Fine Arts Commission — Skokie, IL
Date: 2023-12-13

Agenda
 Skokie Fine Arts Commission
 December 13 , 2023 7 p.m.
 Skokie Village Hall Conference Rooms D&E


  I. Call to Order
 II. Excellence in the Arts Awards
 a. Review of submissions and selection of recipients
 b. Plan for presentation at January 16 Village Board Meeting
III. February Storytelling Event
IV. Artists’ Happy Hour Networking Event
 a. Selection of date
 b. How to promote?
 V. SOAR student art exhibit in March at Oakton College
VI. Adjournment

Upcoming meetings: January 10 – Commission Meeting at 7 p.m.
 January 16 – Village Board Meeting at 7:30 p.m.
 (Presentation of the Excellence in Arts Awards)

 February 14 – Commission Meeting at 7 p.m.




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Skokie Fine Arts Commission
 December 13, 2023
 Meeting Notes



 1. Call to Order at 6:55 p.m. by Chairperson Pam Garbarini
 Present: Chairperson Garbarini, Vice Chairperson Rhodes, Staff Liaison Gioia, Trustee
 Klein and Commissioners Beatrice, Blum Barish, Chander, Hatchett, Joshi, Liberman,
 Osseny, Sloan, Thomas, Vasevski, and Waxberg.

 2. Excellence in the Arts Awards
 a. Chair Garbarini reviewed the nominations with the Commission. There was some
 discussion as to whether the nomination for Ralph Petrella and the Old Orchard
 Junior High Bands was an individual or a group nomination. The group agreed
 that it should be reviewed as an individual nomination similar to last year’s
 recipient Jennifer Page from Niles North. The point was made that school groups
 where students pass through regularly are intrinsically different than community
 arts groups in which adults may remain part for many years. After a vote, Andrea
 Seigel was selected (9-6) as the individual recipient and The Gallery at A+C
 Architects was selected as the group recipient.
 b. Trustee Klein will be meeting with the mayor and will introduce the idea of an
 award for service to be given annually by the Village Board to a long-standing
 Commission member.
 c. Staff Liaison Gioia will send notice to the recipients.
 d. Awards will be presented at the January 16 February 20 Village Board meeting
 with a reception in the lobby for the recipients and guests. All Commissioners are
 encouraged to attend.

 3. February Storytelling Event
 a. A decision was made to postpone the next storytelling event until spring. This will
 allow for more time to plan and recruit storytellers.
 b. Possible themes referencing new beginnings, rebirth
 c. A discussion followed about the cost of chair rental and delivery. It was suggested
 that we investigate holding the next storytelling event at Sketchbook which would
 not require the rental of chairs. Commissioner Blum Barish mentioned a Skokie
 Bike Network storytelling event that was held there on a Sunday afternoon.

 4. Artists’ Happy Hour Networking Event
 a. Will be held in late February. Commissioner VanOsdol will contact Sketchbook
 for available dates.



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 b. It will be a cash bar but the Commission will provide trays of food from a local
 restaurant/caterer
 c. Anyone who lives or works in Skokie and identifies as an artist is welcome to
 attend
 d. Commissioners are tasked with sharing the event within their circles and bringing
 a friend to the event. Staff Liaison Gioia will share in SkokieNews and on social
 media when date is decided.

 5. SOAR Student Art Exhibit in March at Oakton College
 a. Artists reception will be held Monday, March 11 from 4-6 p.m. Mayor Van Dusen
 will be in attendance
 b. Set up is Thursday, February 29 from 3-5 p.m. Volunteers needed
 c. Staff Liaison Gioia will take down the exhibit during the day on Monday, April 1
 and teachers will be instructed to pick up their students’ artwork at the front desk
 of Village Hall during normal hours.

 6. New Business
 a. Commissioner Blum Barish updated the group on her research about Skokie oral
 histories. There are various recordings at the library, historical society, history
 museum. Will continue her outreach and report back.
 b. Commissioner Thomas shared that she will be teaching a Ukulele Campfire Class
 on Wednesdays at Emily Oaks beginning January 31.

 7. Adjournment – Meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m.


Upcoming meetings: January 10 – Commission Meeting at 7 p.m.
 February 14 – Commission Meeting at 7 p.m.
 February 20 – Village Board Meeting at 7:30 p.m.
 (Presentation of Excellence in Arts Awards)




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