Chairman Paulos called the meeting to order at 5:35 p.m.

MOTION BY Commissioner Nancy Love, SECONDED BY Commissioner Jerry Drake 
to EXCUSE the absence of Commissioner Erin MacFarlane, Commissioner Carole Palmer, and Youth Commissioner Kiley Colvin. The motion carried by the following vote:

AYE:

Chairman Lisa Paulos, Commissioner Nancy Love, Commissioner Louise Privette, Commissioner Kyoko Iwasaka, Commissioner Jerry Drake, Commissioner Cindy Braun, Commissioner Laura Fries

Other:

Vice Chairman Erin MacFarlane (Absent), Commissioner Carole Palmer (Absent)

Passed - Unanimously

There were no public comments. 

MOTION BY Commissioner Nancy Love, SECONDED BY Commissioner Laura Fries

AYE:

Chairman Lisa Paulos, Commissioner Nancy Love, Commissioner Louise Privette, Commissioner Kyoko Iwasaka, Commissioner Jerry Drake, Commissioner Cindy Braun, Commissioner Laura Fries

Other:

Vice Chairman Erin MacFarlane (Absent), Commissioner Carole Palmer (Absent)

Passed - Unanimously

Chairman Paulos relayed that since May, the Arts and Culture Committee has seen an exciting wave of activity and community engagement. The Commission hosted the Space Odyssey reception, which marked the official close of the project's public art component and drew strong attendance. Community members participated in selecting both the Artist Favorite and Public Choice awards, enhancing the interactive spirit of the event. Looking ahead, the next exhibit, Kitchen Creations, is set to launch soon. In June, new artwork was installed at the GRC, including the Let’s Play mural by Maria Madrid Reed. The mural was created in two panels at her home and then installed on the exterior wall of the bathroom facilities. The Juneteenth event was another major success, featuring five temporary art installations across the event site. One installation was placed near the lively double Dutch demonstration, and the event was notably attended by Governor Katie Hobbs. Despite the summer heat, art continues to be created and installed throughout the community, demonstrating the resilience and passion of our artists and supporters.

Jeremy Hartshorn, Director of the Solid Rock Teen Center, provided an overview of the center’s free weekday programming, which includes music, art, and dance classes for teens. The center provides a variety of creative opportunities designed to engage and inspire local youth. Artist Troy Buck recently completed a mural on the Teen Center wall, contributing a vibrant and meaningful piece to the space. He has also been commissioned to design a mural to be displayed on a heart-shaped sculpture for the Heart Project, which will be installed outside the center. His role is to capture the ideas and spirit of the teens, who will also have the opportunity to participate in the creation process. Troy shared insights into his artistic approach and vision for the final piece, which is expected to be completed in August.
 

MOTION BY Commissioner Louise Privette, SECONDED BY Commissioner Cindy Braun 
to APPROVE the concept design for the Heart Project. The motion was carried by the following vote:

AYE:

Chairman Lisa Paulos, Commissioner Nancy Love, Commissioner Louise Privette, Commissioner Kyoko Iwasaka, Commissioner Jerry Drake, Commissioner Cindy Braun, Commissioner Laura Fries

Other:

Vice Chairman Erin MacFarlane (Absent), Commissioner Carole Palmer (Absent)

Passed - Unanimously

Sany Raymond and her group of mentees from the Catitude mural mentoring training class presented to the Commission. This presentation marked the second session of the mural program. Each student introduced themselves and shared how they became involved in the program. The team spoke about their collaborative process in creating their most recent mural, with each mentee taking ownership of a specific element of the design. They described how they worked together, combining their individual contributions into a cohesive final piece. Each mentee also reflected on their personal experience in the program, highlighting key lessons learned. Many expressed how the program helped them develop artistic skills, gain confidence, and learn how to work with clients. Several shared their excitement about pursuing art as part of their future careers.
 

Dawn Stipe, Arts & Culture Superintendent, provided an update on current and upcoming art installations in Goodyear. She shared a video with the committee showcasing the Let’s Play installation, which was recently completed and installed. She also reported the successful completion of the Follow Your Art Junior program in June, which had 25 participants, with approximately 30 expected to participate in the July session. Dawn also recapped the Juneteenth celebration noting that five temporary murals were installed at the Goodyear Recreation Campus ahead of the event that added a vibrant visual element to the festivities. Looking ahead, several events are scheduled, including Kitchen Creations opening on August 7, the Creative Aging Art Show on September 24, and an Art Lecture on July 17. Calendar invitations for these events will be sent to all commissioners.

Commissioner Lisa Paulos thanked the Catitude team for their presentation and contributions. She announced that a subcommittee meeting will be scheduled in the near future to continue communications planning and outreach efforts.

There were no information items.