Recess, sorry.

Let's come to order.

Today's meeting of the public art and design board is called to order on the fourteenth of May two thousand twenty-six.

Our first order of business is to approve the minutes.

I'll make a motion to approve the minutes.

All in favor?

Motion approved.

Um new members today in our committee, so I want to just take some time and go around and have everyone introduce themselves and tell us a little bit about why you are here.

My name is Sherry Aquilar.

I also sit on the board for the Clearwater Arts Alliance.

So I'm representing the Arts Alliance.

I also am with Face Art Restaurant.

So I've been starting on Lake Grill for the last 23 years.

I love the arts and I love Clearwater.

I live right here in close to the downtown area for the last uh 25 years.

And uh always looking to see what can be done to help better and bring the arts to the community.

Thank you.

I'm Greg Bird.

Uh I've been and lived at Clearwater for about 30 years in the area for about 35.

Uh I teach at St.

Petersburg College, uh, creative writing, uh, sometimes humanities.

And um my daughter uh recently finished her uh master's degree in music, but the reason I mentioned that is that she's been involved in music in this area uh through the different public schools and um LSU Symphony and all.

So she's a product of the arts in uh Clearwater and in Tampa Bay.

Fantastic.

Hi, I'm Brian Lawton.

I am this uh chair for about five more minutes.

I am a resident here of Clearwater and also an artist as well.

And I'm happy to be here.

So thank you.

I'm Jonathan Barnes.

I am faculty of St.

Petersburg College and Visual Arts.

I teach printmaking, ceramics design, art history, and I've been in Clearwater for about sixteen years and at the college for 20.

I have a studio practice outside of work, and I've been on this board for I don't know how long.

Quite some time.

Hi, I'm Jake.

I um I um I'm the co-founder um of Pinellas Diaspora Arts Project, and I also work at Pinellas Community Foundation.

It's my day job.

I run a fund there.

Um I call myself a community artist because I mostly work in the community.

Um, but I am um an artist from back in New York.

Different things.

Thank you, Jake.

I'm Maggie Duffy, and I'm um I work with Creative Pinellas, and I've also an arts writer, and I worked for the Tampa Bay Times and was the arts writer for years.

I worked at Florida Craft Art, um, and I actually did live in Clearwater as a teenager, and I live in St.

Pete now, but I do love Clearwater.

My parents lived here for a long time, and I'm just excited to be here just bring more art to Clearwater.

Great.

I'm Mark Lutz.

Um, also kind of a long-term resident.

I was born here a few years ago, obviously.

Um for about 35 years, I spent a lot of time traveling the globe doing projects which integrated art and architecture.

So it's kind of the crossover of the two.

Um so one of the things I believe is that you know it's time to get back to your community and being part of the board, but also you know, I think it's it's great that we can integrate art into our projects here here in the city.

Yeah.

Thank you, Mark.

Thank you all for showing up today.

It's always fun when there's people in the seats.

Um, our next order of business is citizens to be heard.

Are there any citizens that have things to say?

I don't see any.

All right, so moving right along to new business.

Item 4.1, Art Oasis Mural Festival update.

Good afternoon.

Amber Brace, Arts and Cultural Affairs Manager.

Currently, there are three new murals in the North Greenwood area that have been completed as part of the Art Oasis mural festival.

So the first one is located at the North Greenwood Library.

This was done by artist Ashley Cassins.

This was funded by the library through the Clark Turner Trust.

Um this mural is particularly meaningful because the library staff really helped design this.

Um so it includes a tribute to a beloved staff member that passed away, uh, Clearwater's first African American librarian, Christine Woodball Morris.

There's an astronaut to recognize the this library branch managers, an official NASA ambassador, and there's a lot of other hidden Easter eggs in the mural as well.

So we recommend everybody go and see it in person.

Okay.

None of these are in order, of course.

Then there's two additional murals.

One is located on the safe house.

And the mural depicts a lot of images that the business or the nonprofit does a lot of work in the community.

