TREMONTON CITY CORPORATION
ARTS COUNCIL
MARCH 15, 2018
Members Present:
Dave Lasley, Chairman
Tamara Zollinger, Co-Chairman
Leisl Sorensen, Arts Councilmember
Jason Nessen, Arts Councilmember
Lyle Holmgren, City Councilmember—excused
Bret Rohde, City Councilmember
Zach LeFevre, Parks and Recreation Coordinator
Cynthia Nelson, Deputy Recorder
Chairman Lasley called the Arts Council Meeting to order at 12:02 p.m. The meeting was held March 15, 2018 in a Meeting Room at 102 South Tremont Street, Tremonton, Utah. Those in attendance were Coordinator LeFevre, Chairman Lasley, Co-Chairman Zollinger, Arts Councilmembers Sorensen and Nessen, City Councilmember Rohde, and Deputy Recorder Nelson. Councilmember Holmgren was excused.
1. Approval of agenda:
Motion by Councilmember Rohde to approve the March 15, 2018 agenda. Motion seconded by Co-Chairman Zollinger. Vote: Chairman Lasley – aye, Co-Chairman Zollinger – aye, Arts Councilmember Sorensen – aye, Arts Councilmember Nessen – aye, City Councilmember Rohde – aye. Motion approved.
2. Approval of minutes: March 6, 2018
Motion by Co-Chairman Zollinger to approve the March 6, 2018 minutes. Motion seconded by Councilmember Sorensen. Vote: Chairman Lasley – aye, Co-Chairman Zollinger – aye, Arts Councilmember Sorensen – aye, Arts Councilmember Nessen – aye, City Councilmember Rohde – aye. Motion approved.
3. Business:
a. Follow-up Discussion and planning of Art Soiree
The Council talked about ways they are getting the word out for the soiree. They included a flyer in the billing and would like to have something put in the Leader. Coordinator LeFevre said he has a Facebook post he would like them to share and invite all their friends from the area. He will also add information to the sign on Main Street. Councilmember Sorensen will get flyers to the art teachers to share with their students.
On the board Coordinator LeFevre drew an outline of the gym and how they plan to set it up. They will use the front half of the gym and will have displays for the different types of art. They plan to have Councilmember Nessen bring some of his work, while Councilmember Rohde will bring his boat. Gary Brantner contacted Coordinator LeFevre on Facebook about the event and would like to bring some of his work as well. It was noted that Councilmember Holmgren talked to a professor at Ricks College, who will also bring some stuff. Vicky Rhodes will be busy until 6 p.m., but could come earlier to setup. Coordinator LeFevre has also talked with the Utah Department of Arts and Museums, who will bring someone to talk, they just want to know what to base their comments around. Some ideas include why art councils are important to the community and what the state can offer to those who will be involved.
Co-Chairman Zollinger said the old Bowcutt’s store has someone who makes cupcakes and suggested talking to them about her coming. If she brings enough treats is she reimbursed or are they just samples? Coordinator LeFevre said we have a budget we can put into this, but it depends how much it will cost, if they are $5 per cupcake we cannot afford that. Co-Chairman Zollinger said she could bring some as advertisement for her place. Coordinator LeFevre said that would be good, but we will need refreshments. He also talked to someone with McFarland Photography about a display, but they were not sure if they would be able to make the event. He has ideas for other photographers. He said they could have a stage with round tables for discussion, along with displays all around. We want them to sign in with their name, contact and type of art they are involved in. On the tables they will have questionnaires. They will also have idea boards where the artists can suggest ideas or comment on the things they like by the Arts Council. Chairman Lasley asked how many displays they plan to have. Coordinator LeFevre said there would be six or seven. Councilmember Rohde said the Adams couple would also come and bring a few things. Coordinator LeFevre asked if someone was going to reach out to Val Lewis for his sculptures. They thought Councilmember Holmgren said he would. Councilmember Nessen asked if those who bring something to display need to try and have it tie into the valley? They agreed that would be a fun idea. Councilmember Rohde said this is a great place to promote the museum—there is a lot of local art in there. Chairman Lasley, who is the museum representative said he would bring some stuff to display.
