The Oracles of Iowa City
Conceptualized by Antoine Williams and Donté K. Hayes
Dedicated on Sept. 27, 2021
This mural project is on view on the south side of the Old Capitol Parking Ramp, on Burlington between Clinton and Capitol Streets.
Oracles of Iowa City is coordinated by The Center for Afrofuturist Studies at Public Space One and funded by the City of Iowa City and the University of Iowa Office of the Vice President of Research. More than a mural, the project aims to provide paid opportunities for BIPOC artists and foster public conversation and action towards racial justice in Iowa City and beyond.
Oracles received the 2022 Leadership Award from the faculty of the University of Iowa Department of African-American Studies.
PRESS
“I hope it’s gonna be a catalyst: City dedicates the Oracles of Iowa City Mural” Adria Carpenter, Little Village (9/30/2021)
“‘Oracles of Iowa City’ murals reimagine double consciousness,” Arabia Parker, Daily Iowan (9/12/2021)
“To confront systemic racism in Iowa City, a mural is not enough,” Dellyssa Edinboro, Press-Citizen (10/18/20)
PROJECT TEAM
PROJECT FUNDERS
The Center for Afrofuturist Studies is also generously supported by the VIA | Wagner Incubator Art Fund and Common Field.
Video feature on the project by Jack Brooks, City Channel 4
Mural created by the youth of G!World in a workshop led by Janiece Maddox and Mariana dal Pra.
The concept and ultimate vision for this mural is a visual call out or beacon to the community and to the greater region of people who will visit Iowa City. The starting thoughts for the theme of this mural comes from Double Consciousness, the term created by African American scholar W.E.B. Du Bois as the internal conflict experienced by black people or colonized groups in an oppressive society.
The artists partnered with Public Space One and Center for Afrofuturist Studies, Antoine Williams and Donté K. Hayes, want to make it clear that this mural is not the end of any conversation or action in regards to improving the lives and well-being of black people who live in and or visit Iowa City. Both murals exhibit colorful pattern work similar to the ones found in West African traditional rituals and ceremonies. The patterns furthermore resemble sound waves which connect the murals to their placement on the downtown parking garage across the street from the University of Iowa Voxman Music Building. Such placement is for the white community, government officials, community leaders, and all people who view the mural or have heard of the mural's existence to acknowledge the systematic oppression of black people and be accountable to do more in the community. Most importantly, the mural will speak to black people’s humanity and not just their pain, giving expression to Black aesthetics in order to create a much-needed social transformation regarding race and not only acceptance, but respect.
