The Pappajohn Sculpture Garden officially opened last weekend in downtown Des Moines. What's been two city blocks of chain link fence for nearly two years is now rolling green hills populated by some pretty impressive sculptures by some big name artists including Deborah Butterfield, Richard Serra, Louise Bourgeois, Mark Di Suvero (his T8 sculpture is seen below), and Willem De Kooning amongst many others.

 

 

There's been some grumbling about the new park since apparently (before my time in Des Moines) it was just a great open playing field with lots of picnics and soccer games going on. But all in all, the park has been a welcome addition and has definitely made my walk to and from the office imminently more enjoyable. Last night the experience got even better. I left the office around 9:00. It was a beautiful early fall night. The park, I have to say, looked pretty dashing in the moonlight. And then I noticed something different. Against the gently curving concrete wall that frames Mark Di Suvero's contribution to the scenery there were some strange shadows that appeared to be cast by sitting chairs.

 

 

The shadows however were not of complete chairs but rather pieces of chairs partly submerged in the freshly laid sod. I then saw two men walking back and forth between the chairs, taking photos, and discussing proper alignment and the like. I decided to investigate. As I approached the chairs I was met by Tony Minh Nguyen.

 

 

Tony is an artist/craftsman from North Carolina by way of Savannah, Georgia via Colorado. He's been traveling around the country with his set of chairs that when displayed together are intended as a response to the current rough economic times, a way to show progress but also as a way to honestly address what's going on today—there's obviously some bumps in the road, there's highs and lows and there always will be but that's good—that's life. Tony writes on his site, "I first came up with this idea in response to the recession. How could I display progress, the idea of looking forward to tomorrow and taking the steps necessary for change? I created this series of chairs to grow from the ground up and soon descend back to earth. There are always going to be hurdles, it is how one responds to those hurdles which will lead toward change, whether it be positive or negative."

 

 

So Tony's been touring the country, prompting people to think about his ideas and simply enjoy his work and the bit of spontaneity that he thrusts into their lives. He's there and then he's gone. (Below, a shot of his chairs at the Sculpture Garden before sunset.)

 

 

I caught him for the brief moment he was in Des Moines. By the time I got home he had packed up his chairs and was headed for Wisconsin. Even if you don't happen to run into Tony like I did last night, you can follow his journey here. Keep an eye out for Tony in your town and always, always keep your eyes wide open when traversing your locale—you never know what you might find. (Below, Tony's full chair in situ in Omaha, Nebraska.)

 

 

(Below, a detail view of the American flag Tony's branded in each of his handmade chairs.)