I.

Calling of the Meeting to Order - Diane B. Wilsey, President

A meeting of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco was held on Thursday, December 11, 2008, in the Piazzoni Murals Room, de Young Museum, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.  A quorum was present.  The meeting was called to order at 3:20 p.m. by Diane B. Wilsey, President, who recognized the absence of Executive Committee member, Kermit Boston.  Trustee Boston passed away suddenly on Sunday, November 23^rd.

President Wilsey presided; Mrs. Gough acted as Secretary.

II.

Calling of the Roll

Present:

Iris S. Chan
David H. S. Chung
Marion M. Cope, Vice President for Annual Support
Penny Coulter
Juliet de Baubigny
Belva Davis, Vice President
Kathryn Lasater
Marianne H. Peterson
Jeanne Robertson
Diane B. Wilsey, President

Excused:

Monica Maduro, Vice President for Marketing and Audience Development
Carl Pascarella
Trevor D. Traina
Lonna Wais
 
 Other Trustees in Attendance:

Denise Fitch
George Hecksher, Vice President for Collections
J. Alec Merriam
Lorna F. Meyer
Paul A. Violich, Vice President for Finance

III.

Closed Session for Conference with Legal Counsel for Anticipated Litigation
 
President Wilsey advised that this closed session item concerns existing litigation involving Robert Friede and Thomas Jaffe, brothers of John Friede, and pertains to their alleged interest in certain collateral owned by Marcia and John Friede.

President Wilsey welcomed Deputy City Attorneys Adine Varah and Donald Margolis, who were present to discuss the existing litigation as it relates to the Museums. 

A. Public Comment on All Matters Pertaining to the Closed Session

President Wilsey stated that public comment would be taken at this time on matters pertaining to the closed session before the Board of Trustees votes to convene in closed session.  There was no public comment on matters pertaining to the closed session.

B. Vote on Whether to Hold Closed Session to Confer with Legal Counsel [San Francisco Administrative Code Section 67.10(d)]

A motion to convene in closed session was made and seconded.  There was no discussion among Trustees or members of the public.  The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to convene in closed session.  Members of the public and all staff, with the exception of John Buchanan and Judy Gough, were excused from the Piazzoni Murals Room.

C. Closed Session Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9 and San Francisco Administrative Code Section 67.10(d)

Conference with Legal Counsel on Existing Litigation as Plaintiff - Deputy City Attorneys Adine Varah and Donald Margolis

1. City and County of San Francisco (Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco) vs. Thomas Jaffe, Robert Friede, et. al. (Civil Case No.:  08-479905)

President Wilsey called the closed session to order and introduced Deputy City Attorney Adine Varah and Deputy City Attorney Donald Margolis of the City Attorney's Litigation Division, who reported on the existing litigation.

D. Reconvene in Open Session

1. Possible Report on Action Taken in Closed Session [Government Code  Section 54957.1(a)(2) and San Francisco Administrative Code Section  67.12(b)(2)]

President Wilsey reconvened the meeting in open session and reported that no action was taken by the Board of Trustees during the closed session.

2. Vote to Elect Whether to Disclose Any or All Discussions Held in Closed  Session [San Francisco Administrative Code Section 67.12(a)]

A motion was made and duly seconded not to disclose any or all discussion held in the closed session.  There was no discussion among Trustees.  There was no public comment.  The Board of Trustees voted unanimously not to disclose any of the discussion held in closed session.

President Wilsey noted that the closed session was concluded, and the regular business before the Board of Trustees was then addressed.

IV.

Report of the President – Diane B. Wilsey

A. Consideration and Possible Action to Approve the Minutes of the October 23, 2008 Meeting of the Board of Trustees

There being no discussion among the Trustees or members of the public, the minutes of the October 23, 2008 meeting of the Board of Trustees, having been mailed in advance to all Trustees, were unanimously approved.

B. Consideration and Possible Action to Approve the Report of the  November 19, 2008 Acquisitions Committee Meeting – George Hecksher,  Vice President for Collections and Chair of the Acquisitions Committee

Chair Hecksher provided the report of the November 19, 2008 meeting of the Acquisitions Committee of the Fine Arts Museums Foundation. 

He covered the highlights of the meeting, particularly noting a purchase of a collection of Indonesian Beadwork and gifts received, including an African Mask, Sango people, Central Gabon, Africa, 20^th Century and a 50% partial interest in an American painting by Martin Wong, Sweet Enuff, 1988. The purchase and gifts are listed on pages 1 and 2 of Appendix I of these minutes.

Gifts Offered to the Museums

European Art

Chair Hecksher introduced, Lynn Orr, Curator of European Art, who presented Still Life with Violin, Ewer, and Bouquet of Flowers, 1657, oil on canvas, by Jacques-Samuel Bernard (French, 1615-1687), one of the founders of the Royal Academy in Paris.  This painting was exhibited at the Lourve, as part of a group exhibition of 17^th Century French painters, and has been on long-term loan to the Museum since 1984.