Donations, feeding people, people that are addicted to substances.

So it's a really beautiful mural.

Next one is the Cherry Harris Park mural, which is done by artist Zulu Painter.

It says Octagon, but it's not, it's a hexagon.

There's only six sides.

So all six sides are painted.

It's obviously very colorful.

It's a really beautiful contribution to that park.

The next mural, slated to begin this coming week, is going to be on the East A Gully Center Head Start building.

So it'll be completed by artist Sherard Sadlers.

This is the design.

She's very much alive, so we had to get she's very much involved in the community.

She did give her blessing and permission to use her image, and uh we got permission from the photographer that took this as well.

And she's very excited, and she says she feels very honored to be part of this mural.

So we're excited to see that one turns out.

The next one will be this slated just got approved by CRA to be on the Let's Go Carding Building, which is on Fort Harrison.

So this wall right here will be painted, and also the surrounding wall, the the shorter wall goes all the way around.

That will also be painted.

Then we have the rec center storage building.

This is at the North Greenwood Rec Center.

So this storage building kind of sits on seminal.

There's a public survey out right now to gather input on themes that the neighborhood would like to see before we select an artist.

And the last one is the Parks Beautification Building, which is on Pennsylvania Avenue.

So this is definitely the largest mural.

So both walls will be painted.

And then kind of depicting how people enjoying parks.

This park sign will not be in the mural, just FYI.

And then the other side, actually, that wall on the left, it'll wrap around that side.

So it's like colorful.

The community really had input.

Uh Plaza Park faces, this wall faces into Plaza Park.

They wanted something colorful, vibrant.

So this was from community feedback.

So we're really excited about this mural as well.

Once completed, we're hoping to have a kind of a giant kind of party, like a neighborhood party, to showcase all the new art, bring out the artists, have the neighborhood or the neighbors beat the artist, and just have a nice celebration of all the new art that's going into the North Greenwood neighborhood.

And then I just want to say this building technically is in the North Greenwood neighborhood, but it's not within the CRA boundaries.

So this mural is being funded by the neighborhood's division of public communications, not the CRA.

Item number 4.2.

So I'm very excited to announce that Clearwater will be hosting the first ever Chalk the Bay Art and Music Festival.

This will be a two to three-day event aimed at highlighting both visual arts while supporting economic activity for surrounding businesses.

For this event, um, artist application is currently live.

We have almost 50 submissions already from artists all over the US, but also Florida.

Um, most of them are the consultants' own contacts.

We haven't even promoted the application yet.

So originally I wanted to have at least 40 artists.

I think now 80 to 100 is completely doable, reasonable if we can, obviously, budget-wise.

Um going through the applications, all of them are really good.

I haven't seen one that I would toss.

So that's really promising.

Um, this will be a combination of uh 3D pieces, 2D pieces, and then we'll have some temporary walls put up as well around the park, so like mural walls.

Um in addition to the live art component, we're gonna have live music, uh, arts and crafts vendors, food vendors, and then we have an artist dinner that's gonna be hopefully hosted by the Arts Alliance where we'll give out artist awards.

Um the festival dates right now are January 16th and 17th, 2027.

Um, artists will begin work on Friday, January 15th.

We just met with park staff on Wednesday, so we're thinking about doing some sort of other activation, like a movie in the park on Friday, scenes on the green, um, and then we're talking about doing possibly a color run for like a neon 5k or something Sunday.

So Friday could also act as packet pickup, so this will kind of activate the space on Friday as well.

Um I'm going to attend the downtown development board meeting in July asking for funding, but then there's also sponsorship opportunities as you can see in this photo.

A lot of festivals what they do is sell smaller sponsorships to help actually sponsor the artist spot, and then they get to put their business name underneath the piece of work.

So we're hoping to be able to do that.

And this is just some festival photos of other places.

So any questions?

This is the first time you've done this, right?

The first time.

Well, at least you I mean, it seems like we have a lot of interest already.

Yeah.