He asked what their agenda is going to be for the night. Coordinator LeFevre said they have discussed having an open house, allowing artists to mingle and see the displays. They will also have a speaker. Chairman Lasley said they have to have some structure for the speaker. Co-Chairman Zollinger said it starts at 6 p.m., and will go to 8 or 8:30 p.m. Chairman Lasley said they need to control 45 minutes. He suggested giving half an hour in the beginning and then having a gathering time at 6:30 p.m. This will be their controlled 45 minutes and then the rest of the time could be for mingling. Councilmember Sorensen said they could introduce themselves and their expertise so if people have questions or ideas they know who to direct them toward. Chairman Lasley said he would welcome those in attendance and introduce the members of the Arts Council. He would then turn the time over to Coordinator LeFevre to explain what they plan to do at the soiree and what the overall goal will be from the City point of view. They will then have the state speaker and at the end will give Chairman Lasley five minutes to wrap it up with 40 minutes to spare. Coordinator LeFevre said they could take questions and then mingle with them to see their ideas.
Chairman Lasley said we want to develop five to ten activities that we would like to purse in the next year and a half to two years. Geologically we are in the perfect location—everybody passes us. We should take advantage of that and try to get them to stop. Co-Chairman Zollinger said it would be nice to have some kind of a sign on the freeway showing people why they should stop in Tremonton. Councilmember Nessen said does the City have any signs or billboards for that. Councilmember Rohde said we are a couple years from that, but once we get there we need to promote it. Chairman Lasley said we do not have anything to promote right now. Councilmember Rohde said the City Council is trying to promote downtown so it is friendlier to tourists—this all goes together. Coordinator LeFevre said this Council was created for that reason—to help create a vibrant downtown area. Councilmember Rohde said next year is the 150th anniversary of the Golden Spike and there will be a huge Box Elder County push on that. Chairman Lasley said if we have something coming lets make ourselves a part of it. Co-Chairman Zollinger said she would find out who is in charge out to the Golden Spike so they can work with them, as well as Joan Hammer who works with the county. She said it would be a good idea for the museum to put together a display during that time showing a history of the Golden Spike. Councilmember Rohde said the Golden Spike 150 year celebration should be one of their ideas to get feedback from during the soiree.
Chairman Lasley said we are scheduled for March 29, so what do we need to do to pull it together? Coordinator LeFevre said we will work on getting the displays and need to set a time to setup that day. They suggested 2 p.m., with Coordinator LeFevre and Chairman Lasley there to direct the setup. Coordinator LeFevre said if they are pressed for space they will keep the curtain up so they have room for the boat. Chairman Lasley said he likes the idea of displaying that boat, which will help with diversity. We really want to show we are not just the fine arts. We can even take writing and poetry—whatever the community wants to invest time in.
Coordinator LeFevre brought up entertainment, such as music in a corner so they can continue to mingle. Councilmember Nessen said that would be a good idea because it is part of the arts. Councilmember Sorensen suggested an Acapella group, which she will talk to. Co-Chairman Zollinger said Karen Stokes’ daughter plays the ukulele and the Playhouse should be included. She said she would talk to Karen about setting up a booth. They could have someone perform the first half hour and then one or two after the organized 45 minutes.
Co-Chairman Zollinger said what arts have we not included. Councilmember Nessen said do we have anyone for writing and poetry. Chairman Lasley said a group does anime. Gary Brantner is bringing some of his comic books. Co-Chairman Zollinger said she creates books for her grandchildren (writes and illustrates) and could bring some to display. Chairman Lasley said we need to generate anything and everything so we have an idea where we are going. Once we find out what we have and what people are interested in, then we can aim toward that. We cannot make any decisions on where we want to go right now because we do not know what we have to work with and who is willing to work with us. If we do not have the community with us, this is not going to work. Co-Chairman Zollinger said do we need to promote the chalk art at the soiree. Chairman Lasley said we could plan now because it has been done before. Do we have a booth for that? Who can we ask to carry that load? Coordinator LeFevre said they have not done it, but the library had an event for children to come and draw with chalk. Councilmember Rohde brought up the 3D chalk art that feels like you are going to fall through it. He wondered if they could do that on the side of buildings. Councilmember Nessen said you name it and it can be put on a building.
