Iowa
Give these new Iowa City art exhibits a spin on the Ped Mall — literally.
New installation brings tradition back to Ped Mall after a year off
IOWA CITY — An interactive art exhibit in downtown Iowa City is putting a new spin on foot traffic to areas impacted by construction.
As the location’s third interactive art exhibit, the spinning tops known as Los Trompos may not be figuratively revolutionary for the Iowa City Downtown District. But each piece, based on the age old toy, will spin you in circles to your heart’s content.
Los Trompos, after being on the Iowa City Downtown District’s list “for a long time,” follows installations of Mi Casa, Your Casa in 2022 and The Loop in 2021. After a year off from the imported art from Montreal art production company Creos, this year’s installation invites visitors to relax, hang out and play on the Ped Mall.
“These are much like (the last art exhibit), which were really visible, vibrant and allowed multiple people to use them. That’s what we were looking for with Los Trompos,” said Betsy Potter, executive director of the Iowa City Downtown District (ICDD). “We know it brings a positive piece to a public space and drives foot traffic.”
What: Los Trompos interactive art exhibit Where: The Pedestrian Mall, 210 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City
When: To Aug. 5, 2024
If you go
Los Trompos, which means “spinning tops” in Spanish, is set up through five larger-than-life, three-dimensional pieces crafted from fabric woven in a traditional Mexican style. With vibrant colors and shapes, the sculptures opened on June 21 function as rotating platforms.
Each 8-foot-wide module, large enough to hold several people, comes to life when visitors spin tops from their bases, activating a sense of interaction and teamwork.
The concept by Latin American artists Hector Esrawe and Ignacio Cadena draws inspiration from traditional toys with colorful expression and craftsmanship by Mexican artisans. Inspired by history, art, music, architecture and books, the pair have more than 25 years of experience and an extensive list of projects across North and South America.
“We are inspired by ordinary objects that surround us. We are influenced by our context and our everyday activities which allow us to visit and share with different cultures and different individuals,” the artists said in a statement. “We firmly believe that these are the goals of design: to weave and generate interactions, human connections and emotions, to relate to users, and to enhance and translate our inheritance and skills into new expressions.”
It was first commissioned several years ago by the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, and has traveled the country ever since. Its six-week stint in Iowa City, ending Aug. 5, is Los Trompos’ second time visiting the Midwest, after Chicago.
With a greater appeal to children, a lot of thought went into the whimsical design of Los Trompos that, essentially, functions like a piece of playground equipment.
And with a short presence this summer, it will help tide businesses and restaurants that rely on foot traffic over to the fall, when the Dubuque Streetscape project started in March will be completed.
“It was a deliberate choice to support foot traffic,” Potter said. “Part of why we’re bringing back (interactive art) this year is because of the impacts of construction.”
Comments: Features reporter Elijah Decious can be reached at (319) 398-8340 or elijah.decious@thegazette.com.
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Iowa
They’re back: Japanese Beetles
We returned from our three-week sojourn to Alaska to find our property overrun by Japanese Beetles. Dang! Just what I didn’t need, along with everything else that required immediate post-vacation attention: a weedy garden, a tub full of mail, plants to water, bills to pay, laundry to warsh, groceries to buy because there was nothing to eat in the house, Buddy and Stormy to pick up at the vet boarder, phone calls to return, sleep to catch up on, and an Alaska high to come down from. Japanese Beetles pulled me back to reality real quick.
The beetles seem to be a little early this year. I thought they were more of a mid-July nuisance. It must be the weather. And I thought that maybe I had gotten rid of the annual Japanese Beetle infestation by spreading grub control on our yard, since they come up out of the ground near by. Guess not.
I decided this year I would spray them. Last year I set up these Japanese Beetle traps around the property, and they were effective. I must have captured 10 jillion Japanese Beetles, and gave them to a neighbor to feed her chickens. However, I ran into another neighbor who thanked me for keeping the Japanese Beetles away from his property.
