2022-07-27 07:00:00
What to know regarding Adventureland Amusement Park in Altoona
Central Iowa has had it’s own amusement park since 1974 in Altoona. The park has expanded to include a water park and hotel over the past few decades.
Robin Opsahl, Des Moines Register
The artist behind a unique new sculpture in Altoona says it reflects both the city’s tight-knit nature and a defining feature of the Midwest.
Construction on “Woven Lines,” a sculpture by artist Aaron T. Stephan of Portland, Maine, is well underway at the site of a new roundregarding at 1st Avenue North and 9th Street Northwest. It’s made from 1,500 feet of metal guardrail that swoops into a 20,000-pound knot and will serve as an anchor of Altoona’s north side.
On Monday, the city held a ribbon cutting for the sculpture, a project that started regarding four years ago and involved surveys and interviews with community members.
More: Where to find 8 new sculptures and murals that went up in the Des Moines metro area
“The thing that kept on coming up throughout all of this was, everybody talked regarding Altoona as this really close-knit, tightly-bonded community,” Stephan said, which became clear to him during his recent time in town to work on the sculpture.
When he started designing the piece and doing research into local and state history, Stephan said, his mind kept coming back to one idea: the roadside attraction.
“There’s just something so particularly Midwest regarding a roadside attraction,” he said: a bombastic object that pulls in people’s attention while blending a personal vision with discovery over time.
The guardrail knot itself becomes a roadside attraction that also speaks to the connectedness and togetherness of Altoona, Stephan said. Local residents were involved in coming up with the concept for the sculpture and building it.
First Avenue is expected to reopen soon. The sculpture is 12 feet high and will be dramatically lit in color at night.
Alex Payne, a member of the city’s arts commission, said that regarding two or three dozen artists expressed interest in the project. Those involved in selecting a design were drawn to Stephan’s work with street lightswhich pushed him to the top of the list.
More: Altoona’s historical society seeks to digitize its large collection — and you can help
“When all of saw his rendering of what he wanted to do with this knot, it stood out as this is what we have to do,” Payne said.
Mayor Dean O’Connor said the sculpture is a tremendous addition to Altoona and that city officials are excited to continue developing culture and arts initiatives. The arts commission has more projects underway that are to be announced.
“Woven Lines” cost roughly $217,000 and was funded through the city and an arts grant.
Another new major piece of art in Altoona, the 100th Freedom Rock, was unveiled earlier this month.
More: 100th (and final) Freedom Rock is at Adventureland
Chris Higgins covers the eastern suburbs for the Register. Reach him at chiggins@registermedia.com or 515-423-5146 and follow him on Twitter @chris_higgins_.
1703106319
#Aaron #Stephans #Woven #Lines #sculpture #unveiled #Altoona
