Minutes – August 20, 2009
1
Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees, Muscatine Art Center
AUGUST 20, 2009
Present:
Jennifer Conard, Jan Henderson, Eric Knoernschild, Caren Luke,
David Meloy, Tom Spread and Jeffrey Stone.
Absent:
Mark Huddleston and Becky Wichers
Staff:
Barb Christensen
Visitors:
Dan Clark and Muscatine Journal Reporter, Amy Cahill.
President Tom Spread presented a written
Public Notice
, attached to these
minutes, from the Board offering the Jayne House and garage up for public bid.
Following discussion, it was moved by Eric Knoernschild and seconded by
Jeffery Stone to approve the Public Notice in the form presented to the Board.
Motion carried.
Following approval of the Motion, Dan Clark stated that the Commission
continues to believe that the best option for the Jayne House is to leave it where
it is and restore it. He thanked the Board for their spirit of cooperation during this
process. Dan also offered to provide commission research to prospective buyers
and information on possible tax credits.
Minutes:
It was moved by Eric Knoernschild and seconded by David Meloy that
the minutes of the July 16, 2009 meeting be approved. Motion carried.
Bills:
It was moved by Jan Henderson and seconded by Jennifer Conard to
approve the monthly bills totaling $2,733.14 for payment. Motion carried.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Collections:
Jan Henderson reported the Art Center is responding to the
question asked by visitors “Where does the Art Center get all this stuff and what
do you do with it.” by scheduling a display of
Recent Acquisitions to the
Permanent Collection
from November 1 through December 23, 2009
.
This
display will consist of art and objects related to the early history of Muscatine
acquired by the Art Center during the past two years.
It was also reported that the Art Center received a
Portrait of Peter Musser
as a
gift from Sarah Wilmer, daughter of Mrs. Mary Musser Gilmore. The Peter
Musser portrait will hang in the reception room on the wall adjacent to the Laura
Musser portrait which portrait has recently been moved to the reception room.
Minutes – August 20, 2009
2
Building & Grounds:
Barb Christensen reported on September 16, 2009, a
group from the Day of Caring event will clean along the fence line of the Art
Center property.
Barb reported the upstairs carpet for the porte-cochere has been ordered and the
roof has been repaired. Also, the small upstairs gallery will be redone in between
exhibitions.
The pump in the Japanese Garden needs to be replaced due to insufficient size
of pipe and tree roots. Bids will be requested and funding for this project will
come from either the McWhirter-Gilmore Trust or a Preservation Grant.
The John W. Conner Glass Collection is on display in the display case on the
main steps.
Finance & Budget:
Tom Spread reported that he attended the first quarterly
meeting of the Support Foundation last week where officers were elected and
existing financials were reviewed. Members of the Support Foundation are: Tom
Spread, Scott Ingstad, Gary Slight, Mayor Dick O’Brien and Mary Jo Stanley.
Long-Range Planning
: No report. Eric Knoernschild reported that a meeting
will be called to put a long range plan into place.
Personnel:
Barb Christensen reported that
Andy Tabor
is currently off work
due to his health. In the interim, Julie Lear will work an additional five (5) hours
per week and Jesus Sosa, the Iowa @ Work employee will work an additional
two weeks (21 hours each), a temporary employee will be hired until Andy is able
to return to work.,
The current
Code of Ethics policy dated December 15, 2005
was included in
the Board materials. Each Board member should check the policy in their
notebooks to ensure they have the most current policy.
Program/Publicity:
David Meloy reported that the
Watermark
, a joint
newsletter of the Art Center/Musser Library is scheduled for mailing to the
membership list at the end of August 2009. The newsletter is a very well
designed compilation of events for both the Library and Art Center.
Barb Christensen reported that the Festival of Wreathes is scheduled for
November 15 (Sunday) through November 20 (Friday) with the Gala held on the
final night -- November 21 (Saturday).
Education Coordinator’s Report:
A written report submitted for review.
