MINUTES

MARKHAM PUBLIC ART ADVISORY COMMITTEE

2006-04-12

Meeting No. 5

_____________________________________________________

Attendance

Members Judi McIntyre, Chair Deborah Castello Elizabeth Chong Paul Leonidis Priti Tripathi Anna Gauci Anderson Coward Tom Giantsopoulos Regrets Kelly McLeod Councillor Joe Virgilio Councillor Alex Chiu John Ryerson, Manager, Varley Art Gallery Shanon Elliot, Project Manager, CIB

Staff Linda Irvine, Manager, Parks and Open Space Development Judy Kee, Clerk’s Department Virginia Steffler, Clerk’s Department Others Jane Perdue, Public Art Consultant

The fourth meeting of the Public Art Advisory Committee in 2006 convened at 7:06 p.m. with Ms. Judi McIntyre in the Chair.

New members Mr. Anderson Coward and Mr. Tom Giantsopoulos were welcomed.

1. MINUTES OF THE MARKHAM PUBLIC ART ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON MARCH 8, 2006

THE MARKHAM PUBLIC ART ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS:

That the minutes of the Markham Public Art Advisory Committee meeting held on March 8, 2006 be adopted.

CARRIED

2. MUNICIPAL PUBLIC ART PLAN

Ms. Jane Perdue updated the committee on her work to develop the Public Art Plan for the Town of Markham. To date, she has researched the Town of Markham website and the plans for Markham Centre, conducted background studies and site tours, and met with staff from Town of Markham Planning and Urban Design Departments, Heritage staff and local artist Ferhad Nargolwalla. She noted that meetings with Town of Markham technical staff, Varley Art Gallery, Markham Arts Council, York Region, the Markham Centre Advisory Committee and local corporate representatives are upcoming. Ms. Perdue said her research has shown the Town of Markham to be a leader in environmental initiatives and urban design. She has identified many opportunities to integrate public art within existing and planned spaces, and to partner with community and heritage groups and the corporate sector.

Ms. Perdue noted that she expects to begin writing the Town of Markham Municipal Public Art Plan in June 2006. It was agreed that up-to-date copies of the work plan and schedule would meanwhile be emailed to MPAAC members.

Ms. Judi McIntyre noted opportunities for Ms. Perdue and the Committee members to attend the York Region Cultural Planning event, May 10^th, 8:30 a.m. to Noon and The Markham Arts Council meeting Thursday, June 17, 2006.

Ms. Perdue distributed a package of public art vision statements submitted over the last year by MPAAC members. The Committee reviewed and discussed the statements. New members Tom Giantsopoulos and Anderson Coward provided their comments on public art and agreed to submit their own written statements.

3. ENVIRONMENTAL ART EVENT

Ms. Linda Irvine informed the Committee about the second inaugural Environmental Art Event, timed to coincide with Communities in Bloom. She said the Terms of Reference have been published, with a call for submissions by April 14, 2006. Four submissions will be selected, one for each of Markham’s communities, Markham, Unionville, Thornhill and Milliken Mills. Ms. Irvine noted the high quality of submissions received to date. Members discussed whether guidelines should be established to ensure that the selection process is equitable. It was agreed that a sub-committee of MPAAC members comprising: Deborah Castello, Paul Leonidis, Priti Tripathi, Tom Giantsopoulos, and Anderson Cooper will review and select from the submissions with Linda Irvine and John Ryerson. Ms. Irvine agreed to distribute copies of the submissions to all sub-committee members.

4. UNIONVILLE MAZE PROJECT

Ms. Linda Irvine noted that the Unionville Maze project was well received in a meeting with the Toronto Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) in April. She said that for the project to proceed, a TRCA permit is required. Ms. Irvine noted that a tender to hire a contractor would be issued the week of April 24. Work is to begin this summer, respective of events already planned in Unionville. The Committee discussed the need for safety and for the maze to be free of entrapment zones, along with ways in which it can be made interactive, with suggestions ranging from topiaries, to music gardens and chimes. Ms. Irvine noted that the maze will be built to childrens’ scale and that safety is a primary element in its design.

5. UPCOMING EVENTS

Ms. Judi McIntyre noted that the Markham Arts Council’s new 2006 art directory brochures are available. She also noted that the Arts Council is hosting its first networking event May 18, 2006 upstairs at The Duchess Restaurant in Markham.

Ms. Anna Guaci provided information about an upcoming Art Gallery fundraiser: “Varley Fine Art Auction”, which is a silent auction being held at the Gallery on May 17, 2006, beginning at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are $45.00 each.

ADJOURNMENT

The Markham Public Art Advisory Committee adjourned at 8:32 p.m.