– ICDD Collaborates with Andre Wright for Projector Project this June Celebrating Black Leaders –
(Iowa City, IA) June 4, 2024 – The Iowa City Downtown District (ICDD) is excited to announce the relaunch of its Projection Public Art Program. This innovative system, which remains on Downtown Iowa City rooftops year-round, prominently showcases public art and literature on the walls of Downtown buildings. After two years, the Projection Public Art Program is coming back this June with a project by Andre Wright, from the Wright House of Fashion, celebrating local and national black leaders.
ICDD’s Projection Art Program was created to showcase local writers, artists, and community members through visual storytelling. This ongoing public art project will display the fervor, ingenuity, and unique flavors of Iowa City and its citizens nightly in three locations downtown: the west wall of 129 E. Washington St on the Jefferson Building, the north wall of 201 E. Washington St on the Park at 201 building, and the north wall of 203 N. Linn St. near Willow & Stock. ICDD will seek new partners and projects to display with the projectors year-round. Graphic designs, photography, and the written word that highlight the character, talent, and visibility of the Iowa City community and its people will be welcomed.
“These projector units can be programmed remotely once installed, but they needed a little software update first,” said Joe Reilly, Iowa City Downtown District’s Nighttime Mayor and program manager. The program, last seen in 2022, is ready to captivate the public once again. “I think just the same as these projectors have been installed on top of places I’ve never been before, the public will once again begin noticing walls they haven’t noticed in a long time or ever because of these projections,” said Reilly. When asked what he is looking forward to the most with the projection program, Reilly said, “Identifying the perfect marriage of future partners across the year with the seasons. It gives the vibrancy of Downtown that extra punch.”
Andre Wright’s project “Illuminating Excellence: A Civil Rights Exhibition” is a dynamic educational display showcasing 29 notable Black civil rights leaders and local Iowa City leaders, emphasizing their invaluable contributions to humanity. These projections will be visible to a wide and diverse group of Downtown Iowa City viewers, bringing civil rights history front and center for all to see throughout the month of June and coinciding with the City’s Juneteenth Celebration.
“Public art is crucial because it can provide an accessible platform for learning and reflection outside of traditional academic settings,” says artist Andre Wright, founder of Wright House of Fashion. “It serves as an open invitation for all passersby to engage with historical narratives and celebrate the contributions of Black leaders, both nationally and within the local Iowa City community.”
The creation of “Illuminating Excellence: A Civil Rights Exhibition” was made possible through the City of Iowa City’s Public Art Advisory Committee (PAAC) Grant, with backing from the Iowa City Downtown District in partnership with Andre Wright.
In the past, the Projection Art Program has spotlighted various projects, including a notable collaboration with the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa. This initiative celebrated Iowa City’s linguistic diversity by showcasing writings from 17 international writers-in-residence. Their work, presented in over a dozen languages, was projected on multiple Downtown Iowa City walls, creating a vibrant tapestry of global voices and fostering a deeper sense of community connection.
For further information or inquiries on how to participate in Downtown Iowa City’s Projection Public Art Program, contact publicart@downtowniowacity.com.
