Heritage and Arts Commission - Regular Meeting

Okay.

August 25th, Heritage and Arts Commission meeting has begun. Should we do the call to order and roll?

Yes, I'll take the roll. Chair Gupta?

Here.

Vice Chair Feibush? Here. Commissioner Etemad? Here. Commissioner Fong? Commissioner De Mujica? And Commissioner Farron here and Commissioner no guys is absent at the moment.

Okay, or oral communications any oral communications.

Seeing none.

OK, I'm going to give my chair report, as you can see, this is a. You know, a kind of a slim agenda that we have this month, and I'll tell you a couple of things that I took, you know, potentially were discussion items, but I felt didn't need to be really. But before I get into that, I would say that the we the people reception that we had earlier this month was really fun. And we had, you know, pretty good turnout of the artists and their friends and family. And everybody really enjoyed... There was a spirited kind of conversation in the room about the 250th anniversary and the different facets of, you know, the country's birthday. And... All in all, it was a success. Thank you to those commissioners who were able to make it. And we also have, I will give a special shout out to Yaya, who is the hire from the ranch, who has been incredibly helpful. And I'm really glad we have him on board. uh super nice uh wonderful guy um then i did speak to this is about concerning the uh october native american event uh we were not able to get on the ditf agenda for their collaborative you know for the proposal for a collaboration however i did speak to holly thier earlier, and she is excited about that event. We kind of talked about the proposal and the budget. We both kind of came to the conclusion that the free taco truck might be a little excessive, and that is a big piece of the budget. It's a big expense. Instead, Marissa had suggested maybe doing the shaved ice truck and maybe we could get a food truck that people could, if they are hungry, buy food from. And I think that that's a good idea. I think Holly being both on DITF and the Tiburon Town Council, you know, I think I had a point also that the free tacos is not really... needed thing for this kind of an event but that said I'm happy to kind of revise the proposal with an alternative that I just mentioned and she is willing to take it up at the next DITF meeting which happens to be usually right before the town council meeting and members of the DITF of course also sit on the town council so Ideally, we will get some collaboration from them. And if not, we can still hold the event, but again, on a slimmer budget and without the expense of the taco truck, of course. So that is my chair report.

Just a point of information or something to consider. I just went to a fundraising event in Sausalito for the public and was astounded to see a long, long line for these fish tacos. And when I got up to get my, I wasn't sure if it was free or not, but two very delicious fish tacos for $10. And so just the concept of striking the happy medium where we're not cannibalizing our local restaurants who serve a really fine meal for a lot of price, but maybe something for everyone. parents that don't want their kids to have sugar because I know it was a really big hit last time so maybe there's a local provider this was from a Sausalito provider Davey's like cafe sandwich cafe that's down there but maybe there's happy medium between the two so that kids can it was a big hit I know that and but yet I was also surprised when I saw that it was free here Because I don't think there's an expectation that the town is going to give away free food. But to have a nominal sum, we don't really have fast food here in Tiburon. So if kids are hungry, parents, et cetera, there could be something ideally themed towards what we're doing. Yeah. Just for consideration. Arjun, I support that.

I was just thinking an easy number for a quick meal because parents like to come and have the kids eat. But a reasonable one. I think some of the ones were like $16 for a little plate. That's kind of an odd number. And, you know, to shave eyes, I actually think that's expensive. But, you know, kids love it. But I think it's great that we could... scale down the expenses and still keep the same spirit of people having fun and you know an easy night out for the parents so worth exploring that we might want to put a small amount towards refreshments yeah i have some ideas that i can put together and send to the subcommittee that's handling this event

Great and also, we may want to extend the opportunity to our local restaurants to help kick in and promote them at the rest at the event.

We have had food trucks right in the back of here and I don't remember what was the occasion. But it happens all over town.

There's a gentleman that's been calling me to ask about putting his food truck at DITF events. And I'm happy to give you his number or we can reach out to him and see what he can put together.

