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A BRONZE statue of a smiling girl should not be installed in the Biblical Garden at the Church of the Wayfarer, the Carmel Art Board recommended this week.

The Rev. Norm Mowery, pastor of Church of the Wayfarer, said his congregation wished to install the sculpture in celebration of the founding of the church one century ago.

A donor has agreed to pay for the statue and the church “shopped locally” for the 51-inch bronze, Mowery said.

CAB members visited the Jones and Terwilliger Fine Art Gallery Tuesday to view the work, “Garden Scents,” produced in an edition of 40 by Corinne Hartley of Los Angeles.

It is the job of CAB to comment on the artistic worthiness of designs on public view in Carmel’s commercial district. The committee’s recommendation is sent to the Carmel Planning Commission, which would approve or deny such requests. Its decision is appealable to the city council.

CAB unanimously recommended the planning commission deny the church’s request.

“I don’t think it furthers what the church is about — it’s just a decorative little piece,” said Eleen Auvil.

“I think it is typical of the commercial sculptures you see in any gallery,” said Belinda Vidor Holliday, CAB chairman, who expressed the wish that the church had considered local art works instead of a mass-produced piece from Los Angeles.

Senior Planner Brian Roseth told The Pine Cone the city does have the right to regulate what the church can install in its Biblical Garden, because “all exterior design changes in the commercial district are regulated.” However, if what the church is doing is involved in the practice of religion, such as a sacrament or a ceremony, “our ability to regulate is miniscule,” Roseth said. If the statue were one of Jesus or a cross, for example, “the city would not say no unless the design was so egregious as to be offensive to the community.

“We must be content neutral,” Roseth said. “We have to tread a fine line: Is it religion or just gardening?”

In other business, the development director for Children’s Experimental Theatre asked CAB to judge a poster contest to celebrate the anniversaries of three local theater groups: Children’s Experimental Theatre is 45; Staff Players Repertory Company is 35, and Traveling Troupe is 30.

“You are an impartial board and have the ability to judge good art,” said Susan Grant, who added the contest will be open to professional and amateur adults and children

“There will be a total of nine winners, if you will, in all three categories,” Grant explained.

She said Harrison Memorial Library has agreed to display the winning designs, and possibly Sunset Center, too.

No cash awards will be given, and the contest currently has no geographic boundaries.

“Children’s Experimen-tal Theatre has become the performing arts department of most schools. We would be delighted to you who represent the standard of art in this community to be represented,” Grant said.

“I would be happy to help judge,” said Holliday. “We can work on an individual basis to help.”