Public Art Adds Vibrant Colors and Culture to Cedar Rapids, IA
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It all started far away from Cedar Rapids. As Lynn and Bob Ocken walked around Seward, Alaska, they admired the town’s lively murals. It wasn’t too long after the devastating flood of 2008 in Cedar Rapids, and the Ockens wondered if murals would brighten their city, too. After returning home, they began approaching community leaders and local organizations about their “trail of murals” idea, and in 2012, the Ocken’s dream was realized with the unveiling of the trail’s first mural.
Today, more than 30 murals grace downtown and surrounding neighborhoods. And while the Ockens got the ball rolling for the Cedar Rapids Mural Trail, it evolved into Murals & More, a nonprofit responsible for more than 22 of the city’s artworks. The organization’s mission is more than just putting pretty pictures on buildings.
“Environment shapes behavior is a phrase we talk about a lot,” says Nick Ludwig, co-chair of Murals & More. “When a person is in a space, the addition of public art does something to that space. The accessibility levels the playing field for everyone.” Cedar Rapids’ beautiful murals are easily visible, free to see and open to every viewer’s unique interpretation.
Making Artwork Accessible
The murals adorn buildings and parking ramps. “Five Seasons” is painted on a segment of the downtown skywalk system. According to Murals & More’s website, artist Pedro Campiche wanted to “reflect the positive spirit of Cedar Rapids through bright and cheerful colors.”
The “Park Cedar Rapids Parkade” mural curls through a six-story stairwell with portraits of historical figures. Two other murals, “Bumble Bee Bouquet” and “Goldfinch,” commemorate the state birds and the bees. “You Are Beautiful” and “Love for Humanity” are works where their powerful words are intentionally more visible than pictures.
“Murals are an easy way to make a tangible, visual impact, making Cedar Rapids a better place to live and visit,” Ludwig says. Raised in Illinois, he moved to Cedar Rapids for college. Today, this married dad with three young kids works for Alliant Energy. Volunteering for Murals & More was another way to enrich his busy life.
“As we started to make this place our home, I wanted to really lean in and be active in the community,” he says. “What’s so cool about murals is you can literally see the results that come from working on a project.”
And each mural is impactful in different ways. “Fragments” is a large mural depicting a huge gemstone precariously perched on a small rock. “It illustrates the fragile balance between humans and our natural environment. It’s just beautiful,” Ludwig says. “Corgelius Maximus” takes a more lighthearted approach, with a helmeted cow and corgi riding a hot rod motorcycle. “It’s meant to brighten people’s day. It shows the range of what public art can be,” he says.
The variety also includes “Mucha Meets Iowa.” In a nod to the famous Czech painter, Alphonse Mucha, it’s painted in art nouveau style and features local wildlife and plants. “It’s designed to be a bold welcoming statement as people enter the Czech Village neighborhood,” Ludwig says.
Planning With Murals in Mind
The Czech Village is also home to the “Krasny Project,” a new mural spread over three external surfaces. “The developer built townhomes with concrete panels intentionally created for public artwork,” Ludwig says. In the past, murals were typically used to dress up old structures and bare spaces, but as public art has caught on throughout the world, murals everywhere are being incorporated into initial plans.
While the Cedar Rapids Public Art Commission focuses on public property, Murals & More works more with private individuals and businesses. “For us, the space, the funding and the artist are the three things that need to come together,” Ludwig says. “Then, we organize a selection committee that gives the project the stamp of approval.”
The artists come from Iowa and all over the world, helping Cedar Rapids create a collection of murals with global appeal.
While the Ockens were inspired by street art in Alaska, Ludwig says it was a mural of grain silos in Nebraska that first sparked his interest in public art. “There are so many benefits that come from murals. They tie communities together and touch people in positive ways they might not even realize,” he says. “I believe public art can change behaviors, and that’s really, really cool.”
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