T-R PHOTO BY TREVOR BABCOCK — Marshalltown Arts and Culture Alliance Director Amber Danielson and Chair of Marshalltown Public Art Committee Ben Fletcher (right) talk to members of the school board about bringing a public artwork to the Marshalltown Performing Arts Center.
A new work of art will be installed outside the Marshalltown Performing Arts Center.
The Marshalltown Performing Arts Center Foundation and the Marshalltown Community School District in partnership with the Marshalltown Arts and Culture Alliance announced finalist Stephen T. Johnson’s “Scherzo” sculpture will be permanently installed at Marshalltown Performing Arts Center later this fall.
“We’re really excited to show the community how beautiful this facility is and welcome them into the performing arts center,” Marshalltown Arts and Culture Alliance Director Amber Danielson said.
She shared the process with the Marshalltown Community School District Board of Education at the regular meeting Monday night.
After putting out a nationwide call to artists, the selection committee received 49 applications from across the country.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO — A graphic of Stephen Johnson’s “Scherzo” art piece to be installed this fall outside of the Marshalltown Performing Arts Center located at Marshalltown High School. The left represents the view during the day while the right represents the view at night.
Danielson said the selection committee was blown away by the talent of artists responding to the call. After narrowing the selections down to three finalists, She said they sought input from students and community members before finalizing their decision.
Danielson said the piece meets the project’s goals such as, “celebrate, ignite and amplify the arts, provide a wow factor which invites people to enter the facility, pay tribute to the long standing history and the talented artists who have performed in the facility and balance and exemplify the support for the arts alongside the existing support for athletics on the high school campus.”
She thanked the Marshalltown Performing Arts Center Foundation for raising more than $50,000 to support the project. She said installation is planned for sometime in October.
The Marshalltown Performing Arts Center is located at Marshalltown High School and includes performances by the school choir, orchestra, band, dance studios and from the “Live on Stage” series.
The art work will be placed just outside of the entrance to the Marshalltown Performing Arts Center.
In other business…
The board approved goals for Superintendent Theron Schutte and board of education for the 2021-22 school year. The board’s goals include “improved student achievement for all students,” “engage in meaningful board learning and development,” and “clear communication and visibility to all stakeholders.”
The superintendent’s goals include developing a schedule of presentations throughout the upcoming year at board meetings looking at data and trends on student growth and achievement. Special focus will be placed on strategies addressing achievement gaps, accelerated learning and chronic absenteeism. Another goal for Schutte is to facilitate the development of a plan to improve communications and marketing, with goals and action steps to be established for implementation.
Marshalltown High School Principal Jacque Wyant introduced a new associate principal to the school board. Mark Finken will come to Marshalltown from the Waukee Community School District where he taught ninth grade language arts for 14 years. He began his education career at Des Moines Public Schools working in a classroom for students with behavior disorders. Wyant said Finken has been excited, engaged and asking a lot of questions as he prepares for the upcoming year.
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Contact Trevor Babcock at 641-753-6611 or [email protected].
- CONTRIBUTED PHOTO — A graphic of Stephen Johnson’s “Scherzo” art piece to be installed this fall outside of the Marshalltown Performing Arts Center located at Marshalltown High School. The left represents the view during the day while the right represents the view at night.
- T-R PHOTO BY TREVOR BABCOCK — Marshalltown Arts and Culture Alliance Director Amber Danielson and Chair of Marshalltown Public Art Committee Ben Fletcher (right) talk to members of the school board about bringing a public artwork to the Marshalltown Performing Arts Center.