Papajohn Sculpture Park
John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park
Open to visitors since September 2009, the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture
Park features artwork by 21 of the world’s most celebrated artists.
The 4.4 acre park, located within a major crossroads of the urban grid,
creates a pedestrian friendly entranceway to downtown Des Moines. This
accessible setting, coupled with the skilled landscape design and caliber of the
art, makes it unlike any other sculpture park in the United States. The
Pappajohns’ contribution of 27 works for the park is the most significant
donation of artwork ever made to the Des Moines Art Center.
Hours
The sculpture park, located at 1330 Grand Avenue, is open during
city park hours, which are sunrise to midnight.
Tours
Guided tours are available from April 1 through October 31. Please
see the Guided Tours page for more information. Three or more weeks advance
notice is needed to schedule a guided tour.
Guided tours are not needed to view the sculptures; anyone is welcome to walk
through the park and view the sculptures during open hours.
Audio Tours
Please see the Audio Tours page for information about the
Pappajohn Sculpture Park Audio Tours.
Teachers & Families
Please see the Educator Resources page for an
Educator's Guide to the Pappajohn Sculpture Park. A drawing guide about the park
is also available.
Photography
Photography is allowed. Media requests for photographs can be
made via e-mail or 515.271.0344.
Preservation
Touching, climbing, and sitting on the sculptures is not
allowed, with the exception of Scott Burton’s Seating for Eight. Although many
of the sculptures appear sturdy and durable, touching or climbing will damage
the sculptures and their finish. Additionally, visitors may get hurt touching or
climbing on the sculptures.
Food and Drink
Picnicking is allowed. Please be sure to keep food and
drink away from the sculptures and dispose of waste in the receptacles on the
perimeter of the park. City park rules prohibit glass bottles and alcohol is
allowed by permit only.
Smoking
Smoking inside the park is prohibited. Smoking is permitted on the
exterior public right of way sidewalks.
Reserve the Park for Special Events
The park can be reserved for private
events. Inquiries should be directed to the City of Des Moines Information
Center at 515.237.1386 or [email protected].
Pappajohn Sculpture Park Visitor Guide & Family Activities brochure
Available at the Sculpture Park or download the Front, Back, or Map only
The John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park is a collaborative effort of the
Pappajohns,
the City of Des Moines, the Des Moines Art Center, and numerous
corporate and private funders
Open to visitors since September 2009, the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture
Park features artwork by 21 of the world’s most celebrated artists.
The 4.4 acre park, located within a major crossroads of the urban grid,
creates a pedestrian friendly entranceway to downtown Des Moines. This
accessible setting, coupled with the skilled landscape design and caliber of the
art, makes it unlike any other sculpture park in the United States. The
Pappajohns’ contribution of 27 works for the park is the most significant
donation of artwork ever made to the Des Moines Art Center.
Hours
The sculpture park, located at 1330 Grand Avenue, is open during
city park hours, which are sunrise to midnight.
Tours
Guided tours are available from April 1 through October 31. Please
see the Guided Tours page for more information. Three or more weeks advance
notice is needed to schedule a guided tour.
Guided tours are not needed to view the sculptures; anyone is welcome to walk
through the park and view the sculptures during open hours.
Audio Tours
Please see the Audio Tours page for information about the
Pappajohn Sculpture Park Audio Tours.
Teachers & Families
Please see the Educator Resources page for an
Educator's Guide to the Pappajohn Sculpture Park. A drawing guide about the park
is also available.
Photography
Photography is allowed. Media requests for photographs can be
made via e-mail or 515.271.0344.
Preservation
Touching, climbing, and sitting on the sculptures is not
allowed, with the exception of Scott Burton’s Seating for Eight. Although many
of the sculptures appear sturdy and durable, touching or climbing will damage
the sculptures and their finish. Additionally, visitors may get hurt touching or
climbing on the sculptures.
Food and Drink
Picnicking is allowed. Please be sure to keep food and
drink away from the sculptures and dispose of waste in the receptacles on the
perimeter of the park. City park rules prohibit glass bottles and alcohol is
allowed by permit only.
Smoking
Smoking inside the park is prohibited. Smoking is permitted on the
exterior public right of way sidewalks.
Reserve the Park for Special Events
The park can be reserved for private
events. Inquiries should be directed to the City of Des Moines Information
Center at 515.237.1386 or [email protected].
