Public art is taking to the streets of Greater Des Moines in a new initiative that wraps artists’ one-of-a-kind designs on public transit buses.
The Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation Project Spaces initiative, in partnership with the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART), will unveil the new public art initiative Nov. 20, at The Hub Spot Plaza on The Principal Riverwalk at Court Avenue and Water Street.
“The Public Art Foundation advances the best of public art through public and private collaborations. It is dedicated to envisioning, developing, and promoting public art projects such at this initiative,” said Paul Mankins, president of the Public Art Foundation Board and principal of Substance Architecture. “Alex Brown, the first artist selected, is a Des Moines-based artist whose paintings have drawn international acclaim.”
“We love introducing more art on DART,” said Kirstin Baer-Harding, DART marketing director. “We’re glad we could partner with the Public Art Foundation to help expose more people to great works of art by local artists.”
The bus wrap is the latest in a series of projects, supported through the Public Art Foundation’s PROJECTSPACES program, and follows temporary art installations at the Iowa State Fair in 2013 and 2014. Through PROJECTSPACES, the Public Art Foundation places compelling, temporary works of art in highly accessible and visible public spaces.
The bus wrap project began with an open call to all professional artists/artist teams, 18 and older, residing in the United States. Forty-five artists from 21 states submitted applications, over 328 images were reviewed, and five finalists were commissioned to create concept proposals. From these proposals, designs created by Alex Brown and Jay Vigon were chosen. Artist Alex Brown’s design is the first bus wrap to be fabricated. Jay Vigon’s design will be unveiled in 2015.
