CACMIN 04 08 2004
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CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION
MINUTES
April 8, 2004
I. CALL TO ORDER
A regular meeting of the Cultural Arts Commission was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
in the Study Session Room of the La Quinta Civic Center. Chairperson Else Loudon
presided over the meeting. Commissioner Young led the Pledge of Allegiance.
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Commissioner Else Loudon
Commissioner Sheldon Brodsky
Commissioner Andrea Gassman
Commissioner Elaine Reynolds
Commissioner Linda Young
STAFF PRESENT:
Dodie Horvitz, Community Services Director
II. PUBLIC COMMENT-NONE
III. PUBLIC HEARING - NONE
IV. CONSENT CALENDAR
A. Approval of Minutes of March 4, 2004
B. Department Report for February 2004
C. Financial Report for February and March 2004
It was moved by Commissioners Gassman/Brodsky to approve consent
calendar. Unanimous.
V. PUBLIC HEARING - None
VI. BUSINESS ITEMS
A. Community Picnic
The Commission reviewed the shifts available and determined that
Commissioners Gassman, Brodsky and Reynolds will work the 9:30-12:00
shifts and Commissioners Gassman and Reynolds will work the 11 :00-1 :30
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B. Concert Under the Stars Event
The Commissioners will work the following assignments for the Concert
Under the Stars event: Commissioner Gassman will arrive at the Senior
Center at 3:30 p.m. to meet Nels and the Peanut Butter Cookies Band.
Commissioner Brodsky will act as host for the Steel Drum Band and Electics
Choir while Commissioner Reynolds will act as greeter and be responsible for
handing out programs. Commissioner Loudon will assist with refreshments.
All Commissioners will fill spots needed at the event.
C. "The Letter" Art Piece Donation
Commissioner Gassman stated that Ms. Moline who works for the Norman
Rockwell Foundation would like to donate an original Norman Rockwell
painting entitled "The Letter" to the City. According to Commissioner
Gassman, the autheniticty of the art piece has been confirmed. Ms. Moline
has requested that the piece be hung in a secure location in City Hall.
The Commissioners viewed a video tape news piece that was produced by
CNN about the discovery of this art piece. According to Commissioner
Gassman, there may be shipping costs involved with this piece.
After some discussion it was moved by Commissioners Gassman/Brodsky to
recommend the City Council accept the donation of "The Letter" to be
displayed at City Hall. Unanimous.
D. Possible Amphitheater Improvements
Commissioner Gassman stated the Commission has not received direction
from the City Council to research amphitheater improvements and no budget
has been established. She recommended starting with a small but effective
commitment and is recommending the Commission consider the inflatable
shell which would meet the needs for performers but would not obstruct the
views of the campus. From the information provided, an acoustically
balanced system could bring a professional element to the events.
Commissioner Reynolds thinks the inflatable shell would discourage
vandalism. She suggested perhaps Wayne McEvilly could perform as a fund
raiser for the funds for the inflatable shell.
Commissioner Gassman thought that selling bricks or stones as a fund raiser
could take a very long time and thinks a concert would be a great fund
raiser. It would also bring people to the Civic Center Campus and get them
used to coming to the Campus for performances.
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Commissioner Brodsky recommended the recommendation be sent to the
City Council and if approved, colors could be chosen.
Commissioner Reynolds stated that Mr. McEvilly charges $400 per
performance.
It was moved by Commissioners Reynolds/Gassman to recommend for City
Council considerat!on the large inflatable band shell be purchased for
$13,000. Unanimous.
E. Annual Work Plan
Commissioner Loudon suggested a committee be formed to work on
streamlining the annual work plan as she felt it is redundant in information.
Commissioner Gassman asked that the standing events be provided in chart
form so that the year is easily reviewed.
Commissioner Reynolds would like to see the Cultural Arts Commission work
more closely with the Community Services Commission in offering events,
such as the holiday tree lighting ceremony.
The Commission asked staff to provide a calendar of events for 2004-05 for
the next Cultural Arts Commission meeting.
After some discussion, the Commission recommended leaving the annual
work plan "as is" as some felt it was as concise as it could be.
VII. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIALS
Coachella Valley Arts Alliance: The Commission was impressed with the
event offered at The River by the Alliance.
The Figurative Contemporary Art Gallery: The Commission discussed the
planned art show for 1I0ld Towne" and that it was cancelled due to the
disagreement of location on the site.
VIII. COMMISSIONER ITEMS
Commissioner Reynolds stated that the La Ouinta Arts Association would
like to host an art show on the Civic Center Campus but some artists have
expressed their concern that the last show was only for La Ouinta artists or
those that have a studio in La Ouinta.
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Commissioner Brodsky feels that since it's City property, the event should be
used to promote La Ouinta artists.
Commissioner Young stated that "Art in the Park" was cancelled when it
was reported that Wells Marvin wanted to offer art shows. She also feels
that La Ouinta artists should be singled out but would like to see the event
expanded to include performing arts as well. She would like to see young
artists perform and get involved.
Commissioner Reynolds stated that the postcard sent out for the spring
event was nicely done, however, the font was very faint.
Commissioner Brodsky stated that he was talking to Karen Wilkerson at
Point Happy Ranch and she expressed a desire to have an art piece in the
development.
The Commission asked what could be done to increase the lighting at the
Point Happy art piece and also to raise the art piece higher.
Commissioner Young will provide a photo album of the City's public art
pieces at the June meeting.
Commissioner Reynolds asked to be' excused from the May meeting as she
will be out of town.
Commissioner Young asked to possibly be excused from the May meeting
due to surgery. The Commission agreed by consensus.
XI. ADJOURNMENT
It was moved by Commissioners Brodsky/Reynolds to adjourn the Cultural Arts
Commission meeting. Unanimous. Meeting adjourned at 8:00 PM.
ervices Director
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