May 27, 2003
Boonslick Outdoor Arts Meeting Report
Friends of Historic Boonville Board Meeting Room

NEXT MEETING: 6 p.m. June 10, 2003, Friends of Historic Boonville, 614 East Morgan, Boonville, MO  65233

ATTENDANCE: Bob Dyer, Ted Bleil, Betty Bowen, Gary Nauman,  Dorothy Whitten, Mary Pat Holmes and Art Schneider.

 

ARTS SELECTION COMMITTEE: Bob Dyer, Gary Nauman, and Pat Hanna. (Art Schneider recorded)

The committee reviewed two proposals: one from Harry Weber and one from Jon Loesing. Both were acknowledged as accomplished sculptors.

Both artists were willing t make modifications to suit community recommendations. 

Both provided acceptable art proposals with minimal changes required.

Committee noted that Mr. Loesing did not provide inn his portfolio any life-size works of humans. Also, he did include as part of his proposal delivery and installation. At the first meeting of the Outdoor Arts project the artists presenting noted that the presence of the artist at installation was critical.

Committee voted unanimously to select Harry Weber as sculptor.

Committee also discussed community input on the statue. (Both proposals were in the Boonville Daily News). Committee agreed to look at historical accuracy of the costuming. Also, wanted to verify shovel accurately depicted.

Both recommendations forwarded to the full project steering committee.

 

7 P.M. MEETING PROJECT STEERING COMMITTEE:

Update on Fundraising—Maryellen McVicker was ill and unable to attend.  Item tabled until next meeting.

Update on Bust of Walter Williams—Gary Nauman reported the Parks Boonville Commission has approved six busts of significant historical figures will be displayed  (three on each side of Hannah Cole).  At this time the Park commission upon recommendation of the Friends’ ad hoc Boonslick Arts Project Steering Committee has approved a pedestal and bust by Sabra Tull Meyer. The proposal will now be forwarded to the Boonville City Council for its June 2 meeting.

Update on Morgan Street park plan. The Boonville Park Board has approved a layout of the park at Morgan Street. (It is viewable on the web at http://mo-river.net/Arts/outdoor_art/park_plan_layout.htm

Gary noted the park is approximately 150 feet wide by 33 feet deep. There is a single entrance with a winged arc. In the center of the arc is the proposed statue of Hannah Cole. The circle will be 12 feet in diameter. The pedestals and busts of six distinguished Boone figures will be equidistance (three on each side) from Hannah Cole. It is possible that eight busts could be installed.

Gary noted that it is best to limit the number of pieces so as not to detract from appearance. Too many it looks cluttered and uninviting.

The Park Board has voted to accept the donation and handle maintenance.  He will bring the recommendation of the park board to the June 2 Boonville City Council meting and asked there be a representative or two from the project be in the audience. Dorothy Whitten and Mary Pat Holmes said they would attend and represent the project.

Gary also reported that in its acceptance the Park Board temporarily proposed locating the Walter William bust in front of City hall for the September 14 dedication and then move it to the park in conjunction with the dedication of the Hannah Cole sculpture.

Betty Bowen expressed a concern about safety and liability insurance. Gary said the pedestals will be solidly placed and that the bust would be covered by the city’s insurance.

Frederick T. Kemper—Some discussion was given to asking the Friends of Kemper to donate to a scultpure recognizing Kemper’s founder. This will be pursued.

Other Busts—It was suggested that David Barton be one of the six busts. Also suggested was Lon V. Stephens.

 

DAR Plans—Dorothy Whitten reported the DAR is planning on a Lewis and Clark marker on the Howard County side of the Missouri River near the KATY trail.

Update on Morgan Street Park—Gary reported the city has had an engineering firm investigate the park and substantial work will be required to stabilize its condition.  Extensive work will need to e done the entire length of the 150 feet adjoining the Palace. Waterproofing along the subterranean wall of the Palace will be required and an extensive drainage system installed. He did there would be no sidewalk along the rear of the park when the work is concluded. He said that it is unlikely a Boonville timeline will be in the park as presently designed.

The city budget for 2003-2004 has been approved and work on the park will have to wait until the next fiscal year, April 2004 to March 2005. He said it will be very tight, but substantial efforts will be made to have the park ready in time for the Hannah Cole dedication, Heritage Days and Lewis and Clark Expedition re-enactment.

Fundraising—discussion was given to increasing the visibility the Hannah Cole sculpture fundraising effort. Gary said the parks and recreation department would provide a 4 by 4foot wooden sign and would be able to paint the background, but didn’t have the expertise to draw a thermometer goal or a silhouette or rendering of the final scultpure. It was suggested that Winky Friedrich be contacted and asked to letter and put the thermometer and proposed artwork on the sign. Art Schneider agreed to ask Winky. (WINKY HAS VOLUNTEERED TO DO THIS) The Parks and Recreation Department will install the sign. Goal is to have it up before Heritage Days.

The thermometer goal will be $30,000 privately raised.

It was suggested the lettering read: “Future Site Hannah Cole Statue.”  Might also note donations to be sent to Friends of Historic Boonville, 614 East Morgan.

Pioneer Park—Naming the park at Morgan Street and Main Street to Pioneer Park was discussed at the Parks Commission meeting. The commission would like to solicit input on this proposal before taking it up and to the council.  There will be a public hearing in July on the Aquatic Center and it could possibly be discussed at that time. (ALSO, THE BOONVILLE DAILY NEWS ON MAY 30 RAN AN EDITORIAL WITH THE POSSIBILITY MENTIONED, SO THAT ALSO MIGHT PROVIDE FEEDBACK).

