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Help Select the Public Art Installation for the Mulberry and Second Roundabout

Thank you for participating in this survey to help select the public art concept for the roundabout at Mulberry and Second. Our goal is to install a permanent work that reflects the Muscatine community and/or its history, is unique to Muscatine, can be easily maintained, is designed to be durable, and will not impede the safety of motorists or pedestrians.

Local and national artists responded to a Request for Qualifications for this project. In this competitive process, the Muscatine Public Art Advisory Commission selected three artists who have each completed many prior public art installations. The artists were evaluated based on prior public art installations and experiences as evidence of the artist’s ability to complete and deliver a project that meets the stated goals.

The Muscatine Public Art Advisory Commission is collecting feedback from the Muscatine community through January 10, 2022. Please participate in the online survey only once. Feel free to encourage your friends and family members to take the survey.

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* 1. First, tell us a little about your interest level in the arts. Check all that apply.

Now, let's get into the concepts created by the three artists. First, get familiar with each artist and the artist's proposed concept for the roundabout. Artist Daniel Miller has submitted two concepts. One is for the center of the roundabout while the other is for the greenspace on the library's side of the roundabout. The other two artists are Nathan Pierce and Greg Mueller.

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"Old Man River" by Daniel Miller

"Old Man River" by Daniel Miller

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"Backbone of a Nation" by Daniel Miller

"Backbone of a Nation" by Daniel Miller

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* 2. About the Concept: “Old Man River” is an assemblage of forms including a steam boat, a portrait of Mark Twain, and buttons. These iconic images represent Muscatine’s historical connection to the Mississippi River. The base structure emulates the shape of water and flow of the Mississippi River. “Backbone of a Nation” maps the long winding shape of the Mississippi River into a 21 foot functional sculptural bench. Both pieces feature colored LED lights, layered stainless steel, and clear acrylic. One or both of the sculptures may be selected for installation.

About the Artist: Associate Professor Daniel Miller is the Program Head of Sculpture and Intermedia at The School of Art and Art History, University of Iowa. He earned his MFA in Time Arts from The School of The Art Institute of Chicago. His public art installations are on permanent display in Ottumwa, Iowa; Webster City, Iowa; and Iowa City, Iowa. His works have also been shown in solo exhibitions in Illinois and Rhode Island and in group exhibitions throughout the United States and in South Korea and China.

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* 3. Artist Daniel Miller has provided two options. The community can select one or both.

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Fire Island by Greg Mueller

Fire Island by Greg Mueller

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* 4. About the Concept: Greg Mueller of Mueller Studio found inspiration in Mark Twain’s quote about the Muscatine sunsets: “I remember Muscatine—still more pleasantly—for its summer sunsets. I have never seen any, on either side of the ocean, that equaled them. They used the broad smooth river as a canvas, and painted on it every imaginable dream of color….” In his research on Muscatine, Mueller found sources saying that the word “Muscatine” came from a Native American word which meant “island of fire.”

About the Artist: Greg Mueller received his MFA in Sculpture from Montana State University School of Art. He has held several academic appointments and has exhibited throughout the Midwest. Mueller has been awarded public art commissions in South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, and Ohio and has received numerous awards.

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Zenith by Nathan Pierce

Zenith by Nathan Pierce

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* 5. About the Concept: Nathan S. Pierce describes the Mississippi River as the backdrop for the community of Muscatine. Since it was a trading post in the early 1800s, the Mississippi River has allowed for commerce, growth, and change. Pierce, as someone who grew up on the banks of the Mississippi, states that the river can “easily be one of the things that gets taken for granted.” This abstract form takes a contemporary view of the relationship between the community and the river and is intended to become a catalyst for the entrepreneurial spirit of tomorrow.

About the Artist: Nathan S. Pierce was born and raised on the banks of the Mississippi and recognizes the river as an invaluable part of a community’s heritage. Pierce received his BFA in Sculpture from Southeast Missouri State University. He has been awarded commissions in Missouri, Indiana, and Illinois. His work is held in collections or installed in public places in Florida, Indiana, Georgia, Missouri, South Dakota, Illinois, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Alabama, Kansas, and Canada.

 

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Cast your vote by ranking the choices!

Cast your vote by ranking the choices!

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* 6. Which public art concept is your favorite? Rank your favorite #1, your second favorite #2, your third favorite #3, and your least favorite #4.

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