Political CHIPS - Conservative Heritage Institute for Principled Strength

Inappropriate Sculpture at Overland Park Arboretum in Kansas

About two weeks ago, my husband, two daughters, and I visited the Overland Park Arboretum in Kansas. I was shocked at what I saw there...an inappropriate sculpture of a naked headless woman exposing her breasts in a vulgar fashion and taking a picture of herself (part of a collection of sculptures donated to the City). I have attached a picture I took of it. This was unanimously approved and installed by the Overland Park City Council. I have since talked to the City Arts Coordinator, a City Attorney, the Parks Director, emailed all 12 OP City Councilmembers, called the Mayor's office and spoke to the City Manager, and have spoken to the OP Council President. Not one of the decision makers that I've talked to finds anything inappropriate with this sculpture for children. I was told that people would be offended if the sculpture was removed. They have received a handful of complaints, but have no plans to remove the piece from the Arboretum. I think they are wrong, and I think there are many parents in the area that will agree with me. I think the City of OP needs to hear a strong voice of opposition. In addition to the damaging and demeaning message this sculpture sends to our youth, there is no warning system for parents, teachers, and adults that wish to avoid this to do so.

I'm working on getting the information out to the media. I contacted Fox 4 News and they did a piece on it on the Friday, May 11 evening news (http://fox4kc.com/2012/05/11/bare-breasts-on-statue-offend-some-at-arboretum/). I contacted the KC Star and wrote a short article which was accepted in their 913 section for May 23's edition. I've also created a petition to request that this sculpture be removed from the Arboretum. At this moment, there are over 900 signatures on the petition. Here is the full link: http://www.change.org/petitions/overland-park-city-council-remove-the-inappropriate-sculpture-at-the-overland-park-arboretum, and here is an abbreviated link: http://tinyurl.com/opsculpture.

I need help to get as much pressure as possible on the City Council to remove this sculpture. I'm asking individuals/organizations to write letters to the Councilmembers and Mayor to:

Governing Body

City of Overland Park

8500 Sante Fe Dr

Overland Park, KS 66212

or email the governing body at governingbody@opkansas.org.

The Mayor can be reached at 913-895-6104 (work). The directory for the councilmembers, including phone numbers is located here: http://www.opkansas.org/City-Government/Councilmember-Directory.

Do you have any suggestions as far as who else I can contact? The more people that are aware of it, contact the City Council and sign the petition, the better our chances will be.

Thank you in advance for any suggestions! I greatly appreciate it!

Joanne Hughes

Tags: City, Council, Overland, Park, arboretum, sculpture

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Comment by Yvonne Starks on May 25, 2012 at 4:06pm: Joanne....see my comment from yesterday......"Bottom Line: They decide. Go away."

Good luck with Gerlach as well. He was not one of the Mayors on the Charter Commission, but there were three or four....and all voted the same....."We decide. Go away." .....soooo.....would be surprised if he were any different. Be a nice surprise, though.

Envy position? He said either what he needed to say to "go along to get along"....OR.....he does believe it's okay...... Isn't that kinda what we're fighting throughout our entire nation---and why we continue to have these incidents become more prevalent and insidious?

I think you were right the first time, Joanne.....his comment was 'amusing'......heart, mind, soul.....oh, sure.....c'mon......

Comment by Joanne Hughes on May 25, 2012 at 3:21pm: Submitted a request to appear before the City Council and present the petition (persuant to Section 1.11 of OP's Resolution No. 3813). I was told over the phone they will not schedule it. So much for democracy. I made an appeal directly to Mayor Gerlach and am awaiting response.

Comment by Joanne Hughes on May 25, 2012 at 10:24am: Thanks, Missey. I agree; I do not envy his position!

Comment by Missey Smith on May 25, 2012 at 10:06am: * hearing you

Comment by Missey Smith on May 25, 2012 at 10:04am: Just some fyi...Sean is a really good guy. He was just doing his "job" for OP. I would HATE to be in his position right now. Joanne, I saw you also and you did do a good job. I think they are at least hearin you and keep up the good work.

Comment by Joanne Hughes on May 25, 2012 at 4:16am: Thanks, and back at you, Jim!

Comment by Kathy Brown, Esq. on May 24, 2012 at 10:55pm: Amen to that Jim! You vets and our heroic military protect us abroad-we'll do the heavy lifting here at home. That's what Joanne's doing and that shows we're all in this together.

Semper Fi, indeed. I received permission to use that phrase honorarily, and it's a great privilege. Esp. this weekend coming, when none of us can forget the debt we owe our men-at-arms. Oh-and another reason to get rid of the Imposter in the WH? The fact that he wants to put WOMEN into COMBAT.

That-along with open homosexuals destroying esprit de corps, and 'Rules of Engagement' which make our men cannon fodder? Just another part of Obama's great plan for the complete destruction of these United States. Well...not with patriots like Joanne around!

Comment by Jim B on May 24, 2012 at 10:37pm: Joanne, Thank you for what you are doing.

Semper Fi

Comment by Joanne Hughes on May 24, 2012 at 10:15pm: Yvonne, Sean is the City Public Information Officer: http://www.opkansas.org/Contact/City-Public-Information-Officer. Thought Sean's explanation of the artist's intent was amusing.

The sculpture (all of the existing donated sculptures and future ones) are going to be moved to a site designated as the International Sculpture Garden. I was told this is in the planning phase (master plan is expected to be completed by the end of the year), and they'd need to secure funding before any work takes place (so likely at least a year to two years away). I was also told that this Garden would be the bridgeway between the existing Arboretum and the Kemper Farm site (no separate entrance is planned), and that people would have to go through the Garden to get to the Kemper site. I asked if any attractions for children were planned for the Kemper Farm site, and the person pleaded ignorance. Them moving the sculpture to this other part of the Arobertum does nothing for me, since the sculpture will be just as visible if not more at the future location.

And I think you were being too kind. I flubbed the second part of the interview. Seems like I condone explicit self-portraits. I now have learned not to use sarcasm, and to elaborate on what I'm intending to say....and I'm thinking about asking the Lord for an Aaron. ;)

Comment by Yvonne Starks on May 24, 2012 at 6:21pm: Not sure that I have Sean Reilly's position correct......have him as a City Councilman below....???? Know he spoke, but not positive who he is...... Not that it's all that important, but would like to be correct in my postings... :) Joanne?