A trio of original steel art panels were installed this week at the Memorial Garden on E. Lincoln Way, a project of the Jefferson Garden Club.
Created by Shane Olson of Olson Iron Works from collaborative designs of Olson and Garden Club members Sue Lucht, Pat Rusnak and Jacque Andrew, the panels, each 8 feet tall and 2 feet wide, reflect Iowa’s seasons with grasses, sunflowers and cattails. As a welcome to travelers on the historic Lincoln Highway and the Raccoon River Valley Trail, the panels lead the way on the beautification of the east entrance into Jefferson
Proceeds from the Garden Club’s biennial holiday Tour of Homes held last December provided the funding for the art project. With the installation finished several months in planning and development, the final landscaping can now be completed around the concrete bases of the panels. Members of the Jefferson Garden Club maintain and care for the Memorial Garden as one of its ongoing projects.
“We are grateful to Shane for his skill and artistry to transform the club’s vision and dream into a reality,” said Andrew. “It is our hope that this artwork is noticed by passers-by and draws them in to see the beauty and peacefulness of the Memorial Garden. We also appreciate that the lettering on the large stone at the edge of the garden was recently repainted by Aaron Sloan of Jefferson Monument Works.”
