HomeMy WebLinkAboutIowa City Public Art Matching Fund ProgramIowa City Public Art Matching Fund Program
Introduction
Thank you for your interest in this grant opportunity. Prior to completing this application form, please review the Public Art Matching Grant
Frequently Asked Questions at www.icgov.org/publicart.
If your project takes place on City-owned or privately-owned property, you must provide evidence in the following application that you have
support and approval from the appropriate parties to proceed with this project. Failure to obtain prior approval could disqualify or delay an
otherwise good proposal. If you aren’t sure if you need prior approval from a project partner, please contact Neighborhood Outreach &
Engagement Specialist T'Shailyn Harrington at THarrington@iowa-city.org or 319-356-5093.
Beyond initial siting approvals obtained prior to submitting this application, please be advised that some projects may be required to obtain
additional permits or approvals as determined necessary by the City. Any such requirements would be outlined in the grant agreement.
Regardless of whether the project is located on public or private property, the project must be freely accessible by the public.
Awarded applicant(s) are responsible for performing or coordinating the execution of all phases of the project, including but not limited to site
prep, installation, etc. If any component of the proposed project is beyond your capabilities, please explain in the application.
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I acknowledge that I have read and understand the information above.
General Information
The Public Art Matching Grant Program aims to increase public art access and opportunities in Iowa City. The program funds visual, audio, or
performance-based art projects that are located in Iowa City and accessible to the general public.
Successful grant applications will show evidence of a specific planned project which can be completed before December 31, 2025. Please
complete the following application in its entirety. If you have questions or need assistance completing this application form, please contact
Neighborhood Outreach & Engagement Specialist T'Shailyn Harrington at THarrington@iowa-city.org or 319-356-5093.
It is recommended applicants save the form every 5-10 minutes to avoid losing progress. To do this, click “Save as Draft” at the bottom
of the File Uploads page.
Project Name *
Bike Library mural: I came to life with cool waters by Katlynne Hummmell Underhill
Applicant Name *
Kate Wiley
Applicant Email *
kate@bikelibrary.org
Applicant Phone *
641-990-6627
Applicant Address *
Street Address
1222 S Gilbert Ct.
Address Line 2
City
Iowa City
State/Province/Region
Iowa
Postal/Zip Code Country
52240 United States
Are you the project artist *
Yes No
Briefly describe who will be completing the project, including a URL to the artist webpages if available. If unknown, explain how an
artist(s) will be recruited for the project.
Katlynne Hummell Underhill, https://katlynnehummell.com/home.html
Have you received Public Art Matching Grant Funds in the past?*
Yes No
Project Details
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Provide a brief description of the proposed project *
This application proposes a mural titled “I came to life with cool waters” in the Bike Library Courtyard. It will be painted on the Southern facade, a
wall which measures 47 feet x 11 feet and is bisected by French doors.
Local artist Katlynne Hummell Underhill designed a mural to cool the concrete courtyard. In it, a woman stands tall wearing a headdress made of
a puma head and butterfly wings. She cradles a giant goldfish. Water streams from the fish’s mouth, filling the wall. Stars twinkle while water lilies
and filigree swirls flow throughout the image. A person wearing a crane mask with wings rides a bicycle through the water. The image is surreal,
dada-esque, bright and vibrant.
Explain how the project is defined as “public art.” Please include how the artwork will be located in an area open and freely
accessible by the public; and describe how you envision the artwork engaging the public.*
This public art project will enhance opportunities for cycling and the arts. This mural is meant to draw the public and Bike Library patrons into the
Bike Library Courtyard, a Third Space which folks are welcome to inhabit unconditionally and at any time of the day. We hope that this artwork
encourages patrons and the public to spend more time in the Courtyard.
We envision an explosion of color in the Courtyard. Petrichor (2021) by Erica Danner on the City’s Resource Management Building will soon be
joined by a newly painted Bike Skills Loop and this project, I came to life with cool waters (2025) by Katlynne Hummell Underhill.
Placing these artworks in conversation with each other will stimulate literal conversation between viewers. Petrichor celebrates the role
composting plays in sequestering carbon and nurturing healthy soil. The title references the pleasant smell that accompanies the first rain after a
long period of warm, dry weather. Introducing petrichor’s impetus, cool water, will prompt consideration of our environment’s cycles. Together,
the murals remind us of our inherent interconnectedness with the land, water, and each other.
The artists’ stylistic choices, palettes and mediums align with their chosen subject matter. Danner’s work is graphic, clearly defined like strata,
while Underhill’s use of spray paint to create a gradient background which flows as water. Simple comparison is an effective, low-stakes way for
folks to begin engaging with artwork, which often feels intimidating. What is the same? What is different? Does your eye jump or wander along
the wall? These questions may have concrete answers. Then, we gently prompt subjective responses. How do the colors make you feel? How does
the scale, or size, of the figures compare between murals? How does that affect you, at human scale? The ground is ripe (thanks to compost) for
discussion!
Artist Katlynne Hummell Underhill states in her bio, “I believe that public art is beneficial to community, that access to art is important. Many
communities may not have access to art in a traditional sense. Public art is a great way to bridge the gap. I strongly believe that public art is
beneficial to those who experience it, especially if they can engage in the creation.”
This project will be open to the public for observation or participation. OutSpoken Teens program participants will be encouraged to learn about
and participate in Public Art. Katlynne Hummell Underhill will teach 30-50 teens about designing, funding, preparing for and painting a mural.
