OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Lakewood Public Art Advisory Board Meeting - July 8, 2026

Boards and Commissions — Wednesday, July 8, 2026
BodyLakewood, Ohio
SessionBoards and Commissions
DateWednesday, July 8, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 26:09

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

I'd like to welcome everybody to the July 8th, 2026 meeting, public meeting of public art advisory board, rather, City of Lakewood.

0:08

Thank you for coming.

0:10

And uh go for a roll call.

0:13

Uh Mr.

0:14

Robar.

0:14

Here.

0:15

Mr.

0:15

Santos, here.

0:16

Miss Ryan.

0:17

Here.

0:18

Uh Miss Rosie and Mr.

0:19

Frederick were unable to attend tonight.

0:27

I'll do the opening remarks.

0:30

Any opening remarks.

0:32

Welcome to the public art advisory board meeting.

0:34

The purpose of the public art advisory board is to collaborate with city officials regarding its public art policies and practices, promote the city's public art initiatives, and educate residents on the benefits of public art on public and private properties.

0:45

Those who offer public comment are asked to come to the podium and sign in on the sheet provided.

0:49

This serves as an oath confirmation that you will tell the truth before the board.

0:52

Before offering your comments, we ask that you please state your name and address for the record while speaking.

0:56

Please stay close to the microphone so we can ensure all aspects of the discussion are accurately captured.

1:01

Thank you.

1:02

We will now begin with the regular business of the public art advisory board.

1:06

Awesome.

1:07

Thank you.

1:07

All right.

1:08

Um the uh meeting minutes for May 26th, 2026 are available, have been available.

1:14

Does anybody have any comments or questions at all?

1:18

None.

1:18

No.

1:19

All right.

1:19

Me myself included in that.

1:22

No.

1:25

Um so I'll uh ask for a motion to approve the meeting minutes of May 26th.

1:32

I'll second.

1:34

All right.

1:34

All in favor?

1:36

All right.

1:37

Thank you.

1:38

All right.

1:39

Next up is the 2026 spectacular vernacular update.

1:45

Yes.

1:46

Hi everybody.

1:47

Um we talked about this briefly, but uh so far things are moving smoothly for our spectacular vernacular for 2026.

1:56

Um a lot of people did just mention that there was a some social media post from our artists who are doing the mural on Madison at 13359 Madison.

2:05

Um basically doing a photo call out for dogs to to be the muse of of the upcoming mural.

2:11

So I I think we said there was over 600 comments, so that's so far.

2:16

I think a lot of dogs.

2:18

A lot of dogs, a lot of material to work with.

2:20

So I I expect he'll have some good material for that.

2:26

Um he told me he would give me his final drawings by the end of the week.

2:32

Um, and then he has until the end of September.

2:34

They the chat and Derek have until the end of September to install.

2:39

And then the birds, um, I wanted to share with you the final um the final birds of birds on that uh were approved.

2:48

So there will be 16 total.

2:50

Um Arlen has is working on the first prototype right now, and uh he's saying so far so good, and he's on schedule.

2:59

They did have um because there's 16.

3:03

I think a couple of them had to be repeated in the same way, but um I let I let him decide which ones he wanted to repeat.

3:13

Um but overall I think they're gonna be in really good shape, and we did share them with um councilman Vixenstein, and he was quite pleased.

3:27

Awesome.

3:28

Any questions?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Arts And Culture█████████████████████████████████████████████50%
Parks and Recreation█████████████████19%
Public Engagement█████████████14%
Racial Equity███████8%
Historic Preservation█████5%
Procedural████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Lakewood Public Art Advisory Board Meeting - July 8, 2026

This meeting of the Lakewood Public Art Advisory Board covered updates on the 2026 Spectacular Vernacular mural and bird sign projects, a proposed mural for the Sinoco wall, and the Public Art Master Plan. A council member provided public comment regarding future public art opportunities at Bernice Pike Park.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes: The board unanimously approved the meeting minutes from May 26, 2026.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Councilwoman Cindy Streebig (Ward 3): Speaking as a resident and council member, she expressed support for incorporating interactive public art that honors women's history at Bernice Pike Park, Lakewood's newest park. She encouraged the board to engage with the League of Women Voters and the Historical Society for identifying notable women. She shared a personal story about the scarcity of statues depicting real women and advocated for installations that inspire young girls, such as footprints with the message "you're next."

