Grand displays of public art leave long-lasting impressions.
If you’ve visited Chicago, you know “The Bean.” In Seattle, maybe you’d recognize “Typewriter Eraser” or “The Eagle.” Then, there are the “Love” sculptures in Manhattan and Philadelphia.
Art creates an iconic association with a city.
A few U.S. cities have begun to capitalize on this phenomenon in some head-turning ways, as you might expect, art being art. I’m talking about public sculpture parks.
One I didn’t expect was in downtown Des Moines, Iowa. On a work trip for the Association of Area Business Publishers’ summer conference, my Springfield Business Journal colleagues and I were introduced to a quiet 4.4-acre park with large-scale sculptures in the midst of a surprisingly vibrant downtown.
Seattle’s Olympic Sculpture Park is one of the first of its kind, opening in 2007 on a 9-acre site, converted from oil-contaminated industrial land. The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is one of the largest at 40 pieces on 11 acres, part of the Walker Arts Center, and it’s undergoing a $33 million, two-year renovation project.
So how does a public art plan come together like that?
Here’s the formula: A generous wealthy family, a collection of private art donors or a commitment by the city – maybe in the form of land, coordination and connections by an arts organization. Well, that’s basically what worked in Des Moines.
The Pappajohn Sculpture Park didn’t just happen; it was thoroughly and thoughtfully planned.
Philanthropists John and Mary Pappajohn donated 24 sculptures from their private collection valued at $40 million, some corporations like Nationwide Insurance chipped in, and fundraising by community leaders pooled $6.5 million to create the architecturally designed greenspace and finance an endowment for park security and maintenance.
Another thing worth noting: Corporate offices have flocked to the area around Pappajohn Sculpture Park. There’s Kum & Go LC, Principal Financial, Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and Meredith Corp., publishers of Better Homes & Gardens and Shape magazines.
As Springfield artist Josh Mitchell told me: “We help business prosper. Art is a wonderful product – a unique commodity that can instantly change a space to reflect the business owners’ real pride and project positive vitality,” he said at his recent showing at The eFactory business incubator.
When I think of public art in Springfield, there is plenty of good, notable works: “The French Fries” near the Springfield Art Museum, “Kinetic Man” at Jordan Valley Park and the “Cloud House” at Farmers Park. But they’re scattered around the city.
Following the sculpture park model, we should look at open acreage in center city.
On an evening stroll downtown last week, it was clear to see art as part of the interaction between people and place. Behind the IdeaX Factory, twentysomethings were playing bocce ball and having drinks on the lawn surrounding the red “X” sculpture. Exiting the artistic doors of Hotel Vandivort – arguably a cultural art piece of its own – was a man and two unleashed but uber-obedient dogs. Oftentimes, professional photographers are seen staging their photo subjects next to historically creative brick walls or with artwork as backdrops.
The newly installed Sculpture Walk Springfield is a step in that direction. A dozen sculptures around downtown create a “museum without walls with access to all,” organizers say.
After my trip to Des Moines, I can say we need bolder; we need bigger. I can envision greenspace extended from Brick City or larger land available in the West Meadows for a sculpture park. Maybe there’s opportunity to expand The Commons at Jordan Valley next to Hammons Field.
The sculpture park in Des Moines is a place you jog through and are invigorated by the sights or where you spend a good part of an hour strolling, mesmerized. One piece is 27-feet tall, called “Nomade,” and it invites you to walk inside
And you come away talking about what you saw or refreshed with new ideas. It’s catchy, that public art.
If Des Moines can do it, we can catch on.
Springfield Business Journal Editor Eric Olson can be reached at eolson@sbj.net.
