County advances mural on former Carquest building at 821 S. Clinton; artist, grant noted
Summary
Supervisors reviewed a proposed public-art agreement and concept for a mural on the former Carquest building at 821 South Clinton Street, praised the design and agreed to place the agreement on the July 10 formal meeting agenda with the exhibit attached as the formal design.
Johnson County supervisors reviewed a proposed agreement and concept for a mural on the former Carquest building at 821 South Clinton Street and directed staff to bring the finalized agreement to the board's July 10 formal meeting with the design attached as Exhibit A.
The mural proposal was developed by an artist and presented to the board with county staff and a representative who said she had secured a public-art matching grant from the City of Iowa City and had applied to the Iowa Arts Council. The county attorney's office worked with staff to finalize a draft agreement.
Erin (county staff) introduced the artist, Bridal Danner, and the proposal. Danner and the applicant said they had secured a City of Iowa City public-art matching grant and were awaiting final notice from the Iowa Arts Council. Danner and the applicant said they are conducting permitting checks with Iowa City and would obtain any required permits.
Several supervisors praised the design. One supervisor said the contract prepared by the county attorney “covers anything I would have been concerned about,” but emphasized that approving this project should not be understood as a binding precedent for future mural requests. Another supervisor praised the artist's incorporation of local ecology and riverfront themes and said securing funding made the project feasible.
County staff said they would use the exhibit included in the work‑session packet as Exhibit A to the agreement and return the finalized agreement for formal action on July 10. Staff also said the mural has catalyzed interest in other campus murals and that the county plans to develop a structured approach for future projects in the coming year.
No permit or final grant was confirmed at the work session; the artist and applicants said they would complete permit checks and finalize outstanding grant paperwork before the formal agreement is executed.
The board did not take a final vote at the work session; supervisors asked staff to prepare the agreement and exhibit for the July 10 meeting.
