The City of Bondurant has a new water tower visible from I-80 and one of the first things people will see when entering the Des Moines metro area from the east. It was an opportunity for the growing community of Bondurant to visually have a strong presence on this highly traveled east- west route across this part of the country.

At its root, this project is an opportunity for the city of Bondurant to extend its brand, and in many ways its story, onto this very visible, very unique surface.

Project Statement

The selected design by Iowa artist Jennifer Leatherby is a vibrant, abstract, and stylized landscape that celebrates the spirit of Bondurant. Utilizing the full-color Bondurant logo and the city's official branding palette, the artwork brings together various elements that reflect the community’s identity and values.

The color scheme is both symbolic and intentional: green represents health and growth, gold conveys warmth and optimism, and blue stands for education and the promise of future generations. Interwoven throughout the piece are white dots and dashes, which symbolize Bondurant’s railroad and bike trails—key aspects of the city’s infrastructure and lifestyle. These elements converge along green pathways at the heart of the design, visually reinforcing the city's slogan, Life Connecting.

The design also embodies the theme of connection through the repeated use of flowing lines and circular forms, suggesting unity, movement, and progress. These shapes echo the interconnectedness of the community and the vibrant life that pulses through the city.

Created specifically to wrap around the surface of the tower, the design flows seamlessly across the cylindrical structure, offering a dynamic and engaging view from every angle. Its simplicity and boldness are intentional, ensuring that the imagery remains clear, impactful, and easy to interpret—even from a distance or while passing by in a vehicle. This thoughtful balance of artistic flair and functional design makes it not only visually compelling but also practical for large-scale implementation.

The process - Collaboratively working with city officials and artists

Step 1
Working with representatives and stakehodlers from the City of Bondurant, a detailed Request for Proposals (RFPs) was created to outline the information, requirements, and expectations for the project.

Step 2
Several possible artists are proposed to the City of Bondurant and three are selected to design responses to the RFP

Step 3
The selected artists present their designs to the City of Bondurant at a city counsel meeting and after a comprehensive facilitated discussion, the above design is selected for the new water tower.

Step 4
Minor revisions are made to the design based on evolving measurements and specs and final designs are delivered for implementation.