Visual Arts Commission - May 12, 2022 - Cedar-rapids.org

Visual Arts
Commission

May 12, 2022

Agenda
1. Roll Call
2. Approval of Minutes – May 12, 2022
3. Public Input
4. Recommendation Items
    a) Phase 2, American Discovery Trail mural
    b) Five Seasons Parking Ramp finalists
5. Update and Discussion Items
6. Member Updates/Announcements
7. Adjournment

PUBLIC INPUT

Recommendation Items
a) Phase 2, American Discovery Trail mural-Nick Ludwig

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Across Iowa (American Discovery Trail)

•   Greene Square, Cedar Rapids, IA
•   Ali Hval, Iowa City, Iowa
•   September 21, 2019
•   This mural pays homage to The American Discovery Trail,
    indicating where the trail runs along the Cedar Valley
    Nature Trail through Cedar Rapids. The trail itself is
    depicted with the yellow lines, describing how it moves
    across the United States with Iowa being in the center.
    Moving from left to right, the mural cycles from night to
    day to night again, describing a change in time as people
    move across the path. Local Iowan plants and wildlife are
    illustrated throughout the mural, such as mallard ducks,
    coneflowers, grasses, and goldfinches.

Across Iowa Phase 2 – Ali Hval
The original mural will remain central and centered in the overall
mural design. The yellow lines creating the original outline of the
ADT trail running through Iowa will be extended on the left and
right and swirl to the ends of the parking garage structure. The
land will also be continued left and right, and dotted with a larger
variety of Iowa wildflowers, bugs, birds, and plants

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Across Iowa Phase 2 – Ali Hval
Above, similar shapes as below will be painted
with patterns and skies filling them. The patterns
and clouds from the skies will break and spill out
from the shapes and merge into one another.
Around these, there will be more butterflies and
birds.

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Across Iowa Phase 2 – Ali Hval
Specific plants to be pictured include big bluestem, bleeding
heartland, wild roses, various prairie grasses, Indian grass, wild
rhubarb, black eyed susans, mock strawberries, dame’s rocket,
milkweed, “ditch lilies,” and wild white indigo.
Specific birds and insects to be pictured include mallard ducks,
geese, American goldfinches, cardinals, starlings, blue jays,
Baltimore orioles, red-winged blackbirds, and common grackles.
Specific insects to include are stag beetles, ground beetles, viceroy
butterflies, common buckeyes butterflies, black swallowtail
butterflies, painted lady butterflies, summer azure butterflies,
checkered white butterflies, and red-spotted purples.

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Across Iowa Phase 2 – Ali Hval
• Timeline: late July or August
• Funding: Downtown District
• Implementation and support: Murals & More

Thank you!

RECOMMENDATION ITEM

  a. Five Seasons Parking Ramp mural

     Review criteria
     • Uniqueness
     • Celebrate and uplift Cedar Rapids’ diversity
     • Relevance of mural to City – it’s values, culture and people
     • Appropriateness of the scale, form design and material of
       the artwork to site

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Quinonez

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Quinonez

Ramirez

Ramirez
•   Proposed Artwork: Integrated Whole 2022
•   In my opinion, one of the greatest struggles of public art is that over time,
    the content and imagery has participated in manifesting in the systematic
    invisibility of the contributions of individuals.
•   Ideally, I would like to symbolically uplift not only these individuals, but the
    BIPoC community as a whole.
•   Additionally, accompanying the project, I would intend to have a
    community paint day that would reach out to the Cedar Rapids community.
    Also, as an extra layer to the project, it would be nice to have oral
    interviews with the BIPoC community speaking to the nature of their
    personal growth throughout their life in Cedar Rapids - especially
    highlighting the presence and influences of our contemporary social
    movements.
•   With this submission, you will be able to view my ability to conceptualize
    language into visual poetics; creating and executing a culturally
    responsive project that meets the needs of not only high end stakeholders,
    but also the diverse communities of the Cedar Rapids Area.

Blanco

Blanco
•   2 Week of painting process.
•   - 120’ Boom-lift rental for painting installation.
•   - At least two coats of high-quality water & UV sealer will be applied to protect it.
•   - 20 years life expectancy without desaturation of colors.
•   - The eyes will be painted in a realistic style.
•   - Eyes references are universal in this proposal. They don’t represent anyone
    specifically. However, if committee prefers, photos can be taken (by artist) of
    community members who will be willing to have their eyes painted.
•   - Eyes are unique to each of us. Diversity can still be perceived when looking at
    just the eyes of a person, however they became ambiguous as well. They may
    not reveal an exact description of the person’s race, culture, gender, age, sexual
    orientation, etc. As a result, they could represent more than one group.
•   - The Purpose of the Celebrate Mural is to highlight the diversity in Cedar Rapids
    in a unifying approach. We are all different and unique, but at the same we are
    all essentially human.
•   - Artist is open to design revision/s with committee feedback.

Yanoe Zoueh

Yanoe Zoueh
•   TOGETHER WE BLOOM
•   This large scale mural entitled “Together We Bloom” is centered around a community flourishing together. The
    thoughtful imagery, hues and design showcase local flora as well as the hands of people from all walks of life
    who work together to blossom in the beautiful city of Cedar Rapids. Providing a link to connect the roofline and
    tower with the ground below, inviting its audience to pause on their journey, while becoming a notable public
    art destination for others.

•   Together We Bloom will be an innovative artwork located on the tower of the Five Seasons parking garage.
    Visible by car and foot along 1st Ave NE, the artwork will serve as an inspirational landmark for the growing
    community of Cedar Rapids. If Allowed we are proposing to paint the entire width and breadth of the tower,
    creating a cohesive whole.

•   Forming the centerpiece of the mural is a diverse mix of hands joined together in a symbolic gesture of unity as
    they reach towards the sky. As an embodiment of hope, resilience, and love, the hands aspire for something
    greater than their own individuality. By grouping native florals such as the Purple prairie clover, Partridge pea,
    Gray-headed coneflower and wild bergamot we depict the closeness of Cedar Rapids as a beautiful bouquet
    blossoming together. The color pallet chosen represents the four seasons, with all of them coming together
    signifying the fifth season... To enjoy life.

•   The concepts we are proposing in the mural consider the architecture, surrounding environment, community,
    and visitors in a single unified public artwork. We invite the viewer to pause and take note. The work is a
    rumination on our search for where we are going; and in its imagery, we find the path ahead lies in collective
    engagement and understanding.

6. Member Updates/Announcements

7. Adjournment

Next Meeting: July 14, 2022