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The character of a community and its sense of place can be profoundly influenced by public art. Projects supported by the Foundation have become tools for visual communication and provide a conduit to express the spirit, image, and vitality of the community. The public artworks completed so far are excellent examples of how the creative process and its application in the public domain can serve as portal to the past, a link to the present, and a window to the future.
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Temple Chess & Poetry Garden
The Temple Chess & Poetry Garden was conceived, designed, and fabricated by internationally known artist Siah Armajani. The Garden is rapidly becoming a favorite gathering place, where people can go to simply enjoy the day or play one another in a game of chess.
The idea was originally conceived by family members of the late Bennett Webster, a well-known,
life-long resident of Des Moines. The family made overtures to the Foundation with an idea.
The idea rapidly evolved from that of a single chess table into a multi-faceted, site-specific environmental work designed and created by Mr. Armajani. He was inspired to fabricate a variety of objects that would “...activate a space, be inviting to the public, and include interactive elements.”
His creation accomplished the goals he envisioned for the project. The Garden includes three chess tables, a rectangular area surrounded by fencing with embedded, brass-lettered lines of poetry, benches for sitting, and a large square multi purpose table that doubles as a stage for community events, which can be reserved free of charge through the Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department. The area is landscaped with plantings and trees and granite covers the ground surface in keeping with the artist's design.
Over one hundred people attended the dedication ceremony in 2006 to help inaugurate and activate the space - a space that otherwise would not have been particularly appealing or useful to the public.
Artist: Siah Armajani
Title: Temple Chess & Poetry Garden (Detail)
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East Village Bicycle Racks
The East Village hosted its annual “Rack ‘n’ Roll Project”, funded in
part and guided by the Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation.
The project was an open competition, resulting in over 20 entries from Iowa artists.
The submissions were reviewed by an experienced panel of judges
who made final recommendations based on pre-determined criteria and quality
of the artist's work. As a result, five Iowa artists were commissioned to create
these bike rack sculptures for installation throughout the historic East Village.
 The sculptures were unveiled during “Bike to Work Week,"
which took place during spring 2006. The Greater
Des Moines Public Art Foundation was pleased to assist the
Historic East Village, Inc. by helping to select the artists
and provide one-half of the $2,000 stipends paid to each
commissioned artist.
Artist: Tim Adams,Webster City
Title: High Wheeler
Location: East Village
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The Iowa Events Center Hy-Vee Hall of Pride
With assistance from the Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation, officials
of the Iowa Events Center — Hy-Vee Hall, commissioned Des Moines native,
and New York City artist Anna Gaskell to create a site-specific work of art.
Ms. Gaskell created an outdoor “hedge maze,” titled which is an inter-active artwork that introduces “living” public art
to downtown Des Moines. The installation is located near the corner of Third
and Park Streets and readily accessible to the public.
Gaskell, who is well known for her public artworks,
conceptualized and created a “maze” which measurers
50 feet long and 25 feet wide. The work also features
a television monitor, placed inside the Hall that continually
shows the work as viewed under gradually
changing weather and growing conditions.
Artist: Anna Gaskell
Title: “Until the Woods Began to Move
Location: Hy-Vee Hall, Iowa Events Center
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City of Des Moines - Performance Report
The Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation has provided multiple grants to offset the cost of paying professional artists for the rights to publish images of their work in the city’s published Performance Reports. Each year local artists are selected in competitions that are managed by Metro Arts Alliance, a long-time Des Moines nonprofit organization, dedicated to serving the needs of local artists.
The reports are truly superior publications; they are imaginative and use images of artwork as a tool to enhance the format of the publication and make it a more desirable document to read. | |
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The Science Center of Iowa
 The SCI received a grant from the Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation to commission the team of Mags Harries and Lajos Héder to create a monumental outdoor public work of art using elements of science as their inspiration. This outdoor gathering space is situated at the southeast corner of the SCI's property.
The work is relative to SCI’s mission and promotes conversation, experimentation, and inquiry. Harries & Héder are nationally recognized artists whose work graces cities across the nation.
As is the case in most of the projects funded by the Foundation, the SCI grant is matched on a 1:1 basis.
Artists: Harries & Lajos Heder
Title: “The Big Question”
Location: Science Center of Iowa |
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Orchard Place/PACE Juvenile Center [8th & High Streets]
Prior to its current manifestation, the Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation was a City Commission under the auspices of the City Council. During that period, the Commission assisted Orchard Place/PACE Juvenile Center in creating a mural to nurture a stronger sense of place.
The mural, completed in 2003, is a symbol of transformation, inspiration, and renewal for the children at PACE, as well as for our community. Barri Lester, Artist in Residence at the Des Moines Art Center, Anne Welles, art teacher at Orchard Place School, and a group of Orchard Place children conceptualized a design of the mural.
Barri Lester oversaw the painting of the actual mural on the walls of PACE, and that, because of the high level of detail in her work, did much of the finishing work herself. The images below show the massive [west wall - 34 feet high & 112 feet wide/south facing wall - 24 feet high & 66 feet wide] wall in its original state and after the mural was completed.
Before After
There continues to be numerous urban and suburban development projects underway within the boundaries of Des Moines. As such, the Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation looks forward to collaborating with community stakeholders and others to continue increasing the scope of the city's public art holdings and its efforts to enhance the community aesthetics and the quality of life for residents, and visitors alike.
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