HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-18-2004 Approved HCAC Minutes CITY OF DUBLINkt
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• MINITTES OFr April 8 2004 s tA
The April 8, 2004 meeting of the Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission was called to order at 7:00 p.m. at the
Dublin Civic Center,Dublin, California,by Chairperson Vonheeder-Leopold.
Pleduie ofAlleuiiance
Chairperson Vonheeder-Leopold led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll Call
Commissioners Present:Acuff,Fasulkey,Lussie,Mack,Muetterties,Vonheeder-Leopold and White
Commissioners Absent:None
Oral Communications-None
Approval of Minutes
Chairperson Vonheeder-Leopold directed the Commission's attention to item 7.2, 3rd paragraph. Chairperson
Vonheeder-Leopold asked that"Diamond"Way be corrected to read"Donlon Way".
ON A MOTION BY CM. WHITE, SECONDED BY CM. FASULKEY, THE COMMISSION VOTED TO
APPROVE THE MINUTES OF MARCH 11,2004 AS PRESENTED.
Written Communications-None
Public Hearing-None
Unfinished Business-None
New Business
Heritage Center Programs and Exhibits
Heritage and Cultural Arts Supervisor Theresa Yvonne explained that as part of the goals for 2003-2004 for the
Heritage Center the Dublin City Council rated as a High Priority to "sponsor programs and exhibits at the
Heritage Center that will emphasize Dublin's culture and heritage". To accomplish this goal the Heritage and
Cultural Arts Commission approved three programs for the fiscal year, Mexican Folklorico Crafts, Homespun
Holiday Workshop and Irish Faeries Workshop. The three exhibits approved by the Commission were Mexican
Folklorico: Day of the Dead Exhibit, Cultural Fragments: An Exhibit by Amy Lam and Gold Fever: Myth &
Reality: The California Gold Rush and Its Legacy. Each one of these programs has met and exceeded Staff's
expectations of the program. Yvonne reviewed the programs and exhibits for the Commission.
Mexican Folklorico: Staff and four key volunteers coordinated The Day of the Dead exhibit. Displayed from
October 1 through November 25th it consisted of Mexican altars demonstrating tribute to loved-ones for the Day of
the Dead. Also on display were colorful decor of Mexican folk arts, paper flowers, sugar skulls, and candles.
The Day of the Dead Family Workshop: The Day of the Dead Family Workshop was held November 1, and had
five teenage volunteers from the Alameda Volunteer Center to help coordinate the craft stations. The workshop
had 27 pre-registered participants and 15 walk-ins on the day of the workshop. There was five stations set up for
craft making: sugar skulls, pop-up skeletons, box/alter diorama, clay skeletons and paper movable skeletons.
Cathryn Fairlee dramatically told 6 traditional and spooky Mexican folk tales while the audience was mesmerized.
This exhibit required approximately 30 hours of Staff time to coordinate the exhibit and volunteer man-hours.
Homespun Holiday Workshop: The Homespun Holiday Workshop was held Saturday, December 6th and again
boasted a full house for the workshop. The holiday crafts tables were busy all afternoon with gingerbread
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ornaments and orange pomanders along with the hot cider and gingerbread. The storyteller told old time Holiday
stories to the young\and old alike. This workshop required 15,Staff hours to prepare and coordinate the workshop.
Cultural Fragments: Cultural Fragments was a cultural exhibit by gifted artist Amy Lam. Amy Lam lent her
interactive/mixed media "cultural boxes" to the museum from January 11 through February 14. Ms. Lam offered
insight into her personal experience of growing up as a Chinese American through a collection of found items, art
objects and memories. Five other Asian families were involved in the exhibit by loaning various items
representing their culture. The Cultural Fragments open house was held in February for a steady stream of visitors
for the day. Amy Lam and other exhibiting members were on hand for the day to answer questions and tell their
personal stories of growing up Asian American. Staff required approximately 30 hours of time to coordinate the
exhibit and volunteer labor.
Cm. Lussie asked Yvonne if staff time includes volunteer time. Yvonne stated that the 30 hours of staff time
relates to Elizabeth's work time on this project only. Volunteer time is harder to track because the nature of the
work is informal without areal tracking system in place,at this time.
Irish Fairies Workshop: The Irish Fairies Workshop was held Saturday, March 6 with crafts for the kids, soda
bread for the adults and Cathryn Fairlee spinning tales of folklore. This workshop was sold out two weeks in
advance. This workshop required 15 hours of Staff time to coordinate.
