New mural set to appear on Juneteenth in downtown Iowa City

Isaac Hamlet
Iowa City Press-Citizen

Editor's Note: Due to weather, the live-performance aspect of this project scheduled for June 19 has been delayed to July 4, with the unveiling of the mural. During this event artists Robert Moore and Dana Harrison will speak.

Robert Moore likes the idea of his art emblazoned on a prominent edifice on the north side of downtown Iowa City.

The Des Moines based, self-taught artist is preparing to make his mark in town in the name of inclusion with the aid of his artistic collaborator Dana Harrison of Fort Dodge. This endeavor, "Project Unity and Equality," is barely a week old and planned to be finished on July 4.

"The mural, as well as the Black lives imagery, will be projected (at) about 80 feet," he said. "The mural will be a permanent 'North Star of Iowa City' fixture representing diversity and equality. A true representation of the future of America."

Starting at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Friday — Juneteenth — Moore will begin the process of creating a mural on the side of the recently completed Market House development at 202 N. Linn St.

Sun shines on the north side of the Market House building, Wednesday, June 17, 2020, on the corner of N. Linn Street and Market Street in the Northside of Iowa City, Iowa.

Recently Moore's name has been in the news for an art project in a similar vein. His recent project "Harvesting Humanity" has shown projected images of Black people such as George Floyd, Malcolm X and Rosa Parks against cornfield silos.

Moore was making headlines around the time Market House project developer Ross Nusser began to consider the venture. 

"As a developer of the building, we are providing a canvas and an opportunity to listen — to show that we're open to listening and expressing that through offering this space," Nusser told the Press-Citizen. "The artist has 100% free creative expression here." 

While the Iowa Freedom Riders have called for spaces for murals, Nusser said he'd thought to dedicate the space to a Black artist without being aware of these desires from protest organizers.

All the same, the creation of the mural is also intended as an act of protest.

Sun shines on the north side of the Market House building, Wednesday, June 17, 2020, on the corner of N. Linn Street and Market Street in the Northside of Iowa City, Iowa.

"As Americans, it is our right and responsibility to protest inequities as we see them," reads the $19,000 GoFundMe created for the project by Nusser. "It should be made clear to all donating parties that permissions for this public art installation will NOT be sought."

In terms of local law, this is a fairly low-risk pursuit. The most immediate danger a mural would face is having details that trigger "sign code," according to Thomas Agran, the director of public art with the Iowa City Downtown District.

“Most murals that really seem like murals don’t need to go through this process," Agran said, "but I always recommend that anyone wanting to go through this process talk to the city.”

While the initial plan had been to have a panel of people vote on a set of images for Moore to create, in order to save time, Nusser decided to allow Moore to create whatever he wants. As of reporting, Nusser has no idea what Moore will make.

"One of the components will be a pair of muraled goldfinches," Moore told the Press-Citizen, saying the finches would be depicted above two people. "To me, a true reflection of America in its diverse aspect as well as representation of Iowa which is typically assumed to be a white state."

The concept image of the mural "Reciprocal of Humanity."
"Understanding the strong and valued minority and immigrant community in Iowa, specifically Iowa City, this piece reflects equality and freedom. The freedom to hold interests and values important to you, your culture and identity... These two beautiful humans, towering in the sky in northern Iowa City, are a beacon of that idea that we can be free and equal as humans." - portion of artist Statement from Robert Moore and Dana Harrison

Prior to starting the painting work, there will be a performance aspect of the project. Projections like those used in "Harvesting Humanity" will be shown against the side of the building.

With painting following that, the plan is to have the image complete on July 4.

"We want little Latino and Latina and little Black boys and girls to walk past and have experiences that they can relate to in a world that is very heavily whitewashed," Moore said. "I want (the imagery) to be intentionally, emotionally moving ... I want people to feel it in real time."

Isaac Hamlet covers arts, entertainment and culture at the Press-Citizen. Reach him at ihamlet@press-citizen.com or (319)-688-4247, follow him on Twitter @IsaacHamlet