Cardinal Etching

Des Moines-based artist John Brommel has been working with Newton Community School District fifth graders to create a giant aluminum cardinal sculpture in their honor. As part of the finishing touches to the piece of art, Brommel let the students engrave their names on the bird during their last day of school Tuesday. Jacob Blaha (right), a Woodrow Wilson fifth grader in Mrs. Baker’s class, reaches up to sign his name on the bird’s head.

Donations as small as $5 have been accepted to help create the cardinal, and recently Renew Newton contributed $3,000 to the project. Signs thanking area businesses and individuals hang on the fence outside Woodrow Wilson.