5:30 p.m. October 21, 2003

Boonslick Outdoor Arts Project

Courthouse Annex

 

Attending: Carolyn Eichelberger, Betty Bowen, Bob Dyer, Dorothy Whitten and Art Schneider. 

Fundraising Update: Maryellen McVicker was unable to attend. She sent Art Schneider a written update showing $25,586.50 raised  (not including pledges) minus $22,000 first payment to Harry Weber of $22,000 leaving $3,586.50 in the bank as of today.  This meets the city match and leaves less than $500 to raise for the county match for a combined match of $26,000. 

Boonville Tourism Commission: Art reported that he has written the Boonville Tourism Commission requesting it set aside $6000 toward the statue. He requested this be a tourism-funded project. The $6,000 would be a challenge grant. Funds would not be used to match city or county funds already pledged. It will be November before the project learns of the commission’s decision. The decision will be reviewed and approved, modified or disapproved by the city council. 

Hannah Cole Sculpture: The first of the limited edition of the 18-inch bronze sculptures should be arriving within a week or so, Art reported.  In the meantime, Bill Mathis will meet Art at High Hill later tonight and bring Harry Weber’s artist’s proof to display and to encourage tickets sales at this week’s Battle of Boonville re-enactment. Members agreed that no more than 25 reproductions would be made. 

Raffle tickets:  Ticket will be $10 for one and $15 for two.  The raffle will be held after 500 tickets are distributed. The goal is to distribute the tickets by Dec. 1 so the winning ticket can be drawn just before the Boonville City Council meeting that night. 

For people living a distance, tickets may be purchased by sending a check for the appropriate amount, payable to Friends of Historic Boonville, 614 East Morgan, Boonville, MO. 65233, and including a pre-addressed stamped envelope to return the ticket receipt. The donation is tax deductible. 

Betty Bowen encouraged renewed efforts to seek statue funding from downtown merchants. She said at the Festival of Lights she was impressed with the knowledge school children had of Hannah Cole. She also suggested Girls Scouts as a community service project, perhaps asking Gordon Jewelers to display and sell chances on the bronze sculpture. Carolyn Eichelberger also discussed possible location to display the bronze statue and to see tickets. Also mentioned was displaying the maquette at Regan’s. 

Poster: Art showed a Hannah Cole poster that Bill Mathis had designed. People were awed by the poster.  Bob Dyer suggested that because Pat Hanna is in the process of designing a poster, Bill would consider the possibility of this design being used for tee-shorts. He suggested investigating the cost of a four-color tee-shirt and see if Bill Mathis would consider this. Also discussed was the possibility of a two-color tee shirt.  

Bob noted that there are so many activities associated with the re-enactment that people along the route have contracted a “Lewis and Clark high fever.” 

Members decided to delay a decision on Bill Mathis’s artwork for the immediate future.   

Transport June 6 from Harley Park Shelter #3 to the dedication site: Gary Nauman, parks director, sent an e-mail to Art with concerns about traffic and parking during the Hannah Cole statue dedication. Between 300 and 500 Cole descendants are expected for the ceremonies. Art said he would prepare a grant proposal to the Boonville Tourism Commission requesting funding for bus transportation between the shelter and the dedication site. He said he would contact Boonslick Industries. It has a small bus capable of transporting 17 people at a time and has handicapped access. It could run from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Because of the financial limits placed on each component and also on the total  funds any one organization may receive, Art will apply through the Cooper County Extension Center. 

Heritage Days: Art met earlier this month with the Heritage Days Committee and asked the committee to consider  “Breaking New Ground” as this year’s theme or part of this year’s theme (“Breaking New Ground---Corps or Discovery” or Corps of Discovery—Breaking New Ground”) and to request the committee consider having tee-shirts with one side a line drawing of Hannah Cole. The Lewis and Clark re-enactment theme is Corps of Discovery and the committee was thinking of a Corps of Discovery line drawing on one side and a listing of the corps members on the other side. 

Some discussion was given to the project printing tee-shirts to celebrate the Cole dedication.  No decision was made. Betty suggested one possibility would be to sell tee-shirts through the clothing stores. The Heritage Days Committee has made no decision on whether to include Hannah Cole on one side of the Corps of Discovery tee-shirt. 

Hannah Cole Play: Dorothy Whitten contacted Fayette teacher John Biesmeyer’s mother about a play on Hannah Cole. Dorothy said she had not heard from John and suggested that with his heavy teaching schedule, this should not be considered likely.  

