Boonslick Outdoor Arts Project

Present: Bob Dyer, Laura Gramlich, Dorothy Whitten, Gary Nauman, Maryellen McVicker, Jim Painter, and Art Schneider

Jeff Martin, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, will be asked to give the invocation.

Mayor Dave Nicholas will be contacted to welcome participants on behalf of the city.

Keynote speakers are: Ed Ridgley, Laura Gramlich, and Sieve Read. Laura noted Steve might have a conflict. He will be contacted.

Art distributed Echo Company newsletter with an article on Dr. Ed Ridgley's proposed dedication speech.

The bust unveiling is to be by Kwan Wu and Mayor Nicholas.

Gray said Parks & Recreation is planning to put two sets of bleachers in the parking area in front of Morgan Street Park for the dedication.

Dedication Brochure:

Addition of Mayor, correction on spelling of Ed Ridgley’s name.

Bob noted error in script on Kwan Wu and agreement to add line recognizing Kwan also had sculpted the J. Milton Turner bust at Morgan Street Park.

Reproduction of “Breaking New Ground” sculpture.

Art reported that the scale model of the Hannah Cole sculpture in China was unacceptable to Harry Weber, the statue’s sculptor. Art has send e-mails to Simon Chen, about the model being created in the U.S. and sent to China for reproduction.

Art asked what the group wished to do about the $400 deposit. Consensuses to first seek a refund because the quality was not acceptable. Second to negotiate to have $400 deducted from the cost of reproduction.

Harry shared the name of an Oklahoma firm and it charges $1500 for a reproduction model. The model is computer generated and an exact duplicate. Harry volunteered to provide the model for the company.

Gary warned to proceed cautiously. Also discussed was visiting with Kwan Wu after the dedication. Kwan is having some of his originals duplicated as models. Also discussed was asking Kwan to take a model mold to the company that he uses.

Kwan will provide a full-size plaster cast of the Kemper bust. Members discussed where to place the bust. The hope was it would eventually be placed in a museum honoring Kemper and the school.

Among suggested locations were: Friends of Historic Boonville, UMB, City Hall, Alliant Bank (a donor toward the sculpture).

Maryellen did not think the Friends had a safe storage option but said she would check. If not, Gary will check with UMB and. If the bank declined, City Hall would be offered the plaster bust.

Maryellen called the day after the meeting and said the Friends have a cabinet that would be a perfect location to display the bust until a museum is opened. It will be at Thespian Hall on the second floor. When Kwan brings the plaster bust June 24 it will be immediately transferred to the site.

To date $600 has been raised. Art noted that two donations toward the Kemper bust arrived after the plaque had been made. Both donors have been contacted. Their names will be on the program and, with their approval, will be put toward the Barton bust. Both donors agreed to put the funds toward the bust. Also, one of the donors requested the donor not be named on the Barton bust.

It was suggested tat the Missouri Bar be asked for a donation.

Also mentioned was contacting Senator Bond’s office for federal assistance as he is the senior senator.

David Barton School also was suggested as a possible lead for the effort. A plaster bust could be donated to the school as part of the project.

Maryellen suggested a double bust be selected for the final addition at the park. Kwan Wu offered a proposal for less than $10,000. She suggested Margaret Nelson be honored with Lon Stephens, former Missouri governor. She suggested there would be several fundraising possibilities for this. Laura concurred there should be another woman as part of the honoree busts. She suggested that strength would be the variety a double bust would provide.

Dorothy reminded the group that it was very difficult for women to “make a statement.” Maryellen said Mrs. Stephens made significant contributions to the state and area. The Stephens had no children, but were a team that worked together.

Consensus to eventually bring this to the park board, but attention first needs to be directed toward the dedication and the fundraising for David Barton.

Bob will talk with the Leonard family about participating inn the fundraising.

Discussion about whether the final busts should be on the east or west sides. It was suggested by art that the final pillar could be angled and the story of each of the Stephens e on each side and donors at the bottom of the story. Members preferred to maintain the current layout.

Jim Painter noted Mrs. Stephens is related to the Cole family and the Cole Association may be willing to contribute.

Maryellen pointed out that the Native American heritage has been ignored. She suggested tiles and/or plaques on the west side of the Boonslick Bridge—perhaps four or five by eight feet. This would be inside the handrail. Each would tell something about the Native American history. Each—perhaps four—would describe a different period. This would require approval from two separate highway districts as Howard County is in one district and Cooper County in another district.

Gary had concerns about the bottom being flush with the rail, suggesting that might be too low.

Maryellen said we should perhaps scrap effort to put large bronze monuments at the north end of the bridge. Bo had suggested there was little room to place a monument with the slope.

Some discussion about a Native American monument in Harley Park at the mound, but a concern it would slow vehicles.

Gary suggested laminated plastic be considered. He said for the Cobblestone Park laminated paper was used and that it did not hold up well. Laminated plastic panels would last several years. They are ultraviolet light protected.

Adjourned at 8:07 p.m.