“Lantern Light” is a steel sculpture that is aesthetically provocative at its most basic, with an encapsulating form that suggests, in its very title, an unseen beacon. The sculpture is now an integral part of the landscape at Washburn University, one of the myriad pieces of artwork that provide moments of reflection amidst a bustling scene of academic activity. But “Lantern Light” is so much more than an aesthetic. It is a gift from the nation of China that carries a weight and mass not apparent at first glance.

With a closer look, the viewer can discern Chinese characters marked out on the base. Contained within the sculpture is a message to the American people, one that is soon to radiate from Topeka to the rest of the nation and beyond.

Artist Master Ye Yushan created the sculpture as part of a 30 year commemoration of diplomatic relations between China and America. It is a massive symbol of peace and friendship between two nations which oftentimes hold different values, yet have overcome these disparities to present an example of respect for humanity and progress toward international peace.

“Lantern Light” came to be placed in the landscape of Topeka’s Washburn University by a fateful set of circumstances.

One of Ye Yushan’s students and nationally lauded sculptor, Kwan Wu, of Olathe, was instrumental in bringing the sculpture to Topeka.

“The sculpture we have was supposed to go to San Francisco,” said Kathy Smith, executive director of ARTSConnect Topeka.  “But they didn’t get their paperwork done in time.”

Kwan Wu stepped in to advocate for the sculpture being placed in the Kansas capital, and Norton Bonaparte, city manager of Topeka, completed the necessary paperwork quickly, stating, “We would be  proud to accept it.”

The next step was to fund the sculpture’s installation and to find a location. A committee was appointed to raise the necessary funds and procure the place.

“It was kind of a rock star committee,” Smith said of the group’s success in achieving those goals.

Jim Ogle, WIBW-TV general manager, Doug Kinsinger, president of the Topeka Chamber, Kwan Wu, John Fager, vice president of Corefirst Bank and Olivia Simmons, president of Visit Topeka, Inc. all rallied together, with significant help from Smith and Gary Blitsch, owner of SouthWind Gallery, to ensure the success of the sculpture’s relocation and dedication.

All of their efforts have paid off, and this Tuesday, June 15, the formal dedication of the sculpture is set for 11 a.m. on the lawn of the Northwest Corner of Henderson Hall at Washburn University.

Smith has high hopes for the dedication ceremony.

“I hope a lot of people come,” she said. “Just because – the sculpture dedications that have happened in larger cities draw a big crowd, and I hope we see an even bigger crowd here in Topeka. Those bigger cities have stuff like this happen all the time, and we’re kind of the little guy saying, ‘We can do this, and we can do it better.’ ”

The transport and installation of “Lantern Light” was no simple affair.

“It traveled by ship, train and semi truck, because it weighed a couple tons,” Smith said.

It arrived in several pieces, and Greg Inkmann, who cares for sculptures on the grounds of Washburn, and Jim Rinner of  JE Dunn Construction, the company in charge of the Capitol restoration, helped to assemble the important piece, which arrived on crates from China.

The base of the sculpture contained a surprise to members of the group in charge of the sculpture’s care: a lengthy inscription in Chinese characters that needed translation.

The full translation, according to Smith, wasn’t completed until just yesterday.

A plaque is set to be installed beside the sculpture in the coming weeks with the full inscription, and won’t be available at the formal dedication Tuesday. But Smith provided us with an excerpt, written by Master Ye Yushan, which struck her personally:

Being an ordinary Chinese citizen, as we celebrate the 30th Anniversary of China – U.S. diplomatic relations, I would like to extend my sincere greetings to the 300 million American people. Let us plant the seed of love, and cherish the flower of friendship that belongs to the people of China and the U.S.

“It’s really quite poetic,” said Smith. The other panels of the base have messages from the nation of China and signatures from many individuals, from doctors to artists to average Chinese citizens who were born in 1979, the year that began the 30 year history of peaceful relations between China and the U.S.

A group of Chinese delegates will be in attendance on Tuesday and will follow the dedication ceremony with a tour of the city. Other officials from the city, the state and the nation will be in attendance, including the Chinese American Association of Kansas City.

The sculpture will remain at Washburn’s campus for two years, and then will be moved to its permanent location in downtown Topeka.

“It will become a part of the new streetscape downtown,” said Smith. “Now that group that is working toward revitalizing downtown will have a pillar to work with. It’s kind of a beginning, something cool to add to what they’re doing.”

[June 2010 | Leah Sewell | photos contributed by Cheryl Logan/Downtown Topeka, Inc. and jones huyett Partners]