Arts Commission

ARTS COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2022 – 6:00 - 7:00 PM AGENDA To allow public access, anyone may access a meeting by telephone or Zoom. Specific instructions and links can be found at www.norwalkct.org/meetings. Members of the public can call in and listen to a meeting. They will not be able to speak or see any of the meeting participants. Each meeting will use a unique Meeting/Webinar ID. Please find the information using the link above. Members of the public who wish to provide "live comments" will need to register in advance and use the Zoom meeting platform. All participants will be muted upon entering the meeting. To speak, click the “raise your hand indicator” and you will call on by the host of the meeting during the public comment section. Please find the information using the link above. Members of the public who wish to provide public comment are encouraged to submit those via email in advance of the meeting. For these comments to be read into the record, they should be submitted at least three hours in advance of the meeting start time. Please email Maritza Alvarado at malvarado@norwalkct.org to provide written public comment prior to the meeting. I. CALL TO ORDER II. ROLL CALL III. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IV. ADMINISTRATION a. Approve the minutes of the October 4, 2022 regular meeting. V. NEW BUSINESS a. Approve the Homefield Traffic Graphic Box. b. Approve the Monroe Street Rail Bridge abutment proposal by Rough Edge Collective, Maria-Jose (MJ) Lindo-Lawyer and Joshua Lawyer, in an amount not to exceed $50,000. Acct# 0921 1450 5777 C0792 0922 3760 5777 C0804 0923 3760 5777 C0804 c. Review of Norwalk Public Schools project proposal. – Heidi Alterman VI. COMMITTEE/STAFF UPDATES Page 1 of 2  a. Budget Committee Update – Nori Grudin b. Communications Committee Update – Marc Alan i. Review and authorization of the Art Speak event. c. Infrastructure Committee Update – Brian Kaspr VII. OLD BUSINESS VIII. ADJOURNMENT Page 2 of 2  CITY OF NORWALK ARTS COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING October 4, 2022 I. CALL TO ORDER Board: Chairman Marc Alan, Brian Kaspr, Elizabeth Tardif, Ava Jacobs, Janet Evelyn, Melissa Matuska, Bob Abriola (6:15), Nori Grudin (6:30) Staff: Sabrina Church Other: Mj and Josh Lindo, Geraluz and Werc Lozano, Ernesto and Hilary Maranje, Sonny Behan Chairman Alan called the meeting to order at 6:05. A quorum was present. II. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION There was no public participation. III. ADMINISTRATION Approve the minutes of the August 2, 2022 regular meeting. **** Mr. Kaspr moved to approve the minutes of the August 2, 2022 meeting. **** Ms. Tardiff seconded the motion. **** The motion passed unanimously. IV. NEW BUSINESS a. Review of Monroe Street Bridge proposals Mr. Kaspr confirmed that we now have four artists putting together final proposals for the mural. Mr. Kaspr invited four of the artists to the meeting so the board can address any questions or concerns now. City of Norwalk Arts Commission Regular Meeting 10/4/2022 1 Mr. Kaspr introduced Mj and Josh, two artists from California who presented their concept for the mural. Mj presented the artists’ background and experience. She then presented their preliminary design ideas and the meanings behind them. Their budget is roughly $50,000. Mr. Kaspr asked about how long it would take them to paint the works. Josh estimates that it would take about a week. Mr. Alan how they came up with the costs for travel and lodging. Mj said these estimates were based on their past experience traveling for work. Both Mr. Alan and Mr. Kasp really liked the image of the girl laying down because it was compelling and unexpected in the scale and image. The second artist to present their concept is Ernesto Maranje, based in Florida. Hilary, Ernesto’s wife, gave the presentation. She presented his background and his design concept for the design. The main subjects are gorillas doing what humans can relate to and Weaver birds. Organic materials, ie leaves and plants tie the different sides of the mural together. Ms. Tardiff said she loves the presentation of wildlife in a city setting. All agree that using the trusses really ties the two sides of the underpass together. Mr. Maranje said the apes were chosen because they are so close to us. We are the