The Ames Public Art Commission is looking for help in keeping the public art around Ames safe. On Sept. 26, there were two reports of vandalism on local art sculptures. Both pieces are in the downtown district of Ames.  

“Letting Go,” located at South Fourth Street and Hazel Avenue, is estimated to have over $4,000 in damages. The cost of damages will include the recreation of a piece of the art. The sculpture featured an eagle on the tip of the figure’s hand that is now missing.

“Blue Heron with Sunfish,” located at 405 Main St. was reported having “loose parts, including a tack weld on the wing.” The estimated amount in damages has not been determined yet.

These were not the first vandalism reports on art pieces in Ames. In September 2017, the “Power Tennis” sculpture, located by the Ames Intermodal Facility at 129 Hayward Ave. was damaged after witnesses saw someone “hanging on the sculpture, causing structural damage to the metal legs.”

The Department of Public Safety was notified before any more damaged could be caused. The restoration of the piece cost over $12,000.

Kerry Dixon is the current Public Relations and Marketing Committee chair for the Ames Public Arts Commission. Dixon was previously the chair of the commission and coordinated the “Power Tennis” restoration and reinstallation.

“The purpose of the Public Art Commission is to incorporate art into the community and lives of all Ames citizens,” said Dixon. “These sculptures belong to all of us and we need to be good stewards of our art.”

Dixon believes that the damage to “Power Tennis” and “Letting Go” was “deliberate vandalism of the pieces with the intent to break them.”

One of the focuses of the Ames Public Art Commission is the Annual Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition. This exhibition contains works submitted by local artists for public display. The commission typically chooses between five to eight sculptures each year. This year the commission chose eight pieces to feature in the downtown district. 

The Public Art Commission also sponsors a companion program called Neighborhood Sculpture. This program purchases one of the exhibition sculptures from the Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition to permanently place in an Ames neighborhood.

According to Dixon, the city doesn’t have the funds to place security for the safety of the art. Instead, they ask that neighbors and locals keep an eye on the art around them. But there are still times throughout the day and night that people aren’t around. 

“We want people to respect the art, just like they would on campus or in any city or museum,” said Dixon.

The Ames Public Art Commission is asking that if anyone sees damage on the pieces to contact the City Manager’s Office at 515.239.5101. Vandalism or damage can also be reported on the “Ames on the Go” app or the city of Ames website. Look for the purple, “mobile reporting” quick link.

“If you see something, say something, and if you encounter vandalism as it happens, call 911,” said Dixon. No arrests have been made as of Friday.