Smiles were plentiful on the Bell Tower Plaza Saturday afternoon as the first rooftop art installation, “Renewed Dreams” by Stephanie Hammond, was introduced.
An opening reception was hosted by the Jefferson Matters: Main Street’s Tower View Team. Don Van Gilder was master of ceremonies. He introduced Hammond, who thanked Kathy Hankel and the late Diane Foster for their inspiration. She explained that the Tower View Team reached out to her about the rooftop art at a time when she thought her dreams were broken, and her painting, “Renewed Dreams,” reflects that.
The painting is on large aluminum plates attached to the rubber roof of Skeeter Creek Fabricators at 104 E. State St. The building is owned by Hammond’s parents, Ken and Sue Bose, and Hammond thanked them for their support. Ken Bose opened Skeeter Creek Fabricators there on Monday.
Pictured are (from left) Ken and Sue Bose, TVT members Amy Roberts and Jean Van Gilder, Hammond, and TVT members Deb McGinn, Roger Aegerter and Dianne Piepel.
Hy-Vee and Fareway donated refreshments for the reception. Rides to the top of the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower to view the art were free, and the Tower View Team gave magnets featuring a portion of the art. (GCNO photos by Andrea Chargo)
