MINUTES

MARKHAM PUBLIC ART ADVISORY COMMITTEE

2006-8-11

Meeting No. 10

__________________________________________________________

PRESENT                                                      REGRETS    

 

Judi McIntyre, Committee Chair

Elizabeth Chong

Anderson Coward

Anna Gauci

Tom Giantsopoulos

John Ryerson

Priti Tripathi

Linda Irvine, Mgr., Parks & Open Space Development

Jane Perdue, Public Art Consultant

Virginia Steffler, Committee Clerk

Paul Leonidis

Kelly McLeod

 

ABSENT

Deborah Castello

Councillor Alex Chiu

Councillor Joe Virgilio

 

 

 

The tenth meeting of the Markham Public Art Advisory Committee in 2006 convened at 7:08 p.m. with Ms. Judi McIntyre in the Chair. 

 

 

1.      MINUTES OF THE MARKHAM PUBLIC ART ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING HELD OCTOBER 11, 2006

 

Ms. Jane Perdue noted in the October 11, 2006 minutes, (item two “Brainstorming Session”, paragraph four) several references to public art “policy”.  Ms. Perdue clarified that Council has already approved a public art “policy”, but that it is a public art “plan” (currently in draft form and with the committee for input) which awaits approval.  She made a second point of clarification (item two “Brainstorming Session”, paragraph one) to the statement “with Jane Perdue’s absence from the last several committee meetings, the development of the public art plan has been stalled.”   Ms. Perdue noted she had in fact not been scheduled to attend the September meeting, missing only the October meeting.

 

Moved that the minutes of the October 11, 2006 meeting be adopted, with Ms. Perdue’s clarifications recorded.

                                                                                                            CARRIED

 

 

2.  MUNICIPAL PUBLIC ART PLAN

 

Ms. Jane Perdue presented a draft Municipal Public Art Plan for discussion and asked committee members for feedback.  Members offered suggestions and provided input from sections 3.0 to section 5.2.6 of the document.  Suggestions included:

  • ensuring that the “people side of Markham” be profiled strongly in the document, describing Markham’s living neighbourhoods, art schools, thriving cultural centers etc., in addition to statistics about cultural diversity
  • that the plan respect and incorporate all forms of art
  • that malls and community centers be recognized for their role as human meeting places (eg. using electronic screens in malls to display visual art rather than advertising)
  • that ways and means to engage people democratically in selecting public art be emphasized
  • that wording reflect how public art can be more than just historical or culturally-pleasing, but also simply aesthetically pleasing
  • that new and emerging “districts” be added, eg Cornell , Angus Glen which have their own sense of place
  • that the tone and philosophical position of the document help define approach re: including heritage vs. limiting ideas because of heritage
  • that words like “innovation” and “creativity” be woven throughout, to identify with the Town’s values
  • that the document show how public art installations and events can be inter-discplinary in spirit, eg. bringing environmentalists/artists/scientists together
  • that Rouge Park be included in Natural Spaces
  • that the document position the proposed percentage of capital expenditure recommendation pragmatically, sensitive to the new Council’s fiscal objectives
  • that the role of the Markham Public Art Advisory Committee be explained and that a section be added to the document containing committee members’ comments

 

Ms. Judi McIntyre recommended that the committee review the remainder of the document further and provide Jane Perdue with comments as soon as possible.  Ms. Linda Irvine agreed to ask the Town of Markham planning department for information about the most common variances applied for and to forward that information to Jane Perdue.

 

 

  1.  NEW BUSINESS

Ms. Judi McIntyre informed the committee about the upcoming annual general meeting of the Markham Arts Council, November 20, 2006 at the Markham Museum reception center, and the Markham Village Art Show and Sale, November 23, 2006.  Ms.  Anna Gauci informed the committee about the  upcoming McKay Centre Art Show, December 14-17, 2006. 

 

 

   4.  DATE FOR NEXT MEETING

 

The next meeting of the Markham Public Art Advisory Committee will take place Wednesday, December 13, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. in the Ontario Room. 

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

The Markham Public Art Advisory Committee adjourned at 8:32 p.m.