Ms. Orr also presented Denis-Jean de la Villguevray, mid-18^thcentury, oil on canvas, by Louis Tocqué (French, 1696-1772).  Tocqué was an important artist in the aristocratic circles of the 18^th Century and was quite skilled in suggesting the elegance and exquisite taste of the time in his portraiture.  It is 1 of 7 artworks gifted to the European Art collection by this generous donor. 

Chair Hecksher expressed sincere appreciation to all donors.  The gifts offered to the Museums by the Fine Arts Museums Foundation are listed on pages 2 and 3 of Appendix I of these minutes. 

Funded Purchase

Prints and Drawings

At the request of Chair Hecksher, Karin Breuer, Curator in Charge of the Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts, presentedWaterfall, Yosemite, 1920 by William Zorach (American, 1887–1966).  Zorach was an emerging artist of the early part of the 20^th Century.  In 1913 he participated in the Amory Show in New York City, which introduced Modern Art, including cubism and abstraction, to the United States for the first time.  This particular drawing is significant for its biomorphic, abstract interpretation of the natural world. This purchase, listed on page 4 of Appendix I of these minutes, was generously funded by a Trustee in memory of George Hopper Fitch and in honor of Harry S. Parker III.  The Executive Committee acknowledged the Trustee with a round of applause.

Second Step Deaccessioning

The artworks listed on page 5 of Appendix I of these minutes were recommended by the Acquisitions Committee for second step deaccessioning.  Chair Hecksher noted that, as required by Board policy, the Acquisitions Committee viewed the objects proposed for second step deaccessioning at its June 11, 2008 meeting held at the Museums’ off-site storage facility:  Dining Chair, ca. 1780, England, and 13 various Textile objects of varied media and origin. 

The following resolution was introduced:

RESOLVED, That the Board of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums of
San Francisco does hereby approve the appended November 19, 2008 report of the Acquisitions Committee of the Fine Arts Museums Foundation, including approving the works of art acquired through purchase and donation as gifts to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco from the Fine Arts Museums Foundation, and approving second step deaccessioning.

On motion, duly seconded, there was no discussion among Trustees.  There was no public testimony.  The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to adopt the above resolution as Board Resolution 1657.

C. Approval of a Resolution Authorizing the Director to Accept 2008 Year  End Gifts of Art – George Hecksher, Vice President for Collections, and  Chair of the Acquisitions Committee

Chair Hecksher presented the customary, year-end gift resolution as follows:

RESOLVED, That the Boards of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and the Fine Arts Museums Foundation, upon the recommendation of the Chair of the Acquisitions Committee, do hereby authorize the Director (or his designee) to accept gifts of art offered to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco or the Fine Arts Museums Foundation from November 19, 2008 (last Acquisitions Committee meeting) through December 31, 2008, if in his (or his designee’s) judgment, he deems it acceptable; and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Director shall report to the Boards of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and the Fine Arts Museums Foundation at their next meetings, the gifts of art accepted during this period.

On motion, duly seconded, there was no discussion among the Trustees.  There was no public testimony.  The Executive Committee voted unanimously to adopt the above resolution as Board Resolution 1658.

D. Consideration and Possible Action to Approve the Resignation of  Michael Podell from the Board of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

President Wilsey reported that Michael Podell has submitted his resignation from the Board of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.  His professional obligations preclude his active participation as a Trustee at this time.  On motion, duly seconded, there was no discussion among the Trustees.  There was no public testimony.  The Executive Committee voted unanimously to regretfully accept the resignation of Michael Podell from the Board of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.

V.

Report of the Director of Museums – John E. Buchanan, Jr.

A. Consideration and Possible Action to Approve Loan Requests

Mr. Buchanan presented the following loan requests:

1. From:  Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art, Nashville, TN

For:  Watercolors from the collection of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art, Nashville, TN:
10/03/09 – 1/03/10
  
a.  Henry F. Farny (American, 1847-1916)
Bringing in the Firewood, 1912
Opaque watercolor on wove paper mounted on cardboard,
15.5 x 21.5 cm (sheet)
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockfeller 3^rd
1979.7.40


b.  Winslow Homer (American, 1836-1910)
Backgammon, 1877
Watercolor over charcoal on wove paper, 45.2 x 56.4 cm (sheet)
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockfeller 3^rd
1993.35.15

c.  Winslow Homer (American, 1836-1910)
A “Norther,” Key West, 1886
Watercolor over graphite on wove paper, 358 x 517 mm (sheet)
(14 1/8 x 20 3/8 in.)
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockfeller 3^rd
1979.7.54

d.  Winslow Homer (American, 1836-1910)
A Swell of the Ocean, 1883
Watercolor over graphite on wove paper, 38.4 x 54.5 cm (sheet)
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockfeller 3^rd
1979.7.53

e.  Maurice Brazil Prendergast (American, 1859-1924)
Promenade at Nantasket, ca. 1900-1905
Watercolor over graphite on wove paper, 31.5 x 49.1 cm (sheet)
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockfeller 3^rd
1979.7.83

f.  Andrew Wyeth (American, b. 1917)
Frosted Apples, 1967
Transparent and opaque watercolor and ink over graphite on wove paper,
50.5 x 71 cm (sheet)
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockfeller 3^rd
1993.35.27

Stipulations:   The artworks must be accompanied by a FAMSF courier to and from Nashville, TN.  All related expenses will be paid by the requesting organization. 

