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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05.14.2025 MINUTES Museum Arts & Culture Board Minutes of the May 14, 2025 Museum Arts and Culture Board Meeting Page 1 of 5 Minutes of the May 14, 2025 Museum, Arts and Culture Board Meeting (Approved at the June 11, 2025 Board Meeting) The May meeting of the Museum, Arts and Culture (MAC) Board was held at the Oshkosh Public Museum (OPM). Board Chair Vicky Redlin called the meeting to order at 4:33 p.m. and the Roll was taken. Present at Roll: Board Chair Vicky Redlin, Vice-Chair Rebecca Doe Brown, Board Members Becky Matzke, Drew Mueske, Alternates Carrie Olson and Erron Hundt Excused: Council Member Joe Stephenson With Mr. Stephenson out, Chair Redlin appointed Ms. Olson. OPM Staff Present: Museum Director Anna Cannizzo, Assistant Director/Chief Curator Emily Rock, and OPM Administrative Assistant Theresa Books recording the minutes. There were no citizen statements to the Board. Consent Agenda items included: A. Minutes of the April 9, 2025, Board Meeting B. Minutes of the April 21, 2025, Board Special Meeting MOTION: Approve Consent Agenda (Matzke; second Olson) CARRIED: Yes (5) Brown, Matzke, Mueske, Olson, Redlin Chief Curator/Assistant Director, Emily Rock, went over the upcoming exhibitions schedule planning for 2025 and 2026. Nature as Muse: Tiffany Treasures from the Richard H. Driehaus Collection February 8, 2025-January 17, 2026 Sawyer Den Immersed in an unmatched original environment of Tiffany Studios design, a selection of beautiful decorative arts treasures from the Richard H. Driehaus Collection shed light on Louis C. Tiffany’s innovative design inspired by nature. Minutes of the May 14, 2025 Museum Arts and Culture Board Meeting Page 2 of 5 The Durow Trust Presents: In Good Spirits May 24, 2025- May 2027 Sawyer Library From wine goblets to champagne glasses, from whiskey bottles to beer steins, the exhibit will explore how form meets function in the design of containers for alcoholic beverages. Tiffany’s Gardens in Glass July 19, 2025-January 3, 2026 Waldwic Gallery Tiffany’s Gardens in Glass explores Louis C. Tiffany’s enduring interest in the natural world and illuminates his studios’ path from inspiration to expression. This dynamic focus-exhibition features ten of Tiffany Studios’ famously lush botanical lamps and windows, along with nine nature study photographs drawn from the Studios’ own extensive reference collection. Organized by the Neustadt Collection of Tiffany Glass. Naturescapes: Landscape Paintings from OPM’s Collection June 21, 2025-January 31, 2026 Sawyer Parlor Much like Louis C. Tiffany, many artists draw inspiration from nature. Beginning in the early 19th century, the landscape became a significant theme for American painters as the US expanded west. This exhibition will highlight landscape paintings in the Museum’s collection by artists who were contemporaries of Tiffany (1848-1933), who himself started as a painter. Souvenirs of America February 7, 2026 -August 29, 2026 Sawyer Parlor Travel the US through the eyes of Oshkosh tourists! Oshkosh residents love travel, and love bringing remembrances of their trips home with them. This focus show features antique and vintage souvenir teacups, plates, and spoons from across the United States, and the people who collected them. Lewis Hine February 28, 2026-January 2027 Waldwic Gallery This exhibition explores the life of Lewis Hine and how formative experiences in Oshkosh influenced him and his work. Born in Oshkosh, Hine became a sociologist and documentary photographer. His photos were a key influence in the passage of child labor laws. The exhibit will feature a never-before exhibited collection of personal artifacts, gifted by Hine’s son. Oshkosh Works: Images of Labor March 14, 2026- March 2028 Lower Level This pictorial exhibit of the area’s labor history is intended to complement not only the Lewis Hine exhibition, but the 250th Anniversary Celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Labor is a large part of US history that keeps evolving today. About 30 historic images will show the different types of labor in the Oshkosh area throughout its history. Minutes of the May 14, 2025 Museum Arts and Culture Board Meeting Page 3 of 5 Ms. Rock reported that staff decided to open the red gallery as an exhibit space again for a few years. It will be called the Sawyer Gallery. Chicago Collects: Jewelry in Perspective September 19, 2026-March 13, 2027 Sawyer Gallery, Sawyer Den and Parlor Chicago Collects: Jewelry In