NewBo City Market in Cedar Rapids became home to a new, original work of art this week when Bumble Bee Bouquet was added to its walls. The large-scale painting was created by Iowa City artist Ali Hval, who worked in collaboration with a group of students from City View Community High School.
“A bumble bee serves as a unifying force in this collaborative painting, symbolizing interconnectedness within the community,” the artist said in a news release after the painting was hung on Monday. “As it carries a ribbon, it metaphorically ties together the diverse threads of community, echoing its role as a pollinator weaving through the wildflowers of Iowa.”
The news release was from Murals & More, the Cedar Rapids-based nonprofit that coordinated the art project. Murals & More is a volunteer-run organization that works to promote public art in the Cedar Rapids area by connecting “artists with space for them to create and inspire,” as its site explains.
“We believe in the power of art that is accessible to all, fostering a sense of belonging and opportunity for thought, contributing to our community’s identity and sense of place, enriching cultural vibrancy as a reflection of our community and the people who live here.”
The group didn’t just connect the artist with the space this time, it also connected Hval with the students from City View, a new magnet school in Cedar Rapids that emphasizes learning through direct community involvement. And the students helped Hval understand the people who work and shop at NewBo City Market.
“City View students surveyed shopkeepers, staff, and patrons of NewBo City Market to understand what makes the market special, then worked with Hval to create a design to represent those ideas,” Murals & More said.
After Hval finalized the design, the students painted the canvas under her direction.
Hval, a nationally recognized artist known for working in a variety of media, is a lecturer in Painting and Drawing at the University of Iowa. In addition to the art she has exhibited in galleries around the country, Hval created two of the more notable recent works of public art: the mural and light installation at Studio 13 in Iowa City, and the Choose Kindness mural in Cedar Rapids’ MedQuarter.
“As a non-profit small business incubator that uplifts artists and entrepreneurs alike, we are so thrilled to have worked with Murals & More to support an incredible artist such as Ali Hval,” Sarah Blais, senior director of Market Operations at NewBo City Market, said in a statement,.
The shops and food vendors at NewBo City Market are open Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
