Posted on June 19, 2022
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As we welcome the Des Moines Art Festival’s exhibit booths and stages, you may wonder where else you can view art in the community.
Luckily, the city is home to more than 80 sculptures, installations, and murals, so you always have access to art and culture around downtown!
Metro Waste Authority has commissioned three vibrant pieces of public art, all with an environmental message.
No Action Too Small
This colorful mural was commissioned to inspire through its abstract child-like drawings and educate on recycling and protecting the earth. Artist Chris Vance completed the three-story image in two weeks, using recycled paint collected at Metro Hazardous Waste Drop-Off in Bondurant.
In-the-Loop
Made from discarded metal found at Metro Park East Landfill and local scrapyards, the 60-foot, 2,500-pound interactive sculpture challenges the perception of “trash” and reflects the cyclical loops of sustainable practices. Artist and Urban Designer Dennis Reynolds was commissioned to create this piece to reflect our vision of no wasted resources.
Look Where We Are Growing Together
This piece, located in the new Metro Recycling Facility, is a unique and engaging way to spark discussions about recycling and its impact.
To embrace the facility's foundation of sustainability and community, commissioned artist Amy Putney Koenig incorporated repurposed and native materials in the design and invited local artists Michell Mitchell Lamb, Tanya P. Lichinsky, Chris Vance, and Emily Milewsky to contribute pieces for the installation.