Public Art Commission - Regular Meeting

interrupt for one minute. Um, Elizabeth, I know you saw my email, I don't know, a few days ago about doing the the uh AI Zoom companion for uh recording the minutes. Can we do that? Yes, I'm going to try. Yeah, it was relatively simple. I think I just literally turned it on and it was pretty darn amazing. Like I said, it did everything except for taking attendance, but it was amazingly thorough and created an outline. Yeah, it would save uh any of us from handwriting the minutes.

Probably also looks up the police record of everyone who's attending, but we will I know, right? Yeah. It's doing a whole Yeah. Yeah. Put all of our credentials up on, you know, live stream somewhere. Everything's out there in my opinion. one of my uh Are we recording, Elizabeth? Yes. Okay, then I I won't tell this story another time. All right, you you all can get started.

Okay. So, uh, this is the October 1 regular meeting of the, uh, uh, Bloomfield Art Commission, and, uh, I will take a brief attendance because, uh, we are short in numbers, but, uh, we have in attendance Neil Clark, uh, Robin Sherwood, uh, Wendy Williams and I, Bob Ferger, Elizabeth Lane is, uh, officiating uh, and as I have in front of me our current list of uh of uh board members. Uh actually uh it's uh I, Lee, Robin, and Wendy are the only uh remaining uh uh sworn in uh board members. And of course, we want to get uh Neil and Arsha uh and uh well, no, Arsha is sworn in, but she's not attending this evening. Uh Viven uh to um get sworn in, and then we will be up to strength again. So, the point I'm making is we actually have three out of four uh voting members in attendance. So, we have a quorum just for the record. Um I will move right along because we have two interesting topics to discuss uh this evening uh of all of the people who u participated. Everyone is here uh with the exception of Arsha. So thank you all for the um attendance and help. It was terrific at the drum uh event uh on the 14th. Uh we declared it a success even though it was a small group and it rained on our

parade. Uh we did have a very successful event and pulled it all off with great deal of help from all of you. Uh and uh we appreciate that so much. Uh I don't know if there's any other comments or observations on that uh that anyone wants to make. We're open for that. One thing, Bob, kudos to uh Paula Jones and Kevin Goff. Indeed. Who helped tremendously getting us all set up.

Absolutely. And to Rob Godfrieded, who was a good uh sport uh for uh conducting the whole thing regardless of the numbers. So, uh thank you, Neil. That's an important item to uh put on the record that uh that they uh helped. Um moving along, uh two items which are still on our list, but I turn over to Rob and I don't know if there's anything more to discuss at this point. The trees for Bloomfield and the U wild life pictures. Do you want to tell us anything, Robin? uh the wildlife contest which we really weren't involved in. That was a town thing where and that ended I think it ended in in June or July of this past summer. So we can take that off our uh list and there was

a lot of information put out there. I'm wondering Wendy if you heard anything at all about how that I heard nothing. I don't even know that anybody submitted Robin because I hadn't heard of any usually it's very good you know anything related to the environment is very good publicity wise or you see something at the end so I'm just not sure if people participated well I think we all kind of noticed that the information was a little I don't know it wasn't all that clear

to understand what you were supposed to do or not Right. Right. Uh so yeah, it would be interesting if we did have some way of finding out, you know, whether it was successful or not. Uh but yeah, I haven't heard a thing about it. The trees for Bloomfield contest um is moving forward and it is usually uh quite well participated in as far as uh people who submit photos and even people who attend the Yes. Sorry. And thanks Neil. Neil Clark has I believe Neil are you still on board for being one of the judges? Yes.

Okay. Great. Great. Wonderful. Thank you Neil. Yeah. Yeah. And Paula has informed us that she has found she needs two at least two judges. So that's wonderful that Neil has stepped up to be one of them. I had done it last year but I have other commitments. So Paula has indeed found another judge. So does she have a date, Robin, for like her event? You know, they do the culminating event. Do they have a date for that yet? Do you know? No, not she doesn't have a firm date yet for the award ceremony, but it's typically in December before holidays. Yes.

Um but I will certainly share that with everybody once it's pinned down. Uh but yeah, she I will just add that uh yeah, her last email to me was which was just yesterday. She said uh to thank the art commissioners for their input. She's taking everybody's suggestions that I wrote up for her uh into account. But most likely, like I said, because it's already in progress, our ideas and suggestions will probably be implemented in 2026 as opposed to for this particular

uh photo contest. Well, that's okay. And maybe uh if we are interested and and want to help shape it up, we could uh find out if they're planning to do the wild photography. uh one again and and help uh organize and promote that a little. So yeah.

