Public Art Commission - Regular Meeting

uh keep my glasses and send them to the factory to cut the lenses to fit the frame. And so I'm wearing uh cheaters. Uh which is why they're perched on the end of my nose. The lenses fit the frame. I'm also getting used to uh I didn't realize uh well it's a long story not worth wasting your time on but uh my computer uh has a camera in it but I use a different screen. So anyway that's why I keep moving the thing around and trying to not look like I'm sitting on the floor.

Yeah. But it looks like you're looking up at something. Uh well the um yeah uh wonder if I the the computer is sitting on a a movable shell and the it matters Bob but everybody's got systems these days. Let me see if I can do this. That's better. Huh? And now I How's that? Beautiful. There you are. Front and center. Front and center.

Chair. We are now streaming. So you can call the meeting to order whenever you're ready. Okay. Uh I call uh the uh March meeting of the arts commission to order and note that we have in attendance uh Robin Sherwood, Lee Good who's on camera. Uh Vivian and Arsha and I am present. Uh Bob Ferger and Elizabeth Lane. So we are rolling. I'm here. I'm just getting the lighting right. Yeah. Yeah. Let me see. Hello everyone.

Hello. Hi Sheena. Hello everybody.

Hi everybody. Hello Vivian. Maybe I can do it without the glasses. I don't know. This is driving me crazy. Uh, so our first uh order of uh business uh is talking about the bear. Uh and uh I have no news to report except that it was a nice day today. And so we're getting closer to the um possibility uh of having him the artist come out and u and uh take a look at the tree and the location and uh start to plan out his uh work. I was in in contact with him and he's still very much on board and and interested in doing it, committed I should say. And the one uh open uh item uh which we're still working on is paying for it. Uh his estimate uh is about $6,000. We probably be a little under that, but we're planning on 6,000. And uh we have 3,000 in our current funds uh till the end of this fiscal year. And u uh as I've copied you all on these correspondence, I submitted our uh justification for budget for next year. You all received copies and asked for the entire 6,000 in next year's budget. Um, and Elizabeth, can you uh give us any update on where things are with the budgeting process and if there's any feedback and when uh we're likely to hear

uh we were told that we would be put in for 3,000 from for this next fiscal year. Do you have any information for us? Yes. So for this fiscal year, you are correct. the Bloomfield Public Art Commission's budget is $3,000. For the next fiscal year, it is my understanding um that the request you put in, chair, is what is being presented, which I believe was a $6,000 request. Um, however,

the issue at hand is it is my understanding that if we are to move forward with a bare sculpture, the purchase has to happen in one fiscal year. We can't pay for part of it in this fiscal year and the rest in the next fiscal year. Um I am trying to figure out what a pathway forward would be. Um by speaking with um uh the town manager um and I know that um Chair Fergger, you have looped in the mayor. Um he is also a part of trying to figure out a pathway forward. Um so more information to come. But as for the fisc year 27 budget request, that budget process is about to formally commence through um both the town manager's office and through town council meetings um which will be a public process. Um once the dates for that are finalized, um I will be sharing that with the public art commission. Um and as every year um anyone who wants to participate can participate in the process by sharing um public comments and or writing um the council on what you are interested in seeing um the budget play out in what direction you want that for. So um does that answer your question chair?

Uh yes thank you Elizabeth and uh I have a a comment and a and a question. We actually uh because we received a grant from the formerly known as Hartford Foundation for Public Giving uh for the drum uh event uh and actually had some funds left over from that. Um however, that those funds, whatever they are, they may only be a couple hundred dollars do carry over. They're not tied into a fiscal year. But in any event, we have $3,000 to our credit in this fiscal year which we have not spent and we have nothing to spend it on. Uh which is kind of presents kind of a quandry. Uh I think we probably when does the next fiscal year start? In other words, when could we put in a request for funds authorized?