Currently exhibiting at the Heritage Center from March 15 through May 10 is Gold Fever: Myth and Reality: The
California Gold Rush and Its Legacy. The installation consists of 24 exhibit panels with photomurals, educational
suitcase with hands-on artifacts and activities, videotapes on the gold rush history and materials developed by the
Oakland museum for the school tours. Staff and docents are conducting multiple tours each day for the school
children. This exhibit required approximately 20 Staff hours to coordinate and assemble with volunteer assistance.
The fee for each of the workshops was $5.00 adults and $2.50 for children. This helped offset the cost of supplies
, and to plan for the number of participants.
Chairperson Vonheeder-Leopold asked Yvonne how much revenue was collected for these workshops. Yvonne
advised that she is in the process of working on her budget now and should have total revenue figures at the next
Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission meeting.
Cm. Fasulkey and Cm. Lussie asked Yvonne if there would be more programs held next year. Yvonne explained
that she is in the process of planning for next year and should be able to hold 2-3 events like those described above.
Cm. Lussie asked what is planned after the Gold Rush exhibit. Yvonne explained that the next event would be the
Antique Share Day on May 1st Depending on how the exhibit restoration work goes, she will then plan for more
programs and exhibits. Cm. Fasulkey asked if there were going to be sign ups for the Antique show. Yvonne
advised that this would be a drop in event where verbal appraisals will be given to participants.
New Cultural Arts Event
Yvonne advised that as s part of the goals and objective for the Fiscal Year 2004-2005 Staff has proposed the
following objective: "identify a new cultural arts special event to replace the Classic Affair at the Civic". In order
to adequately budget for a new cultural arts special event, it is necessary to determine what the event will entail.
Staff has put together a few opportunities for the Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission to consider as possible
events. Yvonne reviewed the opportunities for the Commission.
Art Festival—This event would be an indoor/outdoor art festival. Artists would be invited to display their wares
. for purchase. The City would provide musical entertainment throughout the day. Local wineries and restaurants
would sell the latest from their cellars and dining rooms. Each artist and vendor would pay a booth fee that would
offset the cost of the musical entertainment and advertising for the event.
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Cm.Acuff asked if this event would be at the Heritage Center or the Civic Center. Yvonne explained that she feels
the Shannon Community Center would be a good place to hold this event. She wanted to hold the event at the
Civic Center but,because it is so windy in this area, she is worried that fine art may get damaged if it is blown over
by the strong wind. Yvonne advised that she envisions the selection process to be where artists submit their work
in pictures form and final artwork selections would be made by a committee.
Cm.Acuff suggested"Chalk Art" as a possible part of this event, especially if it is held at the Shannon Community
Center where there is plenty of cement around to draw on. Yvonne said that there wasn't any reason that Chalk
Art could not be a part of this event and feels it is a great, fun idea.
Cm. Lussie feels that an art auction may be a good event to consider. She stated that there are a lot of new homes
in Dublin,which need good fine art to decorate. She also feels this type of event really raises cultural awareness of
professional art.
Cm. Acuff stated that Dublin is known for it's fine photography. Possibly we could sponsor a fine art/photography
show.
Cm. Mack thought she heard something about the Dublin Fine Arts doing an art auction/show. Yvonne stated that
she did talk to the Dublin Fine Arts organization and found out that they will be offering a family art/interactive
event, which would be perfect for the Day on the Glen festival, which is marketed towards children and their
families.
Cm. Acuff suggested maybe having an amateur'film festival since there are a lot of kids at Dublin High involved in
filmmaking.
Senior Follies — This event would showcase local senior talent and be held at the New Dublin Senior Center.
Modeled after the old vaudeville style shows, this would be a compilation of a variety of performers and acts put
together to create a fun entertaining afternoon for performers and audience members alike. Auditions would be
held, requesting that performers audition what they would like to perform in the show. Everyone chosen for the
show would be required to rehearse their number(s) and two weeks prior there would be several dress rehearsals.
There would be one performance, preferably an afternoon. An admission fee would be charged to offset the cost
of the event.
Cm. Fasulkey felt that this event was a great idea. She feels that this event,would bring seniors and families
together and would really emphasize our unique senior culture and our new Senior Center. Yvonne stated that the
performers would receive free tickets to hand out to their friends and family.
