The San Francisco Arts Commission is pleased to announce the results of the election for the community representatives to serve on the artist selection panel for the North Beach Branch Library Public Art Project. This selection panel will include three community representatives in addition to Robert Carlson, Branch Manager; Marsha Maytum, Project Architect; and René Bihan, Arts Commissioner.

Beginning in early February, the Arts Commission solicited applications from residents interested in serving on the selection panel. The election of community representatives took place during the North Beach Branch Library Community Meeting on February 24 at the North Beach Clubhouse.

The community elected these three community members to serve as voting members of the selection panel:

Abby Herget – Abby Herget has been a North Beach resident for 22 years. Her career reflects her strong interest in art and visual communications. Abby was Vice President, Design Director for the international communications firm Burson-Marsteller for 13 years. Next, she spent seven years as Vice President, Design Director of Deepa Textiles, a San Francisco-based textiles studio which specialized in custom textiles that reflected the vision of its clients. For the last six years Abby has been an art instructor at Saints Peter and Paul School in North Beach, using her career contacts to foster a visiting artist program in the school and leading projects that educate students on public art around San Francisco. Starting in 1988, she volunteered for nine years with the San Francisco School Volunteers and for several years with the San Francisco Senior Center. Abby is delighted to be able to serve the North Beach Branch Public Library. Her contributions to libraries started early on when, as an art student, she was staff artist for the Aurora Public Library and design consultant to the City of Aurora, IL.

Aileen M. Meehan – A long-term resident of California, Aileen has recently moved back to settle in North Beach. She is the current Owner and Director of a local, eco-minded art gallery – collectively GRASP. Aileen is an active member of the community, volunteering her time to develop community involvement, interaction and awareness. Aileen graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a B. A. in Biology and also holds a degree from Brooks Institute of Photography. While living in New York City, Aileen was the Assistant Director at White Box, a contemporary, alternative, not-for-profit art space in Chelsea. Aileen looks forward to serving on the public art selection panel to help identify an artist whose work matches North Beach’s dedicated, vibrant and outspoken community and enhances the architecture of the new building.

Howard Wong – Since early childhood Howard has been using the North Beach Library. Its reference material, books, magazines and ambience, as well as the neighboring bocce court and playground, were instrumental to his education. For him the library continues to be a rich source of literary content, community and public events. Howard is a retired architect for the City and County of San Francisco, where he had enriching opportunities to work with artists and public art. Particularly in a city with such a strong creative lineage, San Francisco deserves a high level of artistic quality that will enhance the architecture and the neighborhood and inspire future generations.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
All selection panel meetings and the orientation meeting are open to the public. For meeting dates and locations, please visit the San Francisco Public Library’s website at www.sfpl.org/blip or the San Francisco Arts Commission’s website at www.sfartscommission.org/pubartcollection.

In mid to late April, the three selected artist finalists will attend an orientation meeting with community representatives, the branch architect, and Public Library and Arts Commission staff to discuss art opportunities and community interests for the new North Beach Branch Library. We invite participation by community members at this meeting.

PUBLIC DISPLAY OF ARTWORK PROPOSALS
Based on information obtained at the orientation meeting, the three artist finalists will each prepare an artwork proposal, which will be on public display in the community and on the Arts Commission’s website for two weeks in late May to early June for written public comment. Comments will be forwarded to the panelists prior to their final meeting.

ARTIST CANDIDATES
An artist candidate pool of pre-qualified professional Bay Area artists working in a wide variety of appropriate media was established for the Branch Library Improvement Program in 2008. The Arts Commission is interested in augmenting the artist candidate pool to include additional North Beach artists. Interested North Beach artists may contact Jennifer Lovvorn at (415) 252-4637 to learn how to join the 2009 BAY AREA ARTISTS REGISTRY.