ARTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Meeting of Tuesday, 02 September 2008

Mansfield Community Center (MCC) Conference Room

MINUTES

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

2. The draft minutes of the 01 July 08 meeting were approved as written; the August meeting was cancelled.

3. Correspondence

a. The annual report is due. Scott will write it up ASAP. Accomplishments for FY 07-08 include Council adoption of an art display policy for municipal buildings, display and removal procedures for the MCC, online MCC exhibit calendar with artist bios, installation of a rod for hanging flat art in the double-sided case.

b. The Town Manager informed Jay O’K that someone at the Benton had expressed interest in AAC membership; there was also an earlier inquiry from a resident who works at Hartford Stage. Jay A. suggested inviting these residents to attend a meeting (there are currently no openings, but some old timers might be willing to make room for them by retiring).

c. The Mansfield Library recently displayed photos and cultural artifacts from Taiwan and wondered if the AAC needed to approve the exhibit. The AAC took no action, as the display appeared not to be art and theinquiry was made after the July meeting. To handle future displays there, the Library should either get the Town Manager to set up an exhibit committee for the Library (on the model of the Senior Center’s committee) or submit applications to the AAC in a more timely manner.

d. A juried art show will be held at this year’s Festival on the Green. The Festival organizers had wanted to display prize-winning works at the Town Hall, but has backed off: pursuant to the new art display policy, the AAC would have to see and approve the works, and it did not meet in August. The AAC thought it still might be possible to do this, especially as some members will be involved as judges. It was agreed that the AAC should offer to display prize-winning works in the MCC display cases following the Festival until 15 October, in this and subsequent years, assuming they meet our suitability guidelines. Kim will communicate this proposal to the Festival organizers.

4. Store 24 space. Leon contacted Cynthia Van Zelm about the Partnership’s plans the Store 24 space (see item 4, July minutes). She thought it was intended mostly for promotional purposes and that any proposal to use it for art displays would have to go to a committee headed by Dean Woods. In view of the facts that the Store 24 complex is not long for this world and that the AAC has enough trouble arranging exhibits for the MCC, it was decided not to pursue such a proposal.

5. Art Show event. At present, nobody on the AAC is willing to take on organizing such an event. Planning would have to start soon for an event in the spring, similar to the Arts 300 Festival at Holiday Hill in May 2003.

6. Outreach to artists.

a. Scott suggested having a table at Know Your Towns Fair or the Festival on the Green to advertise display opportunities at the MCC and elsewhere, as well promoting the arts more generally by making information on local theatre, dance, and music groups available. The AAC agreed that this would be a good idea for next year (it is too late to pull this information together for this year’s events).

b. Blanche suggested soliciting displays at the MCC from NE Connecticut artists on Peggy Church’s Open Studio list; she will draft a notice and e-mail it to AAC members for comment before sending it to Peggy.

c. Other suggestions were to add the MCC display application to the Parks and Recreation website, and to advertise display opportunities on WHUS radio and in the Horizons publication.

d. Jay A. observed that we have not done much to promote theatre or music; Leon suggested we might begin to move beyond art displays by organizing a modest series of readings by local authors. After some discussion, it was agreed that we should think in terms of quarterly presentations by local authors willing to do this for no fee; Leon will approach someone he knows well enough to ask to see if he would be interested in doing this in the fall or winter.

7. MCC art displays.

a. As Scott reported by e-mail, Sylvia Smith has asked that her exhibit of water media be deferred for a year, as she is having back surgery. So we have all the space to fill for the fall quarter.

b. Martin Bloom has applied to show collage works drawn from his current exhibit in the Jorgensen Gallery. Some members have seen this show, and everyone was enthusiastic, though some works may not be suitable for the MCC venue. Mr. Bloom indicates that he would prefer to show collages of one type, e.g., portraits, or landscapes. Some works are delicate and should go in the display cases. Blanche will contact him about exhibiting in the fall quarter, asking what he would like to show and indicating that the AAC would have to see everything (or photos thereof); she will offer as much space as he needs.

c. Taylor Lee Anderson, a student at E.O. Smith, has applied to show nature photos. Kim will call and ask how big they are. Assuming the Bloom exhibit goes up in October, this one would probably have to wait until January.

d. Francis Raiola has asked if the display cases are available for a display during Fire Prevention Week (10/5 to 10/11). The AAC is OK with this only if Festival on the Green art isn’t going in there; Kim will let Jay O’K. know

Exhibit Period	Entry cases		Sitting room		Hallway
	Double-sided	Shelves	Upper (5)	Lower (3)	Long (5)	Short (2)
Spring 15 Apr – 15 Jul		E.O.Smith (ceramics, etc.) 4/21 - 5/30 Eric Roy (jewelry) 6/ 3- 8/15	Judith Meyers (oils)		John Manfred (photos)
Summer 15 Jul – 15 Aug	Art Camp art		Faith Montaperto (various media)
15 Aug – 15 Sep	Festival, KYTF advertising
Fall 15 Oct – 15 Jan	Martin Bloom? (collage)			Martin Bloom? (collage)

7. Adjourned at 8:39p. Next meeting: Tuesday, 07 October 08, 7:00p.

Scott Lehmann, Acting Secretary, 03 September 08; approved 07 October 08.