Art on the River: Flow of Wellness

Art on the River logo

Eleven new sculptures have been selected for the City of Dubuque’s 19th annual temporary public art exhibit “Art on the River.” The 2025–2026 exhibit theme "Flow of Wellness" invites visitors to explore how art can transform personal and community well-being, with a focus on health, healing, and wellness.

The featured works reflect how art nurtures the body, mind, and spirit; celebrates nature’s restorative forces; the healing power of movement; and the soothing effects of light, sound, and color.

Sculptures span the length of the Mississippi Riverwalk in the Port of Dubuque. The exhibit will be displayed through late July 2026. A community jury panel selected the sculptures from a pool of 61 applications from 40 artists representing 11 states in the U.S., Germany, and India.

About the Sculptures

The panel chose 11 sculptures all of which are available for purchase with a portion of artwork sales retained to sustain the Art on the River program; Art on the River is currently funded through the City of Dubuque’s general operating budget.

tall steel sculpture with a large circular gear at the top

Social Fabric

Matt Miller, Cape Girardeau, MO

Purchase price: $14,500

Artist Statement
It seems like we all think we know what makes us "tick," but if we sit back and listen, we begin to realize that the daily clicks of our rhythmic relationships are who we really are in this life.

Dimensions: 4’ x 3’ x 12’



six feet tall vibrant green sculpture with an orange plaque with a symbol of a hand

Verdi's Path

James Cole, East Dubuque, IL

Purchase price: $6,500

Artist Statement
This sculpture embodies the "Flow of Wellness" through its organic, dynamic form, symbolizing the journey of individual growth and collective harmony. 

Standing six feet tall in vibrant green, it evokes the serenity of nature while inviting the viewer into a meditative space. The crescent plaque at the top represents a gateway to reflection, a symbol of transition toward well-being.
 
 The elongated, walking appendages echo the natural world, hinting at a plant reaching for its potential or a being in movement with its environment. Their fluid, fin-like design suggests adaptability, mirroring the constant flow of energy that aligns with the riverfront landscape—ever-shifting yet constant.

Dimensions: 3’ x 3’ x 6’     

sculpture featuring a base and a flowing ribbon weaving through it's opening

Flow of Wellness III 

Gail Chavenelle, Dubuque, IA

Purchase price: $9,500   

Artist Statement
In this sculpture, an individual figure stands tall and strong—a form that could be interpreted as human or a growing plant- symbolizing the interconnectedness of life . Its long, curved strip form initiates a visual flow of strength and vitality, embodying the essence of wellness itself. 

The design allows the “flow of wellness” to move through and around it, creating a dynamic representation of growth, connection, and sustainability. This flowing motion courses through the piece, reflecting vitality, resilience, and harmony with nature.

Through its textured, powder-coated blue finish, the sculpture mirrors the sky and river, underscoring the deep connection between land, water, and the human experience. Together, these elements inspire viewers to see wellness as something that flows through and around us, sustaining life in its many forms.

Dimensions: 6-7.5’H x 14-16”D x 32-40”W  

Tall, thin steel sculpture

Stainless River

Skip Willits, Camanche, IA

Purchase price: $4,700

Artist Statement
Sculptures created from recycled materials nurture the communal mind, body, and spirit by fostering a deep connection to sustainability and collective responsibility. 

Additionally, with this sculpture made of recycled steel, the material has a history, a story. In this case, the steel came from the factory where my father worked for 40 years as a shop welder. He taught me everything I know about welding. 

Stories give people the recognition of interconnectedness.

Dimensions: 2’ x 2.5’ x 10’
Large seed sculpture with a cluster of hanging wooden spheres at the center

Sounds of the Seed

Molly Spain, Des Moines, IA

Purchase price: $11,000

Artist Statement
Sounds of the Seed represents the awe-inspiring potential at the core of a seed. Seeds are the center of life and provide endless resources for our ability to live on this planet—whether it be through food sources, shelter, clothing, etc. All necessary for healthy living. 