Perspective Is an exhibition of over two hundred pieces of rare and significant jewelry from the 17th century to the present, all from prominent Chicago collections. This first-of-its- kind exhibition includes a range of never-seen-before jewelry and decorative arts objects from the Richard H. Driehaus Museum and Richard H. Driehaus Collections, alongside objects from the Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art, and objects from private lenders with unique areas of focus. Chicago Collects: Jewelry in Perspective is organized by jewelry historian and author Elyse Zorn Karlin. Ms. Rock allowed time for questions and then her report was complete. For the collections facility discussion Director Cannizzo began with a review. On April 21st the MAC Board approved matching funds to purchase 1331 High Avenue for a new collections storage facility. The price was recently reduced, and aligned better with budget. At a Common Council meeting on April 22nd Council and Director Cannizzo discussed the potential purchase of the property. The meeting concluded with no direction to provide funds to make an offer at this time. Some Council comments were directed to explore additional options, confirm use/need/costs of a collections storage facility. Director Cannizzo noted that a collections facility is on Capital Improvement Plans (CIP) in the area of facilities as well as the strategic plan. Some Council members felt the listing price was still too high. After the Council meeting Director Cannizzo met with Facilities staff to plan for next steps as it relates to CIP planning and to address some of the Council feedback. Next steps are to request a Planning Study for OPM facility projects that will include a community engagement component to provide community feedback from multiple stakeholder groups. Director Cannizzo contacted Alexandra Ramsey of Engberg Anderson Architects. Ms. Ramsey has worked with the Museum for the last 20 years. Through the years two previous facilities plans were not pursued due to timing/cost. Ms. Ramsey met with Director Cannizzo at the Museum to discuss an updated facilities planning study. Director Cannizzo sees an opportunity for the community to have input in this process. Mr. Mueske responded that public involvement is helpful in a situation like this. Director Cannizzo also consulted with fellow museum colleagues about similar planning and fundraising projects. The proposal from Engberg Anderson Architects to do a facility study will come sometime this week. The proposal will be used for the 2026 CIP budget plan. Relating to this, the 2025 Facility Condition Assessment has not been released yet. It will be released sometime in June. Director Cannizzo then opened for questions and discussion. Ms. Brown asked if Mayor Mugerauer supported the proposal to purchase the property at 1331 Hight Avenue. Yes, he noted that moving OPM collections items to that facility would open up storage needed for other departments. Minutes of the May 14, 2025 Museum Arts and Culture Board Meeting Page 4 of 5 Some Council members inquired about the benefits of the location – across the street from the Museum. They asked if OPM would need more staff if the facility was obtained. Ms. Cannizzo told them it would not require more staff and some current staff offices would be relocated to the new facility with better ADA compliance. Staff would also utilize the facility for exhibit planning and preparation in addition to collections care activities. The facility would also allow for a better space for community research requests. In closing Director Cannizzo noted that for now the church took the building off the market. They said they will let her know if they put it back on the market. That ended the discussion. Chair Redlin then requested the Director’s Report. Director Cannizzo began by reporting the electrical wiring is being installed this week for the exterior signage. Following that will be construction/installation work. It is about two weeks of work. The current goal is to have the signage completely installed sometime during the first half of June. Additional banner signage will be planned. Berglund Construction will be on site next week starting 5/20 to do some roof repairs on the Historic Sawyer Home. That is expected to be about a week of work. For a parking lot reconstruction update Director Cannizzo reported that the staff lot and area around the Carriage House is scheduled to start this August, with a completion date of October 3rd. It must be done before Día de los Muertos, which is set for Saturday, October 