Inappropriate Sculpture at Overland Park Arboretum in Kansas

Comment

Comment by Joanne Hughes on May 24, 2012 at 7:49am

Yvonne, Donna Owens is on the City Council.  She represents Ward 3:  http://www.opkansas.org/City-Government/Councilmember-Donna-Owens-W....

 

Leslie, I didn't see it.  I did forward our petition link to Mary Pulley of Fox 4 News, so hopefully they shared the info!

Comment by Yvonne Starks on May 24, 2012 at 7:41am

Dave Janson might be receiving more calls.   I've called; left word.  Yet to hear back.

Joannne.....Yes, Tim and Donna ARE a married couple.....what the question is is whether she's on the Overland Park City Council....     She ran for County Commissioner, District 4, in 2010 and lost in the primary where there were several running.  Chipper Jason Osterhaus ultimately won the final (as I recall, ALL in this race were 'considered' Republican in this NON-PARTISAN race)....

Comment by Leslie Schmidt on May 24, 2012 at 7:03am

Someone on Facebook said Fox 4 News was discussing this issue on their morning broadcast.  Did anyone see it?

Comment by Joanne Hughes on May 24, 2012 at 6:27am

Greg, from what I can tell, they are husband and wife (same household, same spouse name shown in their bios). 

Comment by Joanne Hughes on May 24, 2012 at 6:22am

Thanks, Kathy.  I feel the definition of art and what is thought of as art is getting broader and broader over time.  Obscene seems to be the new art.  But I'm not giving up on this one.  This one in this particular place needs to come down.

Comment by Greg Beal on May 23, 2012 at 10:32pm

Isn't RIno Tim Owens' wife, Donna, on the OP city council? "Moderate" Republican votes for "moderately" covered statue.

Comment by Kathy Brown, Esq. on May 23, 2012 at 10:19pm

You know something Joanne?  I think all the meretricious persiflage about 'what the sculpture means', and yadayadayada, is just so much garbage.  You're a mother, yes?  And I trust YOUR gut.

Now having seen the sculpture I too think it's immodest and HIGHLY inappropriate to put in a place where contemplation and silence is fostered, and where indeed parents will bring their children.  It's not as if this is something by Rodin, OK?  I mean I loved KIm's story and if you want whacked out 'art', fine, that's what the Kemper's for.  As Leslie said so insightfully:  Apparently the use for which our breasts were created, that of suckling an infant (as well as comprising part of the beauty of a woman's body), is verboten, but sexual use?  Oh, the more the better.  And they'd NEVER display a breastfeeding mother!  God forbid!  That's old fashioned and gender-stereotyping, blah, blah, blah...

Joanne dear, I admire you for posting this concern here.  And don't feel 'frustrated' explaining this to others.  You're in good company finding it difficult to articulate what your instinct tells you-as proof of that, do you know how the Supreme Court defined obscenity some years ago?  Well...

They had to distinguish between 'porn/obscenity' in movies, and 'artistic value'.  And one of the judges said, 'I can't describe the difference between the two, but I KNOW IT (obscenity ) WHEN I SEE IT.'  And that was enshrined as the 'community standard' test, meaning, if YOU think it's obscene/inappropriate, hey, you're right.

Comment by Joanne Hughes on May 23, 2012 at 6:43pm

Yvonne, I was thinking along the same lines as you, and was surprised to learn that the Council runs as non-partisan.  Anything in the works to reverse that at the state level?

Comment by Missey Smith on May 23, 2012 at 4:23pm

Dave Janson of Ward 1, told me that he does not believe City Council has ever turned down a recommendation from The Friends of Overland Park Arts (FOA). They are a non-profit group that provides financial and volunteer support to the arts in Overland Park.... Meetings generally are held the second Tuesday of each month at 5:45 p.m. at the Tomahawk Ridge Community Center, 119th and Lowell Ave. He did say I was the FIRST to call him so I recommend others call. 913-831-2318 Dave Janson (I am updating this to be more precise in what was said. I did not intend to misrepresent what was said.)

Comment by Yvonne Starks on May 23, 2012 at 4:10pm

You know, Leslie, it would be interesting to guess if the City Council would have accepted/allowed an "art work" statue of a mother breastfeeding an infant......

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