Yeah. I know we talked about and Wendy I think you had said something about you know maybe looking into how they could better uh connect with the local school system. But it occurred to me and I said this to Paula that if we're we do that or find someone who's willing to you know encourage students regardless of whether it's middle school, high school or all of the above. I told Paul, I said that's another reason why looking at 2026 that she meant she reconsider the timing of the contest to better Yes.

coincide with school year. Right. So they can participate. Right.

Right. Right. Good. Good. Uh anything else on either of those that people want to comment? I will note for the record that Vivian has joined us. Welcome Vivian. uh and uh uh we are uh actually in in pretty good force. Uh when we it comes time to vote, we'll we'll address that. Um all right, I'd like to move on to the um bear sculpture uh because that is actually moving along uh on several tracks quite nicely. Uh and I will give a a report and then open up for discussion and comments. And as I uh sent to all of you, I don't know if everyone got a chance to open it. Uh Sergio uh the artist has sent us a written proposal uh and uh we will discuss that uh this evening. If you can't read it because he sent it in a u a message, a photo of a message, uh I I will read it into the record in a minute. But a quick review, uh Sergio has uh um agreed that uh he will try to get this done in the month of October. He did and rightly understandably uh say he was hoping that it would have happened sooner, but uh I explained to him that we wanted to wait for the library to uh be complete and open. there was no point in having the sculpture done and and sitting without being able to be placed.

So, uh he has had a number of conversations with me and is clearing his uh his agenda to try to do it. He did point out that of course the days are uh a little shorter. He's get less daylight uh and it may take him a little longer originally. And when I come to read it, you'll hear he was hoping to get it done in a week. Now he's allocating two weeks for it, but has not changed the price any. Uh and uh in addition, Neil and uh Mark uh uh I'm sorry, blocking Wiseman.

Wiseman. I was going to say Williams, but Wendy, you're right in front of me. Mark Weisman. uh and Neil and I have met with Elizabeth and uh examined a number of locations where the bearer could be placed. The architects have uh been engaged in the discussion and Tyu Kim who you will all know is the principal architect of the firm that uh did the library expressed a preference with which we all agree. I don't know if you can visualize the new library, but there is a corner where the name uh appears on the side of a stone wall and that's where Tyu had said he prefers that the uh the bear appear. Uh and along with that uh uh Mark uh and with the assistance of Neil uh are getting the architects and the landscape architects involved uh so that we can uh arrange for placement and also we will need a pad for the bear to sit on uh which will have to have uh um support and and be substantial uh concrete uh so that the bear does not fall over in subsequent years, you know, just sitting on the lawn. Uh so that's an update on the various things happening. Uh I have met with uh Dan Carter, the head of public works, who is willing and actively engaged in helping us get this done. Uh there is a little uh factor which we'll have to uh bring to everyone's attention. And I know Lee had expressed

an interest and a desire uh to have people go and watch uh Sergio work, but we have to examine whether uh that is uh allowed under town regulations because of the liability if someone was near the uh the carving. So we'll have to get back on that. But um we are looking at that. uh and Sergio has submitted insurance certificates and I will read the proposal uh to all of you. So that um uh if you have not had a chance to uh to read it uh uh here's what he uh submitted just just today. Uh to Elizabeth Lane uh library director at the Bloomfield Public Library. Uh the job is called sitting bear reading and he has uh specified as follows the terms. Uh tree stump will be supplied by Bloomfield Public Library to be carved on site. Uh obviously it's not on site of the library, but he knows that he's he's visited the uh the tree uh with me at public works. uh we do not remove wood off the property or are responsible for cleanup and that really will not be a problem uh because it's in a a backyard of the public works where it's really uh brush and undergrowth. So uh that won't be a problem. any damage to equipment, chains, bars due to metal in the tree stump will be an extra charge, which is reasonable if he has uh uh equipment damaged. He does not believe that's the