And a lot of them are from out of town, so they're already gonna, there's already economic impact there from artists coming this day.

So the music festival aspect of it, is that falling under your work, or is that someone else putting that part together?

Would be me and special events in parks.

So most of the art, the art consultant's gonna handle artists, which will take up a huge load off of me.

Um, and then we're hoping to maybe partner with somebody else to do the the arts and crafts part, the vendors.

So then we would just be logistics, music, that type of stuff.

Cool.

Is there a repeat the the dates for that again?

Uh January 16th and 17th, 2027.

So we're not doing the world's largest rubber duck this January, we're doing this instead.

Okay.

All right.

Uh let's discuss beach walk 3D art pieces.

Okay.

So the parks and rec debris uh sorry, parks and recreation department have reached out regarding these newly constructed concrete pads along the Clearwater Beachwalk.

Um, they accommodate bike rocks and water fountains.

Three of these have been completed.

Um I think I may have stated last time that more would be installed, but that I've been told that's not necessarily the case, and if it is, it's going to be in the distant future.

We have the parks assistant director, Matthew Anderson here.

If you guys have any questions about that or this project in general, um, but I just wanted to correct that statement.

Um you can see that the concrete surfaces don't quite match the existing pavement.

Obviously, it's been a while, and you know, these are new.

So parks had said, you know, can we add some sort of art element?

I recommended maybe a 3D piece.

So you know, there was another photo opportunity on the beach.

Um so we found that Laura Thomas, who recently did the Marymount mural, she specializes in 3D, she does 3D chalk art as well, um, was identified as a strong fit for this.

Um so parks is approved the following designs.

We went back to the artist a couple of times.

Um the top is kind of how it will look if you're standing in the correct location.

The bottom is what it would look like when you're standing right on top of it, but we'll have signage to tell people where to stand.

And then so this is the one with the seashells, this is the one with the stone crop, and then this is the one with the tarpon, I believe that's a tartan.

Dr.

Bird can correct me.

So these have already been approved by parks.

We're ready to move forward.

We just need an official board vote on these three designs if you all are okay with moving forward.

I had a question about the just kind of the logistics and the wear of those since they're on the ground and people are going to be stepping on them and all.

How is that?

Was there a plan to repaint them, or is there something special that's coding them or I mean they will have a special coating on top?

Um, but obviously it's gonna have the fact that it's not in the direct pathway, it won't have as much wear and tear, it's more just people parking their bikes occasionally or using the water fountain occasionally.

Um so I don't anticipate it being needed every year, but maybe it'll be in every three-year thing.

We'll do touch-ups too.

Would you repeat what you need a vote for?

On the three designs, just approval on three designs.

Okay.

Could I get a motion to approve these three designs to move forward?

I'll make a motion to approve the three designs.

I'd like to start up.

Second it, it's all right.

We have a motion to second.

Is there any further discussion?

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

All opposed.

Motion approved.

Item 4.4, discuss new city hall stairwell and the Bay Care Sound murals.

So for the highest scoring applicants from our most recent call to artists, um, a top list of artists was shared with the Parks and Rec staff as well as marketing representatives from Baycare and Ruth Eckert Hall.

So from this list, we uh whittled it down to five artists to send developed uh develop proposals for two different projects.

So one is the Bay Care Sound uh rear facing facade wall, which is this one here, faces kind of the water into the park, and the other one is the city hall stairwell, which is a much older rendering, but this is ideally kind of what it would look like from the outside.

You'll be able to see it with the windows.

So we're still waiting on those proposals.

Once I get them back, I will send them via email to the board to gather feedback as well as from the people I mentioned previously, and then we we'll have to move forward with the city hall project fairly quickly because that's slated open in October.

Um, but we will come for an official board vote next meeting, which will be July 9.

All right.

And item number 4.5 we have the board is going to be asked to elect a chair who will preside over the meetings and conduct board business, as well as a vice chair who will fill in for the chair if they are absent.

Um is welcome to throw their name in the ring.

You guys will just have to vote.

