Group makes statement on Eureka Springs Christ statue

The 67-foot-high Christ of the Ozarks statue is located on the grounds of The Great Passion Play. It’s arms spread 65 feet from fingertip to finger tip and was dedicated in 1966. Activists with the group Indecline claimed credit for hanging a banner stating "God bless abortion" on the statue Thursday night. (NWA Democrat-Gazette/Mary Jordan)
The 67-foot-high Christ of the Ozarks statue is located on the grounds of The Great Passion Play. It’s arms spread 65 feet from fingertip to finger tip and was dedicated in 1966. Activists with the group Indecline claimed credit for hanging a banner stating "God bless abortion" on the statue Thursday night. (NWA Democrat-Gazette/Mary Jordan)

EUREKA SPRINGS -- An artists group took responsibility for hanging a large banner stating "God bless abortions" on the Christ of the Ozarks statue Friday, calling the banner its latest piece of protest art.

"While I personally am in agreement with the concept of pro-choice, this appears to be a publicity stunt," said Mayor Robert Berry. "Trespassing on private property to make a public statement, in my opinion, is not the appropriate method of promoting any political message."

The 67-foot-high statue is on the grounds of The Great Passion Play. Its arms spread 65 feet from fingertip to fingertip, and it was dedicated in 1966, according to GreatPassionPlay.org .

Kent Butler, director of operations for the nonprofit play, said he got a call about the banner about 7:50 a.m. Friday saying "something needed to be taken care of."

The banner was removed about 9:20 a.m., he said.

Butler said Fanning's Tree Service of Berryville sent a crew out with a 65-foot bucket truck and did the work pro bono.

Indecline, which describes itself as a "renegade activist art collective," put itself and those taking down the banner at risk through its actions, Butler said.

"Responsible activism is safe activism," he said. "People just need to be safe, and it was very unsafe."

Indecline hoisted the sign on the statue just before sunrise Friday after a team disguised as a construction crew smuggled it onto the property Thursday night, according to a news release from the group.

The heavy-duty cloth banner was 44 feet wide, weighed more than 50 pounds and was equipped with locking mechanisms and pulleys, according to the release.

The project was a direct response to "the dramatic attempts being made in Arkansas and throughout the South to ban abortion services to women in need," the news release stated.

Jayme Brandt, visual artist and owner of Tee Rex on Spring Street, said artists can effect change but should do so without breaking the law. Tee Rex specializes in Brandt's watercolor artwork and collectibles often inspired by pop culture.

"Art and activism are two different things," Brandt said. "You can be an artist who vandalizes, but then you're a vandalizer first."

Indecline's message was one of hate, not art, he said.

"I just don't like them hiding behind the word 'art' because it sounds like, 'Hey, we should be able to do things that are illegal and hateful because of art.'"

Butler said he doesn't anticipate the incident will decrease visits to the statue. If anything, it may build awareness and increase visitors to the The Great Passion Play, he said.

Antoinette LeBlanc and her husband, Gregory, of New Orleans visited the statue Friday. It was the third time the couple had visited the statue in 27 years, Antoinette LeBlanc said.

The statue brings them peace and is a symbol of their faith in God, she said.

"I just think it's terrible," Antoinette LeBlanc said about the banner.

She said the act won't impact future visits to the statue, and they planned on seeing The Great Passion Play that evening, just as they have each time they've visited.

Play organizers do have a use for the banner, though, Butler said, noting they'll be cutting up it up to use as drop cloths.

"The Bible says what was intended for evil God uses for good, so we have more drop cloth than we've ever had," he said.

Butler said they do quite a bit of painting and staining to get ready for the play.

"In the past week, we've repainted all our Roman armor and shields," he said.

"So thank you for the donation," Butler said. "But not the way they did it."

Butler said The Passion Play will have to create an even more secure environment to prevent future criminal acts on the property.

"We have locks and gates, and now we'll be hiring some security," he said.

Butler said 700 people had made reservations to see The Passion Play on Friday night.

The fact activists targeted The Passion Play "just means the work we're doing is impactful," he said.

"This is a place to spread hope, love and peace," Butler said. "It changes the way that you see the world."

Butler said a police report on the incident would be filed.

Phone calls to the Carroll County Sheriff's Office seeking comment on the matter went unanswered Friday.

Antoinette and Gregory LeBlanc of New Orleans visit the Christ of the Ozarks statue Friday on the grounds of The Great Passion Play. Activists with the group Indecline claimed credit for hanging a banner stating "God bless abortion" on the 67-foot-high statue Thursday night. (NWA Democrat-Gazette/Mary Jordan)
Antoinette and Gregory LeBlanc of New Orleans visit the Christ of the Ozarks statue Friday on the grounds of The Great Passion Play. Activists with the group Indecline claimed credit for hanging a banner stating "God bless abortion" on the 67-foot-high statue Thursday night. (NWA Democrat-Gazette/Mary Jordan)

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