He told me that the pheromone the traps use attracts beetles in a 5 mile radius. I didn’t want to do that again. But I hate using insecticide because it also kills the insects you don’t want killed, like butterflies, bees and praying mantises. Then birds eat the dead insects. Hmm. The dilemma. But I had to do something fast. Literally, a major chunk of our vegetation was being destroyed before our eyes: the aronia bushes, grape vines, fruit trees, rose bushes, hydrangeas, even our rhubarb, asparagus, and pin-oak tree. I went for the insecticide.
This year, I have a sprayer that attaches to the rear of the tractor. I use it for spraying weeds and fertilizing the lawn. It’s a lot faster than using a water-hose sprayer that I have to drag all over our yard. The tractor sprayer made short work of the Japanese beetles.
It got me to thinking about locusts. Where are the locusts? This was supposed to be the year of the two different kinds hatching at once. I have seen or heard nary a locust on the Empty Nest farm. I’ve seen a few in past years, but none this year. I know other areas of the state are seeing the swarm (ha, ha) of locusts. Pictures are all over Facebook, I mean, Meta, excuse me. I have fond memories of locusts as a kid.
We lived on a tree-lined street, and the evening air would be filled with the buzzing of locusts. It was a comforting sound, one that I remember going to sleep to, in the days before air conditioning, when we left windows open at night. Some of the locusts would even visit during the night, and be clinging to the screen when I woke in the morning.“Wake up, sleepy head!” I collected their empty shells and stuck them on my finger like a ring.
The field across the road from us has something green and grassy looking growing in it. For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out what it was. Finally, while getting the mail, I walked over to the field and had a look-see. What in tarnation? I pulled a stem of the plant, laden with bearded heads pointing down. It was something I didn’t recognize. I took it into the house and showed Ginnie.
She has an app on her phone that identifies plants, flowers, shrubs and trees. She held the plant up to her phone. Voila, it’s oats! Gee willickers, I haven’t seen oats since I was a kid. Back in my day, most of the farmers raised oats. There was what we called, “Kennedy Oats.”
It was part of the Soil Bank program (a forerunner of CRP). But oats have taken the back seat to the dual powers of corn and beans. I’m wondering what the farmer is going to do with these oats, sell’m, feed’m or seed’m? Hmm.
Japanese Beetles, locusts and oats. More rain and we’ll all float boats.
Have a good story? Call or text Curt Swarm in Mt. Pleasant at 319-217-0526, or email him curtswarm@yahoo.com. Curt is available for public speaking.
Iowa
Area teen elected to Iowa district FFA role
![Area teen elected to Iowa district FFA role](https://ogden_images.s3.amazonaws.com/www.messengernews.net/images/2024/06/30223346/Anderson_Aiden_014-1.jpg)
- Aiden Anderson
![](https://ogden_images.s3.amazonaws.com/www.messengernews.net/images/2024/06/30223346/Anderson_Aiden_014-1.jpg)
Aiden Anderson
GOWRIE — Southeast Valley High School senior Aiden Anderson has been elected secretary for the North Central Iowa District of Future Farmers of America (FFA).
Anderson was elected to district office at the state FFA convention in March. In that role, he helps to organize and facilitate various district functions throughout the year as well as Chapter Officer Leadership Training for chapter officers and Greenhand Fire-Up for first-year high school FFA members. Anderson also works at district convention, soils and livestock judging, and chapter visits.
“I am honored that my fellow members have elected me to this role, and am incredibly excited to help inspire and develop FFA members from across the district and to serve them in any way that I can,” said Anderson.
Anderson also serves as the treasurer for Southeast Valley’s Central Plains FFA chapter.
Anderson joined FFA as a freshman and is beginning his fourth year. He is involved in various contests such as leadership development events and career development events, including parliamentary procedure, soils evaluation and judging, livestock judging, agronomy, and many more.
