Public Art Commission - Regular Meeting

Right. Yep. Okay. You guys have used to this though. So says preparing to live. All right. Uh almost almost there. I got the link that said it's being live streamed. Okay. It says done and Okay. I can see myself, so you guys should be all set. Okay. Okay. Good. So, uh calling the meeting to order. Still waiting for a couple of people perhaps to join us, but we do. Uh, there's Lee. Great. Uh, welcome Lee. Uh, you're muted. There's Neil. Uh, oh, and Neil. Wonderful. Okay, I'll wait one more minute even though we're live streaming already. Uh, welcome everyone. Uh, it was tough getting on. Maybe it's the heat or the summer. I don't know. Anyway, I'm going to try to keep the meeting short. We have really a brief agenda. Uh, and I'm going to um ask whoever is going to keep keep notes or minutes uh to uh note uh a few things. So, um this is uh a what is the date today? The 3. Uh no, the second second July. So this is our July 2nd meeting of the art commission. Welcome everyone. And uh we have a quorum. I'll take uh quick attendance. Uh I see Andrea is present and Robin uh Neil uh and Lee uh and Wendy and I am present. Bob Fergger. So we have six uh attendees out of uh eight I believe. uh and or is it 7:00? In any event, uh Sarah has been helpful to uh uh get us

get us going uh in Elizabeth's absence. Uh so we have a quorum. We have uh uh called to order and I will start right in. And here here are some of the notes. We have a running agenda which has some old and stale uh information on it such as discussing the budget. The budget is old old news now. It's not going to change. Uh and so I'd ask for the record whoever will keep some notes. Uh that in the future we re remove that item. Uh the next item we can uh remove is also uh a bit a bit stale. Um and it's talking about the Michael Border show which is of course over a month. uh so we can remove that from our agenda. Uh I will move right on to the items that we uh still have live and as I uh said a few moments ago I don't know if everyone was already present I will try to keep the meeting short in the interest of summer even though I appreciate how much we all appreciate how much you've all made an effort to to join today. So, uh, we, uh, the update on the, um, the bear, uh, nothing has changed. We're still waiting, and it is my understanding from Mark Weissman and Elizabeth that the library actually is on schedule to open in August. With the library open in August, we will then have the, uh, artist uh, Mr. and Tasanov uh do his work uh and carve the bear. He has agreed to do this. We have the funds available uh and uh we may

actually between now and then see if we can get some additional funding so that we can free up funds we have in our budget for other things. But uh the bear will be executed. Uh or the sculpture will be executed. The bear the bear we hope will will not be executed. Uh people have asked if uh uh we can go watch and the answer is yes. Uh we can arrange uh for either a a group tour or uh individuals to go and see him work. Uh, and that will probably be in the month of August, perhaps even September, so that we can um move it right to the library once it's complete. Uh, any questions or comments or thoughts on that, the mayor? Um, roughly how much was it again? I'm sure you probably said this in a previous uh going to be um uh $3,500 and we will be short uh the 500. So, we're hoping that maybe we can get a grant or raise some funds elsewhere uh to um to complete it. He's been very nice about uh not asking for a deposit. he usually does of half. Uh he said that's not necessary but of course we do want to have the full funds uh when he has completed the work. So So does he have a rough idea? I mean just so that we have an idea if we have to raise those funds like what timing we have to get them or no? Uh yes Wendy uh you know we should be paying him when he does the work and it's complete. So that would be late August or early September. Okay. Yeah. And I haven't given up

entirely on uh going to the town and saying um look uh we know what our budget is but we uh you've cut our budget dramatically and we're short to get this uh uh project completed which is already underway and we raised the funds uh to do it. So um uh we'll see uh we should uh actually I made a contact very recently uh I will send you all information on of uh someone who is a uh a professional fundraiser for town art projects. She's affiliated with the state. So um I'm hoping to contact her and see if she can help us. Perfect. Thank you, Bob. I have a question. Um, yes. So, the 3500 is the artist fee. How about in the installation, whatever it might cost to Well, our uh understanding is the town through public works will uh uh move it and set it up. Uh so, we'll have to find out about having a pad put in place. And Mark Weissman indicated, and I'm hoping as things are getting closer to completion, uh, that he might be able to persuade the construction company to, uh, create that for us. Uh, it's simply it's nothing more than, um, um, putting out a frame and pouring concrete uh, for a solid base for it. It is going to weigh about three or four tons. So, we obviously don't want it sitting on the front lawn uh collapsing in in mud. Maybe he has $500, too. Maybe he has the extra $500 too, Bob, after he finishes