J. So, this $3,000 would need to be spent by the end of June. The next fiscal year starts July 1. Um, but that is exactly why um I'm looping in the town manager's office and I know you looped in the mayor to figure out a pathway forward. Um, I know I let them know that we are interested in moving forward this fiscal year with the bear sculpture. Um, and um, I'm waiting to hear back um, on what the thoughts would be around that possibility. Well, one of the things I

was saying, excuse me, if we don't spend the $3,000, I'm sorry, we lose it, but yet we can't spend it on the bear this year and then spend more on the bear next year. That makes that is my That is my understanding of the purchasing process. That makes

however I have a your your comment, Lee, thank you. Leads directly into my comment uh which is I can talk to the artist and see if he can break the project into two pieces. In other words, he can carve the bear perhaps in next fiscal year or carve it uh in the early summer. uh and uh in fact um get the um get the payment for that next year. Uh but um maybe what he can do is there's some discrete part of that project that he could bill us for in this year and spend some of our $3,000 is what I'm thinking. Other is um as you all know we have to um commission a u a platform for it and uh perhaps we could spend some of our money this year on getting that done in this fiscal year. In other words, the place where the bear is going to sit when it's done maybe could be done by the end of June. Although I know Mark Weissman said that he would find some funds for us to help with that. Maybe we can carve the project into two discrete pieces that we could spend money on in each year. That's all I can think of, but I will talk to the artist about that as well.

Um, also I just reread the email. Um and the budget request as put in um is $9,000 for fiscal year 27. So it would be 3,000 which is our our carried over ask from this year and then 6,000 for the maximum cost of the sculpture. So the request is for 9,000. Um, that being said, it would have to be approved by town council. If it went into the 27 budget, then we we would wait until July to move forward with all of that. Does that make sense? It does.

And I can talk to him about that. He's flexible. Yeah. So, so perhaps that is the pathway forward, but um I would still recommend that we talk to the various stakeholders just to make sure we are all on the same page. Um because again, it would require council approving that amount for that all to play out correctly.

Okay. Well, we'll all work together on that. Uh and uh you you led in with the name uh Elizabeth I was going to bring up uh again I copied all of you following our u uh February meeting. Uh I sent that lengthy three-part uh email to Mayor Harrington and have not heard anything back from him even an acknowledgement that he received it. However, it did not bounce. So, uh, in his own due course and his, uh, personal method, perhaps he's working on some of those, uh, items that were raised in that email, but I have nothing to report back to you on, uh, on that. He has not been in touch with me or anyone for that matter on that subject that I know of. So, um, any further comment or question, Elizabeth? I did briefly talk to the mayor about some of those concerns, not all of them. Um, and I will let him know that um, this this was brought up at this meeting as well.

Well, thank you, Elizabeth. And one of the uh concerns, this is not a list of agenda item, but um it was uh getting uh commissioners uh appointed uh and that would be specifically uh Vivian and uh and Neil Clark. Uh and um I received correspondence personally from the town clerk uh asking if my um disclosures had uh uh changed and they have not. And uh I wrote back and said, "Do I have to come in and take another oath?" And she said, "No." Uh, so that should apply to all of the current sitting commissioners, uh, Robin, Lee, Arsha, uh, and Wendy, who's not here. Uh, you should follow up with the town clerk to make sure that you are properly reappointed for the next next period. Uh, but we are still waiting.

I have a question about that. Well, let me just finish and then you and then you may uh we are waiting for the uh town council to uh tell all of us our commission as well as others how they do plan to move forward on appointing commissioners. Uh Lee, yes. Lee, I want to be clear. Is it my responsibility to go to the town clerk and find out if I'm still on the commission or is it their responsibility to tell me what I need to do?

I would say it's theirs, but uh you don't have to go to the town clerk. You can simply send her an email and uh follow up. Why should I have to do anything? Why don't they let me know where I stand and I will do what needs to be done?