“I also enjoy planning and participating in other leadership and community service opportunities the chapter and other levels of FFA provide,” said Anderson. “Above all, I enjoy every opportunity I get to make a difference in my community or with another member.”
Anderson and his parents, Dave and Trena Anderson, live outside of Paton on the family farm.
Iowa
2024's 7 Most Beautiful Small Towns In Iowa
![2024's 7 Most Beautiful Small Towns In Iowa](https://www.worldatlas.com/r/w1200-q80/upload/e8/a9/18/shutterstock-1420510829-1.jpg)
Summer’s here, but it’s never too late to plan your 2024 travel bucket list. Forget over-crowded destinations, exhausting city breaks, and pricey resorts. This year, get away from it all in one of Iowa’s beautiful small towns where the most stressful activity is picking the perfect backdrop for your vacation snapshots. Here in the heartland of America, you will see the country at its best. Welcoming communities, historic architecture, scenic backcountry roads, and midwestern charm. Visit the Hawkeye State in 2024, and you will find yourself coming back year after year.
Dyersville
Named one of America’s best small towns by the Smithsonian, Dyersville was founded by English entrepreneur James Dyers, who arrived in the area in 1847 and decided to turn the small Bavarian farming settlement into a thriving town. Modern-day Dyersville is a testament to Dyer’s vision with a thriving downtown, unique attractions, and beautiful scenery. It’s also a familiar pilgrimage for fans of the iconic 1989 movie, Field of Dreams, which was filmed in town. The site is open to the public and baseball fans can also get their fix at the nearby Baseball Hall of Dreams.
Dyersville is also home to one of Iowa’s two basilicas. Open daily and offering group tours, the imposing Basilica of St Francis Xavier is a gorgeous example of medieval Gothic architecture. To enjoy the best of Dyersville’s natural attractions, take the 26-mile Heritage Trail, which follows the old railroad into the deep valley of Dubuque County, meandering through old mining and mill towns.
Pella
![Pella, Iowa.](https://www.worldatlas.com/r/w768/upload/28/3c/0e/shutterstock-1618540204.jpg)
Pella is a one-of-a-kind community in central Iowa that owes a lot to its original inhabitants. Founded by immigrants from the Netherlands, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d been miraculously transported over the Atlantic to Europe. Home to North America’s largest working windmill, this beautiful town is heavily influenced by its Dutch heritage, which is on full display at the Pella Historical Village and Vermeer Mill, a cute recreation of a miniature Holland village.
Get more Dutch flavor on Main Street, you will find the Pella Klokkenspel, a traditional clock framed in an old-world courtyard. Mechanical figures appear and perform a spirited dance when the clock chimes. Stroll around the Molengracht Plaza, a replica of a Dutch canal, for more photo-worthy scenes and finish up with a bite from the Jaarsma Bakery, family-owned and operated since 1898 and home of the best Dutch pastries in Iowa (probably).
Winterset
![Roseman Covered Bridge in Winterset, Iowa.](https://www.worldatlas.com/r/w768/upload/1a/75/8f/shutterstock-1984549517.jpg)
Don’t be fooled by the name, Winterset is a beautiful destination all year-round. This small midwest town is famous for its stunning covered bridges and was the inspiration for the film, The Bridges of Madison County. You can see the bridges for yourself with a short self-guided tour on the Covered Bridges Scenic Byway. But Winterset is more than pretty bridges. It’s also the birthplace of America’s favorite cowboy, John Wayne. Learn about the actor’s life on and off screen at the John Wayne Birthplace and Museum downtown. Also downtown, you’ll find the Madison County Historical Complex, a historic village consisting of the 1856 Bevington Mansion, blacksmith shop, log post office, school, and other 1800s structures.
