art-garden

A special event is happening Thursday evening in downtown Jefferson will highlight public art.

Jefferson Matters Tower View Team Chair Deb McGinn says Party on the Plaza takes place from 4:30-7pm on the south plaza of the Greene County Courthouse. She tells Raccoon Valley Radio this is to celebrate all of the public art displays around the downtown area as attendees will be able to check out the four new installments of the Ring Out for Art Contest sculptures. She notes that the finalists represent not only Iowa, but Wisconsin, Minnesota and even British Columbia, Canada. 

McGinn points out another newer area is the recent implementation of the Art Garden, which is located south of Jefferson City Hall. She notes that there are four panels on metal archways with artwork from local artists, including Jolene Peters (with leaves and branches), Kevin Shea (with the horse painting), Michelle Bumgardner (with the wing heart), and Rita Hesson (with the prairie collage), with all of the displays exemplifying interpretations of the theme “the wind.”

“And Jolene Peters headed that up for us. Then they photographed the pieces of artwork, sent them into a vinyl company, and then they put them on vinyl. And they’re on both sides (of the panels) because we wanted people to see, if you’re walking by, or from the inside of city hall they have windows, and I said, ‘We can’t just have you looking at blank banners on the back.’ So we double-sided both of those things.”

McGinn says that project was made possible from a Greene County Community Foundation grant from last year and cooperation with the city to allow for the archways to be on city property. She explains that attendees will also have a chance to visit each of the main alleyways that were renovated with public art, including the newest, Imagination Alley on the west side, Arch Alley on the northside, and Sally’s Alley on the southside; along with the rooftop art from the top of the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower. McGinn adds that the event is free and there will be refreshments served.