scrambled steel letters as building blocks for words and ideas in the way human cells form tissues and organs. Their white paint appears to glow at night, thanks to spotlights at the base. To the northeast of “Nomade” sits a cluster of works by artists such as Anthony Caro, Louise Bourgeois, Barry Flanagan and Deborah Butterfield. There, two Butterfield bronze horses that appear to be made of wood seem at rest standing in the grass, next to Bourgeois’ “Spider” (a flattering portrait of the artist’s mother, believe it or not) and Flanagan’s “Thinker on a Rock,” a parody of the famed French sculpture that was commissioned specifically for this park. We could go on and on. But only a walk through the park yourself will help you appreciate this gem of art in the heart of downtown.
Debora Butterfield’s “Ancient Forest” (2009)
Ugo Rondinone’s “air gets into everything even nothing” (2006)
Sol Lewitt’s “Modular Piece” (1969)
photos special to the Register
2012 Ultimate Guide to Des Moines
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