BYRON SHIRE COUNCIL

                                                                                                                               13.3 - Attachment 1

Minutes of the Byron Shire Council Public Art Assessment Panel Meeting held on Friday 10 April 2015

E2015/24512

PRESENT:   Cr S Richardson

 

Staff:            Joanne McMurtry (Community Policy Officer)

                     Greg Ironfield (Manager Community Development)

                     Andy Erskine (Superintendent Parks)

                    

Community: Rick Molloy (Practising Artists Network)

                     Suvira McDonald (Community Artist member)

                     Paula Cordeiro (Community Artist member)

                     Michele Zarro (Community member)

 

Simon Richardson  opened the meeting at 1.30pm and acknowledged that the meeting was being held on Bundjalung Country.

 

APOLOGIES:     Cr P Spooner, Peter Wood (Arts Northern Rivers), Gavin Brown (Bundjalung of Byron Bay Aboriginal Corporation (Arakwal), Tracey Whitaker, Denise Napier

 

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST – PECUNIARY AND NON-PECUNIARY

 

Suvira McDonald declared an interest in item 6.3, being that he is one of the main proponents in the project.

 

Paula Cordeiro declared an interest in item 6.4, being that she is on the Ocean Shores Community Centre Section 355 committee.

 

UPDATED TERMS OF REFERENCE

 

Council resolved (15-061) to appoint two community members to replace Belinda Smith – Michele Zarro and Denise Napier. Michele was welcomed as a new member. Denise is an apology for this meeting.

 

CONFIRMATION OF A QUORUM:

 

There are ten people on the Panel. Quorum numbers were met.

 

CONFIRMATION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES:

 

That the minutes of the Public Art Assessment Panel meeting held on 6 November 2014 be adopted.                                                                                                                                   (Molloy/McDonald)

 

 

BUSINESS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES (Verbal updates)

 

6.1     Unity Pole

 

Council has been contacted by the Unity Pole owners as they would like to revisit placing the pole in a public place, however laying horizontally. The place they have nominated is “near the pathway on the right hand side of the surf club (when facing the beach). It would act as a cool sculpture, plus make a great seat for people to sit and contemplate the ocean view. The artist can easily create custom bases for the pole so the complete design stays authentic.”

 

Points discussed:

·    Beachfront has slow growing grass which means it will be easy to maintain

·    Byron Bay Masterplan will cover this area, however sculpture can be moved if needed

·    Will need to meet Australian Standards with regards to bench seats in a public place

 

Action:

·    Andy to meet with them on site to discuss best site

·    Generally supportive, however could the PAAP see designs at the next meeting

 

6.2     Memorial Seat, Brunswick Heads

 

Suvira met with the artists and there seemed to be some changes and delays to the project.

 

Action:

·    Joanne to contact and request further information and detailed designs.

 

6.3     Mullumbimby Sculpture Walk

 

Suvira reported that the team have been busy with community consultation. They also were successful in obtaining a Creative Partnerships Australia grant which requires dollar for dollar funding. So they have begun a crowd funding campaign with the goal of reaching $10,000 by 28 May. See http://www.mullumsculpturewalk.com.au/

 

Action:

·    Creative Mullumbimby to submit a proposal for Council funds towards the project at next PAAP meeting on 7 May.

 

6.4       Ocean Shores Community Centre Public Art Proposal

 

The artist (Wendy) overseas so not available to come to a PAAP meeting, may be able to attend August meeting. The Ocean Shores Community Centre S355 committee have identified other priorities at the moment.

 

 

6.5       Brunswick Nature Sculpture Walk

 

Through investigations with Council staff, it has been discovered that probably only two of the many sculpture sites will require any approval from Council (ie temporary licences on Council managed land). Staff are currently working through the most appropriate way to ensure public safety and amenity of the event and are looking into a similar process for all public art, however simplified for the many sculptures that will be part of this event.

 

Action:

 

·    An update will be provided to the next PAAP meeting.

 

6.6       Public Art Small Grants Program

 

The program will be advertised from 22 April, closing 6 May in order to provide proposals at the 7 May PAAP meeting. A media release will be prepared and the PAAP are requested to circulate widely to their networks.

 

Action:

·    PAAP members circulate to networks

·    Proposals received will be tabled at next meeting

 

 

 

 

 

6.7     Judy Cassab Paintings - update

           

The paintings are currently on loan to Lismore City Council for inclusion in the Judy Cassab exhibition at the Lismore Art Gallery which closes on 23 May 2015. Following their return, they will be hung in the Byron Bay Library.

 

6.8       Public Art Budget

 

If the PAAP members are aware of, or would like to fund any projects before June 2015, please email these to Joanne for inclusion in discussion at the next PAAP meeting.

 

 

PUBLIC ART PROPOSALS

 

7.1     Public Art Commission – Electricity Padmount Substations (Byron Bay and Mullumbimby)

 

The PAAP reviewed the five submissions collated from the expression of interest process:

 

·    Bridget Perry

·    Teazer/ Davey/ Stay Gold/ Nitsua

·    Karma Barnes and Inscribe Youth Street Art

·    Daniel Hend

·    Renee Gorsuch

 

Two artists were shortlisted to contact for further information and concept designs – Karma Barnes and Teazer/ Davey/ Stay Gold/ Nitsua.

 

Action:

·    Joanne to contact shortlisted artists for further information, including:

o  Concept designs

o  PAAP are interested in fresh, original designs, showing a different part of the community, something people will want to take photo’s of and send around the world (iconic)

o  Paint the top of the padmounts?

o  Possibly work together

 

·    Joanne to contact other artists thanking them for their submissions, however due to the high standard of submissions, they are unsuccessful on this occasion.

 

 

 

7.2     Public Art Proposal – Mural Outside Cool Beans Café, Mullumbimby

 

The PAAP considered the proposal and made the following comments:

 

·    Concern about ‘sameness’ of mural artwork in Mullumbimby within a short distance

·    Suggest looking at the Mullumbimby padmount submission and work up a concept design from this base (as this is quite different to other artworks nearby), liked the brighter, different colour palette and the fact that it’s a bit more abstract/ surrealist.

 

Action:

·    Contact artist with these comments and ask for a revised concept design to be submitted for next PAAP meeting

 

 

 

7.3     Public Art Locations

 

Rick Molloy has researched the populations of different areas in the Byron Shire and the amount of public artwork in those areas. Suffolk Park and Ocean Shores seem to have less public art than other areas of the Shire.

 

Possible locations include:

·    Roundabouts

·    Water Lilly Park

·    Community Centre (Ocean Shores)

·    Highway walls near Ocean Shores

 

Action:

·    Rick to present information re existing public art in Ocean Shores and Suffolk Park to bring to the next meeting

·    Andy offered to photograph some places for public art to bring to next meeting.

 

 

8.       DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING

 

The next meeting of the Public Art Assessment Panel will be 9.30 – 11.30am 7 May 2015.

 

 

There being no further business the meeting concluded at 3.40pm.