I’ve received many questions (and some concerns) after a news article was prematurely published about the effort to create a sculpture of Cameron the Capitol Cat and place it near the Capitol. I’m going to answer those questions and clear up some misconceptions.
Who is Cameron?
Cameron is a cat that until recently, lived near the Capitol. For more than ten years, Cameron visited the Capitol. There he greeted tens of thousands of visitors, primarily at the south entrance to the Capitol. After his caretaker entered assisted living, Cameron joined her and no longer welcomes visitors to our Capitol.
Great, he is a cute cat. Who cares and why is this important?
Cameron is perhaps the smartest living cat – what other cat would figure out when and where to go to maximize attention from humans? However, this is not what makes him special. Cameron was oblivious to what transpired inside the Capitol. Although he did sneak past the first door more than once to enjoy the boiler-room level of heat that builds up between the double door entrance, he didn’t know or care what occurred inside. The sculpture of Cameron is meant to embody the spirit of what he represents. In our officially non-partisan Unicameral Legislature, the 2nd House is composed of Nebraska citizens. For over a decade, Cameron greeted the members of Nebraska’s 2nd House, regardless of why they were visiting, what end of the political spectrum they occupied, whether they were coming to support or to oppose legislation, and yes, even lobbyists.
Ok, he’s cute and friendly, who will care 50 years from now?
To quote Nebraska photographer John Shaw, who succinctly answered this question:
Fifty Years From Now
Imagine the year 2076.
A child walking along Goodhue Mall sees a beautifully modeled bronze cat with the enormous
limestone Capitol across the street.
She has never heard of Cameron.
She asks: “Who was Cameron?”
At that moment, the sculpture begins doing its historical work.
She learns that during the early twenty-first century, through a particularly divided period in
American political life, this cat became a familiar presence around Nebraska’s seat of
government.
Cameron did not resolve those differences or make political division disappear. His story is far
more modest and more believable than that.
He demonstrated, without intending to demonstrate anything, that disagreement did not have to
eliminate connection.
And this occurred at the home of the nation’s only unicameral and nonpartisan state legislature.
Cameron’s sculpture therefore becomes, in a sense, a historical question mark cast in bronze.
Its historical value fifty years from now does not depend upon people already knowing his story.
Its value may actually be greatest when they do not.
The question leads to Cameron. Cameron leads to the Capitol. And the Capitol leads to much
greater stories.
Cameron does not need to be the grandest story there.
He can be the gateway story that invites someone into all the others.
Will state funds be spent on this?
No. This effort is fundraised entirely through donations.
How and why did I get involved?
I was contacted by a constituent who shared the idea of having a sculpture of Cameron somewhere near the Capitol. As Chair of the Building and Maintenance Committee, I was asked to help find a potential location for this sculpture if it was approved. As for why, see John Shaw’s words above.
Fun fact #1: The Building and Maintenance Committee has oversight of nearly every state building and facility other than the Capitol itself.
Fun fact #2: The sculpture, if approved, would not be located on Capitol grounds.
Where will the sculpture of Cameron be located?
If approved, the sculpture will be located at the edge of a parking lot located south of the Capitol.
Will the sculpture require a litter box?
Seriously? No. It is a sculpture, not an actual cat. Good grief.
As always, if I can be of assistance to you in any way, please do not hesitate to contact my office. My staff members – Matt and Katie – are available to assist you with your needs and they pass along messages, so if you’d like a call back, please let them know!
Email: jana.hughes@leg.ne.gov
Phone: 402-471-2756
Facebook: Senator Jana Hughes
