‘Positioned Perfectly for Vitality’: What Does it Mean?

When West Des Moines officials put out a call to artists for a public art installation that opens June 27, it was anyone’s guess how the request would be met.

Todd Seaman, the recreation superintendent for the West Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department, was happily surprised.

“When we threw it out there, I didn’t know what to expect,” he said. “I figured if we got four or five works that would be great.”

Instead, 10 artists applied to have their works included in the temporary installation and five were selected.

“To have as many submissions as we had and the quality and diversity, we’re really excited about that,” Seaman said.

The selected pieces are currently being installed along the trail and and will be unveiled at  6 p.m. Thursday, June 27, at an Art on Campus celebration and ceremony on the patio behind City Hall, 4200 Mills Civic Parkway. The event is open to the public and will give people an opportunity to meet the artists whose work will be displayed.

Seaman said the artists like the space along the trail and pond. “It’s a unique environment to learn about art,” he said.

“It’s a good opportunity for them to get some exposure,” Seaman said. “Everything’s for sale, so they might potentially sell a work, or people will learn about their artistry and want them to do something for them.”

The art will remain on display through September.

The West Des Moines Public Arts Advisory Commission has been planning the temporary installation for more than a year and it’s the first of its kind in the city. Expect it to return next year, and expect the art to remain in place longer, Seaman said.

The next big project for the advisory group will be to use hotel/motel tax money to commission more public art, Seaman said. Debt has now been retired for first installation along Railroad Avenue, so there’s no bond obligation for future hotel/motel revenues.

Funding for the temporary Art on the Campus installation was provided by a Prairie Meadows Community Betterment Grant, a Bravo Greater Des Moines Capital Campaign and Project Grant, the West Des Moines Community Enrichment Foundation and the West Des Moines Development Connection.

The artists:

Artist: Dan Belt of West Des Moines Title: “Runners” Materials used: Welded steel pipe Price: $3,000 

Artist: Bounnak Thammavong of Swisher Title: “Polywiggle and Strands” Materials used:  Painted stainless and cor-ten steel Price: $6,000

Artist: Hilde DeBruyne-Verhofste of Cumming Title: “Wings of Change” Materials used: metal, mild steel Price: $16,000

Artist: John Brommel of Des Moines Title: “You are the Sun, the Moon and the Stars” Materials used: steel and stainless steel Price: $1,500

Artist: John Brommel of Des Moines Title: “Days Gone By” Materials used: Patina on steel and chromed steel Price: $2,500