“It’s in the Water” art installation will be on view at Wilson’s Orchard & Farm in Cumming as part of a summer-long public art exhibition.
DES MOINES, IA (June 26, 2026) – A site-specific public art exhibition is happening in Central and Southwest Iowa over the summer. Using art, storytelling, and public participation, Declarations turns public space into a living conversation about who we are and what we are building together for the next 250 years.
One of the art installations is part art, part science.
It’s in the Water, as it’s titled, is a floating barn-quilt-inspired sculpture that doubles as a working environmental intervention – equipped with special algae bioreactors that its makers invented.
The artists Emily Newman and Edward Kelley are both professors at Drake University and go by the name Parts Per Million Collective (PPM). It’s in the Water continues PPM’s research of their invention called SPARCC (Semi Passive Algae Rooted Carbon Collector) that works to remove excess nitrates in water and remove atmospheric carbon using algae’s potential for rapid growth.
The artwork’s sculptural quilt pattern is created by cutting, stitching, and arranging the colorful salvaged plastic shapes into an 8 pointed star quilt block. The installation will be 18 x 18 feet, anchored at 4 corners with SPARCC buoys placed along the edges to maintain buoyancy.
The public is invited to its Launch Party when it will be placed on a pond at Wilson’s Orchard and Farm located at 3201 15th Ave. in Cumming, Iowa. It’s happening Wednesday, July 1st at 5:30 p.m. and Wilson’s Ciderhouse Restaurant will be providing refreshments. [Facebook link to RSVP]
It’s in the Water will be on view through September at Wilson’s Orchard and Farm and is made possible by Fred & Charlotte Hubbell.
Wilson’s Des Moines Location co-owner Jacob Goering states, “It’s a perfect fit for the values we have, where our mission is to help develop local, ethical, and regenerative food and farm systems. We’re excited to be part of Declarations and its efforts to spark conversations about Iowa’s water quality.”
Declarations is a collaborative initiative of Group Creative Services and Whiterock Conservancy in partnership with City of Clive, The Heritage Carousel, Poetry Palooza, Union Park, Wallace Centers of Iowa, Wilson’s Orchard & Farm and World Food Prize. Additional support is provided by Bravo Greater Des Moines, Fred & Charlotte Hubbell, Inspire Iowa and Invest DSM.
The list of Declarations offerings includes:
- Rock It in the Park || A July 4th community picnic and human mosaic at Union Park
- Markers & Deep Roots || Ceramic artwork by Sue and Jim Heemstra can be experienced along the Steve Garst Trail at Whiterock Conservancy in Coon Rapids.
- Listening Fields || An immersive listening experience by Anna Gebhardt and Philip Rabalais along Clive Greenbelt Trail.
- Seeds of Memory || A sound walk experience by Anna Gebhardt and Philip Rabalais commissioned by Wallace Centers of Iowa to honor the 100th anniversary of Henry A. Wallace setting a new course for modern farming by founding Hi-Bred Corn Company.
What’s more, Declarations is organizing a time capsule which will be encased near The Heritage Carousel in Union Park to be preserved for 250 years. The public is invited to contribute by answering the prompts at declarations.art/time. You can also text or leave a voice recording by dialing 515-303-0399.
Related events will be occurring throughout the public art exhibition’s run. Find exhibition details along with maps, event details, suggested itineraries and artist interviews at declarations.art.
Story assets: Video of stitching plastic pieces together | Main project webpage | Images below
Contacts:
Siobhan Spain, Creative Incubator Advisor, siobhan@groupcreatives.com 515-707-2783
Alyson O’Hara, Creative Strategy alyson@groupcreatives.com
Teva Dawson, Founder/Director, teva@groupcreatives.com