the library. It's a little tiny. Could be. I I uh I'll be surprised at that, but who knows? Doesn't hurt to ask, right? Yeah. Oh, Vivian's joined us. Welcome, Vivian. Thank you for joining us. Uh hi Vivian. We were just finishing I don't know how much you heard uh that the bearer will be carved and installed hopefully uh by late August or in September. So um that's that item. Uh the next item which is the major one I want to discuss briefly uh is we have uh uh proposed uh to join the food truck festival which as you all recall is actually not a town event. The town cooperates in it and facilitates it but it is an event of the uh chamber of commerce. Uh and uh we have been invited to have a small drum event at that festival which as you all know is just a one afternoon early evening uh uh time. Uh and uh we need help. We don't have enough hands to get this done. We're going to contact some people who can help us organize it, but we'll need to tap all of you in various ways to um uh help us with uh invitations uh doenting so to speak. Although uh since it is an event that's being put on by the chamber and fully uh um managed by them and the town, we won't have to do things like uh show people

around or or worry about traffic. That's all going to be taken care of by the town. And I'm hopeful uh that when we contact Dave Molesco, he will be able to um help us out with with the mechanics, you know, uh the electronics, the sound stage, and that kind of thing. Uh we're going to try to keep it small. Uh we will uh uh purchase drums. uh and uh a contact I have who's going to help us set up the festival. We hope the drum festival that is uh is uh has given me a contact at Amazon or lead on buying drums uh inexpensively. Uh I think they're five or six for $50 and they're small hand drums which we can hand out to people. Hopefully, they will give it give them back to us, not walk away with them, but we'll trust them and we'll have some sort of a drum circle or event. Uh not entirely uh clear uh what it's going to look like yet, but um uh we do have funds for this. As you all know, we managed to get a grant from the Hartford Foundation of $2,500. So, that should be sufficient to put this event on. Uh and uh as I said uh we really will be tapping all of you. We have really just two months uh before it has to be put on. Uh so um that's all I have on it. Uh Robin, did you want to add anything about that? Uh yeah, just uh if you can remind me and and tell others the name of that wonderful drummer that you had been in touch with because it sounded Yes. Uh the the one who can help us lead it, right? Uh Rob Gotfrieded his name is

and he actually lives in West Hartford but is a a well-known international drummer. He gives drum lessons and uh performs with jazz groups uh in this area. But he's actually performed uh with uh many many of the major drummers uh from groups around the world from Cream uh from uh YouTube. Uh he's sat in uh he's he's drummed at the White House. He's been on uh Sesame Street a number of times. So he's really real deal. Uh and I've met with him already twice. He said he would help us. So, I need to talk to him about um he does charge what his fee would be uh and see if he can help us uh sort of as a a civic event. Um but yeah, he's he's he's a great guy and I've actually known him since my son took drum lessons from him. Uh I want to say 35 years ago. So Oh, wow. He's still around. Yeah, still around. Maybe you should uh if you didn't already, I know you sent me a link to his website and there's a YouTube video of him and it Oh, that's a good idea, Robin. I'll do that after this meeting. Give everybody an idea of what kind of person he is and how he's into the educational aspect of it. So that's why it sounds to me like I mean if he's available, it just seems like he would be ideal and then we wouldn't have to do anything other than hire him, make sure we have a sound and just be there to kind of help, you know, gather people around, I

imagine. Right. Right. We Yes, Wendy. So I guess I have a question. So in this so knowing how it was set up last year because we're I I like to call it Celebrate Bloomfield. Now it's called the Food Truck Festival, but it's it's it's kind of the same. So based on there's only one stage. So are we looking to take a portion of the time on the stage for this? Is that what our for the drumming? I don't know if uh um that's a good question, Wendy. We need to find that out from Vera Smith Winfrey. Yeah. The reason I say that is because last year they had all these timings of different things and I think if we she we just need want to be on there because there's no way we can have drumming while they have someone singing or they have someone reading poetry and we have Thank you. That that's helpful. So maybe we will use their stage and they have all the equipment already. Well, and I and that's what that's where I was curious when you said we have a stage and all that. I would think it would be easier for us to have a time slot in that four hours, but I think that that would be one thing we should check on pretty quick to make sure she doesn't have it already filled up with musicians or or whatever cuz I don't know. I know the Lions Club has a booth for the Lions, but last year the whole they had a whole chart out of different musicians and things going on up on the stage for that 4-hour period. Okay. Uh, would you have the time and the ability? I can. No, I can I can definitely do it. I can reach out to her and just see. Would you? That would be a huge help. Wendy, you know her. I know. And uh find out if if they have in mind for us to have a time slot on on the big stage, right? And that would solve a lot of problems. Then we just have to uh deal with this. Um uh Rob Godfrey. Yep. Okay. Perfect. Jeff, I can reach I'll reach out to her this week. I mean hopefully