The center cluster of wooden spheres represent this quiet, unassuming life force waiting to give. By suspending them from the steel ‘hull-like’ armature they can move and softly chime if provoked by the wind or a viewer. Often small and overlooked, the piece stands as a comparatively, monumental reminder of this powerful wellspring.

Dimension: 7’H x 6.5’W x 6.5’D

Tube-like sculpture with a red and a green mosaic cap at the ends

Oscill8

Nicole Beck, Chicago, IL

Purchase price: $15,000

Artist Statement
Oscill8 refers to the infinite wave of light that oscillates between spectrums in equilibrium. It also refers to the phenomenon of many continuous systems naturally occur and spotlights the interconnectedness of all living things on Earth.

The sculpture represents a vital integration with nature.

Dimensions: 4’W x 6’D x 8’H

half of a bright green kayak with a butterfly sculpture sitting on top

The Pollinator

Kirk Seese, Lutherville-Timonium, MD

Purchase price: $12,000

Artist Statement
The two main elements in the proposed work, The Pollinator, are a kayak and a butterfly. The green kayak represents a giant blade of grass that the 3 ft. butterfly lands on. Both these elements speak to the appreciation for nature, and outdoor physical activities, which are both hallmarks to the search for wellness and inner peace.

Dimensions: 8’H x 3’W x 2’D

Abstract Lupine Wildflower Sculpture

Lupine

Tim Adams, Webster City, IA

Purchase price: $11,500

Artist Statement
Lupine is a whimsical abstract rendition of the native wildflower. The brilliant green color used on the piece is abundant in spring and is everywhere. Once summer sets in, the green blends in with the surrounding greens and almost disappears. 

Like the brilliant green color of spring, as we age, we too seem to blend into the “surroundings” of society. We may be muted, but our true brilliant core is ever present. 

Lupine, like most of nature, teaches us that we all play a role in the beauty and diversity of our communities and the bigger world. We often forget that we are part of a whole and that we have a purpose. The natural world has a way of evening the playing field. 

We all are awed by the mystery and wonder of the first spring days after the dark winter days. No matter our age, income, or background, we all can gather in nature and benefit from the beauty and calm.

Dimensions: 4’ x 4’ x 12’
sculpture of a human walking

Homage to L’Homme Qui Marche 

John Merigan, Newton, KS

Purchase price: $14,500

Artist Statement
This sculpture is of a human in the most basic act of walking: being engaged in simple movement, intent on going and arriving. 

There was a time when walking was the absolute most common way of travel. To make a journey was a significant undertaking. We take that for granted in the first world, as we do our very freedom. The very act of walking anywhere is a statement of freedom.

Dimensions: 3’ x 6’ x 12’

tall steel sculpture with spinning arms at top

Mineral Point Spinner

Evan Lewis, Mineral Point, WI

Purchase price: $22,000

Artist Statement
Mineral Point Spinner is powered by the wind, a natural and ever-changing element.

The sculpture’s three arms, one main arm and two auxiliary arms, move fluidly and peacefully in the wind, creating an intriguing and calming experience for the viewers. The movements of my kinetic sculpture are nothing like a traditional whirligig. On the contrary, the piece moves in a way that’s akin to a dance or Tai Chi.

The sculpture encourages the viewers to pause, spend some time in quiet observation, center their minds, and feel refreshed and renewed by the experience.


Welded waves of steel painted in reflective bright blue

Wind in the Waves

Chris Plaisted, New Milford, CT

Purchase price: $5,000

Artist Statement
This piece is called Wind in the Waves and is part of a series inspired by elements like fire, water, and various storms. Each piece reflects a unique personality, symbolizing the journey toward balance and well-being. 

Crafted from welded steel and painted in reflective shades of blue, this artwork captures the essence of tranquility and restorative energy. 

I applied a variety of blue tones to create a shimmering effect that dances in the light, inviting viewers to reflect on the calming power of nature and the importance of nurturing wellness in our lives.


Dimensions: 4.5’H x 3’D x 3’W


Contact Us

  1. Bonnie Spurling  |  email
    Arts & Cultural Affairs Manager

    Phone: 563-690-6059
    TTY/TRS: 711 or 800-735-2942 (Relay Iowa)

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