MINUTES

MARKHAM PUBLIC ART ADVISORY COMMITTEE

2007-02-12

Meeting No. 2

____________________________________________________________

PRESENT                                                      REGRETS                

 

Elizabeth Chong

Tom Giantsopoulos

Paul Leonidis

Judi McIntyre

Anderson Coward

Priti Tripathi

Linda Irvine, Mgr., Parks& Open spaces

John Ryerson, Varley Gallery

Tony Wong, Regional Councillor

Judy Kee, Committee Clerk

 

Anna Gauci

Jane Perdue, Consultant

 

 

 

The second meeting of the Markham Public Art Advisory Committee in 2007 convened at

7:25 p.m. with Tom Giantsopoulos in the chair.

 

 

1.         MINUTES OF THE MARKHAM PUBLIC ART ADVISORY COMMITTEE

MEETING HELD JANUARY 10, 2007

 

Moved by P. Tripathi

Seconded by J. McIntyre

 

That the minutes of the January 10, 2007 meeting of the Markham Public Art Advisory Committee be approved.

                                                                                                                                    CARRIED

 

 

 

2.         INTRODUCTION OF MEMBERS AND REGIONAL COUNCILLOR

TONY WONG

 

The Chair introduced Regional Councillor Tony Wong, who has been appointed to the Committee by Council for the term ending November 30, 2008.  Members around the table also introduced themselves.

 

 

 

 

 

3.         MEMBERSHIP OF COMMITTEE

 

Moved by P. Tripathi

Seconded by J. McIntyre

 

That the resignations of Deborah Castello and Kelly McLeod be received;

 

And that Council be requested to fill the two (2) vacancies as soon as possible.

CARRIED

The committee resolved to try to find new members from parts of the Town that are not currently represented by the committee.

 

4.         ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIR

 

Moved by Regional Councillor T. Wong

Seconded by J. McIntyre

 

That Ms. Priti Tripathi be appointed Vice-Chair.

CARRIED

 

 

5.         MUNICIPAL PUBLIC ART PLAN

 

Linda Irvine advised that Jane Perdue will be in attendance at the March meeting to present a mock up of the draft municipal public art plan (with images).  Meetings have been held with the Town’s Planning and Urban Design staff and possible public art sites were discussed.  Members were requested to provide any further ideas to her by email.

 

In response to a query by Regional Councillor Wong regarding the existence of other public art committees in Ontario, Ms. Irvine advised that there are none in the Region currently, however there is some activity regarding public art policies being considered in Oakville, Vaughan. Kingston and Burlington.  She briefly described the background of the establishments of Markham’s Public Art Framework, the Committee’s work to date and current proposed timeline relating to the Public Art Plan.  Some concern was expressed regarding the aggressive timeline proposed, and it was suggested that it would helpful for Council Members to receive a short presentation in advance of the formal report.  Ms. Irvine will discuss the feasibility of making a presentation on the Public Art Plan to Part A of the Development Services Committee.

 

 

6.         2007 ENVIRONMENTAL ART EVENT

 

Linda Irvine advised that in 2006 the second environmental art event had been held in conjunction with Communities in Bloom, and the Committee chose five (5) artists to take part in the event which was all about collaboration and the diversity of our community.  Originally, a fund of $100,000 had been established and each year $20,000 has been set aside for this event.  The amount of $40,000 remains.

 

 

 

In response to a query regarding how the $60,000 has been spent, Ms. Irvine advised that she would research this and prepare a report for the March Committee meeting.

 

The term “environmental” was raised, and Ms. Irvine explained that in this context, environmental means “art that is in an environment”.  She noted that art pieces were meant to be temporary and natural materials were used in the landscape - the Committee felt it needed to have a presence and wanted to connect to the community with this art.