Um this chosen board chair and vice chair will be uh so for the remainder of 2026, which will be the July 9th and the October 8th meeting, unless we have a special meeting that we schedule.

Can we nominate people?

You can I would like to nominate uh Mr.

Brian Paul Ton to be the chair and Dr.

Greg Bird to be vice chair.

I'm cool with that.

He's cool with it.

Technically speaking, this is more practice.

I'm I'm actually available during those those times.

And I don't know if I am, so I don't want to obligate myself.

Right.

I am available.

I think that's great.

You know, from before we just keep the ship going just a straight direction, going in one direction.

So um we have to make a motion for that then.

Oh you two can't make the motion at all.

I would like to make a motion to elect Mr.

Brian Vulaton and Dr.

Greg Bird as chair and vice chair for this board.

I second it.

Okay.

We have a motion and second.

All in favor.

Aye.

All opposed.

Motion carries.

So you're well liked.

I get to sit over there next to you.

Yes.

Um item number five.

Do we have a director's report?

I do have um something from Arts Alliance they asked me to say.

Um there's an art teacher exhibition opening next week in the Clearwater Maine Library galleries, and they would like everybody to come check that out.

And then I don't know if you all know the the boxes, the signal box wraps on the beaches were damaged from the hurricanes.

Um they have made a commitment to rewrap those, even though we were waiting for new boxes to be put in.

We're not really sure when that is gonna happen.

So they're just they've already slated to use their funds, they're just gonna go ahead and re-wrap the ones that are on the beach.

Okay, hopefully, you know, when they get replaced, they'll wrap them again.

So that is all the news from Clearwater Arts Lions and all the news from me.

All right, uh number six board members to be heard.

Has anybody anything else to say?

I've got a few things.

Yes, actually.

For the chalk chalk the Bay Art and Music Festival.

Is there a section as part of that for local youth artists?

Good question.

So we are actually hoping to do an emerging artist and like student section up Cleveland Street, so on the 400 block of Cleveland Street to kind of activate those downtown merchants, but also have a space that's for those people.

Reaching out to you know local high schools and elementary schools and things like that.

Yes, yeah.

And then there'll be a kids' area with actual chalk.

Well, they'll be able to do that.

Oh, they can actually do that.

Oh, that's cool.

That's really cool.

Um, along with along with kids, I was as I was driving here today.

I was thinking about how uh Pinellis Youth Symphony.

And they rehearse at Ruth Eckert Hall.

So we have them here.

I'm wondering if there would be any interest in finding a way for them to perform maybe downtown or something like that a little bit, because they do their own thing.

You know, mostly parents kind of show up when they perform, but they're they've got some uh advanced uh ensembles as well as the whole orchestra.

I don't know what their issues, you know, what their concerns are or uh how willing they'd be to do that.

Would there be an interest in reaching out to them?

I could check with our special events team.

They do a lot of the stuff in the park if we're talking down here or in parks in general, um, as far as entertainment.

But it would kind of probably be up to that organization to work something out with city staff.

Okay.

And the last question I had was uh something that came up a while back where we had the one mural um, and I forget there was I think some roses or something in it, and we brought up the idea that irises would fit better because of Gladiolas.

Violas.

Um we were kind of thinking about that as a um kind of an answer to the to Dunedin's oranges.

Um the gladiolas.

Gladiole in the um I'm wondering if there's a a way to to promote that.

Um either uh like an official drawing or whether we want to give like um maybe come up with a small, maybe this is Clearwater Arts Alliance thing.

Yeah, and I've had that same thought of doing something and wanted to bring it to the Arts Alliance where it could be something where even the Arts Alliance can make it as a small fundraiser for them, and they could um have businesses that want to do it just like Dunedin, we're coming up with the little niche of what Clearwater would be instead of Dave's orange.

Yeah.

I think that's just fallen on the back burner a little bit, but it's still something I would love to do, and I I think we'd have to figure out how we want to approach it.

