"Sentence first, verdict afterwards". ~Lewis Carroll. A Biased Look at Bemidji's Gaea

BSU and Beavers Too?

My wife Barbara is in her eighth and final year as the Bemidji City Council’s at-large member (only she and the mayor represent the entire city). I was never more proud of her as I was in the first week of July 2010.

If you pay any attention to the news and you live in the USA, you heard about Bemidji’s controversy surrounding one of ten four foot beaver sculptures as part of the city's 2010 Sculpture Walk. The story was carried by every newspaper, TV and radio station in the state before being picked up by the AP, and then going viral being distributed by news organizations across the country from Mother Jones to the Wall Street Journal.

Bemidji takes pride in its quaint little downtown, we have flower beds, brick sidewalks, mellow lighting, many stores post greetings and other signage in both English in Ojibwe. There is also a sculpture walk. Each year it changes, but at any one time, there are 15 or 20 sculptures in various corners of town. The 2010 summer theme was "beavers". Ten or twelve artists received identical beaver templates to paint as they saw fit. Beavers are also the mascot of the local University.

Seems a radio personality tramping around downtown eyes a beaver sculpture on 4th and Beltrami created by one Deborah Davis and entitled Gaea. Radio man complains to City Manager John Chattin, that the Gaea sculpture reminds him of (1) labia, (2) vulva, or (3) vagina, depending on who's telling the story. I assume the women in his life are pleased that he has learned the difference as well as the correct terminology. Soooo, Chattin slips over for a peek and after thorough examination, agrees with the complaintant and quickly calls upon local sculptor Al Belleveau demanding the statue be removed.

Belleveau, erring on the side of caution, pulled out his torch and removed the offending beaver from it’s pedestal. Now who would have anticipated that removing “Gaea” from the Bemidji's Sculpture Walk would prompt an outcry from artists and supporters concerned about censorship? Apparently not Mr. "Shoot from the Hip" Chattin.

Well, that was pretty dumb unless he was looking for trouble, but brilliant if he was looking for free press. This was a Thursday, by Friday there was a facebook page, the story was picked up by the wire services and was national news by Saturday. A beaver painted to resemble female genitalia? Well that's a story with too many angles for the sensational prone press to pass up.

The City Manager and self-appointed guardian of "community standards" mismanaged that one, and for our protection, he had Gaea carted off. Big mistake. Through the power of social networking and local organizing, "Save the Beaver" folks and stimulated 1st Amendment supporters rose up. Other painters shrouded their beavers in black plastic as a protest.

By the time Monday rolled 'round, most downtown beavers were shrouded in burkas. MSNBC, the Huffington Post and a few tabloids were surely having fun with Bemidji and it’s beaver fever. Had undue “negative” attention been brought on our community by one individual without authority? Naw, 'cause it turns out positive. A victory for common sense and grass roots organizing through the new electronic media.

Clearly overestimating his power and authority, Bemidji's mayor Dick Lehmann (that's Lee-man not lay-man) thought he’d try head things off at the pass and organize a meeting with the arts community. But today the people were in charge, (as is so often forgotten by elected officials) and the people wanted a public hearing with their elected representatives.

“Barbara, I know that you have to vote on the return or possible return of that beaver statue tonight. In my opinion that statue it should have never, never have been taken down in the first place. People with dirty minds should not ever look at statues or paintings.”~Lorraine Cecil

Audrey Thayer, presented a letter from Legal Counsel of the ACLU regarding removal of the “Gaea” beaver statue from being publicly displayed. The letter stated that the ACLU believed that the order to remove the statue constituted an impermissible restriction on speech and artistic expression and urged the Council to rescind the order to remove the statue and allow it to be displayed.

Oh some said it was a painting in the manner of Georgia O’Keefe, it was a butterfly, or a woman praying with open arms with a shawl. It is all of this and more as the artist Deborah Davis says, "it is Gaea."

Have we forgotten that the fertile earth itself is female? Nurturing mankind is a belief that crosses culture, time and borders. Gaea means Mother Earth. It also means “God is Gracious,” and is one of the 52 feminine aspects of God in the Christian Bible. Gaea in mythology was a female Titan. If we could embrace the strength of womaness, celebrate it, we would become the people we are meant to be: nuturing, loving, whole.

Bemidji City Council Member Barbara Meuers said she saw a photo of the Gaea sculpture in the local paper and "it was not enough to raise eyebrows." She said she believes Davis, a former kindergarten teacher, "didn't intend for it to be a sexual thing. ... I did not find it offensive."

Hundreds of comments filled the facebook pages. Some were galled and felt Chattin clearly stepped beyond his authority. "I believe that this is the peoples property, the city’s corner, and that the city manager has undermined our elected representatives", said one. "The People have been undermined along with our elected representatives", said another.

Gregory Meuers said that the "Citizens of the Bemidji area will have to keep a close eye on the city government. This all came about because of one man's opinion that he alone could censor and have an art piece removed. He pretty much "dissed" the council's involvement, and the mayor and others seemed to be OK with that. Tell me, is there going to be an investigation into Mr. Chattin's kingly claims of omnipotence in this matter?"

But the city manager was clearly unmoved by the groundswell of protest and wrote to the members of the city council.

From: John Chattin

Sent: Fri 7/2/2010 11:03 AM

To: Barb Meuers; Greg Negard; JD; Jerry Downs; Kevin Waldhausen ; Richard Lehmann; Roger Hellquist; Ron Johnson

Cc: Alan R. Felix

Subject: Sculpture Removal

Mayor and Council,

I have received nine complaints already this morning over the removal of the beaver sculpture. I’m confident that more will be coming. It is also apparently being discussed on Facebook and other social media sites. I am anticipating some of the complainants to attend Tuesday night’s council meeting to express their displeasure. I have no intention of restoring the sculpture and hope the council will back that decision. All art that is on city right-of-way is there at the discretion of the city. There are no “rights” that can be debated. If you have had a chance to look at the pictures that I sent yesterday, I hope you will agree that this sculpture is inappropriate for a public venue. However, we do not need to address any censorship issues or get in to a debate over what is art, etc. The city simply has the right to govern what exists in their right-of-way. I believe that the less that is communicated to the media, the better.