fifth ape in viewing the work. The budget is about $50,000. The third artist to present is another artist from California, Sonny Behan. His intention was to honor the city and the community. The focal point are a pair of eyes on each side, one side are bobcat eyes and the other side are a child’s human eyes. He would like the human eyes to represent a resident of Norwalk. The two eyes are looking at each other. Surrounding the realistic images are abstracted color. The budget is about $40,000. The last artists to present are Geraluz and Werc from Brooklyn. Their concept incorporates local elements of nature interacting with human eyes set on a geometric pattern that pays tribute to the indiginous people of the land. City of Norwalk Arts Commission Regular Meeting 10/4/2022 2 The colors were meant to transcend the space of reality. They are meant to open up the space and draw attention in the dark underpass. They were designed to create different patterns with RGB lighting. The budget is roughly $50,000 with additional costs to add additional spaces. The average lifecycle for a mural like this is five to ten years. It is subject to variance in weather which can cause damage, however, since it is in an underpass there is little sun damage. Mr. Kaspr made the point that all of these artists are experienced muralists. They are willing to take direction on content, and budgets are somewhat negotiable. There are opportunities to save money by prepping the wall for the artists, etc. b. Approve the proposed traffic graphic boxes Mr. Abriola is a member of the Saint Phillips Artist Guild (SPAG) who are designing the traffic boxes. They are experienced in designing and producing these boxes. The design presented nods to conservation, and each side of the box has a bold graphic of a different local bird in bright saturated color. ****Ms. Tardif moved to accept this design. ****Ms. Grudin seconded the motion. ****The motion passed with Mr. Abriola abstained. The second box design presented was from David Shockley. It is an abstracted design on a blue background, with two small figures in the upper right corner. The abstraction is fine, but the two figures are the organization’s logo which is problematic. ****Mr. Kaspr moved to table a decision on this box pending a discussion of the design. ****Ms. Evelyn seconded the motion. ****The motion passed unanimously. City of Norwalk Arts Commission Regular Meeting 10/4/2022 3  V. COMMITTEE STAFF UPDATES a. Budget Committee Update – Nori Grudin Ms. Church presented the budget. The next expense will be installing the hanging systems in City Hall. The Mayor’s Gallery showing will cost money as well. There is money left for curating more events in person. The committee should spend the entire budget. They have applied for a grant for a part time employee to help with all the art commission projects. There will be money left over after lighting the MLK boulevard which can be used to light the new mural. All together there is about $75,000 left for the year. There was discussion about the Yankee Doodle Garage updates. It is being painted and new lighting is being added, but the Arts Commission is not included in this project. b. Communications Committee Update – Marc Alan Mr. Alan would like to bring back the Art Speaks in person event. This would be a regularly occurring event to bring the art community together. c. Infrastructure Committee Update – Brian Kaspr i. Route 1/West Ave Bridge Art – Sabrina Church The committee has not yet met. The next steps are to collect all the mural proposals and make a decision. The final choice will go to the Mayor’s office. It will also need to go through the Parks and Recs department or the Economic Development Committee to approve the contract. The goal is to start painting in the late spring. The next project to be addressed will be the underpass across the street from Matthews Park. The first steps will be measuring the space. The budget ask will be included in next year’s budget. The final project will be to clean up the Vines; remove shrubbery, make them more visible and update the look. City of Norwalk Arts Commission Regular Meeting 10/4/2022 4  VI. OLD BUSINESS There was no old business. VII. ADJOURNMENT ***Ms. Grudin moved to adjourn the meeting. ***Mr. Abriola seconded the motion. ***The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:15. Respectfully