11, 2025. The lot will be completely torn up and redone. The main lot reconstruction is anticipated to begin in spring 2026 and will conclude in early summer 2026. Staff do not have the final design yet, but the goal is to create better access points and increase the number of parking spots by about a dozen more than OPM currently has. Staff will communicate these projects to the public as they happen so guests can plan their visits accordingly. Staff are also strategizing field trips so students can safely enter and exit the Museum. The elevator is scheduled to have a comprehensive upgrade. This work is currently scheduled to begin in January 2026 after the visiting exhibition Tiffany’s Gardens in Glass closes. The elevator will be inoperable for about 6-8 weeks and staff are strategizing on field trip visits along with communicating the lack of elevator access to the public during construction. Director Cannizzo then reported on the budget. Staff recently turned in OPM’s 2026 CIP project requests. After working with Facilities on planning future projects, the Museum has decided to push design and fabrication phases for the Deep Roots, Growing City exhibition project to 2028 and 2029, to better coincide with modifications for the front entrance. OPM may start conceptual planning earlier with existing encumbered funds. OPM currently has no direct 2026 CIP requests, and any 2026 requests are currently planned under Facilities Maintenance. With the postponement of the Deep Roots exhibition, Director Cannizzo was pleased to report that the Sawyer Gallery (formerly the Red Gallery) will be utilized again for a couple years for temporary exhibits--per Ms. Rock’s report above. As a Collections update, collections and curatorial staff met with a potential appraisal firm to assess Tiffany fixtures and interior elements in the Historic Sawyer Home. They are currently Minutes of the May 14, 2025 Museum Arts and Culture Board Meeting Page 5 of 5 awaiting a proposal and cost estimate for an appraisal. This appraisal project will come before the MAC Board for approval at a future meeting. This would align with use of the Collections Fund. A group of Menominee elders visited the Museum on May 7th. Staff showed them exhibitions and they viewed items from the collections that demonstrated a wide variety of artistic media, in addition to items belonging to Chief Oshkosh. They gifted OPM with several items including: woven armbands, a ribbon-work bag, and basketry. These will be added to the Museum collections. They asked if these items can be displayed some way; so that they aren’t in storage only. They also generously shared their knowledge of Museum collection items. This knowledge was added to the Museum’s database records. These visits from source cultures greatly enhance staff’s understanding of the collection and enable us to provide greater access and care. It was a wonderful visit and sharing relationship. Ms. Brown asked if the visit can it be publicized or is it more of a private situation? Ms. Rock replied that if OPM were to share the information, staff would need to be careful to protect their privacy. They are interested in coming back and being part of the fieldtrips, particularly the Menominee language institute. That concluded the Director’s report. MAC Board Member Statements or Announcements included the following: Chair Redlin stated that she attended all the events and programs for the series Bridging Past and Present. The feedback she received was positive. Attendees expressed hope that it will be planned again. Chair Redlin, kudos to Director Cannizzo for handling so well the many things that her position and that the Board had thrown at her. Director Cannizzo expressed gratitude to the Board and an appreciation for all of their input and involvement. Mr. Mueske inquired about the impact of the proposed federal cuts to funding agencies IMLS, NEH, and NEA. Director Cannizzo replied that while OPM is not currently involved in any federal grant projects, she is aware that colleagues and institutions have had funding impacts. These proposed cuts will impact OPM’s planning to fund future projects. Vice Chair Brown requested an update on the Wisteria Circle development program as a future agenda item. Chair Redlin recommended that a representative from the Auxiliary attend the MAC Board meetings periodically to report on Auxiliary activities. With no additional agenda items Chair Redlin asked for a motion to adjourn. MOTION: Adjourn (Mueske; second Brown) CARRIED: Voice Vote The meeting adjourned at 5:46 p.m.