Provincetown
Art Commission
April 29, 2005
- 2:00 p.m.
Town Hall,
Provincetown, MA 02657
Members
Present:
Stephen Borkowski, Chair; Peggy Prichett, Treasurer; Georgia Coxe, James
Bakker, Napi Van Dereck, and Erna Partoll, Alternate Member
Stephen
Borkowski, Chair, called the meeting to order at 2:02 p.m. in the Judge Welsh
Room.
Minutes
from the previous meeting were circulated and reviewed, with slight suggested
changes.
A
motion was made to accept the minutes of March 21, 2005 with corrections.
Moved
by: Georgia
Coxe Seconded
by: James Bakker Yea:
5 Nay: 0
Peggy
Prichett presented copies of the acquisition policy with changes for review,
noting that there are changes to Section 7. The Chair said that it should be
noted that they were revised and approved with the date on the bottom if
changes were approved by the Commission.
A
motion was made to accept the revised acquisition policy as presented today.
Moved
by: James
Bakker Seconded
by: Georgia Coxe Yea: 5 Nay: 0
At
2:25 Keith Bergman arrived to talk to the Commission at the invitation of the
Chair. The first subject of discussion was the construction planned for Town
Hall. He said that the schedule has not been set, but construction will
probably begin in the fall with the potential length of the work to be
determined. A full and thorough
discussion ensued.
There
followed a discussion of the portion of the collection currently hung in the
Manor, and of the potential for New England Deaconess, which is taking over the
Manor, to host part of the Town’s art collection on a loan basis.
James
Bakker asked if the Commission needed to go to the Board of Selectmen every
time they wanted to lend artwork from the collection. Mr. Bergman said that the
BOS does have control of the artwork, but they could vote to give the Town
Manager authority to approve loans. He suggested that the Art Commission make a
resolution to streamline the procedure. The Chair initiated a discussion about
the future funding of the efforts of the Commission, it was suggested that the
Commission needed to articulate a clear plan on how much money would be needed
to conserve and maintain the collection.
The Chair initiated a discussion about the uses of the gift funds for
conservation purposes.
After
these discussions with the thanks of the Commission, Mr. Bergman left the
meeting at 3:07.
The
Chair began his report by discussion the recent conservation efforts and the
successful current loan to the Cahoon Museum and their future loans
Discussions
ensued about the restoration and re-framing of paintings. The Chairman encouraged individual members
to be proactive about pieces they especially are interested in and invited
discussion about works to be placed in line for conservation.
A
motion was made to authorize that whenever a picture is conserved and
re-framed, that an appropriate label will be ordered and affixed to the piece.
Moved
by: Napi
Van Dereck Seconded by:
Peggy Prichett Yea: 5 Nay: 0
The
Chair announced that a painting of J. Arthur Lopes by Henry Hensche was willed
to the Library as part of the estate of Arthur F. Griffin. Mr. Lopes was a trustee of the Library, and
the Library would like to hang the painting there if the Art Commission agreed. After some discussion, the Commission
conceded that it was a good idea, but agreed that the painting needed to be
reframed.
A
motion was made to accept the painting into the collection and to then re-frame
it.
Moved
by: Georgia
Coxe Seconded
by: Peggy Prichett Yea: 5 Nay: 0
Jim
Bakker will investigate the re-framing of this piece, in consultation with the
Chairman.
The
Chairman noted that two Currier and Ives prints of firefighters are in the
collection and he suggested that perhaps they would be hung in the Firehouse on
Shank Painter Road. Georgia Coxe volunteered to take them to the Firehouse for
hanging.
Peggy
Prichett elaborated on the state of the current fiscal report, discussing
current year and encumbered funds. It
was noted that the fiscal year ends on June 30, 2005. A full and thorough discussion ensued and several projects and
their cost, which would be charged to the budget, were discussed. It was agreed that the issue would be
discussed again in depth at the next meeting in June.
A
motion was made to authorize the Chairman and James Bakker to spend up to
$3,500.00 for framing and plaques, as they see fit.
Moved
by: Peggy
Prichett Seconded
by: Napi Van Dereck Yea: 5 Nay: 0
A
motion was made to accept the Treasurer’s Report.
Moved
by: Stephen
Borkowski Seconded by:
Georgia Coxe Yea: 5 Nay: 0
Georgia
Coxe said that there is a bronze plaque at the beginning of MacMillan Pier
which needs attention. She said that something should be done so that it is not
damaged inadvertently by the D.P.W.
Georgia offered to pursue the cleaning of this piece.
It
was noted that some digital photos must be taken of the pictures that are
missing from the web site, finding the appropriate person to do this will be
pursued by the Chair.
Mr.
Bakker said that the Commission should advertise for a new person to work in
Collections Management. Mr. Borkowski said that it should be done in June, so
that someone could potentially be in place for the new fiscal year. A job
description had already been written and copies were distributed for purposes
of suggesting revisions at the next meeting.. The position requires a wide
range of skills. It was suggested that
if one person who can do everything can’t be found, the position could be
divided. The question was raised as to
how the person would be supervised.
New Business
James
Bakker stated that the Provincetown Art Association wants to borrow some
works for upcoming shows, he outlined
the request verbally.
A
motion was made to permit the Provincetown Art Association to borrow three
pieces: Del Deo’s, Giovanna’s Rose; Blanche Lazzell’s Lady Slipper Monoprint
and the Lazzell Floral Oil for their "Secret Garden" exhibit in
conjunction with the Garden Tour.
A motion was made to permit the Provincetown Art Association to borrow the Rogers painting for an exhibition during the Portuguese Festival.
Moved
by: James
Bakker Seconded
by: Peggy Prichett Yea: 5 Nay: 0
A
motion was made to lend the Cahoon Museum five paintings they have requested
for shows in June and October.
Moved
by: Stephen
Borkowski Seconded by:
Peggy Prichett Yea: 5 Nay: 0
The
discussion returned to the pictures coming back from the Cahoon Museum and it
was agreed that some would be hung at the library in space appropriate
places. The Chairman agreed to
supervise the return and hanging at the Library.
A motion was made to request that the Selectmen permit the approval of painting loans by written request to the BOS or for the BOS to grant the Town Manager the authority to approve loan requests as a matter of policy.
Moved
by: Stephen
Borkowski Seconded by:
James Bakker Yea:
5 Nay: 0
The
next meeting will be on Thursday, June 9th at 3:00 p.m. or as close thereto as
possible.
A motion was made to adjourn the meeting at 4:40 p.m.
Moved
by: Peggy
Prichett Seconded
by: James Bakker Yea:
5 Nay: 0