City to establish an art policy
The City Council approved Tuesday recommendations from the Arts
Commission that would establish a policy on acquiring art and a
method of removing art from city ownership, a process called
de-accession.
“We do want a policy to de-access art that we -- how can I say
this nicely -- don’t want any more,” Councilwoman Cheryl Kinsman
said. “But I would like this rewritten by the city attorney and ask
him to draft a series of sample contracts.”
Kinsman also wanted staff and council to be able to make
recommendations, a prerogative she said is not clearly enough defined
for her in the commission draft.
Councilman Wayne Baglin said the Arts Commission slightly
overstepped its boundaries when it ventured into the approval and
budget processes for acquisition.
“They have come so far that they overlooked the fact that they are
an advisory board,” Baglin said.
He asked that specific additions be made to the policies that
included City Council approval of donations and loans.
As for ridding the city of unwanted art: De-accession is the
method used by museums to upgrade their collections, selling off
lesser pieces to finance the purchase of better works.
“I think it could have a chilling effect on artists if they don’t
understand the policy,” Arts Commissioner Joan Corman Block said.
“Everyone needs to be informed about the policy and understand it.”
The state has specific rules about the de-accession of public art.
“Our policy complies with the state Visual Artists Rights Act,
passed in 1991, which deals with the moral rights of the artist
compared to the physical rights of the owner,” said Sian Poeschl,
city arts coordinator. “The artist always has to be informed if a
piece of public art is to be removed or relocated and be involved.”
Poeschl and the commission have been working on the policy for
about three years.
In general, the commission’s policy is that works of art will be
acquired without legal restrictions on their future use and
disposition, except with respect to state or federal laws on
preservation, copyright, and resale.
The commission draft stipulates that a donor has the right to
appeal to the council a commission recommendation to relocate,
temporarily remove or de-access art.
-- Barbara Diamond
City to look into new access for Annaliese
Laguna Beach Mayor Toni Iseman and City Manager Ken Frank will
seek county support for a land swap that could help ease the
congestion at the intersection of El Toro and Laguna Canyon roads.
The city is looking for access to Annaliese’s school that would
come off of El Toro Road and eliminate the access on Laguna Canyon
Road. A consultant had proposed access off of El Toro, but was
steered in a different direction by Director of Public Works Steve
May.
“I thought the area was sacred,” May said.
Consultant Steve Sasaki then recommended converting the westbound
El Toro right-turn-only lane to a combination left and right turn, if
approved by Caltrans. The modification would provide some improvement
and could be implemented within six months at a minimal cost, May
said.
The cost would come out of the Public Works Department operating
fund.
“I was looking for something more dramatic,” Iseman said. “The
drop-offs at Annaliese’s is more than an inconvenience. It is scary.
The county owns the corner along Laguna Canyon Road between
Annaliese’s and El Toro Road.
“The question is, would the city be willing to swap a piece of
open space,” Iseman said.
City Manager Frank said finding the land to swap would be the easy
part.
“There are regional park issues and wetlands issues,” he said.
He also said that, even if approved by the county and the council,
the cost could delay the project for several years.
The council voted 4-0 to proceed with talks to the county, with
Councilman Steven Dicterow absent.
-- Barbara Diamond
Former mayor seeks antiwar resolution
Former Laguna Beach Mayor Lida Lenney proposed a resolution
Tuesday for the City Council to support all diplomatic efforts to end
the conflict in Iraq and oppose military action there unless the
Iraqi regime initiates an attack.
“It has been 10 years since I sat where you are sitting,” Lenney
told the council. “This is the first time I have come back, and only
because of the war. I am asking the city to join other cities in
opposing the war.
“The news that I am glued to 20 hours a day has broken my heart,”
she said. “This is not a good or just war. It is unlawful.”
Lenney’s request would have to be put on an agenda before the
council could take action.
“A just war is an oxymoron, but we now have hundreds of thousands
of military in there, and I could not do anything that would not
support them,” said a choked-up Councilman Wayne Baglin, a U.S. Coast
Guard veteran.
