First Presbyterian Church to reveal Peace Park sculptures Friday

Two sculptures will be installed Friday as part of The First Presbyterian Church of Cape Girardeau's new Peace Park, a gathering and welcoming place for all races and religions, church leaders said. The sculptures were created by two local artists, Southeast Missouri State professor of sculpture Chris Wubbena and student Jessica Lambert. The stainless steel sculptures will be set in stone at a ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Friday. Live music and refreshments also will be provided during the reception at 235 Broadway St.

Rev. Ellen Gurnon said the project began before her arrival in December 2017, but she was able to have some input.

The sculptures are abstracted wings, Wubbena said, similar to angel's wings. Lambert fabricated the pieces, and he focused on design, Wubenna said.

Charles and Judy Wiles initiated the connection between Wubbena and the church, Wubbena said.

It's the last piece of the puzzle, Gurnon said, "unless at some point down the road we want to add more things."

"I really love the location and downtown, and we kind of have a connection with the university, at the River Campus in particular," she said.

Gurnon said she strives to connect with the community in as many ways as possible.

For the last few years, she said, the church has employed choral scholars who sing with the choir and music students.

The name for the space, Gurnon said, was derived from the idea of "peace polls."

Peace polls are customarily handcrafted monuments that display the message and prayer, "May Peace Prevail on Earth," on each of its four or six sides, sometimes in different languages.

And since the Hirsch family -- specifically Oscar and Geraldine Hirsch -- was very active and involved in the church, she said, the whole park is in honor of them.

"And each of the meditation areas are in honor of a family that also has been supportive and active for many years," she said, adding the adjoining playground is in memory of Scott "Freck" Shivelbine.

Construction of the Peace Park, Gurnon said, was made possible by earnings from invested assets in 2017. Gurnon said she wanted to do something special with those funds.

"We're hoping to not only unveil the sculptures, but certainly we want to emphasize that this Peace Park is meant to be a place of welcome and a place of peace for all people, all religions, all races," she said. "We really want it to be inclusive and want people to feel at home here."

Following the church's Sunday morning worship June 2, Gurnon said, there will be a more formal dedication of the entire park.

jhartwig@semissourian.com

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