MINUTES

MARKHAM PUBLIC ART ADVISORY COMMITTEE

2006-05-10

Meeting No. 5

____________________________________________________________

 

Attendance                                                                            

 

Members

Judi McIntyre, Chair

Elizabeth Chong

Paul Leonidis

Kelly McLeod

Anderson Coward

Tom Giantsopoulos

 

Regrets

Deborah Castello

Priti Tripathi

Anna Gauci

Councillor Joe Virgilio

Councillor Alex Chiu

Shanon Elliot, Project Manager, CIB

Staff

Linda Irvine, Manager, Parks and Open Space Development

John Ryerson, Director, Varley Art Gallery

Virginia Steffler, Committee Clerk

 

 

Others

Jane Perdue, Public Art Consultant

 

 

 

The fifth meeting of the Public Art Advisory Committee in 2006 convened at 7:08 p.m. with Ms. Judi McIntyre in the Chair. 

 

 

1.                  MINUTES OF THE MARKHAM PUBLIC ART ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON APRIL 12, 2006

 

Ms. Jane Perdue proposed that a revision be made on page two, to read:  “The Markham Arts Council meeting Thursday, June 1, 2006.”

 

THE MARKHAM PUBLIC ART ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS:

 

That the minutes of the Markham Public Art Advisory Committee meeting held on April 12, 2006 be adopted, as amended.

CARRIED

 

 

 

 

 

2.         NEW BUSINESS

 

Ms. Linda Irvine suggested that the committee review the written public art vision statements contributed by new committee members Anderson Coward and Tom Giantsopoulos.   Mr. Coward and Mr. Giantsopoulos presented their statements and explained their views and vision of public art for the Town of Markham.

 

 

3.         MUNICIPAL PUBLIC ART PLAN

 

Ms. Jane Perdue presented a draft criteria document to the committee, outlining public art site evaluation and draft criteria for a public art policy framework.  Ms. Perdue said that the document provides nine questions to assist Council and Staff when identifying and evaluating sites for public art.  The committee discussed how the Town of Markham can entice and work with local developers and how public art can fit into developers’ desire to build “communities”.

 

Ms. Perdue then described to the committee the draft policies she has prepared concerning public art.  These include competition guidelines, well-defined criteria for public art donations, and policies pertaining to support for temporary art on municipal lands.  The committee discussed the need to integrate the Markham Public Art framework into other Town of Markham cultural and environmental committees and plans, and ways in which the committee can ensure public art becomes top-of-mind among other working groups.  The committee then discussed the public art donations policy recommendation in the policy framework.  The committee agreed that once the final Town of Markham Public Art Plan is in place, it will be necessary to address how it will be managed, in terms of staffing and resources.  Discussion concluded with the committee agreeing to read Ms. Perdue’s draft criteria document and discuss it in more detail at the next meeting.

 

 

4.         ENVIRONMENTAL ART EVENT

 

Ms. Linda Irvine updated the Committee on the selection of individuals/team artists to participate in the second inaugural Environmental Art Event.  She said that the environmental art sub-committee has reviewed eight quality individual/team environment art proposals.  Due to the high quality of the submissions, the sub-committee decided to spread the $20,000 available budget among five of the eight proposals, rather than the original plan to select four.  Each of the five individuals/teams will receive $4000.  Ms. Irvine noted that with MPAAC’s approval, she would like to email the selected artists on May 11 to notify them, confirm their involvement and begin the process to refine their proposals and select sites for their work. 

 

The committee discussed public relations and promotion of the Environmental Art Event and how event publicity presents an opportunity to gain exposure for the overall public art plan.  Ms. Irvine noted that money is available for public relations and brochures will be distributed.  She noted that the event would be launched at the Varley Art Gallery, July 18, 2006.  Artists will be on hand to present their work and meet the public.

 

 

 

 

THE MARKHAM PUBLIC ART ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS:

 

That the following five individual/team artists be selected to participate in the second inaugural Environmental Art Event, in random order:

 

1.   C.J. Fleury

  1. Sue Firkser and Hanna Guirges
  2. Michael Janzen
  3. William Ho
  4. Farhad Nargol-O’Neill (returning for his second year)

 

Moved by Mr. Paul Leonidis, seconded by Mr. Anderson Cooper

                                                                                                                                    CARRIED

 

 

5.         UPCOMING EVENTS

 

Ms. Judi McIntyre noted that a Communities in Bloom launch event is being held Saturday, May 13, on Old Kennedy Road in Unionville.  She also noted that the Markham Arts Council will be hosting its first networking event May 18, 2006 upstairs at The Duchess Restaurant in Markham.

 

 

6.         DATE FOR NEXT MEETING

 

Due to scheduling conflicts for several members of the committee, it was agreed to change the date for its next meeting to Wednesday, June 7, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. in the Ontario Room.

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

The Markham Public Art Advisory Committee adjourned at 8:15 p.m.