Judge Vest Play: The Warrensburg DAR performs a play on Judge Vest and the “Eulogy to a Dog.” Dorothy Whitten talked to the DAR about the possibility of a performance at Thespian Hall.  Maryellen McVicker will be working with the Warrensburg DAR to bring the production, perhaps near Valentine’s Day. 

Cancellation Stamp: Carolyn asked about sculptor Harry Weber’s approval of a postal stamp drawing in conjunction with the dedication of the Hannah Cole statue. Art said Harry retains the right of approval on two-dimensional art and said he does not think this will be a problem. Winky Friedrich will be asked to do a line drawing of the statue and Art will submit to Harry for approval. 

Price of Hannah Cole 18 inch limited edition reproductions: Art said he had talked with the sculptor and Harry said the outdoor arts project’s cost of maquettes would not exceed $1000. (The morning after the meeting Art received an e-mail from Harry business colleague Bill Mathis explaining that Harry had not included the $200 cost of mold and shipping. This brings the cost to $1200.) 

Art said he asked Harry’s advice on pricing. The sculptor said for nationally known sports figures it is common to sell the maquettes for $5000. For a regionally known figure like Hannah Cole, he suggested $3500 to $4000.   

Betty Bowen suggested delaying price determination until a larger number of members were present.  After considerable discussion, there was concurrence that until June 6 a special price of $2500 per 18-inch reproduction would be offered. On June 6 the price would be set at $3500. Reproductions will be ordered as sold. Betty expected that the value of the reproductions to increase. She noted the reputation of the sculptor and the attractiveness of the sculpture. 

Patina: The sculptor asked the group if it wanted the bronze sculpture to remain bright or to have a patina as is on the artist’s proof. Concurrence members wanted a patina. 

KWRT: Art said he had spoken to Ted B. about five tickets being donated to KWRT to give to its listeners—one a week for five weeks (or until the remaining tickets are sold). Ted had agreed and members approved the donation. It is believed that the ticket give-away will add awareness, interest and increase raffle donations. 

Art Sale: Art said that an individual suggested to him that the Boonslick Outdoor Arts project consider an art show and sale. Participating artists will each be asked to donate a piece for a silent auction or to sell. It was suggested that such a show be held at Turner Hall, perhaps in conjunction with the Big Muddy or Missouri River Festival. 

Bob said Thespian Hall events with a Turner Hall connection usually have a crafts component or C. D.’s.  

Also discussed was a Hannah Cole tee-shirt in conjunction with the Big Muddy Festival.  Bob said Cathy Barton and Dave Para are the major figures in putting the Big Muddy Festival together. He said he would discuss an art show with them. 

Famous and Barr Charity Day Tickets:  Jackie McCollom and Dorothy Whitten ended up working a little more than three hours for Charity Day instead of the scheduled two hours. Art reported that 37 tickets had been sold—a total of $185 raised. He suggested that if the tickets had been sold in Boonville, more than 100 tickets could have been sold. 

McDonald’s funds raised: Art said he had not heard from McDonald’s on the amount of money raised during the four-hour sales period last month. 

Frederick T. Kemper bronze bust and pedestal: Art asked Bob about the status of proposed funding for the Frederick T. Kemper bronze bust and pedestal. (Earlier there was some discussion that the Frederick Kemper Foundation might consider funding the sculpture). Bob said that Boonville Economic Developer Sarah Gallagher was working directly with the foundation and that she needed to be contacted. 

J. Milton Turner: Art noted that the nationally recognized African-American educator J. Milton Turner had been suggested for the third bust to be placed in the park at Morgan and Main streets. He asked if the members still concurred. If so, he is to attend a meeting of the Concerned Citizens of the Black Community to discuss the Boonslick Outdoor Arts Project and propose working collaborating to raise $8500 to commission such a bust/pedestal. 

Bob noted Milton was a national figure who was influential in the founding of the first school for African-Americans in Boonville—Elias Buckner School--which later became Sumner School. Throughout the late 1860s and 1870s he worked vigorously to establish schools for African-Americans throughout the county. Earlier, Maryellen McVicker also had strongly suggested Turner’s selection. 

Members concurred on the selection of Turner. Art said he would contact CCBC and Gary Nauman of the Parks Department to request that the department endorse the bust to the Boonville City Council. Art also noted that if a cost-share were to be discussed with the city, the proposal would need to go to the city administrator by December. 

Art further noted that the selection of the final three figures probably would be a topic of considerable debate. Members will discuss the process of selection and recommendation in future meetings.  

Meeting concluded at 8 p.m. 

Next meeting at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 17 at Courthouse Annex

 



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