' Poetry Reading—This event would consist of a poetry reading at the Heritage Center featuring a published poet,
preferably from the Tri-Valley area. There would also be an open mike for budding bards as part of the evening.
An admission fee would be charged to offset the cost of the event.
Cm. Lussie stated that turn out for these events has been really low in the past. Cm. Lussie suggested a poetry-
writing workshop, which people would pay a certain amount to participate in this event. Cm. Lussie also felt that
this type of event would really fall under the library's jurisdiction.
Cm. Fasulkey stated that she thinks that Barnes and Noble already has a poetry reading event and would not want
to repeat something that is already being done in our local bookstores currently. Yvonne stated that none of the
bookstores offer an"open mic"night.
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Chairperson Vonheeder-Leopold stated that we could invite the.Friends of the Dublin Library to a Commission
meeting to see if they might support this type of event.
Cm. Acuff stated that there are quite a few grants available to libraries to sponsor these types of events. Yvonne
stated that she feels holding a poetry workshop would be the best way to approach this event to see if the desire in
the community for poetry reading events. Cm. Acuff suggested we partner with Starbucks to host an open mic
poetry reading night at their facility.
Dublin Reads — This event would be designed to encourage as many people in Dublin, of all ages, to read and
discuss the same book during the same time frame. Depending on the book chosen, the author could come speak.
Yvonne explained that she would partner this program with the Friends of the Dublin Library who could purchase
the books for the program, which the City would buy from them. Yvonne, further stated that the Friends of the
Dublin Library would be able to keep any overage or profit made from the sale of the books.
Chairperson Vonheeder-Leopold and Cm. Mack thought it might be hard to find a book that would appeal to a
wide audience but thinks the idea is good.
Cm. Lussie asked Yvonne to research the auction for charity idea. Yvonne said she would definitely look into this
idea for her.
Chairperson Vonheeder-Leopold stated that she liked all of the ideas and would like to have each one researched.
Yvonne clarified that the Senior Follies would not be held until Fiscal Year 2005/2006 and that she would need to
approach the Senior Center Advisory Committee to ascertain their interest.
Chairperson Vonheeder-Leopold asked Yvonne if she has thought about the staff time involved in each of these
projects. Yvonne stated that she has had experience organizing and running each program discussed above and has
a ballpark idea of how much staff time it will take to coordinate, implement and run the programs. Yvonne stated
that poetry reading/writing workshop would be minimal. The Dublin Reads could become a big project depending
on community support but there are quite a few grants available for these programs.
Cm. Acuff stated that she would like to assign a date to invite the Friends of the Dublin Library to meet with the
Commission to discuss this program,which she feels is a library function.
Cm. Lussie said she would like to see a"Chitakwa"program where an actor dresses up like a character in the book
and answers questions,in character, from the audience.
Cm. White asked if we could have a talent show instead of follies for all ages. Yvonne stated she would rather
retain control of picking the entertainment.
The Commission decided to assign priority levels to each program suggestion by ranking each item as a low,
medium or high.
Art Festival/Auction/Chalk Art
Cm. Acuff, Cm. Lussie, Cm. White and Cm. Mack rated this objective as high. Chairperson Vonheeder-Leopold,
Cm. Fasulkey and Cm. Muetterties rated this objective as medium. By majority vote, this objective is rated as
high.
Senior Follies
Chairperson Vonheeder-Leopold and all Commission members unanimously agreed to rate this objective as high.
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' Minutes—April 8, 2004
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Poetry Reading
Chairperson Vonheeder-Leopold, Cm. Acuff, Cm. Lussie Cm. White and Cm. Fasulkey rated this objective as
medium. Cm.Muetterties and Cm.White rated this goal as low. By majority vote,this goal is rated as medium.
Dublin Reads
Chairperson Vonheeder-Leopold, Cm. Acuff, Lussie, White, Muetterties White and Fasulkey rated this objective
as low. Cm.Mack rated this goal as medium. By majority vote,this goal is rated as a low.
Other Business
Brief INFORMATIONAL ONLY Reports from Heritage and Cultural Arts Commissioners and/or Staff
All Commission members and Yvonne made plans to visit a foundry in Rocklin, CA on Thursday, April 22nd. The
Commission will be watching the pour of the artist making the Wisdom thru the Ages art. Yvonne reminded them
not to wear open toed shoes and to dress comfortably.
Adjournment
Being no further business,the meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
/Christie Marks
Senior Office Assistant
APPROVED:
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