ARTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Meeting of Monday, 06 February 2006

Mansfield Community Center (MCC) Conference Room

 

MINUTES

 

1. The meeting was called to order by Acting Chair Derri Owen at 7:07p.  Members present: Scott Lehmann, Derri Owen.  Members absent: Jay Ames, Steve Pringle, Blanche Serban.  Others present: Jay O’Keefe (staff); Robert Coughlin & Kim Bova (guests).

 

2. Public comment.

  1. Mr. Coughlin has proposed setting up a visual arts critique group, which could offer suggestions and pointers to participants (along the lines of a writing group).  He thought it would be a good idea to have a kick-off meeting to gauge interest and to see what meeting schedule and format seems appropriate.  Derri & Jay A. have indicated interest in convening such a meeting.  It should be advertised through press releases and calls to artists who have students; a flyer would be useful.  Derri, Jay A., Jay O’K, and Mr. Coughlin should set a date, probably in March.  Then we can proceed to advertise the meeting.
  2. Ms. Bova met with Cynthia van Zelm to urge that the Storrs Downtown project include a co-operative arts gallery.  Ms. van Zelm seemed very receptive to this suggestion.  Derri recalled that Ms. van Zelm and School of Art Dean David Woods had once proposed {AAC minutes, 7 Jan 03} a gallery, housed temporarily in the Husky Blues space and perhaps operated by UConn business students, that would show works by both UConn art students and area artists.  Husky Blues was never converted to this use, and it is unclear whether the School of Art is still interested in a town-gown gallery.  It was agreed that we should remind the Downtown Partnership of our continuing interest in an arts presence in the Downtown Storrs project – small retail shops for artists and/or a gallery open to local artists.  A Scott will draft a letter.  Jay O’K indicated that a draft of such a letter should be sent to the Town Council for its OK, pursuant to policy on recommendations made by town bodies to outside agencies.  It would also be a good idea for a Committee member to attend Partnership meetings.

 

3. Minutes of the 09 Jan 06 meeting were approved as written

 

4. Correspondence.

  1. Scott reported that Joan Sidney’s poetry group is interested in displaying material and scheduling a reading during the Apr–Jul period.  He will contact her about a date for the reading, probably in the Community Room (which can seat 50); Jay O’K will provide an MCC schedule indicating what dates are open.  It was suggested that a Sunday afternoon (with refreshments!) might be a good time.
  2. Will O’Hare has inquired about bringing his traditional Irish music group, Full Gael, to the MCC for a performance, in part to promote its new CD.  Selling a CD at the MCC would probably not be possible, but it could be advertised at a performance.  A free-admission concert performed at no cost to the town would be fine, but the Committee should ask to hear samples of music (e.g., the new CD) before approving the event.  Scott will relay this information to Mr. O’Hare.
  3. The town’s IT people are willing to post information on MCC art displays (& performances) on the Town’s website, probably under Parks and Recreation.  We should ask artists to supply brief bios and descriptions of exhibited/performed works.

  

5. Community Center art.

a.      Jay O’K asked that we be more conscientious in using the installation check list form, so as to keep MCC staff informed and to reassure artists.  Take-down information should be added to this form.

b.      Kim Bova submitted an application (including samples) to display photographs.  She was invited to exhibit in the Hallway(s) for the Apr– Jul period.  We still need to find artists for the double-sided entry case and the sitting room areas for this period.  Derri will call Ann Lorch at E.O.Smith to suggest a show of student art.

 

Period

Entry cases

Lounge

Hallway

Double-sided

Shelves

Upper

Lower

Long (5)

Short (2)

15 Jan – 15 Apr

Harriet Meade

(ceramics, sculpture)

Eda Easton

(reliefs)

Ken Forman

(watercolors)

Ken Forman

(watercolors)

15 Apr – 15 Jul

 

Joan Sidney

(poetry)

 

 

Kim Bova

(photographs)

 

6. Sitting room display lighting.  Derri will contact Lightolier to ask if there is a display room we can visit to see the recommended fixtures in operation.

 

7. Membership. Ms. Bova would like to join the Committee (applause!).  She will so indicate to Deputy Mayor Greg Haddad.

  

8. Adjourned at 8:45p.

 

Scott Lehmann, Acting Secretary, 07 February 2006