Let's do that. And then there are, as Trish mentioned, a couple of people in town that I'm thinking of also that maybe could do tacos and things like that as well. we're getting down the road of a discussion item so we should probably save this for a ad hoc committee meeting sounds good okay okay so that's my that's my chair report let's go on to the action items first action item is a discussion about our public art

and uh do you want to get a little staff report i don't have a written formal staff report but um the the post commission has been busy going over the park design plans so they haven't had a lot of time on their agendas for this particular item their next meeting is september 15th um but i think they're going to be discussing the sanitary ponds project at that time. So, but they may be calling a special meeting in October. So I'm, I'm talking to David issue every day about when you can have 10 minutes on their agenda to just, and basically what they want is your proposal or the proposal. And then, you know, offer two to four locations that they can go through and look at like, We already have the two locations of the Shoreline Park and south of Knoll, but with all the scuttlebutt and chatter about views and scenery and art that has been in the media lately, I was thinking that maybe you guys could think about some other alternatives that you could run past post when you get the chance to get on the agenda.

Well, I think the public art that we have right now is done and it is kind of unseen because they're away from everybody's eyes. You have to go and find it if you know about it. But this particular art of the birds, it is an art that has to be seen by everyone. We're not suggesting that it gets hidden away. Yeah. Well, the thing is that downtown, everybody who comes for a visit, they rush to downtown of Tiburon. All the festivities and everything happens in downtown. So I think we should try to find a spot that it is visible to When they come in, they will always remember. They will come back and see it again. It is really a very wonderful way of having this public art. I was walking around. I don't know. I wanted to invite somebody to walk with me. There is a palm tree. On the other side of Tiburon Boulevard, right in the beginning, there's a palm tree. It is a very well-known palm tree. It has a plaque on it. Do you all remember that? Okay. Yes. On Tiburon Boulevard.

By the lagoon at Point Tiburon, across from the roundabout?

Yes. If you keep looking at it, there are spots that there's flowers and things like that on little boxes, cement boxes all along. So I was thinking maybe it could be in one of those. It is right in the center of town. And everybody can see it and admire it and it is not on anybody's way. It is not a solid piece of art, so that you can have complaints about it is something you can see through it, and it really raises everybody's attention and. thoughtfulness about it.

I'm just going to comment quickly. I think that's a good idea to consider placement in more kind of urban areas that are part of the urban landscape rather than just purely in the parks and the landscape. I think that's a great idea, Jale. I'm sure the ad hoc committee can meet and maybe think about some other options like the one that you've just suggested. And maybe before we make a motion to you know, go forward with that exploration. Victoria, do you have something you want to add?

I just want to say that it's great that we're looking at different places. I won't name the names, but I have spoken to people who absolutely do not want to at the shoreline park. no matter how great it is. And I've also heard from my neighborhood, people don't want to look down in South Noah and see something sticking out, such as the signs. I don't know if they were like the birds. In any case, I'm just sharing what I've heard. I think it's a beautiful piece of art, and I hope we can find some place for it that would be appealing to all.

I think it would be a shame to put it in the park, and only... small amount of people, the bicycle riders or the very runners or walkers can see, that's all. And as far as that park, In front, we are not going to touch that. We've had artwork there, very nice artworks, but now we haven't been doing it past few years. We haven't attempted to put anything. But when you, that little green part right in front, I think it is a really good place for it.

That might be private property. We'd have to look at the map.

We have to look into it, yes. And there was an email from the artist. I don't know if she has actually given us a second or third place or not.

That is the email I got. Yeah, she has not. But this item is for you guys as residents and artists and people in the art world to think about locations that could work based on the feedback the town has received on the last exhibition. If you'd like to move on, you can.

On to ad hoc, maybe we should talk about an ad hoc for this.

Well, do we not have one already for Nikki's? I mean, I think you're kind of spearheading it.