Councilwoman Elizabeth Pearson said her father is buried at
Arlington Cemetery and he would roll over in his grave if she took
such a position that could be interpreted as unsupportive of U.S.
troops.
“It’s obvious that the council does not intend to put this on an
agenda, but I think we should take a stand,” Mayor Toni Iseman said.
Iseman was the only council member to support a hearing on the
resolution. Councilman Steve Dicterow was absent.
“My life partner is a Vietnam veteran, in special ops,” Iseman
said. “I attend reunions. Life is not the same for them.”
Antiwar protesters contended that the best way to support the
troops is to bring them home.
-- Barbara Diamond
Artist to bring sounds of ancient Mexico
The sounds of ancient Mexico will be heard as Xavier Quijas
Yxayotl performs at the Neighborhood Congregational Church today.
Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, Yxayotl has lived in the mountains of
Jalisco and Nayarit, Mexico, where the Huicholes and Tepehuanes
shared their ceremonies and knowledge.
Yxayotl gained a passion for Mayan and Aztec drums and flutes,
Tarahumara drums, turtle shells, Teponaxtli log groups and Mayan
ocean drums among other handmade instruments.
Yxayotl has become one of the few Mexican artists able to
construct instruments that are identical to the instruments used by
the ancient people of Mexico.
The evening of music at the Neighborhood Congregational Church
will begin at 6:30 p.m. with 9-year-old Evren Ozan, a local Laguna
Beach resident, who will be playing Native American flute music.
The event will be today at 340 St. Anns Drive in Laguna Beach.
Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and children are free.
There is also a dinner served from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. for a cost of
$5. All proceeds will benefit the Laguna Beach Cross Cultural
Council.
For tickets and information, please call Terry Anne Barman at
(949) 494-8883.
Canyon Conservancy dinner set for April 7
The Laguna Canyon Conservancy will host a dinner with special
guest Tom Wilson, chairman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors.
The no-host bar will open at 6 p.m., and dinner will begin at 6:45
p.m. April 7 at Tivoli Terrace, on the Festival of Arts grounds on
Laguna Canyon Road.
Dinner tickets are $7 for members and $15 for nonmembers, and may
be purchased at the door or with reservations. Membership fees are
$10 per person, per calendar year.
Reservations should be made by April 5. For reservations and
information, call 494-6465.
Laguna music program tops list
A nationwide survey conducted by the American Music Conference and
several partner organizations named the Laguna Beach Unified School
District one of the top 100 communities for music education in the
country.
The district was one of three selected from the state and two from
Southern California, along with Capistrano Unified School District.
Thousands of public school and independent teachers, school and
district administrators, school board members, parents and community
leaders representing every state participated in the Web-based survey
in January and February.
-- Mike Swanson
Rally set to support troops in Iraq
A Freedom Rally to show support for American troops in Iraq is
planned for 10 a.m. April 13 at Main Beach.
Rally organizers said they want to show the world that the
majority of the country supports their troops and the fight against
terrorism.
Cleanup day is scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon April 19.
Participants are asked to meet at Main Beach for cleanup
assignments and all-day free parking certificates.
Information: Roger von Butow, (949) 497-4816 or Rick Wilson, (949)
492-8170.
Bakery added to Culinary repertoire
Laguna Culinary Arts has added a bakery to its business of
teaching food preparation courses and selling cookware.
There will be a grand opening for the professional programs and
bakery from 5 to 8 p.m. April 25.
The bakery opened March 24 at 845 Laguna Canyon Road. The new shop
offers a variety of breads, including olive ciabatta and onion rye.
The bakery is open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday,
but will likely soon extend the hours to the weekends.
Chef Karen Oliphint will launch a 20-week professional bakery and
pastry program in June.
A six-month intensive professional chef program will be held next
to the bakery in view of patrons. The professional chef students will
soon offer a student lunch special.
Laguna Culinary Arts Home Chef program is at 550 S. Coast Highway,
upstairs. Information: (949) 494-4006. The bakery and professional
chef programs are at 845 Laguna Canyon Road.
For information, call (949) 494-4006.
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