A handful of Ames residents have voiced concerns over a sculpture proposed to go in Bandshell Park, 125 E. 5th Street. The 26-foot bronze sculpture, “Ames Circle of Arts,” includes a 5-foot statue of a nude woman, and not all residents are comfortable with having it in the park.”Only a couple of people have spoken out against or had a specific opinion about the sculpture either being nude or clothed,” said Nancy Carroll, director of the Ames Parks and Recreation Department. “We’ve gotten a handful of comments.”Artist Bill Culbertson, of Rhode Island, presented the sculpture in two forms: one clothed, one unclothed. Bob Kindred, assistant city manager and liaison to the Public Arts Commission, said he has received several e-mail messages and phone calls regarding the statue, and the artist is willing to listen to the needs of the Ames community.”He made it clear that he is very willing to work with the community in a collaborative way to design a sculpture that is most appropriate for Ames,” he said. “He’s open-minded.”Carroll said both versions of the sculpture can still be selected.”He presented right off the bat two options,” she said. “Neither has been determined. We were trying to get input before the city council made a final decision.”The commission hosted an open house Jan. 11 at the Ames Public Library for residents to preview the sculpture. Nearly 200 were invited, Carroll said, but only about a half-dozen came, and only two made comments about having the statue clothed.Barb Gauger of Ames said people go to Bandshell Park to go to concerts, not to see art.”I don’t like to see statues without anything on. It would embarrass a person,” she said. “I do not want the statue there. I would like to have one with something on, please.”Ames resident Jennifer Rohrssen said she does not want to see the statue in the Park.”I would prefer to have it clothed,” she said. “There’s going to be traffic in there, especially in the summer — people playing, kids playing, concerts.”Rohrssen said she does not think clothing the statue will take away from its artistic value.Kindred said those interested in seeing a display of the sculpture can view it at City Hall, 515 Clark Ave., and are invited to attend the City Council meeting tonight. The display is located on the second floor of the building, near the entryway to the city manager’s office.The Parks and Recreation Commission has already approved the sculpture — without clothes — and the Ames City Council will discuss the matter at its meeting tonight.”If the city council approves this concept, and if they approve of putting it in Bandshell Park, then we’ll enter into an agreement and in a few months [Culbertson] will come back with a completed final proposal,” Kindred said.