They should. It's just an awful lot falls between the cracks in this town. Uh actually everything falls between the cracks. So uh we will Lee uh and and Robin and and Wendy and uh uh myself, we will all proceed as we are commissioners uh unless anyone uh contacts us to say uh we need information. So you're right. We we will operate as commissioners duly appointed and let them uh come forward if they have any questions. Yeah. Thank you. Uh that's uh essentially that and related topics. The next agenda item I believe is um talking about youth uh uh for uh the um art commission. And I don't know if any of you have any further um thoughts, questions, ideas that you'd like to throw out for discussion on that subject. We have not taken any initiatives and uh under uh our ongoing new business. Uh we can um uh talk about uh how we uh intend to formalize what our uh our role is. And I have uh two brief reports when we come to that in new business of uh people I've talked to relating to how um the commission is going to operate. Uh but uh does anyone have a thought, comment, question about um youth

uh initiatives? I still think sponsoring uh the the children in Bloomfield schools in an art show where it's shown I don't know and how we keep it safe and all of that but that is a real possibility.

I think that's an excellent suggestion. I will remind all of you that we did um try to get the participation of the school uh during the uh the high school that is during the Michael Border show and uh and did not get any response at all from students wanting to participate. Uh we were going to honor a student for Black History Month during the Michael Border show and um no one stepped forward. So, uh, we can certainly pursue it and see if there's any interest. Robin,

um, yeah, you just reminded me, Bob, and I'll have to dig it up. Um, during the Michael Border show, we did have, and I've shamefully forgotten his name. It was either a principal or vice principal. Um, yes, it's the principal of the high school.

Oh, it was the high school, not the middle school. Yeah. So, I'll have to find his contact information because he uh seemed very enthusiastic and I believe you spoke to him. I don't think I was there the afternoon that he was there. Uh but I'll look for his contact information because he's someone we should absolutely reach out to. And then I just want to remind everyone that uh you know the trees for Bloomfield photo contest. I know Paula was also hoping that we could figure out a way to engage uh youth in the contest. Of course, the timing of the photo contest is what's kind of tricky because the submissions uh take place during the summer into the fall. So, that's something maybe I got to talk to Paul about again. And I also wanted to say that I think Wendy

uh has more familiarity with the Bloomfield public school system. And maybe Elizabeth, you do too. And if you have any uh people that you think we should reach out to, that would be helpful. Uh, I know when we had the Bloomfield students at Doncaster, my initial contact, her last name was Cullina and uh, what she she works for the Bloomfield Education and she put me in touch with the right person to talk to about making this happen. This is a few years ago. I don't know if she's still there, but I would go to the Department of Education and find out who's involved in the art

and then who do we talk to because we really want to involve the Bloomfield students. That's I think that's great. Uh perhaps uh uh Lee, since you've made the contact in the past, if you'd be willing to try to find out the path that we should pursue, that would be very helpful. Right. Okay. You have Do you still have that person's name that you work with? Yes, it was Colona. C U L L I N A. I don't remember her first name but uh um

pardon me what was her uh position if you remember uh she was sort of in charge of art and uh also dancing and whatever for the Bloomfield school system for the entire school system or specific I think for the entire Well, that would be terrific if we if we could. This is a few years ago, so whether she's still there, I don't know. But there is somebody who's in that spot and can just guide us to who we talk to next. That would be terrific.

That would be great. Uh Lee, if you could pursue that and and let us know uh how we need to move forward. do my best. Thank you. Thank you. Uh anything else on that topic? Uh youth and the arts.

Yes. Um so as we speak, we had a cartoonist in the library tonight um teaching a full community room of young people um how to cartoon. Very successful program. And that was in partnership with Bloomfield Public Schools. um as it is literacy week um and the library and the schools work very closely during literacy week um trying to you know get our families as involved as possible. Um and further I wanted to share that the library is now in its second round of um our new exhibition series at Proser Library and we are having an art reception on March 28th with the artist Eddie Hall at 11:30 at Proser and part of that whole thinking is to make sure that there's a component that's specifically for youth and so we've already spoke with this artist. We're going to have um a mini tour of the art on display that's specifically for youth and families and we're going to make it simple and easy and accessible um because we want to start engaging our youth in art experiences where they know that they can come as they are and ask any questions. Um, I'm hoping that as we continue to roll out our exhibition series in the libraries that the Bloomfield Public Art Commission can play a bigger role in a participating and b spreading the word about the art. Um, the current show is really beautiful um and really engaging and I I think people are really going to like it. Um, moving forward, we're going to have um uh our next exhibition is going to be in partnership with the Jewish Community Center and we're also working with um the prison arts to have another showing of their work which we