submitted, Amy Chaple Telesco Secretarial Services City of Norwalk Arts Commission Regular Meeting 10/4/2022 5 City of Norwalk Mural : noun – defined as any piece of graphic artwork that is painted or applied directly to a wall, ceiling, or other permanent substrate. To us, it is so much more. It is inspiration, empowering, an anchor to the community, wonder in the eyes of a young creative. It is meaningful discussion, your favorite part of walking your dog, the last step in the direction to your location, the art we all can share, the backdrop to a memorable photo, it is a tradition that dates back to the cave walls. It is where art innovates. We are Rough Edge Collective : Maria-Jose (MJ) Lindo-Lawyer and Joshua Lawyer, a married couple who met in a small gallery in the Mission district of San Francisco over 10 years ago. Both of us being the art kid in school, we were obsessed with creating. Being children of immigrant parents who didn’t know the next steps to take, led us to becoming self-taught artists. We know first hand how impactful public art can be, I ( MJ ) was forced to move frequently due to the civil war in Nicaragua, my family relocated to Toronto Canada and it was there that I was captivated by the mural work while riding the subway as a child. Meanwhile 2600 miles away, in the bay area, Joshua, growing up in a strong Tongan culture, although beautiful and rich, was not in a traditional Tongan career path in pursuing the arts. Through the 90’s bay area graffiti/street art scene and seeing artists like Barry McGee transform the public space is where he would find inspiration and his life’s passion. Our professional careers started in Bay area galleries and would span across the country over the next 15 years. In late 2018 we attempted our first mural and were immediately hooked. Since then, we have been able to travel across the country, providing artwork for communities and growing rapidly as muralists and public artists. When designing this piece we wanted to take on the Light house ( a familiar symbol for any coastal city) and use it as a guiding light for the artwork but in a way that felt more intimate to ones personal journey. This led to the design “Light House” It is about a guiding force that leads you “home, the seemingly small moments that you realize are so impactful in when granted hindsight. The helpful hands that help lead you to a place where you belong. It is about finding community and the journey it takes to get there, a beacon that grants you safe passage on this journey. For the second piece, we build on a narrative of a youth and adolescence. She is of “giant” heritage and trying to find her way into who she wants to be. In her backpack and with the skull, you get insight as to her tastes in music and pastime. It is a moment in life that is both challenging and exciting. Norwalk Monroe Street murals Target budget $ 50,000.00 Total Artist Design Fee including concept refinement and construction coordination (40%) $ 20,000.00 $ 20,000.00 Equipment Rental (3%) $ 1,500.00 $ 1,500.00 Installation (labor,fabrication ,material analysis, permitting if needed) (28%) $ 14,000.00 $ 14,000.00 Materials & Tools (6.5%) $3,250 $ 3,250.00 Travel & Board (15%) $ 7,500.00 $ 7,500.00 Insurance (2.5%) $ 1,250.00 $ 1,250.00 Contingency (5%) $ 2,500.00 $ 2,500.00 $ 50,000.00  Norwalk Arts Commission Budget Summary Dept Account Summary Original Balance Expenses PO Transfer In/Out Balance 011450 5221 Printing & Duplicating $ 1,500.00 $ 1,500.00 5225 Secretarial Services $ 2,100.00 $ (1,500.00) $ 600.00 Telesco Secretarial Services $ 1,500.00 $ (300.00) $ 1,200.00 5235 Membership & Dues $ 100.00 $ 100.00 5237 Advertising $ 1,500.00 $ 1,500.00 5258 Other Professional Services $ 7,800.00 $ (1,625.00) $ 6,175.00 5286 Business Expenses $ 1,500.00 $ (174.00) $ 1,326.00 5298 Other Contractual Services $ 500.00 $ 500.00 5329 Other Operating Supplies $ 1,500.00 $ 1,500.00  Capital Accounts Summary of YTD Expenses and Account Balances Description Department # Pro.# Original Balance Expenditures PO Avail. Bal. MLK Blvd Art 0921-1450-5777 C0792 $ 50,000.00 $ 40,500.00 $ - $ 9,500.00 PO: Julio Pardo $ 16,500.00 $ 16,500.00 $ - $ - Req: Studio 162, LLC $ 26,500.00 $ 26,500.00 $ - Arts in Public Places Program 0922-3760-5777 C0804 $ 25,000.00 $ 2,000.00 $ 23,000.00 Arts in Public Places Program 0923-3760-5777 C0804 $ 50,000.00 $ 50,000.00