"Art in the Depot"
Makes You the Artist

At the Marion Arts Festival, everyone’s an artist! 

The annual creation of a participatory public art piece – known as "Art in the Depot," sponsored by Farmers State Bank – offers every community member the opportunity to contribute hands-on to the production of what will become a public art treasure.

Now entering its tenth year, past “Depot” projects can be seen in Marion City Hall, Public Library, Heritage Center museum and Post Office, among other community locations.
 

Watch for details about our                            2010 "Art in the Depot" project

The 2009 "Art in the Depot" program featured guest John Paul Schafer, a fine artist from Cedar Rapids who has an extensive background in community-based art.

Festival attendees were invited to work alongside Schafer toward the creation of a large-scale painting that went on to make its home at Taylor Elementary, a Cedar Rapids school severely damaged by the June 2008 floods and was subsequently closed for the 2008-2009 school year.

The painting (upper right) was informed by drawings made by Taylor students during a family night at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, where Shafer worked with kids toward creating imagery celebrating their excitement about returning to their classrooms in the fall of 2009.  The frame for the painting was crafted by Cedar Rapids artist John Schwartzkopf, using wood salvaged from his studio after flood waters had subsided.

600+ participants in the Depot contributed hand print stencils for inclusion in the painting and had the opportunity to make "Welcome Back" cards for distribution to Taylor students when they returned to their classrooms. Family fun, community project ... you did good.  Thanks for your participation!