Join Us!
As part of Linn County’s commitment to public art, the Linn County Public Art Commission invites the public to participate in creating a mosaic that, when complete, will be installed inside the Dr. Percy and Lileah Harris Building.
WHEN: Friday, July 30 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 31 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
WHERE: The Dr. Percy and Lileah Harris Building
1020 6th St. SE
Cedar Rapids, IA
WHAT: Participants will create mosaic leaf tiles that will become part of the mosaic art piece displayed inside the Dr. Percy and Lileah Harris Building.
DETAILS: This event will be held outdoors under the overhang at the Harris Building. The artists will provide all materials needed to create the leaf mosaics and they will be onsite to guide people and offer help. This is a family friendly event, and children are welcome to participate with adult supervision. Participants are asked to practice COVID-19 safety protocols, including social distancing and mask wearing as appropriate.
Installation of the final artwork is planned for next week. Details will be announce once they are finalized.
Art Design Concept: From the Artists
This public art project combines ideas of community, play, harmony, and service interacting to create a sustainable, supportive, and equitable space for all members of the community. In the spirit of the building’s namesakes, Dr. Percy and Lileah Harris, the mural explores the power of relationship, individual friendships, and service as intentional work, which builds community and breaks down systemic racism.
In the upper right hand corner of the artwork, hands hold an image of a young boy writing/drawing, sending the message that our future is being written by our youth who are sheltered and supported by the generations that came before them.
The mural will be painted with sections of porcelain and glass mosaic. Combining these two mediums adds aesthetic depth and creates more interaction between the mural and the light and movement within the environment.
The centerpiece of the design is a large tree. This tree represents our community, the history, and new growth. The canopy of the tree is created out of mosaic. The individual leaves are the mosaic pieces that community members will design and creat. The community-made leaves will be integrated with leaves which reference textile patterns, indicating the role culture and heritage play in supporting and connecting us. The tree canopy will also include portions created out of the mirror. The mirror will allow the viewer to see themself in the work, that they are part of the tree/community too. The mirror pieces also capture light and movement and make the piece shimmer.
Monarchs and Swallowtail butterflies will fly through the design and will be the other element created out of mosaic. They represent transformation, joy and hope. They are also a nod to our natural environment and need for sustainable models. They are the pollinators of our future, helping us grow the society that we long for.
About the Linn County Public Art Commission
The Linn County Public Art Commission was established in 2010 by an ordinance adopted by the Linn County Board of Supervisors to direct funding for the inclusion of works of art in County capital improvement projects. The Commission, overseen by the County’s Board of Supervisors, is responsible for the planning, commissioning, and acquisition of all artwork in Linn County capital improvement projects. The mission of the Linn County Public Art program is to enrich the lives of local citizens and visitors by integrating public art into County planning, services, design, and infrastructure.