Meara stated he felt the female figure didn't seem flattering to the athletic
component of the art and cannot support the artwork as it is.
Commissioner Lignante disagreed with Commissioner O'Meara and stated he felt the
artwork represented the average person.
Commissioner Chartier stated he supported the artwork but would like to see the figures
made more slim and athletic looking.
Commissioner O'Meara questioned whether the artiss were designing art for the City or for
the artists' own personal expressions. He didn't feel the artwork depicted Carlsbad.
Commissioner Chartier stated maybe the Commission should keep what it has.
Arts Commission Minutes -July I, 1999
Commissioner Lignante stated the piece looked okay to him. He further stated he felt that
artistically the artists wanted different shapes and sizes.
Commissioner Shaw stated she would like to see the woman figure made more slim without
costing the City any money.
Commissioner Shaw motioned that staff consult with the artist about the requested change
and return to the Arts Commission with a report at its next meeting.
AYES: Commissioners Wood, Pynes, Chattier, Lignante, Shaw, O'Meara
NEW BUSINESS
Film Festival Report
Community Arts Coordinator made a presentation to the Commission about the recent
workshop exploring the possibility of establishing a film festival in Carlsbad. (Report
attached).
Commissioner Pynes stated she liked the idea and would like to see one revolve around a
specific theme.
Commissioner Chartier stated he thought this was a good program to explore.
Report on 1999/2000 Budget
Mrs. Beardsley announced that the budget for the William D. Cannon Art Gallery had been
approved by City Council.
Carrillo Ranch Update
Chair Wood stated that several members of the Friends of Carrillo Ranch spoke during the
budget presentation to City Council requesting the Ranch be brought up-to-date next year.
He explained about the arts element portion of the Carrillo Ranch Master Plan and what an
opportunity it presented to the Arts Office. He would like the Arts Commission to assist the
Friends of Carrillo Ranch because of the partnership of artistic projects taking place during the
year. The Friends are willing to come before the Arts Commission to make a presentation.
Chair Wood stated he felt this was important to the Commission to further develop the
cooperative relationship.
Commissioner Chartier stated he supported the idea of developing the relationship further
and liked the idea of receiving a presentation from the Friends.
Chair Wood stated he would ask Alan Kindle, President of the Friends of Carrillo Ranch to
set up a tour of the Ranch for the Commission.
Arts Commission Minutes -July I, 1999
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COMMITTEE REPORTS
Chair's Report
Chair Wood reported that he recently attended the skateboard park opening, Festejando a las
Madrecitas, the Arts Commission/Arts Associates workshop, the Carrillo Ranch photo
shoot, the Carlsbad High School Drama Club's production of "Once Upon a Mattress", the St.
Patrick's School Orloff Music Program held at the Harding Home, the Village Faire Gallery
Reception, and the Patricia Rincon Dance Group performed with Carlsbad High School
students at the High School.
Mr. Wood asked Mrs. Beardsley to arrange a tour of the Gallery and Library for the
Commission at 9:00 a.m. on July 22.
Manager's Report
Mrs. Beardsley announced that Make A Circus will return to Carlsbad on July 18. Staff made a
presentation to the Senior Commission regarding the request for locating the Benbow
Bullock sculpture at the Senior Center. Senior Commissioners were hesitant about its
representation. This item was tabled until Commissioners could go to the City's Las Palmas
facility and view the artwork.
The August Commission meeting was scheduled to take place on Thursday, July 29 at 4:30
p.m. instead of Thursday, August 5.
Mrs. Beardsley further announced that the Arts Office received a grant of $ 19,000 from the
California Arts Council for the Local Arts Education Program with the Encinitas Union School
District. Also, Carlsbad Unified School District received a state grant for arts education in the
amount of $60,000 of which, the Arts Office will receive $8,000 for support services. Mrs.
Beardsley reported to the Commission she was now serving as the staff liaison to the Cable
TV Foundation which meets on the second Thursday of each month.
Arts Education Report
Commissioner Pynes reported that she recently wrote an arts education newsletter and will
mail copies to the Commission.
Gallery Report
Mrs. Beardsley reported that the Committee approved the donor wall design and added glass
artist Dale Chihouly as a new exhibition for the year 2000.
Arts Associates Report
President Barbara Nolder reported the Arts Associates raised $ 1,200 in the opportunity
drawing and $900 in products. The Associates are working on Art A La Carte for the gallery
opening.
The meeting adjourned at 5:42 p.m.
Arts Commission Minutes -July I, 1999
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CARLSBAD FILM FESTIVAL PROJECT
The Arts Office has wanted to explore ideas for a major festival in Carlsbad relating to
the arts. The Sister City Committee had interest in a. film festival (FF) which might
benefit from Karlovy Vary's major international film festival. Several potential venues
for presenting film have opened up in the city in the past few years. The Film Festival
Consultants company (FFC) was selected to provide specialized information and assist
with the exploration process. The consultants were provided with information about the
community and with the interests and ideas the Arts Office staff had already identified, to
review and develop some preliminary program outlines to meet a range of possible
goals and circumstances. The City's role would be to facilitate development of the
festival, with City as the/a probable presenter of the festival. Then FFC came to Carlsbad
to lead a community examination process.
The Arts Office sought answers to these questions as the outcome of the process:
1. Is there interest in pursuing a film festival?
2. If so, which concepts would be exciting for the City to pursue?
3. Are there groups/individuals in the community interested in working on this?
4. What are the next first steps to bringing it about if interest does exist?
Representatives of the Arts Commission, Sister City Committee, Carlsbad Theater,
Daniels Cablevision, Library Programs & Media, Carlsbad CONVIS, Chamber of
Commerce, and the Independent Film Society (IPS) took part in two round table
presentations. Consultants presented an overview of festivals worldwide and defined
two distinct purposes: to attract a national/int'l audience to Carlsbad OR to serve local
and regional audiences. They emphasized the need to start small and build toward an
expanded event and the need to develop the market and collaborate with local film
exhibitors and filmmakers. They then presented several models for Carlsbad, based on
thematic elements tied to the community, and the groups discussed these suggestions
and other ideas with regard to logistics, audiences, purposes and incentives.
RESULTS: Consensus was clear on certain posed questions. There IS interest in film
programming and film festival participation; the 2-month-old IPS has more than 130
dues-paying members, Library Programs may plan film showings in the Auditorium,
many people said they travel to San Diego for special films and have long wanted a local
"art house". Consensus clearly favored serving local audiences. Theme concepts were
not important to the group except to identify potential partners/ markets, but quality
must be exceptional to match Carlsbad's image. Next steps: programming some small
film showings and exploring collaboration opportunities.
Comments by Carlsbad CONVIS Director Steve Link re some community issues: Hotel
occupancy rates in the city are near-capacity year-round. Tourism doesn't really need the
help. The slowest season, November/December, is also a time when local audiences/
volunteers are busiest. Traffic is a growing problem, so events attracting thousands at
once are often viewed as negative, not positive, community experiences.