ABOUT ART ROUTE
Art Route is a painted path on city sidewalks and intersections. The route unites 87 pieces of public art with a 6.6-mile-long trail in Downtown Des Moines, also connected to 14 crosswalks painted at six intersections. Additionally, West Des Moines will feature an art pocket along the trails near the City of West Des Moines City Hall.
The painted path includes circles, or dots, roughly 20 feet apart. Then, chevrons are used on the sidewalk to point toward each of the pieces of art. Additional information about the art pieces is available via the Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation’s mobile app. Art Route visitors can download the mobile app to utilize in conjunction with following the painted pathway.
Six Downtown Des Moines intersections include visuals painted by artist Peter Gibson, a Montreal, Quebec artist specializing in murals, street installations and exhibitions. Gibson’s design by Roadsworth for the Art Route features repeated figures to generate a rhythm and a sense of movement that reflects the flow of pedestrian traffic. The visual is created from a bird’s eye perspective, portrayed in a simple and graphic manner showing bilateral transportation to emphasize the multi-directional nature of the Art Route.
The painted path includes circles, or dots, roughly 20 feet apart. Then, chevrons are used on the sidewalk to point toward each of the pieces of art. Additional information about the art pieces is available via the Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation’s mobile app. Art Route visitors can download the mobile app to utilize in conjunction with following the painted pathway.
Six Downtown Des Moines intersections include visuals painted by artist Peter Gibson, a Montreal, Quebec artist specializing in murals, street installations and exhibitions. Gibson’s design by Roadsworth for the Art Route features repeated figures to generate a rhythm and a sense of movement that reflects the flow of pedestrian traffic. The visual is created from a bird’s eye perspective, portrayed in a simple and graphic manner showing bilateral transportation to emphasize the multi-directional nature of the Art Route.
ABOUT THE ART
Art Route was formed by a committee of volunteers with the support of local corporations to create a unique experience for locals and visitors. The Art Route vision serves to unite public art in Greater Des Moines, increase economic development and promote walkability, health and wellness throughout the region. Greater Des Moines is the first city to create an artful pathway connecting both painted sidewalks and painted intersections to public art. Research hasn't uncovered any other city activating a project by combining these three elements into one cohesive experience.
Future stages of the project could include expanding Art Route recognition into the Downtown Des Moines skywalk system with window clings denoting public art viewable from within the skywalk system and also adding additional Art Route pockets throughout Greater Des Moines communities — further connecting pockets of art in suburban areas and leveraging Art Route as a true regional collaborative effort.
To support Art Route with a charitable donation, contact us.
Future stages of the project could include expanding Art Route recognition into the Downtown Des Moines skywalk system with window clings denoting public art viewable from within the skywalk system and also adding additional Art Route pockets throughout Greater Des Moines communities — further connecting pockets of art in suburban areas and leveraging Art Route as a true regional collaborative effort.
To support Art Route with a charitable donation, contact us.
