Last Sunday (8-16-2020) was a perfect day for a ride. We decided to follow the Dale Lewis Sculpture Loop. Our first stop was the Hastings River Walk. It was surprising to see only one sculpture, an empty pedestal and a vacant cement slab along the walk way. It used to be a place that held many pieces of sculpture. From there we drove out Nininger Road and found a delightful collection of one old threshing machine and several of Dale Lewis’s metal creations. Next, we followed the tour map to Dale’s home and studio. There we had an informative tour not only of all the interesting figures in the yard but a look at Dale’s studio/workshop. Vermillion was our next stop. As we drove into town, we were greeted by a gigantic Easter Island figure and found Pokey and Gumby standing in front of the Vermillion elevator.

During the week I thought more about our Sunday touring experience and found myself asking several questions. Why wasn’t the River Walk full of art pieces like it used to be? Why aren’t the Pokey and Gumby figures in Hastings? They were “born” here and at one time they stood in several Hastings locations. I wondered about who makes the decisions concerning what and when art is publicly displayed in our community.

Ironically in this week’s paper (8-20-2020) a person wrote a letter to the editor asking about how Pokey and Gumby fit into the history of Hastings. My question is “Don’t Pokey and Gumby need to leave the Vermillion elevator and come home?” They were “born” in Hastings! This is their home! The Journal also carried an article on the Hastings Arts Study conducted by the Hastings-Prescott Area Art Council; a big piece of work filled with a summary of numbers and eight recommendations. Eight recommendations are a lot. The report stated visual art is a very accessible, popular form of art. With this information in hand I hope those responsible for carrying out the work of this study focus on goal number seven, “Animate physical realm.” Our community needs to be enlivened through new efforts of finding and displaying different styles of public art. Get something started. Creativity inspires creativity.

Maggie Langenfeld On 14th near Eddy flies a flag of hate. It is a flag that is half confederate battle flag and half American flag. The battle flag in itself is a flag of treason and announces the subjugation of people of color. Combining the two together suggests that this is what it means to be American. The resident has a right to fly the flag, it is not illegal. Still, we as a community, must respond to it. This is a call for awareness, clarity about where we stand on equal rights for all and our feelings for all humanity. So I suggest that you walk or drive by the flag and think about how you want to express your love and care for your fellow human being.

Tom Lutz