The Sculpture Walk in downtown St Joseph has generated a lot of interest, and with it a lot of controversy, if that’s the word.
Is the nude “Nike” obscene? Is that turtle angry? Where the heck is the Tumulus?
But the big question rippled through downtown St Joe like a shared laugh. Who is the mystery artist who added an unofficial entry in the Scuplture Walk, right outside the headquarters of Allied Arts?
And just what is that artist trying to say?
We have a few theories.
We’re not certain what sort of statement is being made, but it appears someone has mounted a mock outhouse for birds on a tree along Eighth Street, complete with a curtain, a name plate (“For The Birds”), and a Blue-Footed Boobie making a BM. That’s the sort of guano that’s been fowling the sidewalks and fueling controversy around the Missouri Theater Complex. Birds flock to the trees planted in the sidewalks along Eighth and Edmond Streets and leave behind, well, leavings. A lot of leavings. Leavings now looming large in the city budget.
Is it coincidence that the Boobie in the Banyo appeared almost to the day that city crews dramatically trimmed back those trees in an effort to reduce the need for sidewalk scouring? We’ll let you decide. In the meantime, take the Sculpture Walk. You’ll enjoy it.
The Sculpture Walk is a program of the Allied Arts Council in partnership with the City of St. Joseph and the St. Joseph Downtown Community Improvement District. All of the sculptures are owned by the artists and loaned to the St. Joseph Sculpture Walk for one year. You are invited to vote for your favorite sculpture June 2014- January 2014, to determine the People’s Choice Award. You may pick up a Sculpture Walk brochure at various downtown businesses. To submit your vote simply tear off the voting panel, and bring it to the Allied Arts Council office, or drop it through the mail slot at 118 S. 8th St., St. Joseph, MO.
Artists are eligible to win awards for Best of Show, first and second as selected by a jury, and the People’s Choice Award, selected through public voting. The sculpture selected for the Best of Show Award will be purchased and relocated to a permanent location in St. Joseph.
