2022-04 RAC Minutes
Richfield Arts Commission (RAC) Agenda
April 7th, 2022, 7 :00 PM to 8:30 PM
Richfield Community Center 7000 Nicollet
Call to Order: 7:05 pm; Present: Larry Nelson, Cole Hooey, Karin Wolverton, Joyce Marrie (via phone), Aric Bieganek, Hazel Bieganek, Stephanie Jacobson, MaryKaye Champa (City), Mary
Supple (City Council); Absent – Janie Mork, Brooke Nelson, Courtney Kupsch
Approval of Agenda (as amended – moved up Senior Showcase) – approved unanimously
Approval of Minutes – approved unanimously
Senior Showcase for High School students -Adam Miller (RHS Art Teacher)
Space discussed – art will be displayed in the Community Center in May and June utilizing the silver brackets in the Richfield Room for 2D art, Fireplace ledge for 3D objects.
Approximately 10-12 students will be participating (at least 5 confirmed)
Targeting May 2 at 4pm to hang artwork – Adam and a teaching colleague will take care of this
Open House – proposed date would be Fri. May 6 around 5-7pm. RAC can provide refreshments (no red juice): lemonade, coffee, cookies. 4:30pm arrival by RAC members to help with cookies
– so far Aric, Karin, Larry (maybe), Hazel (maybe) can participate. All RAC members encouraged to attend.
End of June: students will pick up artwork between 8:30-5 on open Community Center weekdays, as coordinated by Adam.
Chase Bank Sculpture – No updates since last month. Same methods will be used to reach out for updates.
Little Library – Stocking may be necessary as weather warms. Aric and Hazel took the last box of books from MaryKaye and will stock over the month as necessary. A need for more books
(book drive) may be necessary soon!
Community Services Commission Update – Brooke Nelson - absent
Friendship City Commission Liaison – Courtney Kupsch – absent, but Mary Supple provided info on the Ox Carts pieces on display in city hall right now. There was a brief discussion on
how to spread the word via social media via the city’s page.
Transportation Commission Liaison update – Cole Hooey
65th St. Reconstructions project behind Pizza Luce through Wendy’s by Richfield Lake – could be some potential for art.
35W underpass – a brief discussion was had on it’s potential for art (mural) and 76th St as well. Previous research was explained by longer tenured RAC members, expensive project, owned
by county – would need to have the county on board for any art proposals, RAC’s previous involvement in these areas.
Could RAC explore partnership or grant opportunities with orgs. like League of MN Cities? Could we explore projects like the community-based mural near Lake Superior similar to what
was done at Richfield Lake amphitheater, but with a simpler design? Could be things to explore…
494 Project: MNDOT received recommendations from Richfield. Mary S. provided: MN DOT can approve projects and set foundation, but cities would be responsible for the cost of added art.
There is space marked out in the blueprints/project plans designated for art, but master plan is 70 pages – Mary may explore sending RAC some specific pages to consider.
More conversation about potential mural projects/grants, including the project in this article:
https://www.hastingsmn.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/10889/425https://www.hastingsmn.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/10889/425
2022 Activities-
Art in the Park, June 18thh, July 16
Update provided by Aric on Jazzy Art in the Park June 18th event. Will be 10-11:30 event with RAC members attending in shifts from 9:30-Noon. Aric, Janie and Hazel will be in attendance.
$200 was proposed to cover the cost of a jazz guitarist. Motion by Stephanie, second by Karin, approved by all. Aric will reach out to musicians to solidify a booking. The farmer’s market
agreed to not host a musician that day and will assist with spreading the word on social media.
July 16th event will be same timeframe: Crop Art/Seed Art event. MaryKaye brought all of RAC’s supplies out to view and canvases were selected as a great choice for the art
Stephanie (leading the Seed Art project) and Aric will get in touch with MaryKaye to shop for the remaining supplies needed at Michaels, etc. Blue Ribbons will be purchased so RAC stickers
can be placed on them to award “prizes” like the State Fair to participants.
CrossRoads Panorama event-August 20th
Update provided by Joyce Marrie – will be from 2:30-6:30; partnering with Tubman and RAC; RAC will table/volunteer at the event with raffle, art projects, etc.
PennFest/ Poetry Event –September 18th was confirmed after the meeting as the date. Same plan in place as last month, combining poetry with tabling at PennFest.
Dogs Take the Stage- October 15th – 5:30-7:30 pm – similar style to last year teaming up with the Trunk or Treat event
Park Playground openings – It was decided that since these parks are smaller, there wouldn’t be big events for the openings; therefore, there will be no RAC event for these. MaryKaye
mentioned the possibility of considering RAC participation in Friday Fun Days and Entertainment in the Park.
Art work at City Hall- Jimmy Longoria – MaryKaye and the city worked with Jimmy on possible options that wouldn’t disturb the construction of the building for displaying his artwork.
As of right now, there isn’t a response from the artist. MaryKaye will reach out one more time to the artist.
Electrical Box Wrap updates – There will be at least 2 for RAC to vote on in the near future. 1 box may not remain that has already been wrapped in front of Wendy’s due to the 65th St
project. RAC may explore replacing that one with either same design or another design by the same artist to make up for this removal. Could there be a third box? After more exploration,
RAC and the City will know more.
Staff Update – Applications for the Gene and Mary Jacobsen Outstanding Citizen Award are being sought by the Human Rights Commission. Joyce spoke about her experience as a recipient
of this honor. Applications are due by 4/29 – RAC will help spread the word. Also, Earth Day cleanup for commissioners was mentioned for 4/22 from 11-1 to clean up green spaces in the
city.
Mississippi Valley Poets – update – they are set to replace 5 poems around Richfield Lake and continue to remain committed to the project. One post is in need of repairs on the NW side
– MaryKaye will contact Public Works and RAC will replace it.
RF64 development near Target has new art to display. They were unaware of RAC’s usual involvement in approval of the art, but chose some art the RAC unofficially approved of during the
meeting, as shared by MaryKaye: “Urban Cattails” and “Breeze” will stand at these new condos.
Poems on 66th – RAC needs to check what condition these are in and come up with a maintenance plan for upkeep of this project.
Announcements - none