A proposed public art installation to commemorate the 1903 visit by President Theodore Roosevelt to SLO gained a little bit more life.
For anyone who wasn’t around 114 years ago, it was one of two visits paid to SLO by a U.S. President. He came to town on the train, as part of his “Great Loop” through the Western U.S., no small feat in those days.It was on the same trip that he visited Yosemite with John Muir and cemented in the public consciousness for conservation as public policy.
At the time there were perhaps 3,000 people in the City of SLO and 17,000 in the whole county. Roosevelt’s speech drew an estimated 10,000 people to the sandy track that would eventually become Mitchell Park to hear him speak. It wouldn’t be until Jan. 21, 2017 that as many people would again take to the park, this time for a protest of a President.
Long time Central Coast local, and sculptor, Paula Zima returned to SLO on Friday from her new home in New Mexico, bringing with her a maquette (miniature) of the bronze sculpture of Roosevelt proposed for Mitchell Park. She displayed the materials during an event Sunday at the SLO Senior Center, adjoining the park.
Ironically, as one of Pres. Roosevelt’s lasting contributions to pop culture include the “Teddy Bear,” Zima’s other local public works also include bears, two Bridge Bears grace the entrances to Los Osos and a fountain in SLO’s Mission Plaza.
Although this is her first sculpture with Roosevelt as a subject, she has several studies of him, one of which was also displayed, and she described her admiration for the subject.
“He was an interesting character and he fought for the common man and for preservation of our legacy,” she said. “He opposed exploitation of our resources at the expense of the people who lived next to the forest or downstream from the dam or the mine.”
The genesis of the idea for a local Roosevelt monument goes back more than 20 years, with former City Councilman John Ashbaugh as a key proponent.
“I became involved in the 1980s when John was in the Land Conservancy,” said local historian, and columnist Dan Krieger. “We were talking about the ‘Great White Fleet’ sailing past Avila and SLO and we knew of Roosevelt’s visit. So we’ve been thinking since then.”
That may be enigmatic, to clarify, the fleet was the popular reference to a US Navy battle fleet that steamed around the globe on Roosevelt’s order from December 16, 1907, to February 22, 1909.
“Roosevelt only spent an hour here,” said Ashbaugh, explaining why he was so taken with the idea of Roosevelt’s visit over that of President William McKinley, who was assassinated in 1901. “McKinley actually stayed overnight, but my view is that when Roosevelt came here and what he said here was the birth of SLO’s environmentalism.”
“Local leaders,” added Ashbaugh, who teaches history at Hancock College, “were influenced by his words on the way to meet Muir. Louis Sinsheimer was Mayor of SLO for 20 years through early conservation efforts and the start of our slow growth policies. Local planners should be recognized as well.”
For his part, Krieger had professional interest but also only a single degree of separation from the event, having known a local woman who sat on Roosevelt’s lap as a child during the visit.
ARTS Obispo is currently raising funds to complete the project, with previous cost estimates running up to $100,000. That will cover Zima’s material costs and casting of the bronze.
“We don’t have any photographs from his visit to SLO,” she said, “but pictures from Santa Barbara and other stops show him standing in a top hat and tails. I didn’t think that fit the tone of who he was or what the visit was about.”
The design that she hopes will go forward in the park is of Roosevelt seated in an animated posture, as if speaking with a group of people in a circle around him.
“We hope it does start conversations,” she said.
Editor’s Note: Paula Zima and John Ashbaugh wished to make some clarifications about the artists design for the Theodore Roosevelt Statue for Mitchel Park. Although known for “Teddy” bears, the president hated the name. The animal at his feet in the design is in fact a badger, one that was presented as a gift during the trip that brought him to SLO. As well it is likely the final design for the former roughrider will feature him with hat on to protect against the elements. ARTSObispo is the financial service agency raising money for the installation. It is possible that they’ll need $125,000 for the final piece. More information at: www.sloartscouncil.org/tr-monument.
– By Camas Frank