I am. But I need somebody else to either you or Arjun can take a look at.

Would anyone want to join Jale on an ad hoc for the next phase of this possible project?

You want another one? You want to join, Trish? You'll be good.

Yeah. I'll join you.

Will you do it? Yeah. Oh, that would be really nice. Yeah. I'll send you an email. Yeah. And suggest a couple of times.

Yeah. And we can start from get out and look for spots. Walk around. Yeah. And we're trying to stay away from privately owned businesses. Yeah.

yeah let's find out about that greens if it belongs to town or not okay well great um so you and Jale then can can kind of go forward with this so I move I move to create an ad hoc committee Right. All right. Well, I move that we consider other possible locations for the Nikki Adani public art piece.

I second.

All ideas are welcome.

And all in favor? Aye. So moved. Thank you. Thank you, Francisco.

Action item number two are the artist applications for future exhibitions. I know that we have one from an artist who has shown in the past Revity.

How's it going?

Revati Natasan, I'm not sure, I've spoken with her recently and I'm not sure exactly what her current position is on her showing her work. So for the time being, I think we can leave her out of this discussion. It's very interesting work, though. She has very meticulously copied an Indian artist who is quite a famous Indian modernist, Jamini Roy, And she has meticulously done these facsimile paintings of his, you know, kind of iconic works. And they are primarily of, you know, domestic scenes, mothers, children, kittens stealing prawns. It's a very, he's a Bengali artist. I'm from Bengal myself, born and raised in Calcutta. And so is near and dear to my heart. But nonetheless, I think, you know, she's working on a series of these paintings. I think she's done about seven. So I think, but for the time being, I recently spoke with her and, you know, I wasn't exactly sure whether or not she in fact wanted to show here or not right away at this time. So for now, I think we can... Maybe leave her out of the current discussion and move to the other artists who we have. Exhibition, exhibit number two.

May I just say one? She has talked to me about this. And she said that when she had her work here, they were not for sale at all. She didn't want her work to be sold. But she said, this artist is really fantastic. So I am copying what is in those artworks and reproducing it myself. in my way. And they will be really very beautiful. And then I'm going to put them all for sale. And she mentioned that she doesn't like it to be downstairs. She prefers the upstairs gallery. And that is she personally talked to me.

I think all of these are artists for exhibitions in the upstairs gallery, but that's fine. Let's move on to the second artist here.

Manuela.

Right. We have it in the packet, and this is the estate who is bringing the works of this artist to our attention. Manuela Gemma. I very interesting interesting work uh you know i don't i'm not aware of venetian expressionism but i like the sound of that um and uh i mean clearly you know very impressive bio uh and really interesting work um It's open for discussion.

Have they come forward wanting to show you?

All of these are applications for exhibition. So they have come here and asked for application? They have emailed me and filled out the application and submitted their work for your consideration, and that's what we're reviewing right now. Oh, okay.

So may I ask something? They say the estate of Manuela Gemma, these artists, these are her work? So who are the artists? It's her estate.

It's Manuela Gemma, that's the artist.

Because it says the estate of Manuela, so it's by her.

The works are by her, but the application is being put forward by her estate.

These works are by her.

I don't know what the Tiburon connection is other than the estate seems to be based in Mill Valley.

And presumably these are for sale, I would think.

I just want to point out that in the past, another estate situation came in. And at that time, the commission did not want to deal with someone's estate being secondary location for artists. So I just want to bring that up for consideration. If we're going to do that, are we going to be a conduit for a lot of different estates and collections?

Yeah, that's a good point. Well, I mean, you know, it's a very interesting painting nonetheless. And, you know, I'm not, you know, I think it's worth further discussion, certainly with regards to whether we want to invite estates in like this to show. I think that's a good point because, you know, as somebody who works with estate appraisals and trust in estates, People are trying to find what do we do with the work? What can we do with it?

Yeah, you can't ask me about that.