she as soon as you could. That would be great. I'll reach out to her. I mean it's the holiday in a couple of days but at least kick out an email to her. Well at least uh we we can find out by right after the holiday. Yes. Oh 100% 100%. Other questions, comments, suggestions. Bob, could you please remind me of the date of the drum festival? I mean of the uh the food truck festival. I believe it's the 13th of September. September 13th from 4 to 8. So it's just it's 4 hours that's it. It's a I want to say quick four hours doesn't seem but when it starts all of a sudden it's over. And also uh it was of interest to me and it will be a factor in talking to this fellow Rob Godfried. Um it's not actually pitched to um children. Uh, apparently the uh event is is uh directed to um I'll I'll call it young adults from my age. Uh but uh people who live in the apartment buildings in in Bloomfield. Uh uh anyone is welcome, but the pitch is really to um uh 30 to 40 year olds um uh as opposed to uh uh children and families. That's that's not their target. But is that accurate, Wendy? I don't know. I I'm I'm curious now that you say that because they have a whole Last year they had a whole kids section with kid games and that. that they did may have well she may have pivoted this year because it definitely there was almost 1,200 people in that center of town and completely overwhelmed the four food trucks we had. So that's why there's 11 this year. 11 food trucks. Yeah. Yeah. I'm hoping it's a big town event. I'm

hoping Ask her that as well obviously Wendy. Yeah. Yes, I will definitely. Uh, anything else on on that one? Okay, moving along. I think Robin, you had added two items to the agenda and turn it over to you to um uh discuss those uh trees trees for uh Bloomfield photo contest. I I've been in touch with Paula Jones uh who's one of the key organizers of the Trees for Bloomfield photo contest and I will email everybody after this meeting uh the information she sent me because it's got all the the timeline and the dates. So I'll just uh quickly review it uh because she is looking for help and ideas from us. She I think just, you know, wants to bring it up a notch from what it's been. Even though it's been a successful event, I think she would love to get even more people involved, more people to submit photos, especially younger people. Um, so just so you know quickly, registration already opened on June 1. Um, and continues to be open for photo submissions until October 23rd. Uh, then the judging takes place at the end of October. Uh, November is spent uh, figuring out the winners and printing the pictures, displaying them. Uh the reception for the photo winners is generally the week before Christmas. So the week of December 15th. Um let's see. And she's also saying we should pick a date and reserve the room

the room in the leisure services building. So she I think she just needs uh she's looking for ideas and I think some volunteerism from us. if any of you are willing and able to lend a hand or have any thoughts and ideas about maybe how to, you know, improve the photo contest. Um, anyhow, so I'm leaving it open to discussion and like I said, I'll send you this information as well. It's got Wendy, as we are public art, I think it should not just be photos. I think it should be if it's true trees for Bloomfield, let somebody do one in, you know, charcoal, let them do it in acrylics, let them maybe pick and maybe it's not just a photo. Um, if you want to elevate it, it may not because I think what ends up happening is you get the same people that keep participating. I think that's part of what she had suggested to me around the new year that it's it's the same group of people but maybe enhancing it and broadening it is using from a public art perspective having people do it in different um different media Wendy and and we should encourage that including uh more participation from youth and maybe yes 100% maybe we could even have just a youth section so that uh you know a 12-year-old isn't competing with a a professional photographer you know so for judging I'm talking about but we could display all kinds of art I think I personally think that's a great idea and we have uh discussed uh that concept uh uh previously keep the name like trees for bloomfield I think definitely you keep that but then to elevate it. I just think the

