Iowa City Public Art Program

 

 

 The Public Art Program was established by the Iowa City City Council in 1997. The Public Art Advisory Committee was also established to oversee the operations of the Public Art program and advise the City Council on potential sites that can be enhanced by the addition of public art and also recommend various pieces of artwork.

"Glimpse: A Showcase and Location Map of Iowa City's Public Art Collection" - pdf

 


 Downtown Public Art Projects

 

In 1997, the Public Art Program focused its attention on the downtown area, primarily on the pedestrian mall. Permanent installations include:
  • The Weatherdance Fountain Myklbust-Sears - 1999
  • Dorothy Justine Zimmer - 2001
  • Solar Marker and Balance Christoph Spath - 2001
  • Jazz Gary Alsum - 2002
  • Ties that Bind Jane DeDecker - 2001
  • The Iowa Avenue Literary Walk Gregg Le Fevre - 2001
  • Untitled mural on the corner of Dubuque and Iowa Avenue Anne Ullerich - 2001
  • Irving Weber (intersection of Iowa and Dubuque) Steve and Doris Park - 2003
  • Steel Garde and Nature’s Way (Court Street Transportation Center) David Dalquist - 2005

 

The Neighborhood Art Program

 
The Neighborhood Art program was selected as the second focus of the Public Art program. Four neighborhoods have participated in the program which involves a very intensive neighborhood participation process to determine the type and location of the art as well as working with an artist to produce the final product. The neighborhoods and their art include:
  • Longfellow Neighborhood - Historic Markers and “Wings’ Return” sculpture – Will Thomson - 2004
  • Goosetown Neighborhood - Street Markers (Geese) – John Coyne - 2004
  • Northside Neighborhood - Street Markers (Homes) – John Coyne - 2005
  • Wetherby Neighborhood - Wetherby Park shelter railing and “Wethervane” – John Coyne - 2007 
  • Washington Hills Neighborhood
  • Melrose Neighborhood
      

Public Art in City Parks

 
City parks were selected as the next focus for public art installations. Four installations have occurred:

Archway – Joe Prescher – 2005 - Benton Hill Park
Love is Strange – Seth Goddard - 2005 - Willow Creek Park
Just for Kicks – Don Mitchell – 2006 - Iowa City Kickers Soccer Park
Birds in Flight – Mark LaMair – 2006 - Sycamore Greenway

The most recent project is the installation of artwork at the Waterworks Prairie Park scheduled for completion in summer, 2009.

Jazz

 

Iowa Sculptor's Showcase

 

The "Iowa Artist's Showcase Pad” offers the opportunity for talented Iowa sculptors to display their work for a one year period. The showcase pad is located in the downtown pedestrian mall near the Weatherdance fountain. Scultpures that have been “showcased’ include:

  • Angel John Coyne – 2004/2005
  • Politically Purple Jerry Cowger – 2005/2006
  • A Muse Gene Anderson – 2006/2008
  • Blade Mark NeuCollins – 2007/2008
  • Tunnel Vision Aaron Franck – 2008/2009

 

Other Programs:

The Public Art program also sponsors a number of other programs that showcase the physical or literary art talents of our community.

The Poetry in Public program celebrates Iowa City’s rich literary tradition and local writing talent by displaying poems by writers of all ages in city buses, one of the downtown kiosks, and other public facilities from April (National Poetry Month) through the fall. Poems are also displayed in the Robert A. Lee Community Recreation Center, the Scanlon Gymnasium/Mercer Park Aquatic Center, and the Iowa City Public Library.

Program for Recognition of Art in Non-Public Spaces recognizes Iowa City citizens who contribute to the city's visual art environment by displaying artwork on their property.

 

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This page was last updated: 1/13/2012 1:29:55 PM