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Department of Cultural Affairs Unveils Public Art Project
The
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs illuminated Des Moines’ Historic East
Village with color and drama when it turned on the newly restored Plains Aurora
light sculpture during “Ignite the Night” at the State Historical
Building.
The June 29 event also launched the renovation of the Historical Building’s other major public art work. Iowa City artist Shirley Wyrick previewed plans to convert her Critical Juncture/Fluid Boundary—the fountain and alcoves on the southwest terrace—into Greenfall, a design using greenery to simulate a flowing waterfall.
When Governor Tom Vilsack in 2004 proclaimed Iowans should celebrate art, culture and recreation in Iowa, the DCA responded by meeting with Iowans across the state, gathering ideas and information, and producing programs that support the work of creative thinkers and doers in new ways. The effort is paying off as Iowans across the state are generating great ideas that will make Iowa a great place to live, work and play.
After reaching out to the entire state, however, DCA realized the State Historical Building—home of the Iowa Arts Council and the State Historical Society of Iowa—needed attention as well, especially Plains Aurora, which had been inoperable for 17 years, and the water fountains and alcoves
Plains Aurora, created by internationally-acclaimed artist Cork Marcheschi of San Francisco, is a 32-foot glass block light sculpture built for the Historical Building when it opened in 1987. Originally created and constructed for about $100,000, Plains Aurora suffered from a number of design flaws—the glass blocks cracked; the bottom of the tower was built below the floor line; water and moisture collected inside; the structure lacked necessary bracing for vertical wind sheer; and it did not allow for proper ventilation. Intense summer heat—magnified by the glass blocks and exacerbated by the trapped moisture—caused the light supports to fail. As a result, the neon lights within the sculpture fell to the bottom and shattered. Citing safety concerns, DCA pulled the plug on the sculpture’s mesmerizing display of light and color.
Marcheschi, who has a number of commissioned works across the U.S., Canada and Europe, was commissioned to create Plains Aurora by DCA and the Iowa Department of General Services. He has restored the sculpture’s original luminescence, albeit with an updated creative vision.
The light sculpture’s repair and restoration cost $160,000 and are being paid with private dollars from the Herrick Trust, a private contribution that fueled the fundraising campaign for construction of the State Historical Building. The donors intended any remaining funds be used for State Historical Building projects.
At the time they were built, the fountain and alcoves were not properly engineered. Their operation threatened the integrity of the underground storage area that houses the state museum’s archives. For that reason, they have not functioned for several years.
Wyrick, who created the Critical Juncture/Fluid Boundary bronze relief that graces the front of the fountain, has proposed an alteration to the piece that will overcome the fountain’s design problems. The new design, Critical Juncture/Greenfall, will use greenery to suggest flowing water. The original bronze relief will remain intact and in place.
