ARTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Meeting of Tuesday, 04 December 2007

Mansfield Community Center (MCC) Conference Room

MINUTES

1. The meeting was called to order at 7:10p by Acting Chair Jay Ames.  Members present: Jay Ames, Scott Lehmann, Joan Prugh, Blanche Serban.  Members absent: Anita Bacon, Leon Bailey, Kim Bova.  Others present: Jay O’Keefe (staff). 

2. The minutes of the 06 November 07 meeting were approved as written.

3. High School arts.  Jay A. has spoken with art teachers at E.O. Smith and reported some interest in putting together an exhibit of ceramics and jewelry by students for the display cases for the 15 Apr to 15 Jul.

4. Non-visual arts at the MCC.  Joan P. reported that Joan Sidney will be too busy next semester to organize another poetry reading, but might be able to participate in one.  Joan P. will contact Curbstone Press to see if it might be interested in organizing a reading by its authors.  She will also speak with the director of the UConn choral group in which she sings about possibly presenting an informal choral concert at the MCC.  Blanche suggested that a Winter Festival at the MCC could have an arts component. 

5. Art Display policy.  Scott extracted a general art display policy for town buildings from the MCC display policy approved at the November meeting, which he included (along with the MCC policy) in a draft report to the Town Council, which was circulated by e-mail in advance of this meeting.  Pursuant to suggestions by Jay O’K, the following changes were agreed to:

a. In MCC policy, second sentence, replace “c/o Jay O’Keefe, MCC” by “c/o MCC”.

b. In MCC policy, add to the end of the first sentence of b. under application process “... guidelines below, after consulting with MCC staff.”

c. In Process section of Report, alter “Two replies...” to “Two written replies....”

d. In Process section of Report, alter 2. to “2. A revised draft incorporating suggestions by the Town Attorney and others, distributed....”

e. In Process section of Report, add to end of first sentence of paragraph 2, “...considerations, including suggestions made by MCC staff.”

Jay O’K also suggested deleting the first paragraph of the Background section of the report, arguing that it was incomplete in not mentioning the Easton sculpture incident or the MCC staff’s view that both incidents indicated the need for reconsidering display policy.  However, extended discussion did not persuade the AAC that a paragraph intended merely to remind the Council what this was all about should be dropped or expanded, and it unanimously approved the report, altered as agreed to in a. – e. above.  The Town Manager would like to put the proposed policy on the agenda for the Council’s 14 Jan 08 meeting.  The AAC will suggest the 28 Jan 08 meeting instead, as several members have conflicts on the earlier date.

6. MCC art displays.

1. Before the November meeting, Sarah Winter did in fact submit photos of all the mixed-media works she wants to display, but they were not passed along to the AAC.  After viewing them, the AAC approved her application to use the hallways and sitting room display areas for the winter quarter (15 Jan – 15 Apr).
2. Does Irmgaard Rees understand that we’d like her to organize an exhibit of her own work in the display cases  for the winter quarter?  Scott will e-mail her and again propose this, reminding her that we would need to see all the works (or photos thereof) in advance.
3. Scott told John Manfred that the AAC had approved his show of photos of Toddy Pond (ME).  The summer quarter (15 Jul –15 Oct) might be a problem, since Mr. Manfred is usually up at Toddy Pond in the summer.
4. Faith Montaperto has applied to exhibit works in a variety of media – acrylics, oils, photographs, digital art; she submitted 50 photos.  Jay A. will call and suggest that she propose a coherent show of about 20 works.  The summer quarter is possible, if Mr. Manfred prefers the fall.
5. Judith Meyers hasn’t returned Blanche’s call about whether she wants to display more oils than the AAC has seen; Blanche will try again.

Exhibit Period	Entry cases		Sitting room		Hallway
	Double-sided	Shelves	Upper	Lower	Long (5)	Short (2)
Fall 15 Oct – 15 Jan	Patty Vinsonhaler (ceramics)		Laurie Smolin (watercolors)
Winter 15 Jan – 15 Apr	Irmgaard Rees? (found-object art)		Sarah Winter (mixed media)
Spring 15 Apr – 15 Jul	E.O.Smith ceramics & jewelry?			Judith Meyers? (oils)
Summer 15 Jul – 15 Oct				Faith Montaperto? (various media)
Fall 15 Oct – 15 Jan				John Manfred? (photos)

7. Adjourned at 8:36p.  Next meeting: Tuesday, 08 January, 7:00p.

Scott Lehmann, Acting Secretary, 07 December 07