The Art of Jester Park & Polk County Conservation
Public art has the power to energize our public spaces, arouse our thinking, and transform the places where we live, work, and play into more welcoming and beautiful environments that invite interaction. Beyond its enriching personal benefits, public art is a true symbol of societal maturity. Public art helps green space thrive, enhances roadsides, pedestrian corridors , and community gateways; it demonstrates unquestionable civic pride.” "Wood Is Art”, Public art Benefits of Public Art [www.lakewoodisart.com]
Explore local art as you adventure throughout Jester Park
Over the last decade, Polk County Conservation has expanded public art throughout our park system. Today, park visitors can experience a myriad of art that educates, inspires, informs and arouses their curiosity about our natural world. This link shows you our current public art and where to find it!
The Galleries at the Jester Park Nature Center
The Galleries at Jester Park Nature Center offers the opportunity for local art to be displayed and made available for sale to park visitors.
Raptor Force: A Canvas Print Display of Midwestern Raptors in Flight
This art exhibition highlights the photography of Ty Smedes.
Since prehistoric times, mankind has looked to the skies and admired the ability of birds to take to the air. Their ability to swiftly evade predators and even migrate from continent to continent continues to amaze, as we track their movements with advanced technology. And while nearly all bird species possess flight, perhaps the raptor family is the most mesmerizing. These fierce avian predators not only utilize flight to safely nest among the cliffs and treetops, but also to hunt an incredible range of prey animals, from the tiny insects, to the fox and mountain goat, which far outweigh them! Having been enchanted by these amazing birds throughout my life, I’ve photographed and written about these astounding raptors many times, and have photographed nearly every species that migrates through the center of the continent. This photo display is a showcase presenting raptor flight images of many species of hawk, falcon, eagle, and owl that reside in the Midwest or migrate through it, on their way to wintering grounds each fall.
Raptor Force will be on display through August 22 during Nature Center Hours. For additional information, please contact Missy Smith at 323-5317.
FREE to the public
Join Ty for on June 29 at 2 pm or July 1 and 11 am at the Nature Center for a talk about the the birds of prey featured in this exhibit, detailing their lives in the wild and what makes each species unique. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1060979592556581
In Plain Air
This art exhibition highlights the glass works of Tilday Brown Swanson.
In her new series In Plain Air, she explored our ecosystems and fragile environments in multiple layers of glass art. She hopes the transformative nature of trees, plants, and the light around them will soothe and inspire viewers. She want to draw myself and viewers into the beauty of glass to find sanctuary and healing. From that place, hopefully we can address climate issues and find solutions.
To create her work, she first sketch in watercolor and then create small trial-sized glass pieces to explore an image. Then, she layers and fires flat and powdered glass into elements for larger pieces. She cuts and layers the pieces over many firings to build the imagery, color, and depth of an artwork. She loves to work in glass because heat and molten glass are active mysteries in the process and color is its most vibrant and transformative with light shining through it.
Find more of Tilda's work on her website at: https://tbsglass.com/
In Plain Air will be on display for a limited time during Nature Center Hours. For additional information, please contact Missy Smith at 323-5317.
Sculpture Trails
Jester Park Sculpture Trail
The Jester Park Sculpture Trail features 5 unique nature-inspired public works of art. Each sculpture is located along a beautiful nature trail beginning at the front entrance of the Jester Park Nature Center. Take a hike and discover each art piece as the trail leads you around the pond, over the creek, through the woods, and eventually back to the nature center. During the hike, you will discover sculptures meant to educate, inform, and nurture our fascination and curiosity about the natural world. The newest sculpture, "Horai" was recently added. This full size bull elk, made from barbed wire and 16 gage welded scrap metal, was created by artist, Jeff Best, of Devil's Rope Studio. Hoari means a portion of time or season and with this piece, Hoari is referring to the elk's fall bugling season when he competes for breeding rights. Check out this video for a talk with the artist about his piece.
The sculpture trail now culminates with Queen, a temporary outdoor exhibit, displayed behind the Jester Park Nature Center in conjunction with our permanent outdoor Prairie Sculpture Trail. This sculpture is on loan to us from freelance sculptor, Victoria Reed, of Maynard, Iowa. Queen is a naturalistic and simultaneously abstracted rearing horse featuring lacework patterning. Queen will remain on display through April 1, 2026. Check out this video for a talk with the artist about her piece.
Easter Lake Sculpture Trail
Discover six unique works of art nestled along the Mark C. Askelson Trail looping beautiful Easter Lake. Each work is meant to educate, inform, and nurture your fascination and curiosity about the natural world.
Public Art Throughout Our Parks
Don't stop your art exploration at Jester Park. You can find public art throughout our park system.
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Lauridsen Skatepark WOW, 2019 Medium: Steel Size: 12' x 11' Artists: R & R Studios |
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Lauridsen Skatepark Lauridsen Skatepark Mural, 2019 Medium: Paint Artists: Caeden DeBruin, Marcella Christiani, Adan Gomez, Randy Garza, Jacob Kuperman, Roan Bachar, Maggie Douglas, Taylor Ross - Derek Hutchison, Laura Todd, Nathan Esteras, Dana Harrison, DSM Tattoo Collective, Jimmy Novarro, Danielle Kelso, Maddy Fusco, Chis Sullivan - Jordan Sandquist, John Hintz, Paula Tomlinson & Waukee High School students |
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Easter Lake Butterfly, 2015 Medium: Willow and Terracotta Size: 4' x 8' Artists: Pam Dennis and Ryk Weiss |
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Great Western Trail River Chuck Stop, 2018 Medium: Steel, Repurposed Bicycle Size: 12' tall Artists: Barney Feezell and Steve Haefner |
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Thomas Mitchell Park Morel Mushroom, 2005 Medium: Wood Carving (oak) Size: 7.5 'x 5' Artists: Mike Sibley and Jim Swearingen |
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