Eldora
![Hardin County Courthouse Eldora, Iowa](https://www.worldatlas.com/r/w768/upload/fc/a9/36/41856281811-99c9040383-o.jpg)
Founded in 1853, Eldora’s beautiful downtown is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Check out the Hardin County Historical House for a stunning example of Victorian architecture. This family home was built in 1891 and includes a carriage house and historical library. You’ll also want to see the 1913 Grand Theatre, which has been restored since its heyday and still has the original canopy and marquee. Located on the Iowa River, Eldora also has plenty of scenic riverside trails and pathways to tempt nature-loving visitors. Visit the Sac and Fox Wildlife just outside town for incredible views over the Iowa River Valley.
Okoboji
![The beautiful Lake Okoboji, Iowa.](https://www.worldatlas.com/r/w768/upload/20/88/04/adobestock-812623419.jpeg)
Explore Iowa’s Great Lakes from the beautiful town of Okoboji on West Lake Okoboji’s eastern shore. Enjoy these stunning glacially-carved lakes from Okoboji’s busy waterfront, where you can pick up the Iowa Great Lakes Trail that winds over 40 miles around the lakes, past sandy beaches, green city parks, blooming wildlife preserves, and tranquil creeks. Also, on the water, you’ll find the world’s largest ice fishing house, the Fish House. This floating restaurant takes weekly cruises around the lake in the summer and is a great spot to enjoy a sundowner on the water.
For a glimpse into Okoboji’s long history as a lakeside settlement, visit the Westport Schoolhouse. Built in 1896 and used until 1952, this tiny museum is located in the sprawling 70-acre Kenue Park, where you’ll also find the Dickinson County Nature Center.
Bentonsport
![A scene from the quaint town of Bentonsport, Iowa](https://www.worldatlas.com/r/w768/upload/09/26/2f/7876988396-1eb345fbd3-3k.jpg)
The entire village of Bentonsport is designated a National Historic District, making it a must-see on any Iowa itinerary. Located on the Des Moines River, Bentonsport was once a steamboat town. Now, it’s a small community with a quaint downtown full of antique shops, craft boutiques, and perfectly preserved historic buildings from the mid-1800s. You’ll get a great shot for your vacation scrapbook at the old truss bridge, restored and opened to the public as a pedestrian walkway with beautiful views over the river. Bentonsport’s former locks are now a blooming rose garden.
From there, it’s a short stroll to the Indian Artifacts Museum, which houses over 5,000 Native American artifacts. For a truly unique shopping experience, visit the Iron and Lace Shop. This fascinating pottery and blacksmith shop was built using 100-year-old posts and beams salvaged from old barns. Browse the store’s collection of ironwork, hand-woven rugs, and pottery to pick up a one-of-a-kind gift.
Clear Lake
![Waterfront walkway in Clear Lake, Iowa.](https://www.worldatlas.com/r/w768/upload/df/69/c4/clear-lake-waterfront-1.jpg)
If relaxing on the shores of a spring-fed lake, toes in the sand sounds like the perfect vacation, head to Clear Lake, Iowa. This beautiful small town is made for long summer breaks with perfect fishing, water-skiing, and boating. Keen anglers can catch Walleye, Yellow Bass, or Catfish in the 3,684-acre natural lake. Or you can take it easy with a lazy ride on the Lady of the Lake, an authentic paddle wheel excursion boat that offers regular cruises and narrated tours. It’s not just the water that draws tourists to Clear Lake. The town has a more somber claim to fame — it’s the site of the 1959 plane crash that killed legendary musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. Richardson. Today the crash site is memorialized with a poignant glasses marker.
Idyllic Iowa
Don’t underestimate Iowa. This isn’t a flyover state, it’s a stop-and-stay-a-while state where beautiful small towns nestle against sprawling glacier-carved lakes, amid rolling farmland, and in lush river valleys. Historic mill towns, European-inspired settlements, steamboat ports — you never know quite what to expect from an Iowa vacation. Visit in summer to enjoy stunning hikes, fun on the water, and sunny strolls downtown. Plan a winter break to try snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and cozy holiday markets. Iowa is idyllic all year round!
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