Otus the Head Cat

Ex NLR mayor's mug won't be rockin' sculpture

Patrick Henry Hays stands at the future site of North Little Rock’s giant Big Rock bluff sculptures. Hays formally withdrew his name from consideration.
Patrick Henry Hays stands at the future site of North Little Rock’s giant Big Rock bluff sculptures. Hays formally withdrew his name from consideration.

Dear Otus,

We have a spectacular view of the Big Rock Quarry bluffs from our condo on the south side of the river. We're a little concerned now that they plan to sculpt the thing into "Mount Rockmore."

Is the sandstone even suitable for that? Do they plan to use dynamite on it? And who do they plan to carve other than Bill Clinton? I hope it's not Pat Hays. Does the public get to vote?

-- Ralph Patrick, Little Rock

Dear Ralph,

It was wholly a pleasure to hear from you and to thank you for the opportunity to discuss this magnificent public art project that's set to begin in the spring.

First of all, let me reassure you that former Mayor Patrick Henry Hays has withdrawn his name from consideration for the five 60-foot faces that will be sculpted into the side of the 200-foot bluffs of Big Rock Quarry.

Hays, who was North Little Rock mayor for a record six terms (1989-2013), held a news conference at the quarry Tuesday to officially decline.

Democrat Hays, who is a candidate for the 2nd Congressional District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, is running against Republican French Hill and had the following to say about the proposal.

"I am humbled by the honor," Hays said, "and a bit embarrassed. This will be an astonishing piece of public art and to be included along with President Clinton and three others would have been the highlight of my public life."

A source close to the former mayor, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because she is not authorized to speak for him, said Hays believes Hill would score political points by claiming the sculpture is an inappropriate aggrandizement in these still-lean economic times.

That's despite the fact that the sculptures are being sponsored by private funds through the Alice Walton Crystal Bridges Foundation to Encourage American Art. The foundation has already picked the sculptor (see below).

"However, my legacy of service to the city of North Little Rock lives on in other ways. It was my honor to serve as the main proponent on the construction of Dickey-Stephens Park, the River Trail, the Big Dam Bridge, the Clinton Presidential Park Bridge, Broadway Bridge, the Inland Maritime Museum, and the trail system in Burns Park named after my grandchildren, Savannah Lou and Isabella Jo.

"But my proudest accomplishment is the Patrick Henry Hays Senior Citizens Center. My name is over the door and that's a whole lot better than a library. Take that, Casey!" in reference to another longtime city mayor.

After Clinton, Hays was the overwhelming choice for the second sculpture since he was the catalyst for the world-class North Little Rock parks system. Now that the City Council has approved a property exchange with a parcel of Burns Park near Interstate 40, the Big Rock Quarry is set to join the NLR parks system (casually labeled "Mount Rockmore") next month.

And yes, Ralph, there was some initial concern about working in sandstone. Mount Rushmore, the Crazy Horse Monument in South Dakota and the Stone Mountain carving in Georgia are all sculpted on granite batholiths. The Big Rock Quarry is Pennsylvanian (Morrowan) sandstone and interbedded shale from the lower part of the upper Jackfork Group deposited about 318 million years ago in a deep water environment by turbidites, landslides and other mass wasting events some of which happened very rapidly. The rock is now a quartzite.

Fortunately, that makes the bluff a perfect canvas for a method of bas relief sculpture using thermo-jet torches perfected by artist Walker Kirkland Hancock on Stone Mountain. Hancock's grandson, Trotter Gouverneur Hancock, has been chosen to carve the bluff from sketches provided by noted North Little Rock artist Vickie Lynnette Glenmere.

Hancock's preliminary work on the Clinton sculpture will begin in April, with suggestions for the remaining four subjects (to be built in stages) to come from the public until then. The old quarry is almost 3,000 feet long but only the "scoop" in the northwest representing fluvial and deltaic submarine systems will be used.

NLR Mayor Joe Smith said other than Hays, some of the early names on the table for sculptures are Hillary Clinton, Jerry Jones and Mary Steenburgen.

"Of course, the public will have the final say," Smith noted. "This is going to be a huge tourist attraction."

Suggestions are welcome at the "It's a Bluff" link on the city's website northlr.org. You have until Jan. 1.

Until next time, Kalaka reminds you that I would not be averse to having a 60-foot graven image on the bluff. Just capture my good side.

Disclaimer

Fayetteville-born Otus the Head Cat's award-winning column of humorous fabrication appears every Saturday. Email:

mstorey@arkansasonline.com

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