did in the old proer as well which was incredible. Um so again those are going to be quarterly exhibitions and we're going to have a component that's specifically aimed at youth and families. Um, in addition, um, I think another role that BPAD can play in is in helping getting out word about the museum pass program that is available at the library that is free with your library card. And I cannot tell you how many families do not realize about this and how much easier it is to bring your family to a museum when it is already paid for with um you via you know um via your library card. Um and that way it's a much low barrier um experience because if your kids only last 30 minutes for instance in the New Britain Museum of American Art, that's okay. You made it. you they got to experience it and then they roll on. So, I'm as we just dropped our new strategic plan and a big part of that is having library ambassadors helping to explain to our public what is freely available to them. Um because there's a lot um so I I think that BPAC and the libraries and the schools can really work together to help push this out. Um that's it.

Wonderful. Wonderful. Vivian, I think I saw you raise your hand. saying that uh if you have a library card, you can go to the uh Wadsworth Anthony. Yes. With your library card, you can go to the Wadssworth, you can go to the New Britain Museum of Art, you can go to Mass Mocha, which is one of the top contemporary art museums in the world. I would put it on a top 10 list. Um as well as many other cultural institutions with your library card. So many people don't know that.

No. And we we tell people all the time, but we really need help getting that information out. Um even if it's sharing on your own social media pages, sharing in your communities when you're you're out and about. Um and just reminding people of the wealth that's available with your library card. It opens more doors than you could ever imagine.

Terrific. Elizabeth, I have a question about the quarterly exhibit and the one you're talking about for March 28th. Is it one particular artist and is the the art already on display? This one is one particular artist. The last one was multiple artists. If you go to the library page, you'll see we have a new web page. On the left hand menu bar, you'll see first you'll see the link to museum passes. And right below it, you'll see library exhibitions. And here you'll see on view now Eddie Hall Ex Libris. And this is from January 2nd to March 31st. And he does acrylic on recycled glass um window panes.

Um Wow, that's great.

It's really beautiful. And then the first one we had was expressions in clay and that was through expressions pottery workshop and we had um 25 different individuals represented um at Proer Library. So we're still working through this um with staff um but we think it's going to be very robust and again we're aiming for quarterly shows and we want to have a reception component and a component that's specifically aimed at youth and families. And since we're here, I'll just take a quick note to show you how the museum passes work. You just click on it. You can do this from home. Um, and you'll see if you go by museum, all the different museums that you have access to.

Wow. So many. The Eric Carl Museum, the Florence Griswald, Harriet Beecher Stow, Hillsstead. Um, some of them are free and some of them it's a greatly reduced admission. Mark Twain House, Massa. Uh, fantastic. That's great. Norman Rockwell Museum, Slater Memorial Museum. Sign me up. I'm gonna grab them all. There you go. No, that's great. That's wonderful. Wonderful. Thank you, Elizabeth.

And now, is the exhibit space is it in different areas of the library? I'm just curious because I'm just beginning to figure out the layout of the library. The one exhibit space is through when you're at the reference desk, it's right across by where all the new books are and we have a display case there. Then we are also showing art above the fireplace and we have art in the BPL um cafe space.

That's great. Wow. And one last question. Um, how do you go about selecting your artists? And are you already booked up for the year?

