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city and county of san francisco. congratulations. [cheers and applause] ♪ >> welcome to "culturewire." today we are at recology. they are celebrate 20 years of one of the most incredibly

unique artist residency programs. we are here to learn more from one of the resident artists. welcome to the show, deborah. tell us how this program began 20 years ago. >> the program began 20 years ago. our founder was an environmentalist and an activist and an artist in the 1970's. she started these street sweeping campaigns in the city. she started with kids. they had an exhibition at city hall. city officials heard about her efforts and they invited her to this facility. we thought it would coincide with our efforts to get folks to recycle, it is a great educational tool. since then, we have had 95 professional artists come through. >> how has the program changed over the years? how has the program -- what can

the public has an artist engage with? >> for the most part, we worked with metal and wood, what you would expect from a program like ours. over the years, we tried to include artists and all types of mediums. conceptual artists, at installation, photographers, videographers. >> that has really expanded the program out. it is becoming so dynamic right now with your vision of interesting artists in gauging here. why would an artist when to come here? >> mainly, access to the materials. we also give them a lot of support. when they start, it is an empty studio. they go out to the public area and -- we call it the big store. they go out shopping, take the materials that, and get to work. it is kind of like a reprieve, so they can really focus on their body of work. >> when you are talking about

recology, do you have the only sculpture garden at the top? >> it is based on work that was done many years ago in new york. it is the only kind of structured, artist program. weit is beautiful. a lot of the plants you see were pulled out of the garbage, and we use our compost to transplant them. the pathway is lined with rubble from the earthquake from the freeways we tour about 5000 people a year to our facility, adults and children. we talk about recycling and conservation. they can meet the artists. >> fantastic. let's go meet some of your current artists. here we are with lauren. can you tell us how long have

been here so far and what you're working on? >> we started our residency on june 1, so we came into the studio then and spent most of the first couple weeks just digging around in the trash. i am continuing my body of work, kind of making these hand- embroidered objects from our day-to-day life. >> can you describe some of the things you have been making here? this is amazing. >> i think i started a lot of my work about the qualities of light is in the weight. i have been thinking a lot about things floating through the air. it is also very windy down here. there is a piece of sheet music up there that i have embroidered third. there is a pamphlet about hearing dea -- nearing death. this is a dead rabbit. this is what i am working on now. this is a greeting card that i

found, making it embroidered. it is for a very special friend. >> while we were looking at this, i glanced down and this is amazing, and it is on top of a book, it is ridiculous and amazing. >> i am interested in the serendipity of these still life compositions. when he got to the garbage and to see the arrangement of objects that is completely spontaneous. it is probably one of the least thought of compositions. people are getting rid of this stuff. it holds no real value to them, because they're disposing of it. >> we're here in another recology studio with abel. what attracted you to apply for this special program? >> who would not want to come to the dump? but is the first question. for me, being in a situation that you're not comfortable in has always been the best.

>> what materials were you immediately attracted to when you started and so what was available here? >> there are a lot of books. that is one of the thing that hits me the most. books are good for understanding, language, and art in general. also being a graphic designer, going straight to the magazines and seeing all this printed material being discarded has also been part of my work. of course, always wood or any kind of plastic form or anything like that. >> job mr. some of the pieces you have made while you have been here. -- taught me through some of the pieces you have made while you have been here. >> the first thing that attracted me to this was the printed surface. it was actually a poster. it was a silk screen watercolor, about 8 feet long. in terms of the flatwork, i work with a lot of cloddish. so being able to cut into it come at into it, removed parts,

it is part of the process of negotiating the final form. >> how do you jump from the two dimensional work that you create to the three-dimensional? maybe going back from the 3f to 2d. >> everything is in the process of becoming. things are never said or settled. the sculptures are being made while i am doing the collages, and vice versa. it becomes a part of something else. there's always this figuring out of where things belong or where they could parapets something else. at the end goal is to possibly see one of these collage plans be built out and create a structure that reflects back into the flat work. >> thank you so much for allowing "culturewire" to visit this amazing facility and to learn more about the artists in residence program. is there anything you like our

viewers to know? >> we have art exhibitions every four months, and a win by the public to come out. everybody is welcome to come out. we have food. sometimes we have gains and bands. it is great time. from june to september, we accept applications from bay area artists. we encouraged artists from all mediums to apply. we want as many artists from the bay area out here so they can have the same experience. >> how many artists to do your host here? >> 6 artist a year, and we receive about 108 applications. very competitive. >> but everyone should be encouraged to apply. thank you again for hosting us. >> thank you for including us in "culturewire." ♪ ♪ hey, mark. hey, mark. hey. where've you been? i lost my cat. aw. that's not right. yeah. so i made this cat magnet to try and get him back. cool. does it work? kinda.

[meow] nice. yeah. but that's not my cat. i gotta keep working on it. see ya see ya. see ya. announcer: anything's possible, keep thinking. get started on your own inventions or just play some games at... >> take any outside conversations outside. if you like to speak on an item today, please fill out a blue card. if you do want to speak. last, please address your comments to the commission during public comment in order to allow equal time. the commission may ask questions

of staff after public comment is closed. would you like to start? >> sure. >> we are on item two, the president's report. >commissioner buell: two quick items. i want to wish commissioner erraarata a happy birthday and e have a certificate of appreciation for mr. ben ito. he was a standout volunteer, due to his ability to blend in to the day to day life style. he walked to the lake daily, sometimes twice a day. he noticed a need for improvement. instead of complaining, he just

took care of it. ben picked up trash around the lake daily without worry or concern of the why or who. ben's extraordinary work was brought to our attention by another civic-minded friend, john draco. john share the story of how ben was in the late one day just to reach a loose plastic bag. if ben walked in the same direction, he would take time for small talk. if he was walking in the opposite direction, he would kindly nod. sadly, he passed away this past june. however, his honor will always be shared with the community of stone lake by a single cherry

tree that was planted with his family on june 1, 2011. on behalf of all his civic stewardship, we honor anhim. [applause] i want to present this to mrs. ito. [applause]