case, but he won't know until he starts work. Electro electric will be supplied, which we can arrange with Dan Carter. Any changes to the sculpture will be an additional charge. uh and we will see how it shapes up as he goes. Uh six. I estimate two works for work to be complete but weather in shorter days may extend the work. Uh and then he says I recommend applying preservative to the sculpture uh which he says was not previously discussed. It actually was but he has indicated to me that it is a nominal charge. the the uh material that he uses cost $50 and it's what's used to preserve log cabins. Uh item eight uh he will require a $500 deposit due at the start of the job which I uh will uh work with Elizabeth on. We have uh money in our budget for that and the balance due upon completion of work estimate of $3,500 plus any additional uh any additional uh charge which uh 3500 uh plus if there's a charge uh for tax. I don't believe his work is taxable but we'll have to find out. So that is the proposal and we finally have something in writing and uh I throw it open for discussions, questions, comments uh and then we will take up uh whether we choose to approve this proposal. So I throw uh the floor open to anyone please. So, are we basically saying we're ripping up all the landscaping that is out there right now and we're going to

put the bear where the dying shrubs and the lines of shrubs are right now? Uh well, yes and no. We're not ripping up all the landscaping. Uh they are deciding how it will be cited. Uh it is possible likely that one shrub will be removed. uh and we're studying and that's why landscape architects are involved as well uh to make sure that in future years the shrubs don't overgrow and hide the bear and sim similarly it has to be placed so that the bear does not not hide the name proer library so we're getting professional

input on that uh it is my understanding from Mark uh free of charge it's part of the library building uh process. I have a question, Bob. Yes.

If we're not able to have people view the actual carving, uh would it be possible, although it might still be an issue if liability is a concern? And depending on how uh the public works ground is where he's actually going to do the carving, would it be possible to at least make a video recording of him while he's doing it?

That was our intention. And as you all may know, we had videographers on site for the Michael Borders uh exhibit, and those people have expressed an interest and a desire to uh do a video for us of the bear. So, thank you, Robin. we will get in touch with them and see if we can line them up to uh to coincide and hopefully we can bring them in under the umbrella of their part of the uh the group that's uh that's producing the bear uh and see if we can get them in on that basis. Yes, thank you for bringing that up.

Thank you. and uh uh we can work together to uh uh find their contact information and be in touch with them. I think that's a better mechanism than having people try to go to the site. I don't think that's going to I agree. I'm in the insurance business. I would be saying go to us all day long. So, yeah, because it would be one person trying to do a little to you know, it's very interesting. I think it's very engaging and I I like the idea of a video better because then those whoever's videoing can get to the right spot and then you can see his his work and workmanship as he goes. But yeah, I I vote definitely for video.

They're also very professional in their work and and would have the right lenses so they're not standing next to the chainsaw and that kind of thing. Well, I'm being I'm being honest. That's the reality. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Uh, no, that's great. Uh, uh, we will do that and of course that will be part of u the art commission archives and we'll turn over copies to the library to have in in their library uh because that'll be fun for people to uh to look out. Yeah, Bob, um, I mentioned it to you and and I'll throw it out there again. It would be really great if we could figure out some kind of a lighting

uh plan, something to do maybe with some solar lighting that um doesn't have to be wired. Um

but again, that's funding and that's figuring out the right kind and so forth, but we could throw it on our list of things to do and investigate. We've added it to the list already and and we've got a long checklist of many number of things. Thank you, Neil, for the reminder of that. And and not not brushing it aside. It it uh I heard what you said and added it to the list already. So, yes. Uh and that of course needless to say is something especially if it's solar that could be done after the fact uh and would not require you know trenching and and cabling and that kind of thing. Yeah.

Do we have a So I hate to be the pessimist but do we have the funds to cover the entire project? uh not quite and we are looking for some other additional sources. I'm told unofficially that there may be funds and I don't want to speak out of line uh Elizabeth, but there may be funds still in the library building budget that Mark uh has indicated uh could help us out on some of these things.

Awesome. Chair, if I may, I just had a couple of points to share. One, the town does not pay tax, so we don't have to worry about that. Thank you for that reminder. Absolutely correct. Right. Two, um, just to highlight um, from Miss Williams and Mr. Clark's comments um, to there's lighting. First of all, there's lighting already in the Proer Library sign. So that proer library sign has lighting right

two um you know as this placement is being discussed I am concerned about that sign the visibility of that sign being limited in any way. So, um I know we don't know what the height of the bear will be, but just as we're thinking about placement and also um you know I picture people in our community wanting to get a picture with it. So, I know that it sounds right now sounds like right now um the architect's uh recommendation was for it to be very close to the wall, but I'm wondering if it can be out enough so that people could take pictures with the sculpture. like that.

