Hate-inspired vandalism on Phalen Park statue inspires healing ceremony

By PAUL WALSH, Star Tribune

Last update: August 8, 2008 - 4:50 PM

The vandalism of a Chinese artist's sculpture, including spray-painted ethnic slurs and swastikas, has inspired a healing ceremony at the St. Paul park where the crime occurred.

On July 12 during the Dragon Festival celebrating Asian-Pacific culture, the artwork in Phalen Park of a woman resting her chin atop the back of her hand titled "Meditation" was marred with graffiti. A similar fate befell some of the park's trees, sidewalks and signs.

In response, the East Side Arts Council and Public Art St. Paul are heading up the community healing ceremony Aug. 15 for the grayish-white Winona limestone statue, which is 7 feet, 6 inches tall and rests on a 16-inch base.

The graffiti includes profanity, swastikas, KKK, and a derogatory term for east Asians. The statue is currently concealed by a secured tarp.

Police said this morning that no arrests have been made in the case, which is being treated as a felony as well as a hate crime.

"Citizens and organizations of the Phalen Park neighborhood are devastated by the appalling vandalism that occurred in Phalen Park," said Sarah Fehr, executive director of the East Side Arts Council. Various community organizations "are joining with us to collectively restore 'Meditation' to its beautiful presence as a symbol of peace and tranquility for residents of St. Paul's East Side." Cleanup will cost from $15,000 to $20,000, said Christine Podas-Larson, president of Public Art St. Paul.

Anthony Sussman, spokesman for the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas, said that "perpetrators of these types of crimes are intent on spreading a message of hate and challenging the openness and respectful atmosphere of our community." Sussman added that his group has made a contribution to the Public Arts St. Paul Fund to assist with the clean-up.

Next week's ceremony will include the "ritualistic beginning" of the restoration, Podas-Larson said, then the actual work on the statue will begin the following Monday, with a conservator heading up a group of 24 volunteers. She said the restoration will be a "painstaking and lengthy process."

Public Art St. Paul owns the piece by Chinese artist Lei Yixin, which was created through the 2006 International Stone Carving Symposium, Minnesota Rocks!

Podas-Larson said that attempts have been made to inform Lei of what happened to his artwork.

Lei is in China completing his sculpture of Martin Luther King Jr. that was commissioned for a park in King's memory on the National Mall in Washington.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482