Over the last couple days, the Perry Public Works Department installed the newest addition to Willis Avenue: the second of the four Streetscape sculptures.

The newest sculpture is titled “The Iowa Girl,” and is dedicated to Roberta Ahmanson. It will be officially unveiled to the public this Saturday at 5:30 p.m., immediately following the Art on the Prairie festivities. John Brommel, the sculptor for all four pieces, says the inspiration for “The Iowa Girl” was Perry’s growing artistic culture. It’s designed with the Arts and Crafts period in mind, which is abundantly used at Hotel Pattee. The lighting for the sculpture has once again been designed by Mike Lambert. He used cooler colors this time, which he feels will contrast well with the warm lights seen on the first Streetscape sculpture, “Born of Fire.”

Raccoon Valley Radio and the Big Red Radio will serve as master of ceremonies for the event. Mayor Jay Pattee will give a speech, and will then hand it off to Bill Clark, who worked closely with Ahmanson on the restoration of Hotel Pattee. Art on the Prairie organizer Jenny Eklund, who has been instrumental in the Streetscape project, explains, “We have asked Bill Clark to be the one to actually flip the switch. He was with Roberta from the get-go, many years ago when Roberta brought the hotel and our town back to life. We owe her so much, and this is one way we thought of thanking her: dedicating this sculpture named ‘The Iowa Girl’ to her.”

Clark will read a statement for Ahmanson, who is unable to attend the event. The sculpture reveal and lighting will be held on the corner of Willis Avenue and 3rd Street, which will cause the intersection to be closed for a few hours on Saturday. To learn more about this and other Art on the Prairie events, listen to Wednesday’s Perry Fareway Let’s Talk Dallas County program at RaccoonValleyRadio.com.