TREMONTON CITY CORPORATION
ARTS COUNCIL
DECEMBER 8, 2020
Members Present:
Leisl Sorensen, Chairman
Kathryn Ellis, Arts Councilmember (via Zoom)
Tamara Zollinger, Arts Councilmember
Lyle Holmgren, City Councilmember
Bret Rohde, City Councilmember
Zach LeFevre, Recreation and Community Events Manager
Cynthia Nelson, Deputy Recorder
Chairman Sorensen called the Arts Council Meeting to order at 3:35 p.m. The meeting was held December 8, 2020 in the City Council Meeting Room at 102 South Tremont Street, Tremonton, Utah. Those in attendance were Chairman Sorensen, Arts Councilmembers Ellis and Zollinger, City Councilmembers Holmgren and Rohde, Coordinator LeFevre and Deputy Recorder Nelson.
1. Approval of agenda:
Motion by Councilmember Holmgren to approve the December 8, 2020 agenda. Motion seconded by Councilmember Rohde. Vote: Chairman Sorensen – aye, Arts Councilmember Ellis – aye, Arts Councilmember Zollinger – aye, City Councilmember Holmgren – aye, City Councilmember Rohde – aye. Motion approved.
2. Approval of minutes—June 9, 2020 and August 4, 2020
Motion by Councilmember Sorensen to approve the June 9, 2020 and August 4, 2020 minutes. Motion seconded by Councilmember Zollinger. Vote: Chairman Sorensen – aye, Arts Councilmember Ellis – aye, Arts Councilmember Zollinger – aye, City Councilmember Holmgren – aye, City Councilmember Rohde – aye. Motion approved.
3. Business:
a. Discussion of next public art piece
Coordinator LeFevre said we need to create a five-year plan and push for a public art piece at least once a year. Councilmember Holmgren suggested the Shoshone mural that has been proposed in the past, as well a tribute to those who have lost their lives in service to our Country, similar to what North Ogden has done. This would be a good tribute at the cemetery to all those who has served and lost loved ones. This is something that is being done all over the Country with black marble. Councilmember Rohde suggested a mural festival involving local businesses that would contribute money, their walls, and suggestions. We could have multiple people come in and could complete several murals in a short period of time. Coordinator LeFevre said our concern is that we would run out of walls within two years. I have seen cities do a mural in a day by having professional artists work together on one mural. Chairman Sorensen suggested having community members come in and add their handprints and signature to a wall for an easy way to preserve the community and bring everyone together. Coordinator LeFevre said the Sanpitch Dragon was done that way. An artist made an outline and then the community all put a mosaic piece in place. Moab did that with their walking trail. Community members got permission from the city and showed up with their own paint.
Councilmember Rohde said I like the idea of the service memorial at the cemetery, but does that fall under the Arts Council? Coordinator LeFevre explained the purpose of the Arts Council and said that maybe it would need to be downtown. If we turned it into a mural instead of a marble sculpture then it could go on the wall across from Midland Square and next to the Candy Bomber mural. Councilmember Rohde said that idea brings it all together if you had the right graphic. That sounds like a fun combination of all the things we are trying to accomplish. Arts Councilmember Zollinger said it would be nice to have that unveiling in conjunction with some kind of celebration including the gold star families. Maybe Veteran’s or Memorial Day.
Coordinator LeFevre said Manager Warnke has suggested an Olympic themed mural featuring Paralympic athlete Marlon Shirley. Councilmember Rohde said if there were three or four people we could feature that would be cool. Councilmember Holmgren suggested a mural on the Western Seed building showing the progression of Tremonton’s history. Arts Councilmember Zollinger said we could do a mural day with a horse drawn carriage with microphones to tell about the murals. It could be a festival or associated with Tremonton City Days.
Coordinator LeFevre said our last mural was around $15,000. Our grant money was pulled away due to Covid and this year there will be no TAB grants given for Box Elder County. We have budgeted $12,000 to 15,000 a year for our public art program. We could even do an interactive mural where people come get pictures with it. Something to draw people in. We could also have several artists bring in sculptures for an art walk. The sculptures would stay there for a year, the community could vote on them, and the winning sculpture would then be purchased. Chairman Sorensen said I like the idea of branching out and doing something different—having a variety of public art rather than just murals. There is a lot we can explore and many people we can involve. We will be able to pull more people in if we have more opportunities for art. Councilmember Rohde suggested a botanical garden at the library, which could include sculptures and education on water conservation. Councilmember Holmgren suggested walkways for people to meander through. Coordinator LeFevre said the concern with that would be maintenance.
b. Discussion of the possibility of hosting an art festival
Chairman Sorensen said that originally the chalk affair was suppose to be a building point for an art festival. Now that it has generated interest, this is a good time to start adding more things to it. We could extend it another day and do a Friday and Saturday event. We have talked about a concert series and we could incorporate that, among other things. We would have the chalk contest, but could get other artists to paint around town. We could offer classes and workshops and have vendor booths with handmade items. We would encourage people to go to the murals by having a horse drawn carriage or a scavenger hunt to bring awareness for those. Councilmember Holmgren said I like the idea of a walking tour and encouraging people from point A to point B. Chairman Sorensen said we could even have a kid’s area with crafts and face painting to get people out and around town. The Council agreed this event should be held at Midland Square and Shuman Park.
The Council agreed to come up with more ideas. Councilmember Rohde would invite them to use Trello, which would help them share ideas to discuss at their next meeting, which would be held on January 12 at 3:30 p.m. Councilmember Rohde would talk to local artist Doug Adams for potential sculptures, while Councilmember Holmgren would talk to a few people about landscaping.
4. Reports & Comments: None.
5. Adjournment
Motion by Councilmember Rohde to adjourn the meeting. Motion seconded by consensus of the Board. The meeting adjourned at 4:44 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 12th day of January, 2021.
______________________________
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
Councilmember Rohde would talk to artist Doug Adams about a sculpture and invite the Council to join Trello. The Council would continue to come up with ideas and add them to that app. Councilmember Holmgren would talk to some experts on landscaping.