>> we feel so honored to accept this for ben ito. wonderful job. thank you. [applause] >> i will say just one thing. he told me a long time ago that one day he would be recognized by the city for something. i kind of thought it was a joke at the time, but it came through. thank you. [applause] >> thank you. >> commissioner lee. commissioner lee: thank you. september 4 and 5 rec and park and the table tennis association

are preparing for a two-day ping-pong tournament at richmond recreation center on september 4 and september 5. i understand there will be cash prizes. one of the top prizes is a $500 price in the adult category, but all ages are welcome. you can find out more information about this on our web site. september 4 and september 5. for those of you who have ping- pong in your hearts, come out and give it a try. commissioner buell: thank you. that concludes my report. >> is there any public comment? seeing none, public comment is close. we are on item 3. >> thank you, commissioners. we have a number of items today. i will try to move as quickly as i can. we completed another successful

summer at the recreation and parks department. we had over 60 summer camps that included both before care and aftercare programming and they ranged from our traditional camps to our new adventure camps, which included surfing, mountain biking, and skateboarding. the summer program is becoming a great success. we have received a lot of positive feedback. our camps are extremely affordable. the scholarship program is thriving. wheat served 16,000 registrants overall. fall registration is going on now. you can sign up onliine, at any of the nine major rec centers, or mclaren lodge. we registered over 4000 people for our program in the first

three hours. it was a new record for the department. next week i will be joining several members of my staff, the juvenile probation department, the san francisco police department, and brothers against guns, the chinatown youth center, and mission neighborhood center in bringing 54 boys and girls to camp made thether. it has traditionally been a family camp and a senior camp. for the first time ever, we are bringing children from our neighborhoods who have never seen camp mather and never experienced the high sierras. the kids will be there next thursday, friday, and saturday. they will be returning sunday. the four-sunday will have hiking, swimming, sports, navigation exercises, and a

talent show. this is a great example of the city family coming together. i want to give credit to mayor ed lee, who has also been a leader in making sure this event happened. we're very veryit. -- we are very excited about it. i want to turn to our regular feature, our monthly gm video of what is happening in our parks. >> cue the monitor.

♪ ♪ >> ♪ some sweet words in my ear ♪ [laughter] >> we got rides, activities, kids, food, fun.

♪ ♪ >> ♪ can't stand it no longer ♪ ♪ ♪

>> ♪ love me so hard i can't stand up ♪ ♪ ♪ >> ♪ some sweet words in my ear ♪ ♪ ♪ >> ♪ me sogive me some

give me some ♪ ♪ ♪ >> ♪ oh, lord don't keep me waiting ♪ >> believe it or not, that was

just august. [laughter] thank you to jaime hopper. that was me in a dunk tank. the first few shots of that video was outsideland. it was headlined by phish, arctic fire, and muse. it was a complete sellout. the festival has received nothing but rave reviews from the media, with everyone from the huffington's post to " rolling stone." this was the first appearance by a sitting mayor, showing how much outsidelands has become such a part of the city of fabric. it has become a celebration san francisco's san food culture.

more than 3000 local vineyards were featured in the winelands tent. almost 14,000 people were from the four zip codes that bordered the park, showing the appeal is not only for out-of-towners, but for our part neighbors. the economic impact on the city has grown. this year the event created an estimated 4500 jobs with 75% of all attendees from outside of the city, hotels and other businesses saw an uptick from the event. recreation and parks department staff, and the mayor's department, and many other agencies worked extremely close together. this work began immediately after last year's event and continued through the day yesterday as crews finish

clearing the field. with all but the last few pieces of equipment removed from the park, the area is once again open for park users. as in years past, there was a community out line for presidepeople to call in commen. we did see a decrease in some complaints. notably, responding to community complaints, sound technicians made real changes to the sound system. the results are best seen in the reduction of complaints on sunday, where there were only 47 calls, compared to 143 the day before. this, despite the fact that sunday was the night before the first day of school -- a schedule that was unfortunate, but created after outsidelands had been scheduled. lastly, commissioners, before i bring up alan scott from another planet to offer his perspective

on the event, i want to share with you what perhaps is the best news of the festival, certainly if you are the recreation and parks department. this year marks the first occasion that it will pay the department outside rent and the department will be receiving over $1 million this year. it's over $400,000 more than the minimal rent. additionally, another planet dedicated ticket sales from sunday night's show at the independent, a venue they own, to the department, and they are donating an additional $20,000 of funding from that event. i want to thank my staff, who worked tirelessly with another planet to ensure that the event was successful and that are park is well supported. i also want to think another planet. they have been a terrific partner.

they have gone above and beyond the call of duty. one example is their investment in maps and platforms all around the field this year to help preserve the fields for soccer season and they have made a tremendous difference in the condition of the venue. without further ado, i would like to welcome up alan scott, who wants to make a few brief remarks. sharon, are you coming up? ok. >> thank you commissioners. i think phil has said it all. we are very thrilled at another planet. it's very difficult and it takes

time to build an event of this caliber that's not only a local festival but internationally renowned. this year, in our fourth year, we feel it has been a watershed year. we have hit our stride, especially after the last couple of years with the economic downturn and attendance and that was less than ideal for us. it is important to note that when we started this festival in 2008, there were five north american festivals that began that year. one in denver, michigan, new york city, british columbia, and i'm forgetting the other one. we are the only one that still stands at this time. it's very difficult to put a festival on of this caliber. working with rec and park and the city has been -- ajoy