I think all of that should be brought to their attention and and that's why you most of all, Elizabeth, as as the the the chief there, but the architects and designers are being engaged to uh professionally figure it out. Not not the art commission, but but the real professionals. Absolutely. I know. I'm just it's as as we're thinking through this. And then finally, yeah, um, who is going to put that finished coat on the sculpture? He is. Oh, so that he is going to be part of that, but that $50 fee to do that was not included with the 3500.

Uh, it's open for discussion. He brought it up originally. Uh, if it's $50, uh, for for the material, we will find $50 to pay him for that. Okay. I just want to make sure that that that proposal covers all of our bases. Um because there's just one phrase in there and I'm sorry because I didn't read I I I was in meetings all day and I didn't didn't get to read that. What was how did he put it? $3,500 and costs. What was that one line? I just want to make sure that that's tight.

Additional cost. uh if if uh there's damage to to his equipment which is unforeseen due to objects in the uh tree trunk. I will explain. Uh, every everyone has this experience, but just for the record, trees are often, especially of that age, uh, supported, cabled, um, um, have spikes put in them for various reasons. He has no way of knowing that until he starts carving. So, if he encounters one of those, he's a professional. He knows how to avoid it. But if there is damage to one of his uh chains, uh that would be a cost to us because uh it's an unforeseen condition in in his contract. We're not talking hundreds and thousands of dollars. Uh I don't know what that costs, but um I have a chainsaw and I have it repaired from time to time and and that's a reasonable cost.

Okay. Um, okay. I think maybe we should we should if we're looking to have the library committee or the board or whatever funds, I think we need to have a total in totality, Bob, even just having a buffer in there. So in the event that does happen so that we don't ask for money then find out we need maybe additional funds down the road but maybe say in the event of this it could be $100 you know what I mean so that that way if something should come up if we don't use it all they get to keep the money you know but we need up to this amount maybe that's

I think that's a good point Wendy u here's what I was going to suggest uh uh because it is an open proposal at this point, right? That we uh we discuss it and perhaps we could take a vote which is a sense of the uh art commission that we'd like to accept the proposal subject to

various uh expansions and conditions. So I I will ask people to contribute the language right here if uh and I'm not cutting off discussion. We can continue uh discussing it right now. But when we're ready to um do that because we do have a quorum here and u time is of course tight. Our next, excuse me, our next uh commission meeting is in November, which hopefully we will have already at least started the sculpture uh being executed before that. So, um please additional comments, questions, uh suggestions. Well, the verbiage perhaps could be something like it, but but he would have to provide the cost, the additional cost, but it the wording could be something along the lines of the replacement cost of the chainsaw dot dot dot uh or the chain itself, you know, if if it needs to be that specific then.

Yeah. Uh that's a bit of a problem because it it's this is sort of in the nature of and Neil most of all here will be familiar with it. in in the nature of a a a design and uh construction contract which is unforeseen conditions

uh and and there's no way to to price those but we can u we can cover it Wendy and everyone with uh at least some um uh some more specific language than we have now. But see, I'm f I think, Bob, I'm fine with the language. I just mean when the ask. So, if we say we're looking for monies to help us cover, I'm assuming that they're going to say how much, not just have an open, Am I correct that we have to bring this to the library board or are they just going to be okay with covering the excess for us? If I don't believe it goes to the library board, my understanding, I'm not sure which department. So, for it's the library building committee.

Okay. The building committee. So, and unofficially and not for the record uh in speaking with uh Mark, he explained that although there are comments in town that the uh cost of the library went over budget, it did not. It went under budget and they have uh funds remaining and available which he expressed an uh I can't speak for him but that's fine. I just suggestion that there would be funds available for these things

and I'm assuming and my my bigger piece is okay if we wanted to go to them or we assume I'm I'm just making an assumption that the money might come from them. I'm certain we're going to have to give some sort of a breakdown of what that would be. That's all I'm saying. I mean yeah, we'll have to give an accounting. Yeah. Yeah. We'll give we'll have to have an accounting and an ask. Absolutely correct. Yeah. I mean I'm fine with his proposal. I don't think it needs to be more tight. I think your understanding, our understanding of it is that we're only going to pay for a mechanical problem if it's created by the wood itself. That's basically what he's saying. If something happens with his equipment, it has to be the cause that the wood did it, not just that he dropped it or things of that nature. So,

correct. Yeah. Yeah. Y and for the record, I did not go into it, but u uh Dan Carter of public works uh required on behalf of the town, of course, that u Sergio provide us with evidence of insurance. Oh, 100%. Yeah.

