Boonslick Outdoor Arts Meeting
7 p.m. June 27,  2008
Emergency Preparedness Center Operations Center meeting room

Attending: Dorothy Whitten, Maryellen McVicker, Betty W. Bowen, Gary Nauman, Misty Langston, and Art Schneider.

Addition to agenda: Maryellen McVicker asked top add Bob Dyer library to agenda, Concurrence to do so,

Bob Dyer Library
Maryellen noted that Bob was a major promoter of local libraries and that he taught Missouri history to fourth graders for many years.  Some discussion has been given that the library at Hannah Cole School is named for Bob. The new school will be for students through Grade Two.

As Bob was a user and proponent of libraries and as made a major contribution to the recording of the history of Boonville and Missouri the committee concurred that it would be appropriate for a library at one of the Boonville Schools be named in Bob Dyer’s honor.

The school board meets July 16 and agreed to support a recommendation to the board.

Update on funding status for the David Barton bust

Art Schneider reported that the total funds from donations  ($1429) and sales of souvenir items  ($3300) have brought the total to  ($4729). He noted that Misty Langston’s David Barton students had twice made significant contributions to the bust.

The City of Boonville allocations for last year and this year  total $5000 have reached the march needed to fund the bust. Some private dollars may have to be raised. He said there also may be one or two other contributions forthcoming.

David Barton School 50^th anniversary celebration

This year 2008-2009 will be the 50^th anniversary of the opening of David Barton School. Misty Langston reported the school is planning a series of monthly events to celebrate its golden anniversary.  She said the school will work with the Outdoor Arts to schedule the dedication at a time to provide maximum benefit and exposure.

Many ideas were discussed, such as a tee-shirt that on one side had the image of the sculpture and the other side a school-based image or wording, poetry competition at the school with winner or winners to deliver their poems at the dedication, perhaps stories, fiction or on-fiction, and singing by students.

As to whom should be invited, the following were suggested: Christopher “Kit” Bond, Claire McCaskill, John Danforth, Jean Carnahan, John Ashcroft, Jim Talent, Jim Mathewson, state senator pro tem at the time of the dedication, Larry Rohrback, Kenny Jones, Bill Stauffer, Walter Bargen, Missouri poet laureate.

There was much discussion about time and date. It was tentatively agreed to schedule the dedication at 1:30 p.m. May 1, 2009, a Friday and ask invited dignitaries who can attend to come in the morning and speak to various students,

Arrangements to select sculptor for the project

National and international quality sculptors have been selected for all sculptures at Morgan Street Park.  Harry Weber has a base price of $10,000 just for the bronze bust, which would be outside the budget.

Committee members spoke highly of the work of Sabra Tull Meyer and Kwan Wu. It was decided to limit the request for proposals to Sabra Tull Meyer and Kwan Wu. They shall be asked to submit their bids to the committee. After selection, the commissioned sculptor will be asked to submit a full-size bust to the committee for public and committee input.

The next meeting will be after August 1 to consider the bud proposals received by Kwan Wu and Sabra Tull Meyer.  

Sixth Bust at Morgan Street Park

 At past meetings there has been considerable discussion about the sixth and final bust at Morgan Street Park. Maryellen McVicker suggested that the site for a sixth bust be reserved for a future Boonville area person. The committee concurred with that recommendation.

Meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.