By David Markham

In early 2022, Johnson County Park and Recreation District staff “rediscovered” a piece of artwork in Shawnee Mission Park which was created and donated in the early 1970s by late Overland Park artist Arlie Regier.

The artwork, known as “Cattails,” has been restored, and a personal link between Regier and a key park staff member has also been rediscovered.

“Cattails” consists of three steel and wooden cylinders with seats inside located overlooking the lake near Shelter No. 4. Regier’s work is being restored and will be rededicated as part of a ribbon-cutting ceremony tentatively planned for June, which will also include improvements to the nearby Shawnee Mission Park Marina. The marina work and ribbon-cutting event are dependent upon favorable weather.

When Central Region Senior Park Manager Kelby Hellwig was examining “Cattails” to see what would be needed for removal, he noticed the word “Nallwood” welded into one of the bases.

“That triggered my memory and I got to thinking that I had a really cool metal shop teacher when I was at Nallwood Junior High School (now Indian Hills Middle School) as a seventh grader from 1985-1986,” Hellwig said. “We had no idea he was a famous artist. I remember Mr. Regier as being really funny and approachable, and that he placed the focus on his students.”

Those middle school lessons from Regier had a lasting impact on Hellwig.

“It was definitely the start of building my skillset working with hand tools and an introduction to metal working,” he said. “More importantly, we were encouraged to be creative in regard to our projects and problem solving and this is something that has served me well throughout my career.”

It is believed “Cattails,” was one of Regier’s earliest pieces. He later developed a sculpture style using highly polished mirror-like surfaces. For many years, the artist showed his work at local art shows and other examples of his public art can be found around Johnson County, including a stainless steel piece called “Giving More Than You Take” at the R.R. Osborne Plaza at the new Johnson County Courthouse.

“Cattails” has gone through a major transformation over the past year to restore it to its original splendor. In consultation with Regier’s son, who is also an artist, the artwork was meticulously repaired and stripped down to original bare metal, and then restored to its former brilliant orange color.

More art-related projects

The artist duo of Cydney Ross and Alix Daniel began in early February in JCPRD’s second Art and Natural Resources Residency, which will run through late summer.

Efforts to restore prairie habitat in Johnson County are the focus of this residency, which will include an immersive experience with the JCPRD Natural Resources Team at Kill Creek Park, the creation of an ephemeral temporary art piece that will be placed at a site within the park, and an artist-led community engagement project. More information can be found at JCPRD.com/1759.

JCPRD officials also anticipate commissioning four regional artists and illustrators who met an early April deadline to create the first four in an anticipated annual series of collectible posters featuring the agency’s parks. Bill Bull Creek, Cedar Niles, Lexington Lake and Shawnee Mission parks will be subjects of the 2023 posters, expected to be unveiled in the fall and sold online and at the Johnson County Museum Gift Shop. Proceeds will benefit the JCPRD Public Art Program.

For more information, go to JCPRD.com/1901/JCPRD-Poster-Project.

David Markham is communications specialist at the Johnson County Park and Recreation District.