photos I know my next door neighbor was one of the runnerups and she enjoys going around taking the photos, but you know there's other people we the the list that we have for our directory has probably twothirds of them are painters. So imagine if some of them you know you can just be anywhere or in your own yard or somewhere in Bloomfield. I just think to elevate it to bring in a different dynamic bring in watercolors or whatever. I think that's great. Robin, perhaps you could take that back to Paula and suggest that um in the uh the invitation and and and the uh publicizing of it that um uh they emphasize it's open for other art forms. Yeah. No, I think that's a wonderful idea and I'm sure Paul is open to it. Yeah. What would have to happen is basically uh Yeah. basically add a category or two. You could have a category that's just painting or poster. I was going to say yeah or you know photography or other med and maybe the first time around it's just other mediums. You don't even have to be specific and you just let that kind of you know let people's creativity they got one painting or or one you know watercolor that would right uh be something it would open it up. Yeah, that's great. I I have a question about that. Um can you hear me Bob? Yes. Yeah, absolutely. Um, so you open it up to that broad of a field, uh, and then it's presented as a contest. And I'm wondering, you know, a contest implies one thing. A show, an exhibition applies something implies something totally different to me. Agreed. And um a contest sort of whittleles

things down to judges needing to be, you know, you need to have a group of judges that are dealing with a variety of subjects. Now, if it's wide open, if it's if it's just an exhibit showcasing what artists in our community can do, forget the contest idea. I mean, maybe the contest idea was the hook to get people involved, but it also, as you guys have said, becomes just the same folks. Yeah. You know, presenting their their, you know, their expert photography skills. Now, with Wendy's idea, you open it up to everybody and you have a beautiful exhibit, kids to, you know, seniors, whatever. I think that's that's great and and we should take that back to Paula and uh I don't know whether uh they still want to have a uh a division for the photography with with first and second place but but uh billet is is an art show. uh and uh uh that would be much uh much more appealing and and and uh uh involving more of the community. Andrea, you had a comment or question. Um well, you're reading my mind. I didn't raise my hand, but I did actually. Oh, your uh your frame lit up. So, there we go. I was just thinking that it would be so lovely like maybe some of the um you know chosen pieces could be actually put in the library, the new library. Oh yeah, very much. Uh um I have not gotten too involved with it except as we were

planning our first um art piece for the library, but it's my understanding that the uh the library has uh display or gallery space designed into it so that uh there are uh permanent railings and walls uh that are intended to display art on a rotating basis. is. So, that would be great. We could perhaps feature I know Robin would uh I can't speak for her, but I think she would welcome that idea as something that could be part of their programming at the library. Very good. I need to interject. First of all, I do I've been involved in the photo contest for the past couple years and uh number one, as wonderful as all these ideas are, I think because Paul is already put the word out. Yeah. Are already literally being submitted perhaps because she opened it up. What did I say it in June? June one. Yeah. Yeah. That's, you know, that's the photo contest part. But that doesn't mean we can't go back to her and suggest these other ideas if not for this year, maybe for the coming year. Well, you know, Robin, following on on Neil's uh suggestion uh and Wendy's, of course, uh leave the photo contest, which he already has running, but add to it. Put the word out. We will also be having a show of other art forms, media, and it's open to everyone in town in any medium uh on the subject of trees. And uh and perhaps for this first year uh the logistics could be simplified by not having uh a painter or or you know a collist

uh uh competing for a prize with a with a photographer but have the photo contest and a show along with it. So maybe you could take that to her because it occurs to me as much as it would be wonderful to get Bloomfield students involved, you know, doing drawings, what have you, uh because the photo submission is in June. I mean, kids are finishing up school by end of June. So I think timing wise it's a little tricky, but I still think these are all wonderful ideas. And just one other comment to Andrea's uh suggestion for display. I do believe the photo contest each year is a movable contest. It's uh it's put on display initially within uh the leisure services building. that wall, that big circular wall. I think it then typically moves to either the library and then town hall and then we could even have it uh on display at Oliver Philly House. It is that's something they have been doing it throughout the year which is kind of cool. um you know so you can go see at various places um but anyhow know I still think this is all certainly so perhaps take those back to Paula please definitely we'll do and uh you had another item yeah what was the other item I'm sorry my brain um I don't have the agenda in front of me um I think it was also Oh, some I know. What was the other It was another contest. Yes, that's the animals. Oh, life. Yes,

