A controversial sculpture that has sparked debate in Longview for more than four decades may soon find a new permanent home at the city's arboretum. "Night Winds," created by the late artist John Daniel, is being considered for donation by Trinity School of Texas to the Longview Arboretum and Nature Center, where it would be displayed as part of the garden's artistic collection.
The sculpture's tumultuous history began in 1981 when it was first installed at the corner of South and High streets. At that time, Kilgore College had recently opened its Longview campus in a renovated Sears store and commissioned the artwork with partial grant funding from Longview's Arts and Culture Commission. The goal was to transform the building's appearance and make it look less like a converted retail space, according to previous News-Journal reports.
However, the installation quickly became a source of community division. Local residents were split between those who appreciated the artistic addition and others who found it objectionable. The controversy continued to simmer for several years, creating ongoing tension within the community about the sculpture's place in the city's landscape.
By 1986, the mounting pressure and persistent debate led Kilgore College to make the decision to remove "Night Winds" from its prominent location. The sculpture was unceremoniously loaded into a dump truck and relegated to storage behind the college building, where it remained forgotten for more than a decade.
The artwork found new life in 1997 when Julie Fowler, who served as dean of the KC-Longview facility at the time, discovered a willing host in Trinity School of Texas. The school agreed to display the sculpture on its campus, where "Night Winds" has stood for the past 27 years among a grove of pecan trees.
Now, another chapter in the sculpture's journey appears to be beginning. During a recent parks advisory board meeting, Longview Parks and Recreation Director John Albertson announced that Trinity School wants to donate the artwork to the city for installation at the Longview Arboretum and Nature Center. The proposal represents a significant development in the sculpture's long and winding path through the community.
The logistics of the potential move involve an interesting arrangement between multiple parties. The city of Longview owns the land where the arboretum is located, while the arboretum organization owns the Visitor Center situated at the front of the property. According to Kathleen Cochran, marketing director for the arboretum, the specific location within the garden where "Night Winds" would be placed has not yet been finalized.
"The arboretum is excited about the possibility of welcoming Night Winds into our garden," Cochran stated, expressing enthusiasm for the potential addition to their outdoor space. The move would provide the sculpture with a more natural setting that could complement its artistic vision while offering visitors a unique cultural experience.
Albertson explained that Trinity School's desire to part with the sculpture stems from practical concerns about its current use. Over the years, "Night Winds" has transformed from an object of artistic contemplation into something more functional for students. "Trinity doesn't want the sculpture anymore," Albertson noted, "adding that it has turned into more of a play feature that students climb on."
The financial aspects of the proposed relocation appear favorable for the city. Trinity School has committed to covering all expenses associated with moving and installing "Night Winds" at the arboretum, including the cost of refinishing the artwork. "With what they're doing to refinish it, I don't see any cost coming (for the city of Longview) in the future," Albertson assured the advisory board.
While the parks advisory board voted to support the relocation proposal, the decision is not yet final. The plan must receive approval from the Longview City Council at a future meeting before "Night Winds" can officially make its move to the arboretum. This additional step ensures that city officials have the opportunity to review and consider all aspects of accepting the donation.
In related parks department news, Albertson also announced significant staffing changes during the same meeting. Jack Gense, the city's aquatics supervisor, has submitted his resignation effective September 26. Gense played a crucial role in reintroducing swimming lessons to Longview during the past summer, obtaining all necessary training and certifications before training instructors to teach swim classes to community members.
To fill the aquatics position, Noah Gurrola, who currently oversees the city's sports tourism initiatives, will be transitioning into the role. "Given what we've seen so far, I think he'll be great in it," Albertson expressed confidence in Gurrola's abilities. However, this transition means the department will need to start over with aquatics training programs, potentially affecting the continuity of swimming instruction services in the short term.
