Committee approves student-led ‘One Earth’ mural for Capitol Street parking ramp

The Iowa City Public Art Committee unanimously approved a proposal to install a sustainability-themed mural on the Capitol Street parking ramp, the committee heard. Olivia Arkfeld, who identified herself as the former director of sustainability for the undergraduate student government, presented the design and timeline and said the mural features native flowers, monarch butterflies and a prominent “One Earth” panel near the entrance.

Arkfeld told the committee that muralist Erica Danner is the lead artist and that a student artist, Ivy Sandler, will participate. Arkfeld said funding is secured from student sources: $5,000 from USG, $3,000 from GPSG and $1,250 in student-artist support, for a student-stated budget total of $9,250. She said Danner values similar murals at $20,000–$30,000 but agreed to work within the project budget and to mentor the student artists.

Committee members asked about schedule and visibility. Staff and Arkfeld said site prep and painting could begin as soon as the next day if approval were granted; a student paint day is planned and a ribbon-cutting was targeted for Friday, May 22. Committee members also viewed images of the blank wall and discussed how the mural would be seen from sidewalks and pathways into the ramp.

A committee member made a motion to approve the site, the artist design and the artist agreement; the motion was seconded and passed on a voice vote. The minutes record the vote as passing unanimously; no roll-call tally was provided in the record.

The committee congratulated the student organizers and staff for the collaboration and encouraged attendance at the planned ribbon-cutting and news release. The mural will be installed on the eight panels of the ramp with the “One Earth” element nearest the Starbucks entrance.