Director’s Report:
A written report was submitted for review.
Unfinished Business:
Minutes – August 20, 2009
3
Barb Christensen will schedule an orientation meeting for each of the new Board
members, Jennifer Conard, Jeffery Stone.
New Business:
A list of appointed 2009-2010 Muscatine Art Center Board of Trustees
Committee Chairs and Memberships was distributed.
Barb Christensen will contact Mike Knott to invite him to serve on the Collections
Committee.
Adjourn:
The meeting was adjourned by acclamation.
Respectfully submitted,
Jan Henderson, Secretary
Minutes – August 20, 2009
4
PUBLIC NOTICE
The Muscatine Art Center Board of Trustees is offering for sale the house and
detached garage structures located at 1402 Mulberry Avenue, Muscatine, Iowa.
The house is a 2600 square foot, four (4) bedroom, two story frame building built
in 1898. Special features include hardwood floors, masonry fireplace, built-in
dining room cupboards, stained and curved glass windows. The garage is 768
sq. ft. frame built in 1920. The house and garage will be offered for public bid
through 10:00 a.m. on September 25, 2009. Bids are to be sealed and delivered
to the Muscatine City Hall Finance Department, 215 Sycamore Street no later
than that date and time. Bids must be accompanied by a deposit of at least
$1,000 in the form of cash or cashiers or certified check drawn on a bank in Iowa
or a bank chartered under the laws of the United States. Bids will be opened by
the City’s Purchasing Agent at 10:05 a.m. Final payment, by same method as
deposit, to be made within 30 days of bid award. The successful bidder shall be
the highest responsive and responsible bidder and the City reserves the right to
reject any and all bids.
The successful bidder will be responsible for removing the entire structure from
the current location within ninety (90) days of award of bid. The successful
bidder will be required to obtain the appropriate permits, provide Certificates of
Insurance with the City and the Art Center Board of Trustees named as
additional insured, and submit a Performance Bond in the amount of $30,000
within 30 days of acceptance of bid. The two large beech trees in the front lawn
will not be damaged during the relocation process.
All interested parties will have an opportunity to view the structure on Tuesday,
September 1 from noon to 4:00 p.m.; Saturday, September 12, 2009 from 10:00
a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Wednesday, September 16, 2009 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00
p.m.
Please contact Barbara Christensen, Director of the Muscatine Art Center, at
563-263-8282 or Nancy Lueck, City of Muscatine Finance Director, at 563-264-
1550. All questions concerning the requirements for moving the structure should
be directed to the City of Muscatine’s Planning, Zoning and Building Safety
Department at 563-262-4141.
Minutes – August 20, 2009
5
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
For the month of August 2009
September 17, 2009
Total number of visitors for August 2009
997
Total number of visitors for August 2008
915
Total number of visitors Year-to-Date 2009
13107
Total number of visitors Year-to-Date 2008
16688
All figures include outreach program participants
EXHIBITIONS (in the month of August)
June 28 Through August 23, 2009
Twelve Views of Water – Nancy Purington
Floyd Pearce – Pterodactyl Press
Monica Leo, woodcuts from “Marcel and the Dirtball”
Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre Posters
EXHIBITIONS (currently on view – September)
August 30 – October 25, 2009
Color in Freedom: Journey Along the Underground Railroad
Musser Mansion Gallery closed for remodeling
CLASSES & TOURS
See Educator’s Report
OTHER
August 6
Building and Grounds Meeting
August 8
Shannon/Albaugh wedding
Wedding Photos on Mansion
August 12
Support Foundation Meeting