And so that's something that is always an issue. But nonetheless, I think if she had a clear tie to Tiburon, which I don't know if she does or not...

Are they for sale or not? That we have to know.

But we have shown works of southern marine artists.

Yeah, absolutely.

I mean, only Tiburon.

No, I'm saying that because as an estate, we don't want to, you know, there might be a way to distinguish, you know, estates from all over Marin rather than estates from Tiburon residents who are artists who are painting or working in Tiburon. or as a collection. I don't know. Just a thought. But does anyone have any thoughts about the work itself? I think her work is beautiful.

Yeah, I like the work. I think the work is gorgeous. It has a lot of movement and good strokes. The only thing is whether it, I guess it's for sale.

Are they the same artist? It's by that artist, Manuel.

And do we have any idea of the scale of this work? I mean, is it smaller paintings?

Sizes, you can't tell.

There's no sizes in any of these, so that's probably worth it.

It doesn't say the medium. It's the medium, yes. I think it's watercolor.

Yeah, we need more information from the state. Whoever has offered this, we need more information.

The application is attached in your agenda, and you're welcome to give them a call.

Okay.

I think the work is beautiful.

I can do that. I can follow up with some questions for this particular application, including whether it's for sale and what's the medium, what are the sizes, what are the dates, et cetera, et cetera. Is there a secondary market for her work? That kind of thing.

We can find out about Manuel.

Yeah. Okay. So that was...

Let's think about it.

One of five, not counting Revati, I believe. So yeah. OK, so let's move to exhibit three. These are the photography of Jay Tamang. And these are quite interesting. beautiful photographs and certainly would be quite popular, I think, here. See, oh yeah, there's that one. That one's kind of pretty cool.

We haven't had photography show for a while, so it might be kind of nice. Yeah.

I think he's worth considering and putting on the schedule.

Yeah, he's got a professional website, professional, really great photographs. I'm sure they would sell like hotcakes. So I think definitely let's put him on the schedule.

I think he's interesting, yeah.

And then there's a donation, there's a charitable donation component to his work also. I don't know if you guys caught that, but it does help create educational opportunities for children in Nepal. So that's kind of cool. That's good too, yeah. So that would be an interesting, I think my vote is, Let's put him on the calendar and we can follow up with him in terms of like maybe, yeah, again, timing and all of that kind of thing. I mean, I'm sure he's got, you know, things ready to go and framed probably, but we'll see.

After you guys go through all this, we should look at the calendar and see. Okay. And then, you know, volunteer to liaise with the artists.

The way I did, I offered whether they wanted upstairs or downstairs, and gave them the two months, and then they choose which month. Who did that? All of them. You should do that to all of them.

Oh, I think...

Application.

Oh, it is, yeah.

Yeah, by the time they get to the application. It's in the application. Okay.

Let's go to exhibit number four, then. Can we... For Barbara Janis.

I just want to say that my name was in the email. I just met her at a luncheon and she wanted to have, you know, talking about art and show. And I just told her to contact Marissa. So I don't personally know her work. Okay.

I don't think there is a website for her.

Just her Instagram page, which I have up on the screen now.

Yes, I usually don't trust Instagram stuff because so many people.

This is her stuff.

This is her stuff. But if you have seen her and she's real and so on.

Seen some of her work. I think she's had it done somewhere else.

She had it at the Corte Madera Library. Oh, yeah, that's right. No. Okay. That's good. Okay.

Yeah, you know, watercolors, kind of an interesting, diverse subject matter.

I like to accept her, just for a change.

And she's got, you know, she's done some work at the Academy of Art, at Berkeley, CCA, you know, she's definitely... Legit, and as part of the Marin County Watercolor Association, that's nice. So I would say, you know, watercolor is a great medium. Let's consider her for a possible show in 2027. Any thoughts?

i'm not crazy about size yeah yeah size size size that's right she also has five instagram followers yeah it's really not much looks like her largest is 22 by 26 and her smallest was nine and a half by 12 they're all almost small pieces okay your watercolors are usually small

I think it's worth considering, given the variety of work. I have to admit, it's sort of good, but I'm not necessarily crazy about it.

