Hello Everyone, 

Thank you for signing the petition. I truly believe we can get these statues taken down. 

This email will update you about: 

• What’s next?
• What has happened since the petition has gone up
• More common questions & their answers

 

WHAT’S NEXT - Many of you have asked me what else is being done. Is signing the petition all we’re going to do? The short answer is that I could really use your help.

Urgent help needed with the following:

• Send a quick email (Please do this! Details below)
• Attend the City Council Meeting this Monday (Please come! Details below)
• Share the petition link with a few more friends http://chng.it/VV9c2ykc 
• Pray

SEND A QUICK EMAIL

If you live in the City of Greenville or in Greenville County, can you take 5 minutes to send 1 email? I read through the comments section of the petition and realized how important it is to get your thoughts directly read by those we have elected. You will personally be making a huge difference by doing this.

I’d like to sincerely thank County Council Member Stan Tzouvelekas of District 22 for his encouragement. He sent an email supporting our request to the mayor, the city manager, every city council member, and every fellow county council member. He also shared the email in the comments section of the petition. Please follow Councilman Tzouvelekas’ example and send your comments to those in leadership as well. 

How to send the email:

• Copy & Paste this template into an email:

Mayor White, City Council Members, County Council Members, City Manager John McDonough, and Cultural Arts Manager Tracy Ramseur,

I would like the Wings of City statues removed from downtown Greenville immediately. 

I’d like them taken down because ___________

Thank you,

• Replace the underline in the section that says “I’d like them taken down because___” with your thoughts. 
• Write your name below the “Thank you,”
• Copy & Paste these emails into the “To:” section: kwhite@greenvillesc.gov, jmcdonough@greenvillesc.gov, tramseur@greenvillesc.gov, jdeworken@greenvillesc.gov, lflemming@greenvillesc.gov, kgibson@greenvillesc.gov, wbrasington@greenvillesc.gov, ddowe@greenvillesc.gov, rstall@greenvillesc.gov, JDill@greenvillecounty.org, mbarnes@greenvillecounty.org, WMeadows@greenvillecounty.org, SShaw@greenvillecounty.org, CHarrison@greenvillecounty.org, stantz@greenvillecounty.org, XNorris@greenvillecounty.org, LSeman@greenvillecounty.org, efant@greenvillecounty.org, DTripp@greenvillecounty.org, BKirven@greenvillecounty.org, LBallard@greenvillecounty.org, countyadministrator@greenvillecounty.org 
• Hit Send!

ATTEND THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING THIS MONDAY

• When: Monday, May 10, 2021 at 5:30pm (come a little early if you can)
• Where: Room 102 in the Greenville Convention Center (formally the TDCC) or attend virtually -- 1 Exposition Dr. Greenville, SC 29607 (Use the Eisenhower Dr. entrance!)
• VERY IMPORTANT: If you want to address the council, you have to let the City Clerk know by no later than 12pm on Monday. Let them know your name, address, and what you wish to speak to them about. You will only have 3 minutes to address them. Call (864) 467-4431 or cpitman@greenvillesc.gov to sign up.

 SHARE THE PETITION LINK WITH A FEW MORE FRIENDS

• Send it in an email or text it out! http://chng.it/VV9c2ykc 

 

PRAY

• Pray our Mayor and City Council will work towards the immediate removal of the statues.
• Pray our Mayor and City Council will be proactive in making sure future decisions are ones that honor God and respect the families and people that live here.
• Pray that as Greenville continues to grow, it will be filled with people who hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matthew 5:6)

WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE THE PETITION HAS GONE UP?

I attended a City Council Meeting a little over a week ago (Monday, April 26). I discussed the appropriateness of the statues and made the Mayor and City Council aware of the petition. I ended my speech saying, "I understand that you may disagree with my viewpoint on the “art” itself, but I'm hoping we can come together and agree that public spaces should be family-friendly, where all can enjoy.”

Mayor White replied that he recognizes my sincerity, but that he agrees that we view the “art” differently. He ignored the point of what I was saying.

I also attended the Arts in Public Places virtual meeting on Tuesday, April 27. Though not mentioned in the agenda, they discussed the "success" of the exhibit and their hopes for purchasing one or more pieces to remain in Greenville as permanent.

