SUMMARY
OF COMMENTS FROM NOVEMBER 5 BOONSLICK OUTDOOR ARTS PROJECT PARTICIPANTS
BOONVILLE MASONIC TEMPLE
ATTENDEES:
Robert Omer, Florence Friedrick, James Calvin; Jeff Martin; Bob Dyer; Tio Higbie,
Jim and Elias Tsapelas, Tom Yancey, Jeff King, Jacky Draffen, Pat Larson, Ted
Bleil, Carolyn McFarland, Marry Ann Snapp,
Margaret Jackson, Cathy Barton Para, Dave Para, Pat Humphrey, Rex D.
Myers, Frank Shore, Julie Thacher, Judy Shields, Tim Parish, Sylvia Forbes, Joe
Geist, Betty Bowen, Helen Sanders, Maryellen McVicker, Jeff Lueck, Peggy Guest,
Shari Kraus, Pat Jackson, Tim Nadeau, Nancy Tilman, Gary Nauman, Judy Scrivner,
Pat Hanna, Misty Langston, Bill Sullivan, and Art Schneider.
COMMENTS:
Historian (Renaissance Man) Bob Dyer: Suggestion
of a first sculpture based upon a statewide DAR sculpture of Pioneer Women to be
called “Madonna of the Trail.”
Boonville
Councilman Frank Shore: Asked about stability (strength) of sculptures if
children played upon them. Response
was that bronze sculpture is very durable. Professor Jim Calvin of M.U. Art
Department noted that children heavily play with the animal sculpture that he
co-sculpted at Boone County Government Center and this has not been a problem.
Unidentified
Comment: The potential for publicity with 2004 and Lewis, Clark, York, and
“Seaman the Dog” was “priceless.”
Historian
Judy Shields: Suggested Harley Park Outlook is considered a location for Lewis,
Clark, York and “Seaman.”
Professor
Jim Calvin: Recommended that the subject matter for the initial sculpture be
“as inclusive as possible” in determining the subject matter. Included
should be considerations on whether a committee selects a work and spells out
what it wants, asks for a broad work that allows the artist to interpret it, or
selects an artist and allows that art to suggest a piece. Geographic competition
(usually based on amount allocated) also needs to be decided, he said.
Typically, he noted, the more expensive the proposed work, the broader or
wider the geographic zone for the artist.
He
warned against setting very tight deadlines and planning for an art unveiling
before the artist even starts on the work. It ads pressure, to the artist, he
said, because there are issues of location, foundry time, and so on.
He
noted budget should take into account not only the sculpture (or other art
object), but also the installation, and maintenance, which can vary from a
simple waxing once or twice a year to reapplying patina every two years.
He
also emphasized the importance of site selection. He
noted two cases in which sites were selected and the result was the art degraded
because the sites did not consider water damage.
Other
factors mentioned included:
Safety
Longevity
Whether engineering is a factor or not
Being aware of an anti-art backlash.
Bob
Dyer: Suggested limiting the initial effort to one really good, singe project
and worry about adding works later. He suggested “Daniel Boone” and
“Lewis, Clark, York and Seaman” might be too predictable a scultpure.
He suggested that the Boonslick area had some characters that were
themselves unique. Common, everyday characters should be associated with the
history of Boonville.
He
reiterated initial efforts be concentrated on a major project in one location.
Maryellen
McVicker: She suggested that Daniel Boone be considered first because he is a
nationally known figure. She noted
that the Friends receive many requests for information on Daniel Boone.
She also supported have outdoor art recognizing Lewis, Clark, York and
Seaman.
Central
Methodist Curator Joe Geist and Professor Tom Yancey reported that the college
has the original tombstone for Daniel Boone and seeing it is one of the most
frequently requests that they receive-even though it is not advertised or
promoted.
Bill
Sullivan, former city councilman and chamber director, reported people wanted to
see a cabin where Daniel Boone lived when they come to Boonville. He suggested
this reflects the interest in Daniel Boone.
Jeff
Lueck suggested that there is much music history associated with Boonville and
that the encouragement of festivals, such as the Rag Time Festival in Sedalia,
could be integrated with art that reflects the musical heritage.
Tim
Nadeau suggested that characters from George Caleb Bingham’s
"Jolly Boatmen" painting or “Watching the Cargo” be
considered.
Mary
Pat Abele: She noted that the sculpting projects would be major undertakings and
that whatever undertaking was selected must be done very well. It would be
preferable to narrow what is done to very few projects and the quality of those
projects set the standard.
Pat
Larson, Boonville Tourism commissioner, noted that when Boonville was founded
Daniel Boone was 70 years of age. Earlier,
as commissioner, she emphasized that the commission is very supportive of
projects that strengthen the city’s tourism base.
Dave
Para, folk singer, said Daniel Boone would be a classic sort of scultpure. He
said whatever artwork was selected should convey the sense that Boonville values
public art.
Judy
Shields strongly suggested that Hannah Cole be considered. She is the epitome of
the frontierswoman. She is the first woman west of St. Louis to found a town.
She also noted that there are many interesting characters in
Boonville’s history that could be captured and that the public art effort does
not have to copy that of other towns.
Another
citizen noted that Paducah, KY., has a beautiful series of flood wall paintings,
so sculpture does not need to be the focus of the first work of art.
Tim
Parish, tourism commissioner, asked the gathering to seriously consider: What it
is the community wants.
There
was some discussion of putting suggestions in the Boonville Daily News and
asking people to make suggestions for public art in Boonville. It was suggested
at the first Saturday in December a survey be made of Christmas Parade
participants.
Cathy
Barton, folk singer, suggested that the community consider the musical heritage
and perhaps have a figure with a fiddle and another dancing.
Participants
agreed that another meeting to begin the process of developing a proposal to
move forward was needed. It was suggested being done very soon.
Art
Schneider volunteered to find a location and send out an announcement plus
inform the news media.
The
meeting then adjourned.
AFTERMATH: Meeting set for 7 p.m. November 26, Ss. Peter & Paul Church meeting room.