Iowa City committee seeking artists for College Green Park project

IOWA CITY - Iowa City's Public Art Advisory Committee is seeking artists to create a one of a kind mural on the concrete steps leading up to College Green Park.

The committee is accepting proposals from Johnson County artists to create artwork on the risers of the approximately 40 steps leading up to the park at 600 E. College St.

Marcia Bollinger, Iowa City Public Art Program Coordinator, said the city has a $3,000 budget for design, materials and installation of the project.

The hope is the artwork, which will likely entail a mural on the step's risers and be most visible a short distance from the actual stairs, will complement the park's existing features.

'The whole idea is to make it more of a centerpiece,” Bollinger said. 'The committee is encouraging that it take on maybe some of the flavor of the existing park or play up some of the historic features.”

College Green Park was established in 1839, making it one of the oldest parks in Iowa City.

Applications will be accepted through July 2 and need to include an artist statement, resume, colored rendering of proposed artwork, explanation of site preparation and safety measures during its creation.

According to a project timeline, finalists for the project will meet with the committee July 16, with an artist selected the following day and artwork expected to start August 1. The anticipated completion date is August 21.

Bollinger said the artwork will have the expected life span of a mural, or between 5 to 10 years.