Pappajohn Sculpture Park Visitor Guide & Family Activities brochure
Available at the Sculpture Park or download the Front, Back, or Map only
The John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park is a collaborative effort of the
Pappajohns,
the City of Des Moines, the Des Moines Art Center, and numerous
corporate and private funders
Symphony in Sculpture
Des Moines, IA (September 2012) -- On
Thursday, September 27, at 7 pm, Minnesota composer Steve Heitzeg will present a
lecture at the Des Moines Art Center, which offers a musical preview of his new
composition, Symphony in Sculpture, inspired by the John and Mary Pappajohn
Sculpture Park. A complimentary reception hosted by John and Mary Pappajohn is
open to all guests immediately following the lecture in the Art Center lobby.
The Des Moines Symphony’s 75th Anniversary Season will debut with the world
premiere of the piece on September 29 and 30 at the Civic Center. The
lecture is free and open to the public, but reservations are
required.*
Heitzeg has written more than 100 works in his career, garnering an Emmy
Award as well as Bush and McKnight fellowships. His compositions have been
performed by leading orchestras, ensembles, and ballet companies, and have
served as the soundtrack for several documentaries, including PBS’ A Marriage:
Georgia O’Keeffe and Alfred Stieglitz. Heitzeg’s four-movement Symphony to the
Prairie Farm was commissioned by the World Food Prize and premiered by the Des
Moines Symphony Orchestra in 2002.
According to Heitzeg, “My aspiration in ‘collaborating’ with the sculptures
has been to portray them through sound, perhaps adding a further dimension to
these intriguing works. Symphony in Sculpture is dedicated to John and Mary
Pappajohn for their vision and deep understanding of the power of art to change
a culture and a community in a positive way.”
The following sculptures inspired Heitzeg to compose the piece and create
corresponding movements:
I. MOONRISE. east. January., 2005 and MOONRISE. east. august. 2006. (Ugo
Rondinone)
II. Spider, 1997 (Louise Bourgeois)
III. Back of a Snowman
(White), 2002 and Back of a Snowman (Black), 2002 (Gary Hume)
IV. Ancient
Forest, 2009 (Deborah Butterfield)
V. Post-Balzac, 1990 (Judith Shea)
VI.
T-8, 1985 (Mark di Suvero)
VII. White Ghost, 2010 (Yoshitomo Nara)
VIII.
Thinker on a Rock, 1997 (Barry Flanagan)
IX. Nomade, 2007 (Jaume Plensa)
Thursday, September 27, at 7 pm, Minnesota composer Steve Heitzeg will present a
lecture at the Des Moines Art Center, which offers a musical preview of his new
composition, Symphony in Sculpture, inspired by the John and Mary Pappajohn
Sculpture Park. A complimentary reception hosted by John and Mary Pappajohn is
open to all guests immediately following the lecture in the Art Center lobby.
The Des Moines Symphony’s 75th Anniversary Season will debut with the world
premiere of the piece on September 29 and 30 at the Civic Center. The
lecture is free and open to the public, but reservations are
required.*
Heitzeg has written more than 100 works in his career, garnering an Emmy
Award as well as Bush and McKnight fellowships. His compositions have been
performed by leading orchestras, ensembles, and ballet companies, and have
served as the soundtrack for several documentaries, including PBS’ A Marriage:
Georgia O’Keeffe and Alfred Stieglitz. Heitzeg’s four-movement Symphony to the
Prairie Farm was commissioned by the World Food Prize and premiered by the Des
Moines Symphony Orchestra in 2002.
According to Heitzeg, “My aspiration in ‘collaborating’ with the sculptures
has been to portray them through sound, perhaps adding a further dimension to
these intriguing works. Symphony in Sculpture is dedicated to John and Mary
Pappajohn for their vision and deep understanding of the power of art to change
a culture and a community in a positive way.”
The following sculptures inspired Heitzeg to compose the piece and create
corresponding movements:
I. MOONRISE. east. January., 2005 and MOONRISE. east. august. 2006. (Ugo
Rondinone)
II. Spider, 1997 (Louise Bourgeois)
III. Back of a Snowman
(White), 2002 and Back of a Snowman (Black), 2002 (Gary Hume)
IV. Ancient
Forest, 2009 (Deborah Butterfield)
V. Post-Balzac, 1990 (Judith Shea)
VI.
T-8, 1985 (Mark di Suvero)
VII. White Ghost, 2010 (Yoshitomo Nara)
VIII.
Thinker on a Rock, 1997 (Barry Flanagan)
IX. Nomade, 2007 (Jaume Plensa)