She's really an amateur painter, kind of a hobbyist and an amateur painter.

Yeah, but she has the right credentials. But she has some good training. And if she's in the area, that's OK.

given that we don't have that many artists and we have to fill up our calendar sure well why don't we why don't we just put it as a possibility for now and we'll we'll uh and we'll ask some questions also uh about I did receive an additional application yesterday but it was too late to put it on the agenda but Arjun I'll just forward it to you and okay Let's go to exhibit five.

Oh, number five is Graciela. Hello.

Tara Yellen.

Yes, I absolutely go for her. She was an art teacher. She taught in our community center for a few years.

Oh.

She was teaching painting. And I've seen her work. She's a writer as well.

And I think... She's shown her work at different places too.

Yeah. I think it would be nice to have her if she's local. And she has been around.

Yeah, she's local, Tiburon.

She's well-known.

Tiburon, California.

Followers. Tara Yellen and her work is really nice.

Oh, that one. That is the one you're talking about. I'm sorry.

I'm one step.

The next one.

Oh, okay. Okay. That's my mistake. Oh, that is the one actually. Oh, Tara Yellen. Oh, my God. Yeah. I thought they're too modern for our town hall.

Their works are just too much going on. Which one is Tara?

I feel like I've counted that name before, haven't we?

Can you pull up her Instagram? Oh, no, it is not. Too bad.

Well, she's sending portfolio. Her portfolio. That's quite a lot. I didn't really thought of the other.

Yeah.

Okay.

It's too abstract. I don't think I like

Okay. Is there a way to like... Oh, there we go. A little slideshow.

They're all kind of alike. All different colors.

This one is a good one.

They're very abstract.

Well, I still see some some kind of figurative right you know there's a little bit of representational abstraction there you know. could be.

Oh okay that's great.

And the medium is what? It's acrylic?

I think they look like acrylic. So when people can see an apple, when closing their eyes and imagining an apple, she can only see blackness. Wow. Which I think is, her artist statement is really, it's in the attachment, is really interesting.

Hmm. I kind of like her stuff, actually.

Me too.

I do too, and she's a Tiburon. I like this one. Can she see her art? She says, and yet I can feel the apple. I can pull together a sense of the shine, the shape, the green flecked red.

So there is a kind of a... That's what I mean.

Yeah, there is a punch to it.

There is some representational sort of tie to it.

I think it's interesting, yeah. But I don't see any

It's a representation of anything.

Yes, it's very contemporary. It's good.

I mean, I'm for this one.

Me too. I'm also. Because, you know, the next one is Graciela. Graciela is very sort of more like Iperalis. The next one is a good one. Should we move on to the next one?

So exhibit six is Graciela. And I've been talking to her about doing this for quite a while. Oh, okay. And she's I'm very interested. She's very established. I think many of you have met her. I've purchased her art. I've known her, oddly enough, for probably over 30 years. Oh, wow. I know her family. They live in Tehran. I've met all her children. The interesting thing is her art, I think she's evolving a little bit, and she was telling me that she's starting to do some different things recently. So I think she would like to share those with us. And I've talked to her about this time slot as well and her commitment. These are many of her work. A lot of her work is for sale. Hmm. Yeah, and she's done classes and education in Tiburon, so she's definitely a Tiburon artist, and I don't think she's exhibited in a while.

She was sort of the art editor in the defunct magazine or something, Tiburon. But she's been around, and she's good quality.

Yeah, she did do a little write-up about my work. She came to my studio.

So do we need to move to fill her into the slot that I'm in charge of?

Yeah, I think so. What I've taken notes on is that Revati and Manuela are going to take a little more investigation by Arjun. Yes for Jay, maybe for Barbara. Yes for Tara and a yes for Graciela. And if you want to make a motion to agree with what I just said, then.