I received 2 encouraging and notable email responses this week. The first was from County Council Member Stan Tzouvelekas of District 22. It was addressed to several local school leaders, the Mayor, members of the City and County Councils, and a few others.

Ms. Saravia,

Thank you very much for your email and your passion for in my opinion the greatest City/County in America Greenville! 

I agree with you while we all want to support the arts in our community I believe they should be family friendly. While we all can debate family friendly it would be my opinion as well showing men's genitals and naked women has crossed the line and respectfully request this art collection be reconsidered for our community!

Thank you to all copied on this email for your service to our Community!

Kindest regards,

Stan Tzouvelekas

Greenville County Council Member

District 22

County of Greenville

301 University Ridge, Suite 2400

Greenville, SC 29601

(864) 467-4958

 

Superintendent Dr. Sam Barfell also emailed in response saying, 

Mr. Tzouvelekas,

Thank you so much for your email and your leadership on the Greenville County Council.  I too am appalled at the nature of this particular art in our downtown area.   It clearly crosses the line of appropriateness in art expression for the public square.

I too have signed the petition and hope other community leaders would do the same.

Sincerely and for decency,

Dr. Sam Barfell

 

MORE COMMON QUESTIONS & THEIR ANSWERS

How was this exhibit approved?

When I found out about the exhibit, I wrote to the City Manager, John McDonough. Below is his response:

Ms. Saravia,

Thank you for your email. Artwork displayed in public locations throughout the City of Greenville is reviewed by the City’s nine-member Arts in Public Places Commission. In the case of the “Wings of the City,” the Hispanic Alliance (applicant) presented the exhibit to the Commission during their monthly public meeting on February 23, 2021. At that meeting, the Commission unanimously recommended approval of the project.

The City and the Hispanic Alliance also presented the project to representatives of the Carolina Foothills Garden Club, the Peace Center, VisitGreenvilleSC, Artisphere, the SC Arts Commission, and a number of community sponsors – all of whom expressed overwhelming support. Much consideration was given to the locations of the artwork in Falls Park and the Peace Center. In particular, the City and Hispanic Alliance worked closely with the Peace Center to identify an interior location for the one nude sculpture in the collection, Hombre Universal, which is located in the main lobby of the Peace Center, facing the interior of the building.

The “Wings of the City” exhibition has been publicly displayed in cities throughout the country since 2013. While the artwork may be different than many of the sculptures currently on display downtown, we believe the six-month exhibition provides an opportunity to celebrate Mexican culture. We hope you will take a few minutes to read more about the significance of the artwork by visiting www.wingsofgvl.com 

Thank you,

John McDonough

City Manager

I have written back twice but have not received an answer. I'm still trying to get a clear answer about who made the final approval. 

I’m placing responsibility on the Mayor and City Council members because the City Manager and the Arts in Public Places Commission members are all appointed/approved by the council. I personally watched the council approve a few new Arts in Public Places Commission members on April 26th, 2021. I called the City Clerk's office and found out that though the City Manager is in charge of city staff, the position is also hired/approved by the council.

Why was this exhibit approved?

I was told the reason was to celebrate Mexican and Hispanic culture. I wrote the City Manager and directly addressed the Mayor to let them know I am a hispanic woman. I am first generation in my family to be born and raised in the US. Though I was born in the US, Spanish was my first language and I learned how to speak English in public school. As a hispanic woman, these statues do not unite me with the city. 

I also let them know I'm not here to complain about Mexican or any hispanic culture. I'm here to complain about naked statues in public places, genitals clearly defined or not.

What is being done to get these statues down?

• Please come to the City Council meeting this Monday at 5:30! See details above.
• Please send the email to city leadership mentioned above!
• Sharing this petition http://chng.it/VV9c2ykc 
• Reaching out to churches
• Reaching out to Christian schools 
• Reaching out to others that petition signers like you have recommended
• Reaching out to the sponsors listed in the petition to let them know we don’t want them funding statues like this
• And more

Again, thank you so much for signing the petition. Please, if you want to help me see this through, 

• Send a quick email to city leadership (Please do this! Details above)
• Attend the City Council Meeting this Monday (Please come! Details above)
• Share the petition link with a few more friends http://chng.it/VV9c2ykc 
• Pray

Thank you!!!!

Jessica Saravia