Chambana Sun

Urbana Public Arts Commission met May 9.

Here is the minutes provided by the Commission:

Members Present: Barbara Hedlund, Eric Jakobsson, Sara Jones, Jenelle Orcherton, Jason Patterson, Pat Sammann, Jessica Snyder

Members Excused: Erica Cooper-Peyton, Katie Harrell

Staff Present: Brandon Boys, Economic Development Manager; Morgan White, Public Arts Intern; Sukiya J. Reid, Recording Secretary;

Others Present: Matt Jacklin, Guen Montgomery

1. Call to Order, Roll Call and Declaration of Quorum

The Urbana Public Arts Commission was called to order at 4:31 p.m. by Ms. Sammann. Ms. Reid took roll and a quorum was declared present.

2. Changes to Agenda

Mr. White announced that Gerri Kirchner and Shasta “Klevah” Mathews (Mother Nature) would not be presenting that month.

3. Approval of Minutes of Previous Meeting

The minutes of the April 11, 2017 meeting were reviewed by the Commission. With no changes proposed, Ms. Sammann made a motion to approve the minutes. Ms. Snyder seconded the motion. All Commission members present were in favor of approval and the minutes were unanimously approved as presented.

4. Public Input

There was none.

5. Communications

• Presentation by 2016 Urbana Arts Grants Recipient: Guen Montgomery

Ms. Sammann introduced artist, Guen Montgomery. She gave a slide-show presentation on her project titled, National Mandate, which is an exhibition and multi-part project. Ms. Montgomery stated that the project began in the Fall of 2015 when she began carving the 4 x 6 foot woodblock in the Krannert Art Museum during the Faculty Exhibition. The block, which read Run- Hide- Fight, was periodically carved in-gallery while wearing antebellum costume as a set of serial performances over a month’s time. A video of the process was compiled, and the work was displayed at the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center. The work was also displayed in Omaha, Nebraska and Peoria, IL. After the exhibition, she made a series of screen printed posters which she sold at the University of Illinois annual print sale. Ms. Montgomery thanked the Commission for the grant received. At the conclusion of the report, questions and comments from the Commission were heard.

• Presentation by 2016 Urbana Arts Grants Recipient: Matt Jacklin

Ms. Sammann introduced Dr. Matt Jacklin, Director of Percussion Studies/Music Recruiter at Olivet Nazarene University. He gave a slide-show presentation on his project titled, Bringing Ghana to Urbana: the Traditional Xylophone Music of Ghana. The project consisted of two performances, and an engaging workshop. The first performance took place at the Urbana Free Library on May 10, 2016 and featured accomplished Gyil artist, Bernard Woma. The second performance was an appearance at the Spurlock Museum’s annual Worldfest on April 1, 2017. The final event was a lecture clinic on the history of the Gyil, and the cultural background of the instrument. It took place on April 18, 2017. Dr. Jacklin thanked the Commission for the grant received. At the conclusion of the report, questions and comments from the Commission were heard.

• Presentation by Staff: Monthly Progress Report

Mr. White presented the City staff’s monthly progress report to the Commission, outlining projects in process, recent requests and recommendations from the public, staff activities, and upcoming events.

For an update on current projects, she reported the following:

• With regard to the Illinois Arts Council Grant for Youth Employment, Mr. White reported that the Public Arts Program was recently awarded a grant for Summer Youth Employment in the Arts by the Illinois Arts Council Agency. This grant will support a high school student summer intern, whose role would be to provide general administrative support to Urbana’s existing arts programming, marketing, and events.

• With regard to Artist of the Corridor, Mr. White reported that the current show features the art of Rusty Clevenger’s 3rd Grade Students at Dr. Preston L. Williams Jr. Elementary School. On March 31st, two groups of classes came in to see their artwork displayed in the City Building where they also had a brief question and answer session with Mayor Prussing. The opening reception for the public was held on Friday, April 28th from 5:00-6:30 pm. The students’ exhibition will continue through June.

Staff is currently seeking recommendations for future exhibitions for the Artist of the Corridor.

• With regard to Art Now, Mr. White reported that in May, Art Now highlights the collaboration program Open Scene by the City of Urbana and the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center. Episodes are aired on UPTV 6 every Monday at 6:30 pm, with reruns every Tuesday at 11:00 pm, and are available on YouTube. May’s episode will air the week following the Final Workshop.

Staff is currently seeking recommendations for future artists for Art Now.

• With regard to Urbana Sculpture Project, Mr. White reported that a web-based, downloadable sculpture guide is now available for download on the city website at urbanaillinois.us/sculptures. Postcard-sized flyers are also being distributed to promote the new sculptures throughout the city.

• With regard reception on 3 to Friday, the Urbana April 21st Arts at Grant Pizza program, M to announce Mr. White and celebrate reported that the 2017 the City recipients held a of the Arts Grants awards. To learn more about the recipients, visit urbanaillinois.us/artsgrants.

• With regard to Open Scene, Mr. White reported that all four Artists have held weekend intensives at the IMC with youth and young adult participants. These events included Beat Making with Derek Linzy, Storytelling with Andrea Perkins, Hip-Hop with Mother Nature, and Theater with Hill. L. Waters and Lisa Fay. The Final Workshop combined with a silent Art Auction featuring artwork by Langston Allston was held this past Saturday.

• With regard to Art at the Market, Mr. White reported that kicking off the beautiful weather and the Art at the Market season is an art workshop by the I.D.E.A. Store with musical performances by Vern and Vern on May 13th. Workshops (from 8 am to 12 pm) and performances (from 9:30 am to 11:30 am) will take place every second Saturday on the following dates for the remainder of the Art at the Market season: June 10th, July 8th, August 12th, September 9th, and October 14th. The full summer 2017 schedule with project description can be found online at: www.urbanaillinois.us/artworkshops

• With regard to Marketing, Mr. White reported that the program’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts now have 1,422 page likes (an increase of 28 likes), 1,911 followers (an increase of 18 followers), and 466 followers (an increase of 35 followers), respectively from last month.

• With regard to the Public Arts Coordinator Position, Mr. White reported that the City’s Public Service Commission has approved 27 candidates for further consideration in the hiring process.

• The date for the next Public Arts Commission meeting is set for Tuesday, June 13, 2017 at 4:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers.

6. Old Business

There was none.

7. New Business

• FY 17-18 Urbana Public Arts Program Plan

Ms. Sammann introduced this agenda item. Mr. White gave a brief background on the duties required of the Urbana Public Arts Commission in regards to the annual Program Plan, and also gave a summary of the proposed FY17-18 Program Plan. He stated that staff recommended that the Commission review the attached proposed FY17-18 Program Plan and recommend approval during this meeting. A brief discussion between members of the Staff and Commission ensued. Following discussion, Mr. Jakobsson moved to approve the proposed FY17-18 Program Plan. Ms. Sammann seconded the motion. All Commission members present were in favor of approval, and the FY17-18 Program Plan was unanimously approved as presented.

8. Announcements

There were none.

9. Adjournment

Ms. Sammann made a motion that the meeting be adjourned. Mr. Jakobsson seconded the motion. With no further business, Ms. Sammann declared the meeting adjourned at 5:36 p.m.

http://www.urbanaillinois.us/sites/default/files/attachments/05-09-17_DRAFT.pdf