Downtown Iowa City repaints the public benches every spring. This year, the theme has changed.

“It’s meant [to] encourage ideas about metamorphosis and evolution,” BenchMarks coordinator Thomas Agran said. “Also about how we can change the way we look at the urban landscape and how we interact with the Ped Mall and downtown.”

There are 22 artists participating in this years 25 benches.

Some are professional artists, while others have little experience in painting.

One University of Iowa student studying neurobiology and music was chosen to participate.

“We’re encouraging diversity in science fields,” project artist Brittany Todd said. “And so I wanted to draw out a sign and display it in the public area that related to that theme.”

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