Betty Bowen noted that the park is a very visible area and an excellent location with the extensive traffic.

Update on Adversity wood sculpture and raffle—As it is nearing Heritage Days, some discussion was given to delaying the raffle until September or October and holding it in conjunction with the festivals. Concurrence this should be if it works for Bob Bohenstiehl. Neither Bob nor Margie was present. In an e-mail after the meeting Margie said her dad has had a large number of funerals and other pastoral responsibilities, but that the work on the woodcarving is progressing and she was in concurrence a fall raffle would work.

Update on Cole heir drawing the winning raffle ticket—Carol Cole Eichelberger has provided names and we will let Carol know that the date for the drawings will be pushed back from Heritage Days.

Arts Selection Committee Report and full steering committee action—The Arts Selection Committee receommended Larry Weber be selected as sculptor.  His willingness to make changes and work with the committee was noted.

Discussion that efforts should be directed to providing information to the artist to allow the artist to express the statue’s virtues.  Noted that the submitted work shows a dynamic spirit that captured independence and strength.  Mary Pat Holmes noted some aspects of the clothing were of a later date and efforts will be made to address those concerns.  Noted that higher waists, clothing made from nettles and buttons in back characteristic of the period. Uncertainty about the puffed sleeves. Bon noted that the short sleeves capture the strength of Hannah Cole.

Much discussion given to authenticity of the costuming. Bob Dyer suggested Cathy Johnson be contacted for her expertise on this era. Several knew of her and concurrence to follow up on this. She has a web page: http://cathyjohnson.info/

Bob will contact her. Art will arrange to get the statue on the web. The four views may be accessed from: http://mo-river.net/Arts/outdoor_art/hannah/views.htm

Art also sent this information to Cathy Johnson. Bob had contacted her by phone before the sculpture was on the web and communicated the areas of concern.

 

Harry Weber will be asked to come to the next meeting. Bob followed up on this and Harry has accepted. He will possibly bring a second maquette with the sewing of seed. Both maquettes will be dynamic. Harry will alter the maquette while the meeting is taking place.

 

Steering Committee accepted Arts Selection Committee recommendation.

 

OTHER BUSINESESS--Art Schneider said that while at the May Parks mad recreation meeting Frank Thacher approached the park board about a Veterans Memorial in the park area next to the Boonslick Bridge and KATY Trail.

Art raised concerns that fundraising for that memorial would affect efforts to raise finds for the Hannah Cole statue. (Frank Thacher since then has communicated the funds already have been raised so no additional fundraising will be undertaken)

Art also raised questions about the location and scale of the project. He said that the draft plan was basically a boulder or tablets with the insignia of the armed forces units, three flags (largest pole 20 feet) and an inscription yet to be decided.

Art encouraged the steering committee to support a veterans' memorial, but suggested the courthouse as the location. He asked if there were any veterans’ memorials in Boonville (Bob Dyer knew of them), but others were not able to recollect that there are three at the Cooper county Courthouse.

Art further commented:

1) Location.. A memorial there would be largely unnoticed.   It would be a significant improvement to have a major memorial on the courthouse lawn. The site next to the bridge would not allow for very large gatherings. The frontage of the courthouse would enable several hundreds to be gathered.

 

2) Significance. The outdoor arts project seeks to utilize art to help interpret our history, to draw people out, to have them think and to have them spend time in our community (and hopeful stay and buy merchandise ad services here).

 

A Memorial that would be fitting would be monumental in scope (size) and in content.  A short quote, rocks or tablets with insignias of the military insignias does not really grab people. He suggested the outdoor arts project work with the VFW to develop a much larger and interpretive sculpture or relief (or series of relief's) that would capture other dimensions. I t would be a memorial that would draw people because of its scope--such as the Iwo Jima Memorial in Washington—and would result in people making a point to stop here and see it.

 

Some things that such a monument could depict might include a bas relief of various service people, also include women (WACs and WAVs).

 

A memorial also should recognize that not just those whose served paid a price, so did those at home. At home citizens had food rationing, gas rationing, Gold Star mothers, Rosie the riveters and other roles that women took on, donations of metal for the war effort, even protesters--surely among the greatest freedoms protected.

 

A monument that recognizes sacrifices at home and abroad, that challenges and informs, that generate inquiry, we truly do honor the veterans, their families, their fellow citizens would be a significant and important addition.

 

If we make it a major symbol, we might be able to pick up veterans and other groups around the state and have the President or Secretary of defense, Attorney general or some major national figure here for the dedication. As a central location for the state this would further advance putting Boonville on the map.

 

Art will follow up with Frank Thacher and invite him to the June meeting.

June 6—Bob Dyer invited all to a meeting June 6 at Turner Hall.  A speaker from the Department of Natural Resources will be presenting a PowerPoint program on Lewis and Clark.

Meeting concluded at 9:15 p.m.

SINCE THE MEETING---Art Schneider has received two e-mails noting that there was nothing on the web site indicating to whom and where the Cole donations should be sent.  This was corrected June 2 and the home page has this information.

Also, Frank Thacher will be at a church meeting out of town when the next meeting is scheduled. Art will try to set up a meeting with Frank and the VFW.