Do we want it to be one artist, we want it to be multiple artists, do we want it to be clear water-based artists that gets you know all of this, all these commissions.

Um but yeah, and in the end, we would have to have buy-in from businesses and um people to put them on their houses and things like that.

So I didn't know if that was that was something that um homeowners or whatever would be.

I I think that there would there would be some things along this not a huge commitment as far as financial, you know, something smaller that people feel like they can do and contribute.

25 bucks or something.

Maybe a little bit more than that.

Depending on whether it was subsidized or not any artist.

Yeah, yeah, I think it's a great idea.

I think it would be something that the arts alliance should take on.

I agree.

I think it's perfect for Arts Alliance because it could be a grant.

I I don't know if the city could fund art on private property.

I mean, we do for businesses, but not like people's homes.

So this would definitely be a great project for Arts Alliance.

Yeah, I think it's something that where the Arts Alliance could be promoting it and selling it.

So it goes to the Arts Alliance and the Arts Alliance pays the artist.

So it could be something where the Arts Alliance could potentially keep a little bit of the funding to help with their events and things that they want to do, but still be able to pay an artist to do it.

A way of kind of creating city uh what identity, yeah, like community between neighbors and stuff.

Yeah.

I guess it I wonder I wonder if there would be any issues with like the code board or anything like that.

I sat on that board for quite some time, and it's so I'm on people's private property.

I don't think it would be an issue.

Okay.

I mean it's not signage, it doesn't have a name, it's not considered advertising or anything, so I really don't think there would be an issue.

Of course, we would check, but I we can me and Sherry can bring it up at the next Arts Alliance board meeting.

That's great.

That's all I got.

That's all you got.

All right, y'all.

I thank y'all for coming to me.

And actually, one thing I was thinking about the new City Hall stairwell.

And I assume that you it's on one side of the building that at night you want to be able to see it, right?

It's two different sides.

So north and south.

North inside, south side.

Um sometimes, you know, in different jurisdictions.

We turn the lights off on the stairwell at night, right?

And you can't see in.

But I was thinking that well, because you gotta run this through the fire marshal's office too, right?

You know, change the lighting and some things, right?

Um maybe lighting those up at night.

So when you drive east or west, right, I guess it's on myrtle.

Um, you can see it, right?

It's the backdrop, you can see it through the glass.

to see it right it's two different sides so it's a north and south north inside south side um sometimes you know in different jurisdictions we turn the lights off on the stairwell at night right and you can't see in but I was thinking that well because you gotta run this through the fire marshal's office too right and change the lighting on some things right um maybe lighting those up at night so when you drive east or west right I guess it's not myrtle um you can see it right it's the backdrop you can see it through the glass I'll ask those yeah I mean you're putting a big mirror so it's yeah it's a billboard yeah that's why we have an architect I mean there is emergency lights that stay on most buildings but I don't know if that includes the stairwells so we would ask well there there's so many flip candles for egress right so I don't know if it's gonna light up a wall in certain aspects to measure well there's also glass so we don't want it to it would have to be internal to be internal can the the uh the hanging uh art in that building can that be seen through that glass I I don't know the answer to that I you may be able to see it from the road if because it is in the front by the staircase but I'm not sure I'm I'm not sure because there's an overhang I'm not sure how visible it is to be honest until it's in so if that if that was lit up from the inside that would give that a little bit more that one does have an illumination piece in it like embedded in the the sculpture so that's more possible to keep that one lit.

I mean the reason why I think it was is I had a project one time where it was you know we had arts and public spaces integrated into the facade of the building right and it was different colors of glass and at night you know it it was like a painting it was just the glass there was not you know paint and brush just picking out different types of colored glass in order to create the image I'm for it's just it takes some extra effort with our hurricane codes and all the other things that we have to deal with it takes a little bit of extra effort but in the long run it's worth it because you do it one time and it's done yeah and I'll ask them they may already have something that maybe it already is planned I just don't know but something they may just a thought anybody else I think we can adjourn on you.

Thank y'all for coming up we need adjourned