The current Iowa legislative session being on an indefinite hiatus has allowed a local legislator to touch up his damaged public artwork in Dallas County.

House District 20 Representative Ray Sorensen, also known as the artist behind the “Freedom Rocks” around Iowa, spent last week in Minburn repairing damage to the County’s installation. The rock, which was unveiled last October, sustained some damage when a motorist collided with it last December. Sorensen says he’s glad the driver survived, and he was also happy to discover the damage was less severe than expected. “You know, for being slammed into – and you know he didn’t touch his brakes, the brakes were the rock – the rock did pretty good. It didn’t shatter into pieces, all it did was just really scratch it up. It scratched it up obviously where he hit it, and then it scratched it up probably worse on the backside because in the backside when it fell over, it kind of scratched on the gravel that was behind it. And so there’s extensive repairs that have to go into it, but it happens. You know, this is what happens when you paint public art; there’s either vandalism or there’s unintended vandalism like a car crashing into it.”

Sorensen’s part in the repairs have been completed, with the Minburn American Legion now putting a seal coat over the art to protect it. The rock is expected to be re-unveiled this week. Damage to the rock, lighting, and landscaping was estimated at $8,100, which will be paid through insurance, restitution, and fundraising efforts.