We are already booked up for the year. We are basing it off of our um, you know, first of all, representation across the board. Um, we do have um, you know, the first one was actually a retired employee who does the pottery. So it was her pottery studio in Graanby. Um and also because we have such limited staff time um ease of working with our partners. So for instance the next one with the Jewish community center um they are doing the install. It's so seamless. They're making it so easy. Um it was same with the current artist. He came he did the install. It was um very easy to work with them. So um that is uh one of the criteria right now. Um and um also just connecting with um part community partners that we worked with in the past. So for instance the prison arts one we've worked with them in the past. Um and we again the representation the broad representation is what we're looking for. Um, so I think we have a watercolist that we're looking at and if we do that then we're not going to probably have another watercolist for years as we try to really get as many different genres involved um as possible.

And are they all Connecticut artists? Yes, currently they are all Connecticut artists. Okay, great. That's

wonderful. Wonderful. And Elizabeth, this is just a uh of interest to everyone, but a sidebar for you. Uh Rob Gotfrieded, who you recall did the uh drum event for us uh this past uh summer, um contacted me just a week ago and said he's interested in uh doing some uh uh mini uh drum circles or instruction for kids or that kind of thing. and I encouraged him to get in touch with you directly. He's not a a Bloomfield artist, but he is uh uh Connecticut. He lives in West Hartford, works from West Hartford, and u so he wants to get in touch with you. I said I could not speak for you, but I was pretty sure that you're booked up for this year, but um maybe he can arrange some uh uh little events particularly oriented to youth because that's his primary focus uh with with drumming. So,

yes, and I don't want to speak for the youth department. They would probably have openings um within uh I know we're right now almost through summer reading, but starting in the fall. So I look forward to hearing from him.

Great. I will uh I will follow up again and encourage him to get in touch with you. Um okay well that's that's all wonderful uh news and information. Uh moving along um I did uh mention already that I have not heard back from Tony Harrington. So we are not in a position to uh proceed with reporting on the 1% for the arts proposal. although I sent all of you the information on it. uh but related uh to that and transitioning into what our role uh should be and would be uh going forward. Um I had um two significant conversations just in this week uh which touch on um the art commission's uh future role and might help shape our conversation. Uh the first was uh the uh Wintenberry Historical Society. Do I have that correct? Uh Robin, it's Wintonberry.

Yeah. Yeah.

Uh contacted us and by us uh the the uh art commission through Robin and me uh and I held the conversation with them. Robin was out of town. um was looking for some uh advice and assistance uh in there having um an arts oriented event uh as a fundraiser for the uh historic uh society. uh as you may all know they received a fairly substantial grant uh I think it's uh in last year uh on a matching grant basis uh uh from the Connecticut Historical Society uh or preservation uh to restore the um the schoolhouse. uh and I had a long conversation with them uh just this week giving them some guidance but making it clear that we would not take on running an event for them or or doing the event but in fact would be more than happy uh to be uh advisory somewhat the way we are uh with the um for Bloomfield photo contest. in other words, participate uh if they would like to take the lead. Uh it's not at all clear that they're going to be able to do that because of some uh technical and financial actually uh issues related to their proposal. I I won't bore you all with what they um what they had in mind, but um uh I was able to give them some guidance and uh hold the door open uh that uh we as uh our mission has been uh would be

uh glad to participate and advise and encourage uh our uh exhibits in in the town. Uh, one of them actually Lee said that she uh, and this is Ruth Anne Marquetti who is uh, uh, married to Ron and I think they're both active in the historical society uh, that they wanted to get in touch with you and one of the people on the call was um, uh, Libby, is it Mer? Yeah, Libby Maro in

uh and she lives in Seabberry and said that they'd like to have someone from Seabbury join our commission. So, I encourage that by all means. Um and that's my report on that. Any comments, questions about that before I tell you the other one? Okay. Uh, I also spoke with Bonnie Burkowitz, who you all know uh is in charge of the economic commission and was helpful to us uh with the drum event this past uh summer. And um she is moving forward at a um searching for the right word, deliberate pace, but knowing very well that it may be a long hall that is many years uh with the subject of the arts district uh development uh which is uh Kobe Road next to uh Home Depot in Bloomfield and she's proceeding along with that uh no substantial progress, but she's talking to one of the uh uh building owners on that uh road, 31 Toby Road, about possibly using some of their space for arts events, including dance. So um that again is something we would be called on to um participate in as advisors and and uh co-planners but over as I say a long time horizon she finalized our conversation with uh with the art commission uh still be interested in proceeding with a full drum festival that is as uh we had them in town 20 years ago. And I said, "We're interested, but again, we cannot do the heavy lifting of

