The Sculptor Showcase is a recurring public art program that gives Iowa sculptors the opportunity to showcase their work around the Iowa City community for a two-year display period. The City of Iowa City’s Public Art Advisory Committee (PAAC) selects sculptures and display locations based on submissions.

*NEW* 2024 - 2026 Sculptor's Showcase: Call for Submissions

The City of Iowa City’s Public Art Advisory Committee is seeking applications for the 2024-2026 Sculptor’s Showcase. For the first time in program history, eight showcase pads provide the opportunity for Iowa sculptors to showcase their work for two years. See the location map for more detail. Each artist may submit up to 3 sculptures for consideration.

These temporary exhibits will be on display from August 7, 2024 through July 2026.

Apply here: https://www.iowa-city.org/Forms/SculptorsShowcase

Artist Benefits

• $2,250 artist’s honorarium payable upon installation.
• Sales opportunity for exhibited sculpture.

Criteria

Submissions will be evaluated on artistic merit, creativity, public safety, appropriateness to its location, and durability in the outdoors. Work must be able to be securely installed on a 4’ x 4’ cement pad, be well-constructed and of the highest-quality design, and be able to withstand adverse weather conditions (high winds, rain, heat, snow and freezing temperatures) and an unsupervised general audience. Unstable, fragile, dangerous, inappropriate or small, lightweight works will not be accepted.

Installation/Removal

Selected artists will be responsible for delivering, installing, and removing their work of art, working closely with City of Iowa City staff as necessary. The City of Iowa City may be able to provide installation assistance in the form of labor and some onsite transportation or moving equipment. These needs should be detailed appropriately in the application. Works that are not removed during the deinstallation timeframe will be removed and stored at a city equipment lot for a $150 fee.

Works must be installed between July 22 - August 7, 2024. (Actual installation date to be negotiated based upon removal date of existing sculpture).

De-installation must take place between July 24- 31, 2026. Early pick-up of the work is not permitted.

Insurance and Sales

The City shall maintain insurance coverage on the work while on display at the Iowa City Sculptors Showcase for vandalism, theft, or damage. Insurance coverage is not provided on any works of art while in transit to or from the installation locations.

We encourage artists to allow their pieces to be for sale for throughout the year-long exhibit. During the course of the year, efforts will be made to promote the Iowa City Sculptor’s Showcase and encourage purchase of the sculptures.

Project Timeline

• Friday, May 17, 2024 - Applications due by 11:59 p.m. CST
• June 6, 2024 – Review and selection of submissions by the Iowa City Public Art Advisory Committee
• Week of June 10th, 2024 - Notification of selected artists, contracts awarded
• July 22 through August 7, 2024 - Previous exhibiting artists remove existing sculptures, and newly exhibiting artists deliver and install sculptures
• July 24 through July 31, 2026 - Removal of work

Responsibilities of the City of Iowa City:              

• A 4’ x 4’ concrete sculpture pad

• $2,250.00 honorarium payable upon installation

• $10,000 vandalism/theft/liability insurance, once the sculpture is installed    

• Oversight of the installation process        

• A plaque adjacent to the sculpture stating: the title of the sculpture, name of the artist, a QR code leading to the artist’s website and contact information, "Available for Purchase" (if applicable) and "Iowa City Public Art Program"

Responsibilities of the Artist

• Delivery and installation of selected artwork (with City oversight)
• Meeting all contract deadlines
• Any travel expenses
• Insurance in excess of that provided by the City (optional)
• Repairs and any other necessary work while on display

Contact Rachel Kilburg Varley, Iowa City Public Art Coordinator at rkilburg@iowa-city.org, 319-356-5248 with questions.

2023 - 2024 Sculptor's Showcase

Iowa City Airport Mural Project

Completed in the fall of 2023, "Flights Through Time" is a 12-foot-tall, 300-foot-long mural along an Iowa City Airport hangar facing South Riverside Drive. The artist, Jenna Brownlee, created the piece to represent the history of aviation in Iowa City from its beginnings with the flight of Tom Baldwin’s Red Devil in 1910 to today’s aircraft commonly seen at the Iowa City Municipal Airport.

The Iowa City Airport Commission, with assistance from the Iowa City Art Advisory Committee, raised funds from area donors to complete the mural.

Conceptualized by Antoine Williams and Donté K. Hayes

The Oracles of Iowa City is a partnership between Public Space One and Center for Afrofuturist Studies funded through the Iowa City Public Art Program and the University of Iowa Office of the Vice President of Research.

“The concept and ultimate vision for this mural is a visual call out or beacon to the community and to the greater region of people who will visit Iowa City. The starting thoughts for the theme of this mural comes from Double Consciousness, the term created by African American scholar W.E.B. Du Bois as the internal conflict experienced by Black people or colonized groups in an oppressive society.”

“The artists…Antoine Williams and Donté K Hayes, want to make it clear that this mural is not the end of any conversation or action in regards to improving the lives and well-being of Black people who live in and or visit Iowa City. Both murals…exhibit colorful pattern work similar to the ones found in West African traditional rituals and ceremonies. The patterns will furthermore resemble sound waves which connect the murals to their placement on the downtown parking garage across from the University of Iowa Voxman Music Building. Such placement is for the white community, government officials, community leaders, and all people who view the mural or have heard of the mural’s existence to acknowledge the systematic oppression of Black people and be accountable to do more in the community. Most importantly, the mural will speak to Black people’s humanity and not just their pain, giving expression to Black aesthetics in order to create a much-needed social transformation regarding race and not only acceptance, but respect.”

-PS1

For addition information about the Oracles of Iowa City project, please visit the Public Space One website.

The Project Team:

• Antoine Williams, Co-designer
• Donté K Hayes, Co-designer
• Jill Wells, Lead Painter
• Marissa Hernandez, Painting Fellow
• Janiece Maddox, ICRU Painting Fellow
• Fred Ebong, Videography Fellow
• Nichole Shaw, ICRU Storytelling Fellow
• Dr. Dellyssa Edinboro, CAS Education Coordinator
• Loyce Arthur, Project Advisor
• John Engelbrecht, PS1 Executive Director