Coordinator LeFevre said he would get cookie platters from Sam’s Club for refreshment. Co-Chairman Zollinger said she would try to find someone who could help with refreshments to showcase the culinary arts. Coordinator LeFevre said this event would help them get a directory of artists so they know whom to call in the future. Invite anyone you know and tell them to invite their people. Chairman Lasley said this is the first time so let us not have our hopes too high to fill the building. We are just getting started and we may have to do the same thing in the fall. Let us get it rolling a bit and do it again as we generate more help.
b. Future art activities
The Council then discussed the May event with the flag and crosses. Chairman Lasley said he has talked to the Bournes who did the preliminary work for the names on the wall. All the information they have gathered, including individual pictures and a blurb about each veteran, will be available for the City’s use. Coordinator LeFevre said there are around 40 individuals who are missing photos. I want to setup the crosses at Midland Square as a Field of Remembrance. There will be a QR code on each cross that links to a page with their picture and bio. Chairman Lasley said that is a great idea. Who will put that page together for us? Coordinator LeFevre said I will be working on that. It will be up this May. He will get Rhode’s Welding to make the crosses and then put them in the grass.
The Council will work on the Flag of Remembrance for that month as well. Chairman Lasley said this is not an individual project; this is usually done by hundreds of people. Coordinator LeFevre said they would have one person over it to divvy out the work—they have suggested Vicky Rhodes and could have the schools involved. Councilmember Rohde said they will likely draw on a high quality 10×10 paper, which will be laminated. Chairman Lasley said they would blow it up to the appropriate size. You would not display the actual work. You are displaying the entire piece. You could display a poster and sell some too. The Council talked about involving all the schools, including elementary, and even some of the wards. Chairman Lasley said you do not want to make it a school project. It has to be more than that in order for it to have the impact we want it to have. Coordinator LeFevre said I could see it being a school project because the kids come up year after year and parents can help it become an annual thing. Councilmember Rohde said they could get the Leader, or other businesses, involved by saying come pick up your paper there. Chairman Lasley said that is the job, getting the individual panels out there. Councilmember Rohde wondered if they would need a year to pull it off. Chairman Lasley said we could start it now and do it at Veterans’ Day. Councilmember Rohde said it could be an idea at the soiree to see what people think. Co-Chairman Zollinger said maybe someone would like to take that project on. Coordinator LeFevre said we got the idea from South Jordan. They had an artist come and they used 238 tiles, working with eight schools. I have that contact and we have some resources to promote it and get ideas. Chairman Lasley said I do not think we can do this by May. Councilmember Rohde said we could do this along with the Golden Spike celebration and change the picture for that. Chairman Lasley said we need to push the Golden Spike and take advantage of what someone else can do for us. He even suggested a cowboy poetry or similar event to bring people to Tremonton.
The crosses will be setup the month of May. Coordinator LeFevre will scan the pictures, get the blurbs typed up with the names and create PDFs that will be loaded to the webpage. Each cross will represent an individual. No information will be on crosses, they will just be white with the code on the back, which can be scanned by phones—like taking a picture. The City could make a map to help people find each individual.
The Arts Council will meet on Tuesday, March 27, at noon to finalize everything before the Artist Soireé on March 29.
4. Reports & Comments
5. Adjournment
Motion by Councilmember Rohde to adjourn the meeting. Motion seconded by consensus of the Board. The meeting adjourned at 12:54 p.m.
The undersigned duly acting and appointed Recorder for Tremonton City Corporation hereby certifies that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Arts Council held on the above referenced date. Minutes were prepared by Jessica Tanner.
Dated this _____day of ___________, 2018.
______________________________
Linsey Nessen, CITY RECORDER
*Utah Code 52-4-202, (6) allows for a topic to be raised by the public and discussed by the public body even though it was not included in the agenda or advance public notice given; however, no final action will be taken.
Follow-up items for the Council
All members have been asked to share the Facebook event and invite all their friends. Coordinator LeFevre will also add the information to their sign on Main Street. Councilmember Sorensen will get flyers to the art teachers to share with their students.
Coordinator LeFevre said he would get cookie platters from Sam’s Club for refreshment. Co-Chairman Zollinger said she would try to find someone who could help with refreshments to showcase the culinary arts.
Coordinator LeFevre will find someone to help with the photography display. In the previous meeting Councilmember Holmgren was asked to reach out to Val Lewis about a display for his sculptures. Coordinator LeFevre will work on getting other displays and will talk to Jan at the fairgrounds about setting up at 2 p.m., the day of the soiree.
Co-Chairman Zollinger will find out who is in charge at the Golden Spike so they can work with them, as well as Joan Hammer who works with the County.
Councilmember Sorensen will contact an Acapella group for entertainment. Co-Chairman Zollinger will talk to Karen Stokes about setting up a booth. The playhouse and Karen’s daughter, who plays the ukulele, could also perform.
Coordinator LeFevre will start compiling all the information for the crosses, which will be displayed in May. He will work on the webpage and contact Rhodes Welding to make the crosses.