August 13
Teachers Orientation
Friends Board Meeting
August 19
Savannah McCleary Graduation Pictures
August 20
Art Center Board of Trustees Meeting
August 21
Minutes – August 20, 2009
6
Wedding Rehearsal in the Japanese Garden
August 22
Wedding in the Japanese Garden
August 25
Outreach: DSCI Art Class
August 29
Clark/Velez Wedding in the Japanese Garden
ACQUISITIONS
Portrait of Peter Musser by Williams c.1908– Gift of Sarah King Wilmer
Marble Bust of Laura at 5 by George Grey Barnard – Gift of Mary Catherine Atkins
McWhirter Bingham, William Atkins McWhirter and Marilyn McWhirter Clark
23 Glass Plate Negatives – Gift of Margaret Isaacson
21 Photographs & MHS envelope – gift of Daryl and Pat Globes and Family &
Denny and Georgia Globes Snyder and Family
Handwritten book of music and song lyrics belonging to Laura Musser McColm
Atkins, Diploma from Iowa Wesleyan College to Laura Musser Atkins for Doctor of
Music 1954, 1959 certificate from Iowa Wesleyan College in recognition of 5 years
as a Trustee to Laura McColm Atkins – Gift of Mary Catherine Atkins McWhirter
Bingham, William Atkins McWhirter and Marilyn McWhirter Clark
23 Glass Plate Negatives – Gift of Margaret Isaacson
Wood and Glass Display Cabinet – Gift of Nancy Keel
Miscellaneous Muscatine Ephemera – Gift of Dr. John and Ann Parks
Miscellaneous Muscatine Ephemera – Gift of Bill Parks
Jackson Family Photo Album – Gift of Wesley United Methodist Church
Herbarium and Plant Analysis by Bess Beebe - Gift of Wesley United Methodist
Church
State of Iowa Certificate of Recognition to Alexander Clark – Outstanding Iowan –
Gift of Kent Sissel
Miscellaneous Muscatine Ephemera - Gift of Dr. John and Ann Parks
Miscellaneous Muscatine Ephemera - Gift of Dr. John and Ann Parks
Two framed photos of George Grey Barnard Sculpture “Rose maiden” - Gift of Dr.
John and Ann Parks
“Summer Flowers”, watercolor by Marta Grabenko - Gift of Dr. John and Ann Parks
Miscellaneous Muscatine Ephemera - Gift of Dr. John and Ann Parks
Miscellaneous Muscatine Ephemera - Gift of Dr. John and Ann Parks
Bibliophile Items - Gift of Dr. John and Ann Parks
Four Large Button Cards – Muscatine Pearl Works – gift of Christine Simms
Four Boxes of slides – Gift of Bill Lindsay
Footed Dish “Muscatine” and Paperweight – gift of Karen Kenney
Wooden Fireplace Surround from Mark Twain House – Gift of Bill Lindsay
Three Glass Reference Books – Gift of Questers Chapter Pearls of Wisdom #1186
Three Glass Reference Books – Gift of Sue Slight
Minutes – August 20, 2009
7
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara C. Christensen
Director
lb
Minutes – August 20, 2009
8
KLZ INCORPORATED
1115 Sunrise Circle
Muscatine IA 52761
September 9, 2009
To:
Barb
From: Maria
Re:
Education Coordinator’s Report, August 2009
The summer session has ended. While attendance does not equal that of last year (due to
the free “Project InSECT” camp in 2008) we are holding our own. Total enrollment is
down about 20%, which is typical for our sort of program in these difficult economic
times. I continue to remain optimistic that once the economy improves we will see an
increase in our numbers.
Our August Family Days theme was “African Safari.” Tots enjoyed the jungle theme as
they created lion masks, giraffe puppets and African dioramas with Julie Lear, and the
older kids had fun making African amulets with Vada Baker.
One kids’ workshop was held in August. On August 5, Vada Baker conducted an oil
painting workshop in which the students created colorful tropical sunsets. The other
August class, “The Art of Nancy Purington,” was cancelled due to low enrollment.
Summer Studio is a Thursday program which alternates acrylic and watercolor
workshops. Both the August Summer Studio workshops were cancelled due to low
enrollment.
Our August Field trip to Tony’s Tropicals was cancelled due to low enrollment.
