Public Arts and Culture Advisory Council

PUBLIC ARTS & CULTURE ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Monday, June 11, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. Members Present: Chair Lindsay Brubaker – Niles Park District Janet Spector Bishop – School District 63 Debi Gajewski – Artist Michael Crisci – Niles Historical Society Susan Lempke – Niles Public Library Carol Luc - Artist John Kosirog – School District 71 Kathleen Gallegos – Artist / The Artist Studio Steven Vinezeano – VFW Post 3579 Members Absent: Edward Eubank – School District 207 Kim Wasilewski - Artist Village Officials/Staff Present: Katie Schneider – Community Engagement Coordinator Village Officials/Staff Absent: Mayor Andrew Przybylo Trustee George Alpogianis I. Call to Order Chair Lindsay Brubaker called the meeting of the Public Arts & Culture Advisory Council to order at 5:05 p.m. on Monday, June 11, 2018 at the Niles Administration Building, Room 218, 1000 Civic Center Drive. II. Approval of Meeting Summary Minutes were not available. Katie will make sure to submit May and June minutes for approval at the next meeting. III. Organization Representative Reports Susan Lempke reported on the library’s summer reading programs. The kids program is “Reading Takes You Everywhere.” Kids read at home and then at the library and earn points to shop. The adult program is piggy backing on the PBS show the Great American Read. There is a list of 100 titles that people can vote on. The “Coming Together” with Niles Township and Skokie Township have announced the Polish culture as the focus for 2019. The Niles Maine District Library will be the hosting library for the program since we have such a significant polish population.  Public Arts & Culture Advisory Council, June 11, 2018 Marina Samovsky introduced herself; she is new to the council. She has lived in Niles for 5 years and is a photographer with a journalism background. She was with the Sun Times for many years and now works independently doing family portraits and private events as well as corporate in-house photography and marketing branding projects. She also is the photographer for Culver school and has her photos at the Niles Fitness Center. Kathleen hosted a paint party for 96 women for a retreat in Oak Brook. She also had done a few corporate paint parties and her glow in the dark paint party is coming up next week. Debi Gajewski is gearing up for June 23 and 24 in Bartlett for the Global Arts Festival. She will be performing folk stories from around the world all day on Saturday with international items on sale. She is now booked into December for painting and performing. Steve asked Debi to put something together showing her work or performances that could be on our Arts Feed page. He asked all of the art council members to do the same. Debi is also having an exhibit from July through Sept called “My Favorite Things.” Carol Luc just started a class at Harold Washington College last week on printing. She is making a few more lithographic pieces. Michael is from the Niles Historical Center; on June 30 th they are hosting a French Afternoon Tea with Marie Antoinette (impersonator). They have sold out with a waiting list. Steve would still like to see the info on our Arts Feed page even if there are no tickets available, the Arts Feed page should show all the activities in the area. Alicia Bermes introduced herself; she is also new to the Council. She is the new Executive Director of the Niles Chamber of Commerce. They do not have any current art or culture programs but have their golf outing is coming up in July. Katie Schneider introduced herself as the assigned staff member to the Arts and Culture Council. She welcomed the new members. Steve Vinezeano also introduced himself as the representative of the Niles VFW Post and he is also the Village Manager. Janet Spector Bishop is the Director of Communications for School District 63 and they are overhauling the entire website and will be ready in the fall to launch. Construction is tentatively set for July 23 at Gemini for a major expansion to welcome 6th graders to the school. Also there will be new electronic marque signs at the schools. In the fall, they will be offering before school programming. Lindsey Brubaker from the Niles Park District is busy with summer season but the rain has slowed down their typical busy season. They are in full swing with baseball, soccer, and softball and getting ready for end of season all-star games, championship games, etc. The Park District is getting ready for the post parade fun fest. June 22 is their first Movie in the Park (Grennan Heights) and Howard Street Inn sells food, hopefully the weather will cooperate. Concerts in the Park start up in July and August, they are every Friday at Oak Park. Page 2  Public Arts & Culture Advisory Council, June 11, 2018 John K stated that not much was going on this summer at Culver School. IV. Old Business a. Art Stop Bench Program Katie Schneider reported that Public Works has just started to install them, weather permitting. All have been delivered to PW. She is organizing a reception to launch the Art Stop program similar to our Call to Artist event, with appetizers and cash bar (most likely at Wildwood Tavern) on August 1st. We will have a map with information on our website of the artist and their inspiration. We should be able to put a bench on a flatbed for the parade, she asked for volunteers to walk and pass out a postcard promoting Art Stop. Artists Carol and Debi had no problems with the material and both sprayed with varnish. b. Recycled Art Program Debi stated that she has not moved forward with the program. Art Guild There was no update at this point. V. New Business Review Master Plan Katie Schneider distributed the Arts and Culture ordinance including the purpose and the powers and duties of the council. Since we are three years into the council, this is a good time to review and evaluate the next direction. Susan Lempke reiterated that the council is an advisory role as opposed to implementation of programs. Janet agreed and added that we keep running into the tension between creating and running programs or supporting current programs and events. We seem to be doing a little bit of both. The Council gives the Village the opportunity to work with all the agencies in town and better communicate current arts and culture initiatives. Yet the artists are looking for more outlets and ways to be engaged. Debi suggested that the artist have a sub-committee (although not limited to artist) that could meet and come back to the council with ideas. The Council could sponsor one big project each year through the council, but then the art sub-committee could appeal to the Council for support. The sub-committee could be an incubator for artists and a place where they could bring their energy. Steve reviewed the powers and duties and was impressed with the work already accomplished. Both Carol and Debi wanted more promotion of the art bench and tying it in to the Arts and Culture Council. Possibly put up posters or banners to promote the artist. Marina Page 3  Public Arts & Culture Advisory Council, June 11, 2018 suggested putting more story to the benches and the artists whether it’s on the website or in print to build more awareness. Katie stated that the Council should establish two annual programs, one would be Twinkle and Lights which engages everyone no matter what their artistic level is and the other would be a project like a mural or sculpture, something public and permanent. Artists that are interested in our council would be directed to the sub-committee. The council agreed to continue the Twinkle and Lights program. We need to monitor current events and programs and ways that we can enhance with more arts and culture. Lindsey suggested that we should work with Sister Cities and create an event to bring everyone together. Katie stated that the Niles Historical Society, Sister Cities and Arts and Culture all have mission statements that are in line with each other. So down the road joint programs should be explored. Carol had submitted a garden idea and after discussion the council agreed that those ideas should go to the artist sub-committee. The sub-committee would then brainstorm ideas, develop the idea with a budget then present to the Council for direction. The artist sub-committee will be Carol Luc, Debi Gajewski, Kathleen Gallegos, Marina Samovsky. The four women volunteer to get started. VI. Open Discussion There were no discussions. VII. Public Comment There were no comments from the public. VIII. Next Meeting The next meeting will be held on Monday, July 9, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. at the Village Hall Conference Room 218. IX. Adjournment Janet Spector Bishop made a motion, seconded by Steve Vinezeano, to adjourn the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 6:15 p.m. Page 4