ARTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Meeting of Tuesday, 01 April 2008

Mansfield Community Center (MCC) Conference Room

 

MINUTES

 

1. The meeting was called to order at 7:07p by Acting Chair Kim Bova.  Members present: Anita Bacon, Kim Bova, Scott Lehmann, Joan Prugh, Blanche Serban.  Members absent: Jay Ames, Leon Bailey.  Others present: Jay O’Keefe (staff). 

 

2. The draft minutes of the 04 March 08 meeting were approved with corrections & additions: Anita Bacon should not be listed as absent (item 1); Jay A. not Joan was to contact E.O.Smith art instructors (item 4); Irmgard Rees inquired about using the cases for an Earth Day display (item 5); Betty Stern applied for space to promote summer concerts, Sylvia Smith applied to exhibit water media, Joan will contact Ms. Smith about supplying more photos and Eric Roy about how much jewelry he has (item 6)

 

3. High School arts.  Kim spoke with Jay A. before the meeting and reported that he has had no recent word from E.O.Smith art teachers about the show of student art at the MCC that the AAC has proposed. Anne Lorch seemed interested when contacted by Kim after the AAC’s March meeting and told that we needed to know by today, but Kim has heard nothing since.  Accordingly, the AAC concluded that the student art show is a no-go and that we need to look for other ways to fill the display cases for the spring period (4/15 to 7/15).

 

4. Storrs Center development.

a.        Kim reported that the Downtown Partnership is preoccupied with finding enough money to clear the way for the Storrs Center project by constructing a facility to house existing businesses; consequently, plans for an arts presence in Storrs Center and many other details are now on the back burner.

b.       The Festival on the Green in September will again have an art show.  Anita and Blanche suggested that the AAC recommend an indoor venue for the show and perhaps for individual artists who may wish to participate in the Festival as vendors; it is difficult to set up displays outdoors.  Blanche also suggested running an indoor show for several days, as it is a lot of work to set up.  Jay O’K thought that parts of the MCC could be used for a show, provided details were worked out well in advance.  Kim will suggest to the Festival organizers that the art show be inside

 

5. MCC art displays.

a.        Joan contacted Eric Roy about the jewelry he proposes to show.  He would need only one shelf to display 19 pieces and would really like to include some minerals to show people the raw material for his work.  The AAC agreed that this would be fine.  Joan will call Mr. Roy and invite him to display his work for the Spring Period, starting 15 April.  As we now have no applicant for the double-sided case, Jay O’K will ask Irmgard Rees whether she’d like to keep her things on display there until 15 July. John Manfred indicated to Scott that he would be interested in showing some of his Toddy Pond photos in the hallways during the Spring Period; Joan will call Sarah Winter about removing her paintings and let Scott know when the hallways will be available for Mr. Manfred’s photos.

b.        Joan left a message for Sylvia Smith, asking for photos of all the water-media works she proposes to display but has not had a response.  Ms. Smith’s application indicates that some things will not be ready for some months, so perhaps the fall is the best period for her exhibit.  Joan will ask her if this is OK and tell her that we’ll eventually need to see everything.

c.          Scheduling art displays for the display cases in the summer is difficult because the Downtown Partnership wants the display cases for 3 weeks or so prior to the Festival on the Green for advertising the event.  Also, Betty Stern would like space this year to advertise summer concerts sponsored by Parks and Recreation.  Accordingly, the AAC decided not to try to schedule an exhibit in the display cases for the Summer Period.  Instead, it will solicit a display of art from summer art camps sponsored by Parks and Recreation (and taught by Jay A.) for the time between concert and Festival advertising and aim to start the fall exhibit in the cases a bit early, when the Festival advertising material is removed.

Text Box: Exhibit Period Entry cases Sitting room Hallway Double-sided Shelves Upper Lower Long (5) Short (2) Winter 15 Jan – 15 Apr Irmgard Rees (found-object art) Ellen Marshall (glass) & Kris Plimpton (jewelry) Sarah Winter (mixed media) Spring 15 Apr – 15 Jul Irmgard Rees? (found-object art) Eric Roy (jewelry & minerals) Judith Meyers (oils) John Manfred (photos) Summer 15 Jul – 15 Oct Summer concert advertising Summer art camp art? Festival on the Green advertising Faith Montaperto (various media) Fall 15 Oct – 15 Jan Sylvia Smith? (water media)

6. Adjourned at 8:05p.  Next meeting: Tuesday, 06 May 08, 7:00p.

 

Scott Lehmann, Acting Secretary, 03 April 08