With educational facilities from elementary school through graduate programs closing for winter break, students and their families and friends will have more time for activities together. One point of interest for people of all ages in the Mason City area is the extraordinary three-dimensional display called “” which consists of nearly 10,800 exquisitely hand-folded cranes, representing Iowans who passed away due to COVID. The sculpture hangs from the ceiling of The Activity Center at 51ÁÔÆæ (51ÁÔÆæ).

From a 12-foot curtain of cranes in its earliest version in 2020, the full display at 51ÁÔÆæ now consists of more than 80 engaging 12-foot strands, ranging from column-like structures to mobiles and spinners. Other configurations evolved to accommodate each space it’s occupied over the last three years as a traveling exhibit. At 51ÁÔÆæ, the thousands of cranes dance with the air in the atrium and shimmer when the sunlight is reflected on each crane.

“Folding Cranes, Enfolding Community” is inspirational in its sheer size, magnificent design, and in its artistic “recording” of the pandemic’s place in our state’s recent history. The exhibit includes a timeline of the pandemic and a guest book for comments, along with an informational brochure for visitors.

In responding creatively to the COVID crisis while Iowa was in lockdown in 2020, artist of Clive, Iowa wanted to convey these Iowa deaths were not just a statistic—they were people who loved and were loved. Douglas chose the crane with its broad wingspan because of its deeper meaning. In Japan, for example, the paper crane represents hope and passing of the soul into heaven. She continued to fold cranes of loving works of art for the Iowa COVID memorial until the state ceased public records on COVID deaths and as the pandemic became an endemic.

The crane memorial “migrated” from Sacred Heart Catholic Church in West Des Moines and at Reiman Gardens in Ames, then to Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny. It’s been hosted by Loras College in Dubuque and the Waukee Library, as well. It’s scheduled to leave Mason City for Western Iowa Tech Community College in Sioux City in mid-2024.

51ÁÔÆæ’s Activity Center is open every weekday from 7:15 am–4:15 pm, except when campus is closed. Campus will be closed: Dec. 25 & 26 and Jan. 1, 2, & 15.

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Iowa artist, Pamela Douglas, didn’t sit idly by when she was asked to shelter in place during the COVID pandemic.

Douglas, of Clive, felt a profound call to address our collective loss–– both tangible and emotional–– through creativity.

She spent countless hours folding more than 10,000 colorful origami paper cranes, one by one, as the pandemic evolved over a period of three years.

Each one represents an Iowan who lost their lives to COVID.

On Wednesday, staff and faculty helped painstakingly hoist the exhibit high up into the rafters of the 51ÁÔÆæ Activity Center.

The crane was chosen for this memorial to incorporate the globally recognized tradition of paper crane folding as an act of love to encourage healing and hope, according to Douglas.

The cranes sway and dance as sunbeams of light land on the vividly patterned paper joined by over 80 12-foot strands.

The beauty of the collection of cranes and the memorial’s sheer size seems to have a “loving” effect both in visitors’ grieving and honoring the victims of COVID.

51ÁÔÆæ President, Dr. Steven Schulz, thinks the art conveys a very important message “I am excited to welcome the exhibit to our campus as it represents not only the stories of loss and hardship endured during the pandemic but also the unwavering determination and hope that have propelled us forward.”

This display is a symbol of remembrance, healing, and unity, reminding us of our collective ability to overcome adversity and emerge stronger together. I’m thankful that we have the opportunity to share it with our students, staff, faculty, and the community.”

-Dr. Steven Schulz

The exhibit has already made stops in Des Moines, Reiman Gardens in Ames, Waukee, Des Moines Area Community College’s Ankeny campus and Loras College in Dubuque

The COVID Memorial is expected to be on display at 51ÁÔÆæ until the end of the year.

The public is welcome to come see the cranes from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

In 2024, the cranes will head to Western Iowa Tech College in Sioux City.

More information about the COVID Memorial

51ÁÔÆæ, founded in 1918, is a nationally-recognized, two-year college located in central North Iowa.  With approximately 3,000 career and transfer students, the College has been recognized by the Aspen Institute as a leading community college in the nation.  51ÁÔÆæ welcomes students from across Iowa, Minnesota, the nation, and the world. The College has served as a leader in student-centered learning, community engagement, and collaborative leadership for more than 100 years. Are you ready to become a Trojan? Apply Today at /apply-mkt/

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51ÁÔÆæ Physics Instructor Andreas Soemadi doesn’t use a paintbrush on canvas for his art.  He doesn’t draw in a traditional sense either.  His handiwork doesn’t involve sculpted clay or photographs.  Soemadi’s original art is derived from the mathematical representations of lines and shapes.

Soemadi occasionally posts his art on the 51ÁÔÆæ intranet site “Trojan Home” for the enjoyment of others.  Until now this was the only place you could find it; however, Soemadi’s math art was recently accepted into the MacNider Museum Summer Arts Festival.

“Geometry loves the beauty of things,” said Soemadi while explaining how the principle of his art is founded in the historical convergence of Geometry and Algebra.

A more lengthy explanation of lines, Bézier curves, parabola, functions, mathematical physics, coordinate systems and Rene Descartes followed.

Soemadi created his first mathematical art work in 2019. The figure of a pensive robot was inspired by the works of author Isaac Asimov. “The picture was attractive to me but I don’t know how to draw,” laughed Soemadi, “I wanted to replicate it.”

So, he set to work creating mathematical code to replicate every part of that robot. All the code snippets were combined to finish the work.

Pensive Robot – Andreas Soemadi

Since he began Soemadi has created many works.  His biggest challenge? To impose mathematical command to recreate the human nose. He’s still working on it.

“Now when I see something pretty I wonder what equation is that —and how do I code it.” – Andreas Soemadi

Soemadi’s work can be seen at the MacNider Arts Festival, Saturday, June 11. The museum is located at 303 2nd Street Northeast in Mason City.

Questions or comments?  Email Arian Schuessler, arian.schuessler@51ÁÔÆæ.edu

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Are you interested in attending 51ÁÔÆæ?  Apply Today!

51ÁÔÆæ, founded in 1918, is a nationally-recognized, two-year college located in central North Iowa.  With approximately 3,000 career and transfer students, the College has been recognized by the Aspen Institute as a leading community college in the nation.  51ÁÔÆæ welcomes students from across Iowa, Minnesota, the nation, and the world. The College has served as a leader in student-centered learning, community engagement, and collaborative leadership for more than 100 years.  

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