Two Iowa City mural projects get the thumbs up from art committee

IOWA CITY - Two Iowa City murals - one for the steps leading to College Green Park and another for the exterior of a downtown bar - are moving forward.

On Thursday, Iowa City's Public Art Advisory Committee discussed a handful of projects, including applications to create artwork on the risers of the approximately 40 steps leading to the park at 600 E. College St. The committee selected University of Iowa's Aurora Green, who proposed a mural depicting a variety of designs and colors continuing up the stairs in patterns reminiscent of Native American textiles or Aztec pottery.

John Engelbrecht, a member of the committee, said selecting an artist was challenging, as committee members wanted to add to the park, while not overdoing it.

'How do you maintain the character of the park while you're painting on the steps? ... I think it's a little tricky,” he said.

Ultimately, the committee selected Green's as the best submission. The plan is to have the mural finished by late August, before students return to town and traffic on the steps picks up.

Another art project moving forward is slated for the exterior wall of Sports Column Bar, 12 N. Dubuque St.

Eric Seckel, with North Liberty's custom-paint company Air Efex, has been proposed as the artist. The airbrushed mural - proposed to be roughly 10 feet by 14 feet - will depict former Iowa Hawkeye Tim Dwight in stride.

Tracy Hightshoe, Iowa City community development coordinator, said Sports Column's mural is part of a project - which includes awning work and window replacement - partially funded by the city's Building Change Program. The beautification program helps fund downtown business renovations.

The total project is estimated to cost $42,300, with the city funding no more than 30 percent, or roughly $12,700 in Community Development Block Grant funds.

Of the several Building Change projects that have taken place in recent years, Hightshoe said Sports Column's is the first to include a public art piece.

Hightshoe said the mural's location, the alley that intersects Dubuque Street, is highly visible. The hope is that the presence of a mural might reduce graffiti, she said.

'When there's art there, for some reason it's less likely to be vandalized,” she said.