Public Art
Art for the people by the people
MVAAC curated this metal sculpture “Draw Me Closer” by Webster City artist Tim Adams for Mount Vernon’s Hilltop Pocket Park, located in an alley off the town’s Main Street (2021).
Art is for everybody
The Mount Vernon Area Arts Council believes that public art is critical to sustaining a creative culture in the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Area.
Public art humanizes our environment and invigorates public spaces. It provides an intersection between past, present and future, between disciplines, and between ideas. Public art is important to community; its accessible and free to the public!
We have funded several large scale art initiatives including the Mount Vernon Community Mural Project (2017) as well as the Hilltop pocket park metal wall sculpture (2021) and, we helped underwrite the firefighter mural created by Cornell College students (2021). Public art support remains a top priority for the board.
In 2023, MVAAC pursued the beginnings of a sculpture trail with Mount Vernon Parks and Recreation and the City of Mount Vernon. The first two pieces were installed in August 2023. Applications are now open for 2024. Artists interested in submitting their work should apply by February 28, 2024. Details can be found in our Requests for Proposals.
Do you have a public art idea that you would like to see come alive? Contact us!
MVAAC has supported over $20,000 in public art initiatives
Susannah Biondo-Gammell, Cornell College art professor, worked with students in her Art and Community course to create this mural tribute to Mount Vernon’s fire fighters—mounted on the east wall of the Hair Salon. Consultants on the project included local artist Mark Benesh and Liberty Iron Works owner and artist, Dale Merrill (2021).
Strider Patton Mural Project
MVAAC granted funds to native born Mount Vernon artist Strider Patton to complete the 6-panel mural in downtown Mount Vernon. Patton is a well regarded San Fransisco based artist, whose childhood home overlooked the mural site. The mural showcases the history of the Mount Vernon Area through Patton’s modern style, while incorporating imagery representing the past, present and future hopes for Mount Vernon.
According to Patton, “I used to draw on this big grey wall with chalk as a kid. In the fall of 2014 I was visiting for my cousin's wedding, and having completed some larger murals by that point, I began thinking of bringing a mural project to the town, centered around the local youth and giving them first-class arts education and a collaborative event that will be remembered the rest of their lives.”
The project involved hundreds of area school children, who all had a hand in the concept design as well as the execution of the mural. The murals were dedicated May 2017. Read more about the project from Patton below.
The Mural features 6 Panels that speak to the past, present and future hopes for the Mount Vernon area. Click to enlarge, each image below.
Video of Mural Project
This video shows the full length completed mural painted in the Spring of 2017. Orchestrated and completed by Mount Vernon native, Strider Patton, this massive 2,500 square foot mural was completed in 12 days with the help of 400 local school kids and 100 community members.
Read the corresponding article about the work in the Cedar Rapids Gazette.
Companion Mural for Zoe’s Pet Deli
Strider Patton
2018
Little Free Library
In 2018, MVAAC offered seven “Little Free Libraries” to Mount Vernon and Lisbon households at no charge. The libraries were constructed and painted by Mount Vernon high school students participating in art and shop classes. “The demand was so huge we are thinking of making more available,” says MVAAC president Marie DeVries. “The art council’s goal is to make books available 24-7 to our communities while making neighborhoods more interesting and colorful!”