Discussion Items

  • 2026 Spectacular Vernacular Update: The project is progressing smoothly. The artist for the Madison Avenue mural (13359 Madison) has received over 600 social media comments after a photo call-out for dogs to serve as muses. Final drawings are expected by the end of the week, with installation required by the end of September. The "Birds on Birds" project will total 16 bird signs to be placed atop street signs in the neighborhood (not on Madison Avenue). The first prototype is being created and is on schedule. Councilman Vixenstein has approved the bird designs.
  • Sinoco Wall Mural (Hilliard and Madison): Artist Aaron was absent due to a family emergency. He submitted a revised sketch featuring the phrase "It's a good day" alongside artistic elements by collaborator Hallie. Board members expressed concern about the lack of a scale rendering showing placement on the unusually shaped wall. They requested a scaled sketch before approval. A special virtual meeting may be scheduled to expedite the review.
  • Public Art Master Plan: A finalized draft has been submitted to the mayor and will next be reviewed by city council. The board voted to receive and file the plan (motion carried). The plan will be presented to the Planning Commission in August and to council in September. Board members requested the meeting date to attend.
  • Other Updates: The utility box art rollout continues; staff is awaiting responses from RTA regarding bus shelter art. The board noted a new street mural downtown by artist Ryan Jenke. The city's planner announced an accepted proposal to present on Lakewood's public art initiatives at the state APA conference in Dayton.

Key Outcomes

  • The board approved the May 26, 2026 meeting minutes.
  • The board voted to receive and file the Public Art Master Plan (unanimous).
  • The Sinoco wall mural artist will be asked to provide a scaled sketch; a special meeting may be scheduled for review.
  • The board acknowledged the public comment regarding Bernice Pike Park and will consider interactive sculpture opportunities as part of future planning.
  • The meeting was adjourned.

Meeting Transcript

I'd like to welcome everybody to the July 8th, 2026 meeting, public meeting of public art advisory board, rather, City of Lakewood. Thank you for coming. And uh go for a roll call. Uh Mr. Robar. Here. Mr. Santos, here. Miss Ryan. Here. Uh Miss Rosie and Mr. Frederick were unable to attend tonight. I'll do the opening remarks. Any opening remarks. Welcome to the public art advisory board meeting. The purpose of the public art advisory board is to collaborate with city officials regarding its public art policies and practices, promote the city's public art initiatives, and educate residents on the benefits of public art on public and private properties. Those who offer public comment are asked to come to the podium and sign in on the sheet provided. This serves as an oath confirmation that you will tell the truth before the board. Before offering your comments, we ask that you please state your name and address for the record while speaking. Please stay close to the microphone so we can ensure all aspects of the discussion are accurately captured. Thank you. We will now begin with the regular business of the public art advisory board. Awesome. Thank you. All right. Um the uh meeting minutes for May 26th, 2026 are available, have been available. Does anybody have any comments or questions at all? None. No. All right. Me myself included in that. No. Um so I'll uh ask for a motion to approve the meeting minutes of May 26th. I'll second. All right. All in favor? All right. Thank you. All right. Next up is the 2026 spectacular vernacular update. Yes. Hi everybody. Um we talked about this briefly, but uh so far things are moving smoothly for our spectacular vernacular for 2026. Um a lot of people did just mention that there was a some social media post from our artists who are doing the mural on Madison at 13359 Madison. Um basically doing a photo call out for dogs to to be the muse of of the upcoming mural. So I I think we said there was over 600 comments, so that's so far. I think a lot of dogs. A lot of dogs, a lot of material to work with. So I I expect he'll have some good material for that. Um he told me he would give me his final drawings by the end of the week.

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