And he has done that and we've asked him to uh put it in a different format, but he has $2 million liability coverage. So, um, we're, um, we're hitting all our bases so far. Yeah. Anyone else comments, suggestions, questions. I have a potential motion. Let me know if you think that this covers it,

please. Motion to approve up to $3,500 for costs related to the creation of the sculpture near the official Proser Library sign with the understanding that the public art commission will identify and secure funding sources to cover any additional costs before proceeding further.

I think that's perfect. Elizabeth, anyone have an addition suggestion? Okay, we have uh a a proposed uh uh motion for vote. Uh may I hear uh someone uh who is a commissioner adopt that please as a so moved? I second that a motion. Now we'll need a first. I'll first that motion then. Sorry.

Okay. And a second. All those in favor who can vote? That's three out of three out of the four uh who are uh a quorum. So passed.

So thank you all. That's uh and I I understand this is complicated by nature of commissioning a work of art. There are many many factors involved and we're pinning them down as we go as quickly as possible. Okay. Um, anyone else have any other new business to bring before us? And then I have a topic I'd like to bring forward for new business which we can open discussions tonight and continue into the indefinite future. But any other new business or comments or suggestions, please? Okay. Uh then the topic I wanted to bring up and it's come up sort of in different contexts is what the role and the position of the uh art commission should be going forward. We have at this point had two successful public events. We are uh about to and in the process of commissioning our first sculpture and we have had discussions about having other events in the future, shows, exhibits, participation by students. Pardon me, let me just clear my throat. And I'd like to uh bring up when the commission was first created, we had discussions that we did not want to be a production company. In other words, coming up with more festivals, more works of art that

we had to hands-on administer. It's a lot of work as everyone knows personally and has seen uh with the border show the drum event however large it was required huge amount of work and participation the sculpture everyone's pitching in in various ways. I'd like to throw open for discussion what everyone's opinion is about who and what we should be going forward. Uh, I just want to interject, Bob. Uh, don't forget about our first event, which was the found art and music and poetry festival. So, we've really done

Yes. Yes. I misspoke. You're quite right. This is our third event this year.

Uh, uh, marked our third event and uh, and now we've done four productions. And my question is uh it's a lot of heavy lifting and uh how much should we be doing that and how much should we be encouraging well things like for instance the uh the trees for bloomfield event which is less of our producing and more of our promoting and giving expertise and participation. I throw that out as an open item for discussion. I do not have a a preset agenda on it yet. Any comments, questions, suggestions, thoughts have one. Bob. Um,

I'm on another I'm on the design review board and we were required to to create a charge a charging document that is part of our commission's uh um existence within the town. Is there such a thing that we that this commission has built itself around official charge? And

yes and no. We have we have uh uh the empowering uh um legislation I'll call it from the town council which created the art commission. I can circulate

uh that document for everyone to see. We also uh set up uh a uh a policy of the art commission which I will also circulate for everyone on uh how we handle uh public input and what our uh uh policy is excuse me related to people who might object to anything we do. uh and we have uh a mission statement and uh a lengthy one as well as a uh a concise one. So that's a good point, Neil. I will send all of that out to everyone again for us to uh discuss. it forms in uh combination uh what you are uh suggesting but we don't have a formal um u document as such

looks like Elizabeth has all that handy right there I am sharing our Google drive that has all of our core documents on it on this you'll see um we have items that we've worked on and it's one place for all of the things that this commission does so that we know where that's at. Um Bob, I am not sure we ever finalized the intellectual freedom policy uh document. I see we have a draft. Um no, we finalized it and voted on it as well. I will I will dig it out. Yeah, maybe it's here.

Yeah, I thought we did as well. But that was we actually took it to a vote. Yeah, that's the uh I think that's when I joined because I was like what you were at the you're at the tail end of it. So well I will uh after this meeting I will dig into my own files and see if I find a u a final as adopted. How do the how do the commissioners access that Google drive? So anybody who who is a commissioner has access to this through what?

