Artists criticize selection policies for roundabout sculpture designs

A decision to commission a sculpture for Cape Girardeau's Fountain Street roundabout has sparked debate over the selection process among local artists.

It also has focused attention on the structure of the city's public art committee.

The Cape Girardeau City Council without any real discussion approved a sculpture project and major improvements to Capaha Field last month as part of a partnership agreement with Southeast Missouri State University.

The modern sculpture design was reviewed and approved by Mayor Harry Rediger, university president Carlos Vargas-Aburto and the public art committee, those involved with the project said.

The sculpture was designed by art committee member and Southeast Missouri State University art professor Chris Wubbena and will be created by Wubbena and art students at the university's River Campus.

The sculpture will be in the roundabout near the River Campus. It is expected to be installed by August 2017.

A matter of debate

Local sculptor and Scott City High School art teacher Matt Miller criticized the selection process. He said he and other sculptors should have been given an opportunity to submit proposals for a roundabout sculpture.

"I think as a public art project and publicly funded, it should have been an open call," Miller said.

Wubbena's 15-foot-tall stainless steel and bronze sculpture is expected to cost about $64,000, with the cost split between the city and university. Casino-tax revenue will pay the city's share of the cost.

But Miller said an open call for proposals could have secured a similar-sized sculpture for a much more affordable cost.

"Sixty-four thousand dollars is an enormous amount of money (for a sculpture)," Miller said.

He added he recently sold one of his creations, a 16-foot metal sculpture, for $10,000.

Putting out a call for proposals also would have resulted in more design options for the city and university, he said.

Miller, a Cape Girardeau resident, said commissioning a sculpture behind closed doors is "not how the city government should be run."

He added, "It is kind of a disservice to the community."

Another local sculptor voiced similar frustration with the process, but declined to speak publicly, fearing it may damage future opportunities to sell his artwork.

Local mural artist Craig Thomas said Wubbena has been a great advocate of public art in Cape Girardeau. But Thomas suggested other talented local sculptors would have submitted proposals if they had been given the opportunity.

"With city money involved, it seems to me there should have been other proposals," he said.

But Edwin Smith, a retired Southeast art professor and enthusiastic supporter of public sculpture, praised the actions of the city and university.

"This is just ideal to have Chris (Wubbena) do the piece," he said. "I think it is a good idea to have it in the roundabout."

However, the decision to commission Wubbena to create the sculpture did not follow the process used by the public art committee in the annual Broadway outdoor sculpture exhibition. In that case, there was a national call for proposals for sculptures that are essentially on loan for a year. By contrast, the roundabout sculpture will be permanent, officials said.

Settling on a sculpture

As mayor, Rediger has said he favors putting sculptures in the middle of the city's roundabouts.

Wubbena said the art committee met with the mayor last year to discuss the idea. Rediger suggested the committee write a prospectus for a national call for proposals, Wubbena said.

The mayor then indicated he would talk with university officials to see whether the school might want to participate in the project, Wubbena recalled.

In August, the committee learned the university wanted to partner with the city and involve River Campus art students in the creation and installation of the sculpture.

"I completely agree on the university's insistence on having student involvement, especially since the sculpture would be located at the growing River Campus," Wubbena wrote in an email.

Wubbena said he volunteered to design the sculpture. He produced two designs, which were reviewed by the mayor, Vargas and the public art committee.

Wubbena said he recused himself from any vote by the committee. A university art student and the school's art department faculty chairman were asked to be a part of the review.

The committee made its recommendation to Rediger and Vargas, who agreed on the project and splitting of the cost, Wubbena said.

The art professor defended the process.

"The overall scope of this project is beyond what the area sculptors have assumed. Our goal is to give students a hands-on experience of working on large projects, something they would not have the opportunity to do otherwise," Wubbena said.

The sculptor professor said he envisions there would be national calls for proposals for sculptures to grace other roundabouts in the city.

'Growing pains'

Murielle Gaither, executive director of the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri, serves on the public art committee. She said, "Our mayor is incredibly supportive of public art."

She said partnering with the university in this case was "really the best decision."

Gaither said the Broadway sculpture exhibition is "a different beast," in that the sculptures are not permanent installations.

She said she understands the backlash over how the sculpture was selected for the Fountain Street roundabout.

Still, she defended the process, noting this will be the first sculpture to be placed in a city roundabout.

"Sometimes you have to take baby steps," she said. "I think these are just some growing pains we are having."

Gaither said the committee needs a written policy on how to handle the selection process for future sculptures in the city's roundabouts.

Committee member Marla Mills, who directs the Old Town Cape downtown revitalization organization, agreed the city needs to settle on a clear-cut art selection process. She said it amounts to "refining the process as it goes forward."

The public art committee's duties are spelled out in a 10-page, public art policy adopted by the city council in October 2012.

The document mandated the art committee develop a public art master plan, which was supposed to be presented to the council by Jan. 1, 2013. But committee members said the plan has yet to be developed.

The document also spells out what artists must provide in submitting proposals for commissioned or submitted artwork. Those requirements include submission of a three-dimensional work or complete drawing of a two-dimensional work as well as a CD showcasing past artwork and an artist's resume with list of references.

In approving the sculpture project last month, several council members revealed they had not seen the actual design of the sculpture, which features two jagged, angled pieces of stainless steel and bronze. Wubbena has called it "an uplifting form."

Behind closed doors

The public art committee, described as an "ad hoc" committee by city officials, includes Wubbena, Gaither, Mills, Tim Arbeiter of the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce and Julia Thompson, the city's director of parks and recreation.

Unlike the other city committees, the art committee does not give public notice of its meetings. Thompson said it is not a regular city committee that has to give public notice of its meetings and agenda items under the state's open meetings law.

Committee members have no specified terms. The group meets as needed, Thompson said.

The city lists 20 city committees on its website and includes information about the role of each advisory committee and lists committee members. No mention is made of the art committee.

Gaither said the committee meets about six to eight times a year, which is more than the once-a-year meeting requirement of the Special Business District Advisory Commission, which is listed on the website.

The art policy provides that the committee is appointed "through the city manager's office." The document describes the art committee as a "standing committee of the city."

Jean Maneke, an attorney for the Missouri Press Association, said the policy stipulates the committee serves in an advisory capacity and reports back to the city council. As such, the committee could be considered a public body, she said.

A number of St. Louis-area cities contacted by the Southeast Missourian said they have art committees that follow the open meetings law and have members who serve specified terms.

The city of Creve Coeur, Missouri, established its arts committee in 2011.

"We meet as needed, but it is usually monthly," said Bess McCoy, a spokeswoman for the city.

"Art is such a subjective thing. We get a ton of complaints and praise," she said.

McCoy said the community benefits from having public meetings of its arts committee.

"The people feel like they have a voice," she said.

Still, Cape Girardeau's mayor defended the selection process for his city's roundabout sculpture project and the university partnership.

He said the university would not have agreed to help fund the sculpture without student involvement.

But Rediger said the city council might consider organizing the art committee in the future as a permanent advisory committee that would be required to hold public meetings.

"We might be reaching a point where we need to do that," Rediger said.

mbliss@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3641

Pertinent address:

Fountain Street roundabout, Cape Girardeau, Mo.