There are two public art projects happening in downtown Jefferson.

Jefferson Matters: A Main Street and Chamber Community Tower View Team Chair Deb McGinn says local artist Roger Aegerter is laying out the design of his second mural on the alley side of ShineOn Design building on the north side of the downtown square. McGinn notes the first mural “Eyes on Washington” is a geometric design on the backside of Mid-Iowa Insurance/Jefferson Iowa Realty building last year, which was done through a Paint Iowa Beautiful grant. She talks about how the first mural was used by the public.

“It’s been really a lot of fun to see on Facebook where photographers have taken their clients in and had pictures taken and I know the Funky Zebra has somebody modeling next to that mural. It’s exactly what we want to see happen.”

McGinn points out the seventh rooftop art is currently being worked on top of the Peony Restaurant, with business owner and artist Dana Harrison. She says he plans to paint a flower design, inspired by the spray painted peonies he put on the west side of the building, along with another surprise. McGinn explains what will be happening to some of the previous rooftop art pieces.

“We’re also going to be doing some maintenance and repainting of ‘Patches of Greene’ which is on the old Homestead building. And also the heart needs to be repainted on ‘Music Straight from the Heart’ which is on the west side. We do have to keep it looking good, so this year those two will be repainted and spiffed up a little bit.”   

McGinn adds the seventh rooftop art project was made possible through an Iowa Arts Council grant.