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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-12-005 - Artist in Res Appts 2012 20131 Staff Report Krr~.~-~~,i~iER CommunityServicesDepartment www.kitthenerta REPORT TO: Community and Infrastructure Services Committee DATE OF MEETING: January 9, 2012 SUBMITTED BY: Mark Hildebrand, Director, Programs & Services, 741-2687 PREPARED BY: Cheryl York, Arts/Culture Co-ordinator, 741-3400 ext. 3381 WARD(S) INVOLVED: All DATE OF REPORT: December 19, 2011 REPORT NO.: CSD-12-005 SUBJECT: Artist-in-Residence Program Appointments for 2012 and 2013 RECOMMENDATION: That Jefferson Campbell-Cooper be appointed as the City of Kitchener Artist-in- Residencefor 2012; and further, That Susan Coolen be appointed as the City of Kitchener Artist-in-Residence for 2013, as recommended by the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee (ACAC) and the Public Art Working Group (PAWG). BACKGROUND: Kitchener's artist-in-residence AIR program at City Hall has been an acknowledged innovation in the region's visual arts community since 1995. The program offers a modest honorarium for a unique two-pronged project designed by the selected artist to further his or her professional development as well as to engage the community. The artist-in-residence may be offered an opportunity to produce a commissioned art work at the end of the year. The acquisition of such an art work is subject to Council approval. Acquisitions form the Artist-in-Residence Collection. The artist-in-residence is also invited to join the Public Art Working Group as a member for the year. Working with the Arts and Culture Co-ordinator, the Public Art Working Group is responsible for: a) Recommending the selection of artists for various city programs and projects; b) Advice and consultation regarding the public art policy; c) Advice and consultation regarding public art program development, guidelines, plans and policies; d) Advice and consultation regarding the development of public art partnerships with other organizations and agencies; and, e) Advocacy forthe importance of municipal public art. REPORT: The annual call for proposals was advertised mid-way through 2011, resulting in the submission of 21 entries. The Public Art Working Group was unable to make a selection. The call for 8-1 proposals was revised in order to provide clarification of some of the contents and then re- issued. Artists who had responded to the first call were not excluded from further competition if they wished to submit a revised proposal. The second call generated 13 responses. Members of the committee found two proposals to be of equal merit. The same situation had occurred in 2010 when two artists were chosen to serve in subsequent years (2010, 2011). At its meeting held Monday, November 14, 2011, the Public Art Working Group made its selections. 1. Artist-in-Residence 2012: Jefferson Campbell-Cooper Jefferson is a visual artist who has shown his work twice in the Rotunda Gallery and was commissioned to do the public art installation called "In Time" at the Country Hills Community Library two years ago. Title of proposal: "People's Museum of Kitchener" Jefferson's practice focuses on human and geologic history. He will create a large, detailed map of Kitchener for visitors to walk on and inspect. From the interactions and stories he collects throughout his residency, he will create points of interest and documentation on the map. The area's railway history and its involvement in community planning and wealth management are relevant today. Jefferson will work to make connections with the transportation systems (bus and rail) and hopes to install projects in bus stops and train stations. Jefferson will provide lectures, hands-on workshops, off-site exhibitions, and open studio times, as well as an exhibition for the Rotunda Gallery, and possibly site-specific locations, too. The artist intends to produce a catalogue on the year's activities to document the accumulation of maps, stories, and insights drawn from the Kitchener community during its centennial year. 2. Artist-in-Residence 2013: Susan Coolen Title of proposal: "Litter-Arti Project" This photo-based project will be developed from debris found in the local urban environment and includes such items as factory remnants, water bottles, hubcaps, paper coffee trays, drinking straws, and more. Susan is interested in making patterns with such items in new graphic interpretations. Coolen hopes to take `throw away' objects and transform them into modern imagery that is colourful, playful, and inspiring. She hopes to create large graphic works on billboards, bus stops, buses, posters, and as animated video projections in windows and on buildings (such as the Cube at City Hall}. Susan will prepare presentations for arts educators at schools, galleries, and cultural facilities. She hopes to use her project to inspire young people to create art out of found objects. She will also host a `gathering expedition' with the public and art-making workshops. 8-2 A PAWG motion that the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee support the selection of Jefferson Campbell-Cooper as the 2012 City of Kitchener Artist-in-Residence, and Susan Coolen as the 2013 Artist-in-Residence was considered and supported by ACAC on November 15, 2011. The artist in residence program looks forward over the next two years to continuing its longstanding reputation for excellence and innovation. ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN: • The artist-in-residence program contributes to Kitchener's "Quality of Life". Arts and culture activities are essential to the overall health of the community and its attractiveness to residents and visitors through support for the goals and objectives of Culture Plan II. The City acknowledges arts and culture as a critical community development factor. • The process for artist-in-residence selections includes fair, public processes that ensure accountability - "Efficient and Effective Government". • The program offers opportunities for public participation - "Leadership and Engagement". FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: The Arts/Culture operating budget supports the program at $7,500 annually. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Advice and consultation are provided to the program by the volunteer members of the Public Art Working Group and the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee. The program is open to receive proposals from professional visual artists in our region. A strong element of the program is its requirement for public engagement during the course of the year. ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Jeff Willmer, Deputy CAO, Community Services Department 8-3