planning, fundraising, uh, setting it up all ourselves, but would participate if she or others like the chamber uh were able to organize it and um and um plan a drum festival. So that's out in the future horizon, again, with no definite date." She said, "In [clears throat] fact, excuse me, with the planning necessary and getting the town involved, it uh likely would not even be in in this calendar year, but possibly in uh 2027." So, uh those are my two reports on that subject. Any uh comments, questions, other reports that people have on the commission or I don't know if anyone in the public is here. Robin

uh question about the arts district. I know you and I have talked about it a little bit, but uh um you had mentioned I think even in a prior meeting who are the individual you had mentioned a father and son who has holdings in what

they they own a building at 31 Toby Road uh and uh it's a mixed uh space that is they have some small commercial tenants and then they have a couple of uh resident tenants in the building. Uh and uh they are uh interested in participating with the town in developing uh some of their space uh to present uh art events in. Uh the son uh is from Austin, Texas. Pardon me. Just take a sip of water here. Austin, Texas, which you all know u has a very active uh arts life and and community program and uh he spends about half his time here in Bloomfield. Now the father is in New York City uh but they own this building u as I said together. So uh that's it. and the son's apparently wife is also getting involved now and she is a a designer. So they're moving along slowly slowly. I have no progress notes to report but it's it's moving in a forward direction and uh uh the whole project is being uh advised by Denise Robau uh who you all know is also primarily advising the town on the redevelopment of the Winbury Mall in the center. Does that answer [clears throat] what you wanted, Robin?

Uh yeah, it does. I'm just curious if their is their vision more than just the building that they already own. Well, their vision is not that Bonnie's is. uh Bonnie would like the entire length of the street to be developed for the arts,

but it presents a whole li of issues and problems for the town planning uh department and buildings and and zoning [clears throat] and that type of thing. uh most of the street uh if any of you have driven it on driven on it recently is small commercial uh enterprises that are in pretty rundown buildings. Some of them have deserted cars parked on their lots. So it needs a lot of work just to bring it up to a a baseline level. Now, Herka Brewery is on that trip and is obviously functioning and successful, but it's to be

[clears throat] uh direct. That's that's a destination. If someone's going to the brewery, they're going just there. They're not that interested in wandering the street for other other things. So Lonnie would like to uh see it and I join her in saying yes, we would be very happy to try to develop an arts district there, but it's a long process. Thank you. Yeah, that that pretty much answers my question. So Denise Robo though you said is is I mean because she's also working on the development in the center of town, right? So yes. Yeah, primarily. Yeah. Yeah. Well, if I know Bonnie, she'll uh she'll keep on it, right?

Yeah, she is keeping on it. She's keeping on it. Yeah. Well, that's great. Anyone else? Okay. Um, any other new business people want to uh raise or inquire or report? Hearing none, uh, I believe our agenda is complete. Uh, unless Elizabeth, do you have any other I would like to say something to Elizabeth. Oh, please go ahead. Lee

Dancaster. The art gallery works very hard finding artists and many of them happen to be from Bloomfield or other places. Elizabeth, I want to share those people with you. You I want to invite you to our openings. We do this with town and county. It if an artist shows at Doncaster, they might well want to show at the Bloomfield Library. Let you and I be in touch about this.

Please, please, I would love to attend the openings. I think it will help um inform our approach as well. Um I think we can learn from Doncaster. So Lee, I would love to attend. Thank you so much for extending that offer. You we can learn from you. Lee, you went by very very quickly mentioning town and county. I thought you said the town and county club has something to do with it or no. Did I miss here?

