Main Street puts out statewide call for new sculptures

By ANDREW MCGINN
a.mcginn@beeherald.com

On Nov. 4, 1973, the Des Moines Sunday Register’s Picture magazine featured a cover story on the new (at the time) sculpture adorning the Jefferson Public Library’s modern addition.

Accompanying a cover photo of the piece with its dashing young sculptor (Jefferson High grad David Williamson, who was barely even a decade removed from school) were the words, “A Commitment to Sculpture.”

That commitment is about to be renewed by Jefferson Matters: Main Street and Home State Bank — and much-needed publicity awaits the artist who wins “Ring Out for Art,” a new sculpture competition in the works for the 2016 Bell Tower Festival and beyond.

Or if you’d rather just have some cash, there’s that, too — $2,000 goes to the first place sculpture.

Tower View Team — the public art component of Jefferson Matters: Main Street — is about to issue a statewide call for entries due Feb. 29.

It didn’t take much to convince Home State President and CEO Sid Jones to put up the $3,500 in inaugural prize money. (Second place wins $1,000; third takes $500.)

The bank board, he said, was sold on one word.

“Art.”

“We have a community that appreciates art,” Jones said, “and we’d like to continue to foster that.”

Public art is a growing tourism sector, and with a countywide effort to boost tourism in full swing, it seemed like a win-win for Home State.

“There’s a uniqueness to what Main Street is doing,” Jones said. “It’s a project that has the potential to grow significantly over time.”

Home State has a legacy of supporting art.

For starters, the library might have commissioned Williamson’s contemporary sculpture in the early ’70s — but Home State Bank paid for it.

The bank also has a history of exhibiting art on its walls.

The competition will be open to professionals and amateurs alike. Sculptors must incorporate an element of a bell in their work, although it can be hidden and it doesn’t need to actually ring.

A selection committee will choose six proposed sculptures for display and public voting during the Bell Tower Festival in June.

Sculptures must be able to fit inside an area 4 feet by 4 feet.

The top three sculptures then will be on loan for display on the courthouse grounds until May 1, 2017.

The concept of loaning the work from the artist for a year — not buying it permanently — has worked well in cities such as Ames and Sioux Falls, S.D., according to Deb McGinn, Tower View Team chairwoman.

“There’s always money available to acquire art,” she said. “There’s never enough money for restoration, conservation or maintenance of art, especially in a small community.”

That also ensures there’s a new selection of art for viewing each year.

“A permanent, revolving artwork,” McGinn said. “Just another reason to come downtown.”

To receive an application, email director@jeffersonmatters.org or call 515-386-3585.