I hope you have a great weekend.

John Chattin

Special meeting Tuesday TUESDAY, JULY 6, 2010

Supporters filled the City Hall council chambers as they protested the removal of the 4-foot-tall, multicolored sculpture Gaea. With perhaps 100 people in attendance, there was a standing-room-only crowd of people that spilled out into the entryway after chairs were filled. A closed circuit TV provided a "live" broadcast for those outside the chambers.

Mayor Lehmann stated that the City Manager made the decision to have the beaver sculpture named “Gaea” removed from the City right-of-way after he had received complaints regarding what some perceived as an image of a “female vagina” painted on the front. Lehmann then invited comments from the audience. (A female vagina? Hmm)

According to the Bemidji Pioneer. Fifteen people addressed the council, 12 of whom clearly advocated for returning “Gaea” to the Sculpture Walk.

“Bemidji has aspired to be an especially art-friendly city,” said Brian Donovan. “We need to be careful not to chill the climate for artistic expression in the form of public art in this sculpture walk and elsewhere. Nothing chills expression more than censorship.”

Kathryn Lavelle said “Gaea” depicted womanness, womanhood, feminine strength and beauty.

“I’m interested in knowing which of these things … Mr. Chattin or the council has an issue with,” she said.

The crowd of spectators was overwhelmingly in favor of restoring “Gaea” to the Sculpture Walk, but other views were represented. Dave Larson said knew he respected artists’ rights to expression, but felt the statue might be better placed out of public view.

Following the public input, the council did not take long to reach its decision.

Councilor Barb Meuers opened that portion of the discussion by asking Chattin how he came to reach his decision. She further stated that she felt it was censorship.

“I chose to remove it because I felt it was inappropriate for a major intersection or any other public place for the city of Bemidji,” Chattin said. While he did discuss the sculpture with city staff and City Attorney Al Felix, Chattin said, “This was entirely my decision.”

"Did it ever occur to you to bring this matter before the City Council?", asked Meuers of Chattin. "No" was his reply. "Well I find that disturbing" Meuers countered.

There was some idle chatter and shifting in seats by the rest of the Council, but it was Barbara who honed in on the issue, demonstrating an astute display of political acumen as I've ever seen. No dragging out the issue, three or four short and pertinent questions, poetic in it's explanation of the true situation at hand.

Meuers looked at Chattin and said “everyone is watching us,” and referenced recent interviews she gave to the Star Tribune and Wall Street Journal. “I’m hoping we don’t go the way you did, with censorship,” she said.

Council member Barbara Meuers then moved, “Put the statue back!”

The vote was unanimous directing the return of the “Gaea” Beaver Sculpture to the City right-of-way.

Cheers and applause filled the chambers and hallways of Bemidji City Hall, while perhaps being aghast at the lack of decorum and perceived disrespect, city servant Lehmann rapped his brass gavel to no ones concern.

Deborah Davis hid her face with a fan created from a copy of the Bill of Rights as the Bemidji City Council made it official: “Gaea” will return to downtown Bemidji.
Not wasting any time, volunteers picked up Gaea from the back of the room and left city hall for the block and a half trip back to her pedestal.

It was a great (and fun) victory for freedom artistic expression. The city manager, however, as quoted in the Bemidji Pioneer newspaper, "still believes it was the right decision" to remove her. Which is the scary part.
After the motion, the statue was picked up by a group of enthusiastic supporters and marched back to its pedestal, occasioning both applause and tears. “Communication is so important,” said Meuers after the vote. “Obviously, it wasn’t what it should be.”
Al Belleveau spot welds “Gaea” to its spot at the intersection of Fourth Street Northwest and Beltrami Avenue Northwest. Gaea has become the second most photographed sculpture in Bemidji.
1st Amendment supporters Rachelle Houle, Gregory Meuers, Ashley Houle, and Michael Meuers pose with the notorious Gaea.

“I do believe good always wins,” Davis said after the meeting, her voice slightly cracking. “But I didn’t think I could fight City Hall.”

The Artist and the City Councilor. Deborah Davis and Barbara Meuers

"Wow so this is happiness". ~Pa Belleveau

"Where would we be without her? She is a true leader in our community". ~Rebecca May-Waukey

"Thanks Barb". ~Ann Campbell

"Saw it in the TV. Was very proud of her. What a gal". ~Kristine Kolar

"Sweet Picture and even sweeter women!" ~Linda Jo Brown

"Thank you to those of you who gave Barb such a warm welcome after at Bridgid's. And finally, congratulations on making grass roots democracy work. You all brought tears to my eyes this evening. I'm elated." ~Michael Meuers
"Barb, my mom and I both appreciate you standing up for Gaea, Deborah and arts in Bemidji. THANK YOU for righting this wrong. I sincerely hope that after the crowd left the city manager got an earful. He seemed so smug when people were talking! If he were my employee I would fire him on the spot". ~Carrie Jeannette Van Wert
Following successful breast cancer treatment, this night was the first that Barbara appeared in public without a wig or hat.

Gotta say it. I'm very proud of my wife, Barbara Meuers, the only woman on the Bemidji City Council and only the 4th in history. I thought she asked astute questions of the city manager, skipped the speeches, and went for the motion with confidence.

Call the City Hall Censors

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