Kate Wiley, author of this application, will share information about this specific Public Art Match Grant and and be available to advise on
applications come Spring. This project will inform and inspire Iowa City ’s next generation of muralists.
Describe the intended audience for this project, why public art is important to that audience, and any efforts you will make to
benefit the broader community, especially populations which have faced systemic barriers to art access or opportunities *
The Bike Library proudly cultivates an intergenerational, cross-class and racially diverse community. Our facility is located in a warehouse district
dense with social services. It is important to us that our patrons know that we (and the City of Iowa City) value creating a beautiful, functional
space for them to inhabit. Our location is advantageous, as City of Iowa City citizens reported a desire for more public art in Iowa City’s
marginalized neighborhoods, outside of downtown. Katlynne Hummell Underhill’s design also reflects survey responses requesting public art by
local artists which reflects a community’s cultural diversity.
Equally important, our shop reflects our patronage. Inside, young women are pictured in a youth cyclo-cross race, a cartoon details the
intertwined history of women’s liberation and cycling, while a prominently positioned portrait of Major Taylor celebrates black excellence.
Katlynne Hummell Underhill’s mural will similarly assert that women, POC, queer folks are celebrated at the Bike Library.
The educational component of this project is aligned with our OutSpoken Teens program on Thursday afternoon. The benefits of arts
engagement in youth is well documented, especially for those at-risk. OutSpoken Teens targets support to at-risk youth in our community
through partnerships with United Action for Way and Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County. 3 in 5 are from low or very low income
backgrounds and eight-six percent are nonwhite. Ahmad, a West High student, amazed by the sense of belonging he found at the Bike Library. "I
did not know there was a space like this. I have not felt welcomed this way before," he shared. Although he initially came for the bike he earned, it
was the supportive community and welcoming environment that keeps him coming back. By presenting this opportunity to learn about and
participate in Public Art here in a known, safe environment, we hope that teens will feel free to participate and express their interests.
How will you know your project was successful? Please list specific outcomes or measures (qualitative or quantitative).*
-30-50 teens learn about the process of making Public Art from local muralist, Katlynne Hummell Underhill
-Community members invest time to developing community space through participating in the painting process
-The Bike Library Courtyard bursts with color, welcoming new patrons and encouraging our community members to spend more time in the
Courtyard, developing community connections
-The murals Petrichor and I came to life with cool waters prompt thoughtful consideration of the nature world
Will this project take place on public or private property?*
Public/City-Owned
Private Property Owned by the Applicant or project partner listed below
Private Property not owned by the applicant
Location of Project *
Bike Library, 1222 S Gilbert Ct.
Project Partner(s) (if any)
Describe the role of any project partners listed
Please check any of the following project aspects that apply to your project.
Note: These selections do not impact scoring, but are informative for the selection committee.
Functional Art: Art that also serves a practical, everyday purpose (i.e. bench, lighting, shelter, timepiece, etc.)
Unexpected Art: Art that offers an element of surprise, perhaps occuring at a place or time where it is unexpected.
Participatory Art: Art that directly engages the audience in the creative process, so they become participants in the event (i.e. an interactive
performance or participation in creation of an artwork).
Ephemeral Art: Art that is intended to be temporary, short-lived, or disappear over time.
Contemplative Art: Art that encourages self-reflection and mindfulness.
Timeline
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Project Timeline
Tell us about the proposed timeline and action steps needed to complete this project. Use one line for each milestone and add additional lines as
needed.
Action Step/Milestone Completed by
Our summer 2025 electrical overhaul will shift conduits and meters
on the Southern facade. After, the wall will be ready for a mural.
08/08/2025
In the fall, we will begin engaging OutSpoken Teens about Public Art.08/08/2025
We anticipate that this project will begin in August. Painting should
take 4-6 weeks. Multiple sessions will take place during OutSpoken
Teens programming (Thursday 3-5 PM) to facilitate participation.
09/26/2025
Budget
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Please use the budget templates below. A completed budget should tell us what sources of funds your project will use and how you plan to spend
the grant money.
Project Funding Sources
Total Project Cost *
$8,600.00
Matching Grant Request *
$4,000.00
Please list any other funding sources supporting your project. Add additional rows as needed.
Other funding source *Amount *Committed or Anticipated?*
Paint Iowa Beautiful $800.00 Committed Anticipated
Please describe any project supplies, equipment, or labor which are being donated in-kind
We anticipate that Paint Iowa Beautiful will donate in-kind paint supplies.
Project Budget
Please list a breakdown of project expenses and funding sources. Funding for personal property or gain will not be authorized. Example:
Amount:Describe Expense Item:Amount paid by Matching Grant:Amount paid in-kind or by other
funding source:
$400 Paint $400
$200 Paint Supplies $200
$1,500 Artist labor $500 $1,000
$150 Plaque/signage $150
Amount Expense Item Amount paid by Matching
Grant
Paid in-kind or by other
funding source
$7,800.00 Artist Labor $4,000.00 $3,800.00
$800.00 Paint $800.00
-Next
$100.00 Plaque $100.00
File Uploads
Letters of support, if available (?)
Images (?)
I came to life with cool waters.jpg 2.57MB
detail.jpg 879.15KB
another detail.jpg 940.28KB
Site Plan (?)
051322 Site Plan A 1.pdf 95.88KB
Additional Information (?)
Hummell_katlynne_CV.pdf 127.29KB
Signature