Rising from the Prairie

Created by Daniel Perry; Waterloo, IA

When the West Des Moines Public Arts Advisory Commission was formed in 2011, we had a vision for placing art in our community that would be of high aesthetic and intellectual quality and excellence and would promote cultural expression and artistic appreciation. We began the mission to create a city with successful public spaces incorporating public works of art that offer moments of serendipity and opportunities for reflection--a city with public art woven into the fine-grain detail of the public infrastructure. We planned for a public art program that would champion excellence in art, design, architecture, and landscape. And that the Public Art Program and collection would be the most visible symbols of West Des Moines’ commitment to creativity.

In 2016, the City Council approved the Historic West Des Moines Master Plan with a focus on the general area from Grand Avenue to Railroad Avenue and 1st Street to Grand Avenue. A 19-member Historic West Des Moines Master Plan Steering Committee (HWDMMPSC) was created which equally represents the residential and business communities within the planning area.

Later, in 2018, the City Council approved funding for the construction of a permanent restroom facility at Railroad Park. The restroom project was then brought before the Steering Committee which requested that public art be incorporated into the exterior of the building. In February of 2022, a request from members of the Steering Committee that $50,000 from the Public Art Fund be allocated to the Railroad Park Public Art Project was approved and a Public Art Work Group was soon established. The Work Group created a Call for Artists that was published nationwide with the following art statement, “Historic Valley Junction is the gathering place that is the heart and soul of West Des Moines – a delightful mix of old and new, bridging generations with unique shops, vibrant events and a walkable hometown feel. Historic Valley Junction is West Des Moines’ original main street.”

Sixteen national artists or artist groups submitted proposals, and the Work Group selected Daniel Perry from Waterloo, Iowa to create the commissioned artwork. Working closely with the Work Group, Perry created and named the two-piece artwork, Rising from the Prairie.

"Rising from the Prairie tells the story of West Des Moines and Valley Junction with representations of the past and present community while hinting at the future. Native prairie grasses, elements of the railroad, historic buildings, and landmarks of West Des Moines, such as the Valley Junction Arch, are composed over an abstract version of the city's roadmap. The murals are visually connected by a blue band running through each representing the Raccoon River."

Rising from the Prairie was officially unveiled to the public during a Jingle in the Junction event held on December 7, 2023. It is located on the restroom facility in Railroad Park, 425 Railroad Avenue.