I move that we, first of all, support Graciela moving into the timeframe to be confirmed by myself. She's already. So we should go on that maybe separate in its motion. Graciela.

This is for the November.

Yes.

We have this one other slot for September, October. Do we need to, that's like right next week. Do we need to down here? Yeah. Do we need to discuss filling that as well?

I think Graciela is better upstairs.

Oh, I agree. But I'm wondering, should we consider some of the other artists, even though it's like next week? Yeah.

I don't know if we could do it. Maybe we could just extend this for another month.

250th anniversary.

Yeah.

I mean, I think it's too much.

Let's separate things. Let's have Trish finish her motion for Graciela for November, December.

I second.

Okay.

Yes. Yes.

And then all in favor of Graciela taking the upper gallery for November and December, all in favor? Aye. Okay, unanimous. Thank you, Trish. And now we'll move on to the next.

Yeah, I'll be working with her. And does the official notification go out to her from Marissa?

um yeah so that she has my information i'll send her an email and copy you and then you guys can go forth and yes thanks and and you and you have the um the uh the kind of the procedure the timeline procedure sheet that you can share also with both of them okay yeah so that they know send me pictures send me a description title of the show we'll get her to diane diane

Yeah, and ideally then, Trish, we can have some of these items filled in for the next meeting. Okay, great. And then the other four, correct? One, two, where is it? Three. We need a motion for that. Anybody want to bring a motion forward for the other three artists?

I move that we accept the three artists, Jay, Tanang, Barbara Janis, and Tara Yellen, for consideration and scheduling for next year's shows, exhibitions.

I second. OK. Manuela, Jim also? I guess we could take separate motions.

We're going to ask some questions about her estate, about size and medium and sale for sale, saleability and all of that.

And I also move that we accept recommendation from Marissa regarding Rivetta and also the estate situation regarding size, sale, and other matters to be returned to the commission next month.

I second.

All in favor? Aye. Thank you. You guys are working so fast, I can't catch up with my notes. I realized I missed asking for public comment, but I am seeing none in the room for this particular item.

Great. Well, that was pretty smooth.

So the next, just a couple of things on the calendar, the installation of the ICB group show is on Thursday, September 3rd at 9 a.m. Four artists from the ICB will be installing upstairs. Lori Myercord, who's in Belvedere, Kate Solari Baker, who also lives in Belvedere and generously is donating the wine for the event from her winery. Bree Cutts, who's a paper artist, and Marina Straj will be, the title of the show is Nature Reimagined. And they sent me a graphic today and it's really pretty and I'll forward it along. So I'm excited. I think it's going to be a really nice show. Thank you. Thursday, September 3rd at 9 a.m. So if any of you are around and want to pop down and say hello, they'll be here.

I'll try to be here.

People working with them too.

I'm sure they have not asked for help.

They are pros. And then their reception is Tuesday, September 15th from six to eight upstairs. So great. Yeah. Bree's been very responsive and organizing the group. um you have the image are you going to pull together a kind of a little piece that we can shoot around yeah they um i'll email it to you tomorrow to i'll email the graphic to the group tomorrow so you can put it on your instagram and send it to your friends and family great and neighbors um and that's what i have uh who's working with them on their banner

Are you, is that the same? Just let me know when you need me to pick it up or whatever. I'm happy to pick it up.

I appreciate that.

Yep. Okay. That was the, so are there any other calendar dates we want to talk about right now?

I was going to mention to Liz coordinating with Tyler on the removal of his show. So I don't recall when that's happening.

Yes, I will reach out to him. It'll be by Monday. But it'll be that same studio that'll be picking up the work. Oh, Dostal. Okay, great.

Okay. And there we have it. Well, welcome back to all from your summer journeys. And we look forward to a wonderful fall. And thank you very much. Adjourned.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.