thank you. Yeah. Um, yeah, that was just something we were emaile I think uh Bob and I were sent the information on that. Again, I'll I'll just share that email with everybody. If you haven't already seen it, that was sent by the town of Bloomsfield. Yeah. Yep. Right. Yeah. If you're on the town of Bloomfield, if you're on the town of Bloomfield either, I think that was through leisure services, you got that the wildlife one that's been going on for a little bit, too, hasn't it, Robin? Like maybe about a month now, too. Same thing or at least a couple weeks, I think. Out of town for like a week and a half. So, all I know is I got the email. So, I just had them had it's a wildlife. So I while you're looking, Robin, basically in lie of the trees, they've made it wildlife, but they want people to be careful. You know, we have a heavy bear population here. So I'm hoping people aren't trying to go out there and get very creative pictures of bears, but they were looking at any wildlife and doing I think similar to trees for Bloomfield, but just the different wildlife that we have in town, which is very diverse. And yeah, wonderful. the community site, the wildlife Facebook page, there are people that take actually really incredible photos of bears and everything. Oh, 100%. Yeah, 100%. So, there's already a huge number of Bloomfield residents that I'm sure will probably want to participate in this, but yeah, I don't know what I do. I just know it's buried in one of my emails. I'll just have to forward that to Yeah, if you'd forward it to everyone. Uh, Andrea, um, I got that email that you guys sent it to me and it wasn't clear whether they was it any time of year, new photos, photos from last year, or is it just for the summer? Cuz it was confusing because in one language it was like send in your

photos of wildlife and then one said get your camera and this July go out and take photos. So then I was like sure I'm like I have a really great photo of porcupine in front of Bob's house but it was like in the fall and I think the time of year matters. I think you just have to be a Bloomfield resident and it has to be taken if it's a photo it has to be taken within the boundaries of Bloomfield. How you I don't know but yeah. Oh so my pictures from me. I don't think anyone can hear me. Yes, we can. We can hear you late. Okay. Well, I have distributed this idea to Dancaster residents to some of our photographers who are very good at taking pictures of wildlife in Bloomfield. So, I hope they follow through. Great. Well, we encourage everyone to do it and there's going is it sort of a jury show? Is someone going to decide or does everybody get in? Yeah, that's a good question. Le Yeah. Uh there wasn't a lot of information in the website or the town uh eblast that went out. Is that the trees? Is that the trees for Bloomfield? Is that what you're asking about, Lee? Or is it the wildlife one? No, the wildlife one. Well, I mentioned the tree one, too, but uh yeah, the wildlife one was very loose. Like Andrea said, it seemed like, you know, they put it out because it I mean, it sounds great in town, but I I think they accept everything and then it's similar to trees for Bloomfield. Then they'll take

a look at whatever's accepted. So, I wouldn't stop anybody from submitting anything. Great. And then where will they be exhibited? In the library or a town hall or where? I don't think they said, but uh again, it doesn't sound as well organized as the trees, uh which has been going on for a few years. Yeah. Yeah. Anything else on on that one? We don't have too much information. Okay. Any new business anyone has to bring up? Very good. Then I think the only thing we have remaining is if people have had a chance to look at the uh minutes uh from past meetings. Uh I'll entertain a motion to approve those. So moved. And a second, please. Wendy, a second. All those in favor approving the minutes. I I unanimous. Uh and uh if there's nothing else, uh I will uh entertain a motion to adjourn and wish everyone a a wonderful summer. Oh, perhaps before we do, uh do we want to have a meeting in August or are people really in the midst of their summer and we really don't have too much more going on in August at the beginning of August to discuss. Uh what's what's everyone's thought on that? I think we do not have a meeting but I think we go active on the email to determine especially for the drum festival as you and Robin get more information. I can reach out to Vera again and I'll get back to you as soon as I hear from her. Wonderful. Yeah, about that piece. But I think that

can probably be done in email so we don't have to it can be done faster than waiting till the next meeting in my opinion. I I think that's a great idea. Okay. All right then. So, uh entertaining a motion to adjurnn. So moved. Oh, I'll second. All those in favor? And I uh Vivian sent a message saying that she agrees with you, Wendy. So all those in favor, I have a wonderful summer and we will definitely be in touch over the coming weeks on a number of these things, the drums and and uh uh the u uh the photo and art festival. Thank you all. Also, Bob, thank you Neil. Neil, everyone have a good summer. Wait, Neil, just let people know when the uh wood carving is going to happen. Yes. Yes, we will definitely do that when we schedule the wood carving so people can u come see it and we'll organize a group to go watch. Great. Okay. A question about that. Is this going to happen in a small period of time? Yes, it will all it will all occur in a period of about a week to less than two weeks. About Okay. there there's not a couple of hours when people could come and spot your he'll be working from daylight to to sunset. He said that's how he gets it done so fast. So he he'll be there all the time if we pick a day for people to go look. Uh he will be available but I will be in touch with him and arrange that so everyone will know. Great. Thank you Bob. This is could be an interesting Bloomfield Dancaster trip. A bus comes

for an hour and watches. But let me know kind of when we should schedule that. We will do that, Lee. Absolutely. That would be fun. I think so. Have a wonderful summer. Thank you all.