There were two Red Barn Studio workshops in August, “One Stroke Floral Note Cards”
on August 6 and “One Stroke Wooden Wall Plaque” on August 27. These workshops
were taught by Vada Baker.
On Monday August 3 Julie Lear took her “sand clay” to the Y and created sand castles
with the Variety Art kids. She repeated the workshop on Thursday August 6 for the Y
Teen Leaders, with the addition of gargoyles for those students who had already created
sand castles on Monday.
On August 25 members of the Senior Program of the Diversity Service Center of Iowa
came to the Art Center for a workshop with Vada Baker in which they created folded
photo albums featuring photos of the class taken during earlier workshops. Since the
group arrived late there was not time for both the craft activity and a tour.
There was one tour in August. On Friday, August 21 all the language arts students from
Central Middle School came to view Nancy Purington’s “Twelve Views of Water” as a
kick-off for a year-long project of art, poetry and music inspired by the Mississippi River.
There were no birthday parties scheduled in August.
Minutes – August 20, 2009
9
In addition to supporting our summer program I am currently working on the winter
brochure. I have re-established our presence on cable TV and am looking for other ways
to publicize our classes. Julie and I are reorganizing and inventorying the storeroom in
the studio.
Let me know if you have anything else to add to the list.
Muscatine Art Center Education Department
2009 Summer Attendance Report
August 2009
Date
Event
Students enrolled
Attendance
Sat. Aug. 1
Sun. Aug. 2
Totals for week (Aug.):
--
--
Mon. Aug. 3 Outreach: Variety Art: Sand castles
--
11
Tues. Aug. 4 Outreach: Adventures in Art
--
--
Wed. Aug. 5 Music for Tots ID 5226 & 5227
28
42
Oil Painting for Kids: Tropical Sunset ID 5240
11
12
Thurs. Aug. 6 Family Days: African Safari ID 5223
5
2
Kids: Acrylics: Leonardo da Vinci ID 5247
cancelled –
low enrollment
Red Barn Studio: One-stroke Note Cards ID 5252 9
10
Outreach: Y Teen Leaders: Sand castles & Gargoyles--
4
Fri. Aug. 7
Family Days: African Safari ID 5224
10
20
Kids: African Amulets ID 5225
6
6
Sat. Aug. 8
Sun. Aug. 9
Totals for week:
69
107
Mon. Aug. 10
Tues. Aug. 11 Field Trip: Tony’s Tropicals ID 5249
cancelled – low
enrollment
Minutes – August 20, 2009
10
Outreach: Adventures in Art
--
--
Wed. Aug. 12 Music for Tots ID 5226 & 5227
28
36
Kids: The Art of Nancy Purington ID 5241
cancelled – low
enrollment
Thurs. Aug. 13
Kids: Watercolor and Collage ID 5244
cancelled – low enrollment
Fri. Aug. 14
Sat. Aug. 15
Sun. Aug. 16
Totals for week:
28
36
Mon. Aug. 17
Tues. Aug. 18 Outreach: Adventures in Art
--
2
Wed. Aug. 19
Thurs. Aug. 20
Fri. Aug. 21 Tour: Central Middle School (Nancy Purington) --
101
Sat. Aug. 22
Sun. Aug. 23
Totals for week:
28
103
Mon. Aug. 24
Tues. Aug. 25 Outreach: Diversity Center: Photo-pocket Scrapbooks--
9
Outreach: Adventures in Art
--
--
Wed. Aug. 26
Thurs. Aug. 27
Red Barn Studio: One-stroke wooden plaque ID 5253
8
5
Fri. Aug. 28
Sat. Aug. 29
Sun. Aug. 30
Totals for week:
8
14
Mon Aug. 31
Totals for week (Aug.)
--
--
Totals for August 2009:
133
260
Totals for August 2008:
101
215
Totals for August 2007:
129
378
Totals for Summer 2009 Semester:
427
1382
Totals for Summer 2008 Semester:
523
1891
Totals for Summer 2007 Semester:
482
1505