Through Google. Through their Google accounts. So everyone who is a commissioner has been added to this. Okay. All right. So in other words, we just go into our own Google account if we have a Google account and you've already added our names. So, we should be able to see it. Correct. What's the title? What's the title we would look for? So, Oh, you would just search public art commission. Okay. Okay. And I'm just looking at this. Um, Wendy, Bob, Robin, everybody. Yeah, you're all on here. Neil, Vivian. Yep.

Great. Arena. Great. Let me make sure Arsha's on there. and Vivian as well. Yeah, Vivian's on there. Vivian has raised her hand. Vivian, thumbs up. She's giving a thumbs up. Oh, thumbs up. Just giving a thumbs up. Oh, okay. I'm I'm still learning emojis.

So, I I do have a question, Bob. I I like that you asked that because I think that's what I've been asked in the public is like what do I do as a public art commission and what do we do moving forward and I said I mean I know what all the documents say but then to your point is it our job to put on art events is it our job like what is it to do because I remember going with Lee and Robin looking for places to present art and we've totally gone in a different which is fine. But like, you know, we went around town to find different places where art could be viewed in different types of art, you know, and of course that was back when Elizabeth's favorite word, the mural age was, where everybody wanted a mural everywhere. You know, you want a mural in this building, that building, but um you know, I would like a work of art on the on the long bridge to the library. That's why I like one. But anyways, um I do wonder what truly is the vision of the public art going forward. Is it for us to find and come up with it and then pawn it off to somebody else? You're absolutely right. Like does it go to beautifification? Is it something that we look for the town to sponsor? Because clearly we don't have a budget. We shouldn't be going out to make money, right, to to do something? I don't think we it isn't really suggested that we go get grants in the latest time. So, I'm not sure what what maybe the town's vision is of the the commission. Maybe that's the other thing like what does the town envision the commission to be moving forward? But I think it's a great question and I think we all should think about that and formulate a vision.

Thank you, Wendy. Well, it's very timely because we've now accomplished a number of things, right? So, we've got a little record under our belt. Uh, and uh, uh, this is a good time for review. Uh, I will remind everyone, uh, and, uh, this, uh, is an overlap. Vivian and I are both also commissioners on the Economic Development Commission,

and part of their very active uh uh project is to develop um an art space for the town uh over near uh where Home Depot is. uh and uh that is the long-term project, but it coordinates with the uh town center project as well. And so this is a good time for us to revisit what our role should be uh uh as experts, advisors, uh artists, our backgrounds, but not necessarily are having to um as I say do all the heavy lifting ourselves. So, it's an open uh I wanted to bring it up, but it's an open topic for discussion and and input.

So, I wanted to Oh,

yeah. I would just like to say that I kind of look at it this way and Bob and I have talked about this uh in a few different instances and I would relate it to like the drum circle that we just helped uh put on uh in com. So, and I know Bonnie is so enthusiastic about reviving a drum festival, but yeah, I don't think we're set up to be festival organizers, and that's certainly not what I had in mind. I love the idea of anything and everything. But yeah, as far as then doing all the details which like the borders exhibit, the found art uh music and poetry festival, even though they were great successes, the amount of time, effort, and detail that went into it was a lot. So that said, but then look at the the bear sculpture to me is more in keeping I would say with what I think our mission had been to promote, encourage and commission artwork and the could be

anything sculptural paintings uh what have you. I mean that's kind of where I come from. So

and actually thank you Robin. Uh it is not exclusively but in part the idea that uh uh someone more more than one someone's wants to possibly have a big drum festival in a year. Uh and we can't put that on and we're not going to try. Uh but we can advise, we can participate uh with uh our backgrounds, expertise, contacts, whatever. Uh, so that's that's a perfect example. Yep. Anything else on that subject?

I have a question. Just a quick question for Elizabeth. Sorry. Um, what is the what's happening with art within the new library space? So, we have staff that put on shows um that are done in partnership. The first one is already installed. It is a uh pottery show um and it's ready to go as soon as the doors are open. Um and that's an ongoing uh ongoing artistic displays are done in the library um done by the on the staff end and that will include projects done in the library um etc.

