IC Council Okays Downtown Mural After Seeing Sketch
Lang
5-16-12
 
The Iowa City city council has given its approval to a privately-funded mural on a downtown parking ramp…but only after asking to see a sketch of the proposal first.
Local developer Mark Moen came to city officials with the idea of painting a five-story mural on the north wall of the Dubuque Street parking ramp. The local artist in charge of the project, Eliezer Sotillo, said he wanted to create a design with a theme of “solidarity”. Moen plans to pay 100% of the costs, but needed the council’s approval because the ramp is city property.
One sticking point was the fact that Moen and Sotillo wanted to keep the design a secret, allowing the public to see the mural for the first time as it was being painted.
Moen provided a sketch of the mural to the council Tuesday night after receiving negative feedback from the public. The sketch shows a pattern of interlocking arms.
The council approved the mural 6-0, with councilor Terry Dickens absent. Work is set to begin on June 1^st.