*****

2. From:  Orange County Museum of Art, Newport Beach, CA

For:  Richard Diebenkorn: The Ocean Park Series 
Orange County Museum of Art, Newport Beach, CA: 10/11/09 –  3/14/10

Richard Diebenkorn (American, 1922-1993)
Ocean Park 116, 1979
Oil on canvas, 82 x 72 in.
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Museum purchase,
Gift of Mrs. Paul L. Wattis
2000.20
    
Stipulations:  The painting must be accompanied by a FAMSF courier to and    from Newport Beach, CA.  All related expenses will be paid by    the requesting organization. 

*****

3. From:  Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA

 For:  The Crown of Aragón: The Art of Barcelona, Mallorca, Valencia
and Zaragoza…
Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA:  2/18/10 – 5/25/10

Artist: Rodrigo de Osona The Elder (Spanish, 1464 – ); Workshop of Rodrigo de Osona The Elder (Spanish, 1464 – )
The Adoration of the Magi, 15^th – 16^th century
Oil on pine wood panel, 75 ¼ x 47 ¾ in. (191.1 x 121.3 cm)
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Gift of the Samuel H. Kress Foundation
61.44.23

Stipulations:  The artwork must be accompanied by a FAMSF courier to and from Philadelphia, PA.  All related expenses will be paid by the requesting organization. 

*****

4. From:  Hayward Gallery, London, England

For:  Ed Ruscha: Fifty Years of Painting
Hayward Gallery, London, England: 10/1/09 –1/1/10
Haus der Kunst, Munich, Germany: 2/1/10 – 4/1/10
Moderna Museet, Stockholm, Sweden: 5/1/10 – 8/1/10

Edward Ruscha (American, b. 1937)
A Particular Kind of Heaven, 1983
Oil on canvas, 90 x 136 ½ in.
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Museum purchase,
Mrs. Paul L. Wattis Fund
2001.85

Stipulations:  The painting must be accompanied by a FAMSF courier to London, and from Stockholm to San Francisco, and must be part of a couriered shipment between venues.  All related expenses will be paid by the requesting organization. 

*****

5. From:  The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, CA

 For:  Cast in Bronze: French Sculpture from Renaissance to Revolution
The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, CA: 6/30/09 – 9/27/09

a.  Corneille van Cleve, (French, 1645 – 1734)
Selene and Endymion, ca. 1704
Bronze, 73.5cm (28 15/16 in.) overall (including base);
41.5 x 44.5 cm
(16 5/16 x 17 ½ in.) (foot protrudes .5 cm over edge of base)
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Gift of Archer M. Huntington
1931.153

b.  Corneille van Cleve, (French, 1645 – 1734)
Bacchus and Ariadne, ca. 1704
Bronze, 69.6 cm (27 3/8 in.) overall (including base);
40.7 x 39.5 cm (16 x 15 9/16 in.) Base (uneven circle)
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Gift of Archer M. Huntington
1931.154

 Stipulations:  The artworks must be accompanied by a FAMSF courier to and from Los Angeles, CA.  All related expenses will be paid by the requesting organization. 

 A motion was made and seconded to approve the loan requests noted above.  There was no discussion among Trustees.  There was no public testimony.  The Executive Committee voted unanimously to approve the loans subject to the conditions stated.

 VI.

Public Comment

 Members of the public may address the Executive Committee on items that are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.  Speakers may address the Executive Committee for up to three minutes; the President or the Executive Committee may limit the total comment to thirty minutes.  There was no public comment.

VII.

Meeting Schedule, Future Events, and Current and Future Exhibits

A. 2009 Board of Trustees Meetings

B. 2009 Executive Committee Meetings

C. Future Events

D. Current and Future Exhibitions[1]

Legion of Honor - Major Special Exhibitions

de Young Museum -  Major Special Exhibitions

VII.

Adjournment in Memory of Trustee Kermit Boston – Diane B. Wilsey, President

 There being no further business, President Wilsey adjourned the meeting at 4:15 p.m. in memory of Trustee Kermit Boston.

Respectfully submitted,



Judy Gough
Executive Secretary

These minutes set forth all actions taken up by the Executive Committee on matters stated, but not necessarily in the order in which the matters were considered.