Nice. Now I know that in the past you used to have public because I was asked to put some artwork up in in the old presser library we had shows of work that was done by artists within the community. Correct. A lot of the shows are reflective of people in the community. Okay. All right. Great. Great. The current including the current one the current one um was curated by a librarian who just retired. Um Joanie Selmer, we're very excited about that and uh includes a lot. They're all local artists. Do you have a schedule, Elizabeth,

of like rotating exhibits, if you will? We eventually will. Uh this one, the reason why we had uh our former librarian, she used to oversee the program. So, we're currently in transition as we figure out how we're going to roll all of this out. Well, maybe that's something even as the art commission we could and suggest. Artists. Yes. And and th this is always open to public recommendations as well. Oh, awesome. The one thing we do not do is sell art. So, a lot of people ask to show so that they can sell and that's not something that we participate in. I was going to

I think doing a show there, Bob, we could handle right in the library. We could handle putting something like that together after all these big ones. That would be simple, right? Well, I was going to say without musling in on Elizabeth's territory. It seems that uh this might be a good leaison between the art commission and the library to work together uh informally and then come up with things where we could help the library with shows and we could bring ideas to the library for the future. Uh and they have their own staff.

Yes. And um and ideally art coming through the library is reflective of literacies and um items that we are focused on. Um, but thinking very optimistically, um, and working with the staff who does this, um, it would be nice if we had, uh, a partnership with with the public art commission where maybe one show a year was curated by this team. Um, that would be wonderful,

you know, and um, you know, with an opening and all of those types of things. Um, have a formal art event. Um, I think that would be a lot of fun.

Um, but I also, uh, wanted to further say though that for the public art commission, one thing that hasn't really been done is any points of view shared with the council formally in town council meetings. And I'm wondering if moving forward that perhaps when there are ideas that are shared by all the commissioners, they should be brought forward in that forum. One example is being that 1% for the arts. And I know the chair brought that forward in economic development meetings and the such, but I'm not sure how many people in the larger community see those meetings or see those minutes. whereas the town council minutes and meetings are much more widely viewed. So maybe to give the community a bigger idea of what what is going on here, sharing a a little report annually um would be a great start. also when there are points of view that should be reflected from the arts perspective um putting that into uh on the record um at council meetings. I think those are all great suggestions and would uh uh bring our visibility up uh in in the town. Uh so that when we do have something to discuss with the council, they're already at least partly up to speed as to what we're about. I I think that's that's great. And this is a a perfect time going forward. I can't say uh a specific meeting or month, but where we could make that part of our our mission is to report to the council

uh what we've done, what we have in mind, what we're proposing in the future. So, those are all good.

Also a way to get money, also a way to help facilitate money as well. I hate to say it, but you when you get it in front of people, you know, and there is a an outlook depending on what it is, you know, no one's just giving away money, but I think some of the things that we look to do, the drum festival was was one of them, you know, that fit into a a celebrate or, you know, a a large event, even though it was a food truck festival. There was a whole lot of different things there besides just food. So I think that's like a town culminating event, but I think getting in front of the broader council and broader public is is definitely beneficial. Agreed. Agreed. Anyone else?

Well, I just love the idea of potentially forming a partnership with the library as far as, you know, whether it's a once a year event or more. Um, that would be fabulous and we could start formulating ideas and if we then also maybe present to the town council as Elizabeth is suggesting and opening up and getting more feedback from, you know, not just the town council but the public

for sure. Well, thank you all. I think we uh Elizabeth and I'll commission uh we'll keep this as an ongoing uh open item for further uh discussion and expansion. We'll add this to our agenda going forward. Great. I'm glad that we uh we open this up and already have some wonderful ideas on the table. So great. Um what remains is uh our next meeting is November 5 and uh we just set a new agenda item. So bring up any others. Hopefully our November meeting will have a discussion of the sculpture either in works or finished. Uh and uh I ask for a motion to uh approve the minutes from our September meeting, please.

So moved. A second. Anyone? A second. Robin. Robin. Thank you. All those in favor of approving the minutes say I. I. So approved. Do we have anyone from the public, Elizabeth, for comment? Uh well, thank you all. This was as always a very active and lively discussion. I appreciate it and we all do. I apologize for my uh horarsseness. Um I will ask for a motion to adjurnn please. Anyone to adjourn

and I second. And those in favor I I thank you all. We will be in touch. Have a good night. Thank you, Neil. Thank you, Vivian. Wonderful. Good night. Take care. And most of all, thank you, Elizabeth.