VARLEY McKAY
ART FOUNDATION OF
TOWN OF
The
MINUTES
Attendance:
|
Members: Brian Ayer Ernestine Tahedl Drew Gerrard Lana Champion Nancy Coxford Elizabeth Plashkes Stan Neal Councillor Joe Virgilio Anna Gauci Regrets: Mahesh Chokshi Bill Pickering Karen Chadwick |
Staff: John Ryerson, Director |
The first meeting of 2008 of the Varley-McKay Art
Foundation of Markham Board convened at
1. CHAIR’S OPENING REMARKS
Howard Back, Chair, welcomed the Board to the first
meeting of 2008. He reviewed the Town of
Markham’s policy on attendance of Committee/Board meetings and indicated that
in accordance with the Rules of Procedure Governing Statutory and Advisory
Committees ”if a member is absent for
(3) consecutive meetings without good reason or prior acknowledgement or (5)
meetings in any 1 year, the Committee can pass a resolution requesting Council
declare the position vacant and ask for a replacement member.”
The Chair also reported on additional funding
received from various sources toward the Les Automatistes exhibition and
related publication.
2. ADOPTION
OF THE MINUTES OF THE VARLEY-McKAY ART FOUNDATION OF
ON
Moved
by Nancy coxford
Seconded by elizabeth PLASHKES
“That
the minutes of the Varley McKay Foundation of
CARRIED
3. Building and
The Board had previously approved a budget of
approximately $30,000 to commission a study on the possible use of the gift
from Wally Joyce. Preliminary sketches
have been completed. Gerry Markson,
architect, presented the first draft of these preliminary sketches for comment
by the Board. General agreement was
given as to the outline of the sketches.
The Building and Long Range Planning Committee, with the assistance of
Gerry Markson, will further refine these sketches as well as obtain an
estimated cost from a cost consultant, obtain preliminary approval from the
Toronto Region Conservation Authority, perform a review of the building code
and obtain a mechanical study of the additional operating costs that the
expansion might involve. A report to
Council will be made once this preliminary study of feasibility has been
completed.
4. FINANCIAL
REPORT
Drew Gerrard, Treasurer, requested that a copy of the Board’s Code of Ethics
be placed on the Gallery’s website.
Howard Back, Chair asked that a copy of the Code be provided to the
Board at the next meeting and that the matter be discussed at that time.
MOVED BY DREW GERRARD
SECONDED BY ELIZABETH PLASHKES
“That the Board
reimburses Katerina Atanassova, Curator and Program Coordinator, in the amount
of $1,900 for expenses she incurred to give an art lecture at the
CARRIED
MOVED BY BRAIN AYER
SECONDED BY
STAN NEAL
“That the Board
authorize Howard Back, Chair, to execute agreements with Roald Nasgaard in the
amount of $30,000 and with Douglas & McIntyre Ltd, publishers, in the
amount of $45,000, subject to the approval of these agreements by Drew Gerrard,
Treasurer, Donald Hindson, Secretary and John Ryerson, Director of Culture”
CARRIED
5. COMMITTEE REPORTS
A. Art Committee
Brian Ayer reported that the Art Committee
discussed the establishment of a go-forward strategy at its first meeting of
the year. The Committee’s goal is to
complete the plan in four-six months and to then present it to the Board. He
advised the Board of the donation of a FH Varley, Yorkshire Landscape, 1909
watercolour, which is contingent upon the donor’s approval of the
appraisal. The Board was advised the
Gallery will be incurring the cost of the appraisal.
MOVED BY BRIAN AYER
SECONDED BY STAN NEAL
“That
the Board approve the donation of FH Varley, Yorkshire Landscape, 1909
watercolour, inventory number 1018, contingent upon the donor’s approval of the
appraisal”
CARRIED
B. Development Committee
Nancy Coxford reported the Development Committee is
working on the creation of the Gallery’s website. She thanked Patricia Loveland for her efforts
and success in raising money for the Gordon Foundation Grant. Ms. Coxford advised the Board that the December
newsletter was more donor-focused, noting this approach was successful at obtaining
donations. She further reported the Committee
is working on establishing a Donation Policy.
