Click! Yet another camera flashes in the Iowa City pedestrian mall. Hardly anyone looks up. Photography is hardly news in the downtown district of this university town. Yet another student is posing on one of many colorful benches that have begun to shape the always lively cobblestoned area. Numerous benches litter the mall painted in blues and yellows and reds. All designed into fantastic and unique images.
But why?
About two years ago, the Iowa City Downtown district decided they should liven up the mall area. Iowa City was already known for its unique creativity, so why not show it more publically. With funding from the Iowa City Credit Union, a project began. After some debate and planning, the painting of the benches became a full blown mission. Part of it was to give a gateway to developing artists to produce and show off their work and part of it was simply to splash some art throughout the downtown area. Whatever it was, the Iowa City Downtown district committee asked for submissions from prospective artists. The idea exploded and soon each of the downtown benches was one specific artist’s project.
The benches were well-received by the city. They became a visiting and photo stop for everyone, locals or not. So, the project continued. This year, the benches all had a common puzzle to them. With phrase games or word hunts, the benches enticed the Iowa City population. It was then decided that every year since 2012, new benches would be painted. Whether presenting a new artist’s work or just coloring the downtown Iowa City area, this project will definitely be here for a while.