UI students work to preserve Newton murals

The sculptures and murals located throughout town reflect the strength of the art culture in Newton, but with time and deterioration, some of those visible artworks need proper maintenance.

Jasper County Hometown Pride has decided to begin a project of repair and restoration to the nine of the downtown murals painted by artist Carl Homstad, and its members are working with two master of fine arts students from the University of Iowa on this effort.

In a Hometown Pride visioning process, Newton committee members determined priories of community and the where there was a need. The murals identified were painted in the early 2000s, and it was known then that after 10-15 years there would be some deterioration.

“We determined what we could do ourselves and with some we needed outside help, and one of the places that I wanted to look for people to help us was with student teams at UI and Iowa State. They are great assets,” Jasper County Hometown Pride Community Coach Jeff Davidson said.

Davidson went to the University of Iowa School of Art and Art History in Iowa City and spoke to administration about collaboration. A student project was negotiated and the university is paying for the mural assessment by two of its master of fine art students, Halle Siepman, of Los Angeles, Cali., and Lee White, of Buffalo Prairie, Ill.

“They have been great, and very enthusiastic, and its a great opportunity for them with their education at the University of Iowa,” Davidson said.

The project can be divided into four phases, Siepman said.

“Our ultimate goal is to revive Carl’s large-scale beautiful murals throughout Newton and ensure their longevity,” Spiepman said.

In phase one of the project, a pre-assessment, Siepman and White met with a group of four local leaders to discuss the murals and went on a downtown tour in June. The students met with Bryan Friedman and Erin Chambers, with the City of Newton, and Jeff Davidson and Bruce Showalter, with Hometown Pride.

“We walked the downtown area to familiarize them with the projects,” Showalter said. “Halle and Lee are nice people, and are very knowledgeable. We’re very excited about that part of it, getting information from other people who are better informed.”

In phase two of the project, Siepman and Lee spent July 3-4 in Newton for a thorough assessment.

Information was gathered at each mural including dimensions, primers, concerns, art mediums and evidence of structural damage. A mural sketch was made for documentation and a list of products and materials were determined.

In phase three, a written documentation will be presented to the Newton Hometown Pride committee which will determine how to proceed with the information.

“The whole idea is for them to come and take a look at it to give us an idea — find out if they are still viable and what we can do to protect them. We will look at the price of each mural and decide what we want to go from there,” Showalter said.

Phase four is the repair, restore and paint process.

“Murals brings the community together. We want to revive and maintain the vision of these murals for future generations to enjoy,” White said.

The students are currently working on the written assessment which will be given to Newton Hometown Pride, and further action will be determined this fall.

“These murals are great and they’ve become signatures in Newton. We want to make sure these continue to be nice looking murals and look great because they are important parts of the community,” Davidson said.

Contact Kate Malott at 641-792-3121 ext. 6533 or kmalott@newtondailynews.com