1 minute read
Art Festival returns
from Progress Anniversary
by Newspaper
at getting the program up and running,” he said.
Another significant milestone in the last year was the purchase of a building at 224 S. Eighth St. to use for off-site art education. The current classroom is a small room in the basement of the museum. The new building is expected to be ready to use in 2023.
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The first piece is called “Betty and the Howling Fox.” It will have a white painted belly lit from the inside, an illuminated red plastic plate that lights up and a large tail.
“There’s also a light coming out of the chicken’s eye and beak,” Anderson said.
He has a small model of the piece on his desk. It’s by artist Dan Perry who also created the “Chronicle,” which is located near the Municipal Building.
The other piece is by artist Steve Maeck. Anderson said it’s made of white oak and industrial scrap. It’s called “Are There Trees on Mars.”
Both are in the 12-foot range.
“Betty” is funded by the Blanden Charitable Foundation. “Mars” is funded by the Blanden Charitable Foundation, The Catherine Vincent Deardorff Foundation and the Anne Smeltzer Charitable Trust.
“We own the building,” Anderson said. “We’re getting bids to finish the interior and then move our classroom into a bigger space. There’s lots of anxiety, but we’re also really excited. We hope to be in there in August.”
The project is a partnership between the city of Fort Dodge and the Blanden Charitable Foundation in the form of a 10-year loan. Anderson said he would like to see some community partnerships to help retire the debt. As a 501(c)(3) organization, donations are tax deductible.
In the spring of 2023, visitors will be able to see two new sculptures installed on the south side of the museum.
Another highlight was a large donation of prints.
“We got a huge influx of prints from the Richard Black estate,” he said. “He taught at Drake and lived just outside of Farnhamville. The Blanden was willed his collection. A lot of it is student work from the last 40 years.”
Other donations have also made their way to the Blanden.
“You never know what’s going to show up,” Anderson said. “We got some folk art from Haiti donated.”
One of the perks of his job is that often new pieces will spend some time with him in his office.
“They rest here till I find time to catalog them,” he said. “I love it because I love art.”
BLANDEN