I just threw in about cooperation. If they have a show and an artist, that artist might want to come to Doncaster. That artist might want to come to Bloomfield. Artists want a show. Sure. Sure. Yeah. No, I've had friends that have shown at the town and county and and my uh late wife was a was a member and we used to go to their shows and opening. So, yes, it's a a wide arts community that we want to encourage uh interaction and cooperation with by all means. Yeah.

I would just add to that, Lee, that I actually have been to a couple of the art exhibits at Thunder Well, I saw you there.

Yeah. And I was the last one was uh my friend Steven who I mean there's so much synergy. So here he attended the Michael Borders exhibit which I think is how you and he connected cuz he's in Manchester and but he's been he's a wonderful print maker. He's been at it for many many years. So yeah, he was thrilled to be able to exhibit at Duncaster and and it's it's a great space and you really do a great job I have to say and I think yeah if you and Elizabeth you know

you know one of him one of he's doing an incredible thing of taking little pieces of art and coll Oh good $1,000. Whoa. Wow. Terrific. No, but u my point is there are wonderful artists out there. Let's share the names and who they are with each other.

Excellent. Excellent. That's just just what we should all be doing and particularly the uh art commission being to some degree a a center focal uh place where people can meet and discuss and interact and if it were not for you Lee you would not perhaps have talked to Elizabeth about uh about the cooperation. So that's great. Oh, it was so funny. Ed, I don't think it was at the Boulders. I think it was at your show. I happened to say I was signing people in to Stephen, are you an artist? He said, "Yes, as a matter of fact, I am. The rest is history."

Wow. Will it work now? And on that subject, by the way, uh in having the conversation with the historical society, um they asked if we have a list of artists in town and I said, "We're developing it." Um [clears throat] we have a directory, as you know, of about a hundred names. Unfortunately, we do not know which ones of them are practicing artists or who else might be added to the list. So, we're constantly uh looking for names and adding them. Please uh get in touch with Robin and me on that.

Way we can see what the list is and add to it. Oh, yes. Robin, would you circulate? Are we identifying them? Is it by phone number? I doubt by email? By how? Well, a variety of ways. I mean the if you recall Lee these were the uh sign up forms that we had at the two larger events that we held the borders exhibit and then the one in the prior year the found art uh one so people unfortunately you know it's handwritten the problem with the handwritten

signatures is I hate to say it a lot of the emails are difficult to read so uh I mean some are fine And some people do say specifically what their art interest is or what their skill is, whether they're a print maker, a potter, a dancer, what have you. So, we do have a fair number of people where it's legible, but we also have a fair number where I'm afraid we might have their name, but we do not have a legible uh contact, whether it be a phone number or email. I

think people are more and more nervous about giving out information. I don't think it was that they were nervously. I think it's just handwriting. They don't know how to write. Well, you know, it just I mean we really when if we ever do that again, we have to really we have to ensure or look and say, "Okay, it's got to be printed. I would love to see your list because I might have the information for some of them." Well, that would be great. Yeah. I mean, I've got, you know, what we have thus far, so I could certainly share that. Okay,

wonderful. Okay, with nothing further, uh we have um let me see uh me, Robin, and Lee are three of the four uh voting uh commissioners. So, I believe Elizabeth, we can entertain a motion if someone would make it to approve the minutes from our prior meeting. May I hear a motion to approve those minutes? I motion to approve the meeting minutes from our land. Thank you. And in a second. That's Lee or me. Lee. Thank you. Very good. All those in favor? I I.

Any opposition? Those are approved. And with nothing further, I believe we have a a meeting. Is it April 1st next month? Uh and so we'll see you all then. And please do stay in touch on all these very exciting and helpful uh topics. Uh can I have a motion to adjurnn? I motion to adjurnn and Lee Lee. Second. All those in favor? I

meeting adjourned. Thank you all and especially all of you, but especially uh you Elizabeth for a very active and uh and full uh uh report on all kinds of uh art activities at the uh at the library and for the town. So, thank you all. Bloomfield has it going