Howard Back, Chair, advised the Board that Wally
Joyce had requested the scholarship created in his honour be named the McKay
Gallery Art Scholarship rather than the Wally Joyce Scholarship. The Board recommended naming the scholarship
the McKay Gallery Art Scholarship – in honour of Wally Joyce.
Art Auction
Elizabeth Plashkes reported that approximately $10,000 in sponsorship
has been raised for the event, which includes a wine sponsor. She noted the
Committee is still hoping to get one food sponsor to simplify the event and to
keep the focus on the art. She also
reported that the registration for the event, purchasing of tickets, and a catalogue
of the artwork will be available online.
She advised the Board that information submitted online will go directly
into a customer database. Ms. Plashkes explained that, with the assistance of
C. Volunteer Committee
Volunteers
Lana
Champion reported that the Volunteer Committee currently has 81 adult volunteers
and an increasing number of student volunteers.
She advised the Board that high schools in the area were directly
contacted with the purpose of creating awareness of volunteer opportunities at
the Gallery.
Education
Programs
Ms.
Champion advised the Board that a few more docents were recruited for the
Gallery’s education program, but reported that more were still needed to meet
the growing demand.
The
Varley Volunteer Book Club
Ms. Champion reported that the Varley
Volunteer Book Club recently marked its one year anniversary. She advised the Board
that the next book club meeting will be in April and the topic will be Edward
Dolnick’s “The rescue artist: a true story of art, thieves, and the hunt for
a missing masterpiece”, an account of the 1994 theft (and recovery)
of Edvard Munch’s The Scream. She further explained the success of the Book
Club has encouraged the Committee to introduce other extracurricular activities
for its volunteers.
Art Exhibit Showcase partnering Varley
Gallery and Royal Le Page
The Artist and Varley Volunteer Johanna Meharg will plan an art
exhibit at the Royal Le Page office on Main Street Unionville.
6. Directors Report
John Ryerson reported $31,000 was raised from the Gordon
Foundation Grant, with half the amount raised by the Gallery and the other half
matched by the Gordon Foundation. He
reported the money was used towards the purchasing of three Varley artworks last
November.
Mr. Ryerson spoke highly of the Buddha Composed Exhibit
currently on display at the Gallery. He
noted it was receiving very favourable reviews and
believed there was enough interest to possibly tour the exhibit.
He displayed a number of positive media reviews the
Gallery had received over the last few months.
In particular, a full two page article in the National Post and
two extensive magazine interviews with Katerina Atanassova both based on the
Varely Portraits Exhibit in
Mr. Ryerson reported the planning of the Automatiste
Revolution:
7. OTHER BUSINESS
a)
Award
for Portrait Society of
The Board was asked to consider donating $1,000 to
the Portrait Society of Canada. The
money would be used towards an award to be provided to one of its artists at its
December Festival. After some discussion
this item was deferred to the next meeting, as some members requested more
information pertaining to the Gallery’s relationship with the Society be
provided.
b) Meeting
Dates
The following meeting dates were approved by the
Board:
·
·
·
·
·
Laura Gold, Committee Clerk, will email Board Members
to determine if they would like the
Three quotations from Sheridan Nurseries, Uxbridge
Nurseries, and
MOVED BY ELIZABETH PLASHKES
SECONDED BY BRIAN AYER
“Following further detailed
review of proposed plant materials, that Howard Back, Chair, and Drew Gerrard, Treasurer, be authorized to proceed with
the spring 2008 contracting of either Valleyview Gardens in the amount of
$23,027.72 or Sheridan Nurseries in the amount of $18, 274.25 for the Mckay
Garden Project pending final recommendation from the Parks Department as to
either supplier.”
CARRIED
Staff Lunch
The Board was advised that Gallery staff had been treated
to their thank you lunch for their hard work and time that when into the
planning and execution of the 10th Anniversary Event.
8. UPCOMING EVENTS
No report was provided.
9. DATE
OF NEXT MEETING
*The next meeting of the Varley Art Foundation of
*Subsequent to the meeting, the next meeting date was
changed to Tuesday, March 18, 2008.
That the first meeting
of 2008 of the Varley-McKay Art Foundation of Markham Board adjourned at