 

Ms. Irvine suggested that Members should have a discussion this date about whether to have a similar event in 2007, and then a report would be presented for Council consideration at the end of March.  Members discussed various suggestions and issues relating to some kind of an art event in 2007, including:

·        hold a bi-annual event (every two years) instead

·        consideration of funding strategies

·        “faces” of Markham – celebrate the people of the Town

·        Design and use of park benches – students could create and/or paint them – competition and judging; could be placed in parks for use of public

·        involvement of students/schools – concerns re monitoring, incentive, teachers, & encouragement

·        businesses – some time constraints here

·        performance in the park concept – many theatre groups in our community

·        painting of fire hydrants

·        this event must have a lift so that the broader community can be engaged

·        manhole covers (done in Vancouver)

·        sidewalk art

·        we should engage community, not just students; end product should be more pragmatic

·        temporary wall murals

·        use of “moose”, similar to City of Toronto

·        spend funds on marketing instead of artists

·        time constraints raised, however, as the event will not be tied to Communities in Bloom this year (Markham is not participating in Communities in Bloom this year), more time is available

·        ice sculptures for 2008; sand castles

·        involvement with local Town festivals; hold competitions

·        an artist garden, similar to City of Toronto, plant/landscape materials; artists involved in their own area; maintenance required

·        artists/residents could build and design “funky” birdhouses to be placed throughout the Town of Markham in ravines or pathways and walkways; to be juried  for 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes for styles and diversity

·        artists could create masks, building on of the Many Faces of Markham event idea; have a masquerade; display at community centres or in an empty retail space

 

 

 

 

·        birdhouses could have a face; could wear clothes; Committee could write guidelines and ask them to be submitted by a certain date; offer prizes: monetary may not be feasible, but possibly scholarships; or offer art classes;

·        Muskoka chairs to be designed and painted;

·        flagpoles/lampposts

·        Town of Markham bicycle racks

·        invite a famous artist to the Town and have them create a series of programs to engage public

·        Question: is public art by grass roots people or is public art by real artists??

 

Following discussion of all of the matters raised, it was agreed that a decision did not have to be made this date, as the event could be mid-July or later.  Members were asked to submit 2-3 tangible ideas to Ms. Irvine, and she, the Chair and the Vice-Chair will research and filter these ideas over the next few weeks and bring some options back to Committee at the March meeting.

 

 

 

7.         NEW BUSINESS

 

a) Manhattan Street Furniture - The Chair distributed copies of an article from the International Herald Tribune, dated January 14, 2007, entitled “A Makeover for Manhattan Street Furniture”.

 

b) Sample Pictures of Public Art - In addition, the Chair presented pictures showing examples of “forward thinking” public art; a small sculpture park in Toronto; a good example of public private partnerships.  Judi McIntyre noted that she will forward to Committee other examples of public art from Seattle, Washington.

 

c) Building A Sustainable Future Contest - Mr. John Ryerson distributed information regarding a contest that the York Region District School Board is taking part in entitled “Building a Sustainable Future”.  The cement and concrete industries are supporting an initiative to encourage sustainable thinking in youth and sustainable building, and students from the York Region District School Board, the Centre for the Built Environment at Seneca College and the Indigenous Environmental Studies Program at Trent University are being given an opportunity to take part in this contest to submit their ideas on sustainable uses for concrete.

 

In conjunction with this initiative, an event is being held on April 2 at the Earth Rangers Centre in Vaughan which would be an opportunity for the Committee to provide information on the public art and creative uses of concrete.  It was suggested that a table/booth could be set up for demonstration and display purposes, and Linda Irvine could provide information regarding Markham Centre.  It was agreed that the Chair and Anderson Coward would work together on this, and Judi McIntyre would forward pictures showing a cement garden in Seattle for their information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

8.         DATE FOR NEXT MEETING

 

The next meeting of the Markham Public Art Advisory Committee will be held on Monday, March 19th, 2007 in the Ontario Room at the Markham Civic Centre at 7:00 p.m.

 

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

The Markham Public Art Advisory Committee adjourned at 9:10 p.m.