These installations are part of Art in Public Places, a program from the Marshall County Arts and Culture Alliance. While the pilot program began in 2019 in partnership with the Marshalltown Municipal Airport, artwork can now be found at numerous places around town.

According to Amber Danielson, executive director of the Arts and Culture Alliance, the Alliance worked with the participating businesses to decide on the artwork that would be featured there.

“Together with each business, the Alliance selected one artist for each participating location. Artists were selected based on appropriateness of their work as it related to the location, along with the quality of the work samples,” she said.

The artists — Will Hildebrandt of LeGrand, Seema Suthar of Marshalltown and Kim Hanken of Marshalltown — have installed their artwork at the Marshalltown Municipal Airport, Sub City and Wayward Social, respectively

Kim Hanken installs her artwork at Wayward Social.

All of the artwork will be on display and for sale through August, when another call to artists will be made.

The other artists who applied and were not selected, can try again.

“Eleven artists applied. Artists who were not selected are invited to apply in our fall round,” Danielson said.

Not only is this a great opportunity for artists, but it also benefits members of the community, who can enjoy beautiful art at the places they already go around town.

Danielson hopes the program will continue to grow and partner with other Marshalltown businesses.

Seema Suthar’s artwork hangs on the walls in Sub City as part of the Art in Public Places program.

“We are so thankful for all the artists who responded to the first call to artists for the program. We are hopeful to be able to expand the program in the near future to include additional businesses throughout the community,” she said.

All of the artists who were selected are grateful for the Art in Public Places Program.

Hildebrandt noted that this program is a great opportunity for artists in Marshall County.

“Since Marshalltown has lost many physical places for local artists to show and sell their work, the Art in Public Places program offers us a new and needed outlet,” he said.

Suthar also sees this as a great opportunity to share her work.

“I am both ecstatic and grateful for the opportunity to have my artwork displayed at one of my favorite restaurants in the community,” she said.

Hanken believes this program benefits artists and the community as a whole.

“As an artist, painting is my creative outlet, it’s what feeds my soul. But while what I do is deeply personal to me, it is also my hope that what I create may by enjoyed by others,” she said. “That is why this rotating art program is such an ingenious idea; it gives us a platform to share our art with the community, as well as gives us the exposure we as artists need,” she said.

Contact Anna Shearer at ashearer@timesrepublican.com