We are excited to announce the newest public art project in the city of Council Bluffs, IA. With the help of Katelman Steel Fabrication and the Iowa West Foundation, our team at A Midsummer’s Mural will be creating the largest mural in Council Bluffs! 

Located along the 1st Avenue Bike Trail, the long mural will be dedicated to the history of Katelman Steel Fabrication Inc. and the railroad industry in Council Bluffs. This mural will add to the beautiful mural collection along the First Ave Bike Trail and grow the already robust public art presence in Council Bluffs. 

The 561 ft long wall will be the perfect canvas for a large freight train rolling across the Iowa tracks. We will have a core team painting the background of the train engine and train cars measuring roughly 6 ft x 18 ft each. We will then facilitate 20 different artists to paint unique designs on each car. 

Compensation Details: 

Each artist will be paid a $2,500 stipend to complete a painted design on a train car. (roughly 6ft x 18ft) Liability and workers compensation insurance will be provided to artists by A Midsummer’s Mural during the completion of the project. Paint and sealer will be provided and artists are encouraged to bring their favorite brushes and tools. Each car will be no more than 10 ft off the ground, so artists will find it easiest to work on ladders. It is preferred for artists to bring their own ladder, but one can be provided if needed. If artists are unable to work on ladders, we will have a lift and some scaffolding that can be used at coordinated times. 

Design Timeline:

Requests for qualifications will be due by May 1st. Twenty artists will be chosen and notified by May 10th. The initial designs must be completed by June 1st. Designs will be evaluated by A Midsummer’s Mural and the Katelman Steel Owner Tony Hovenga, if any changes are requested, artists will be notified by June 10th. Final revised designs will be due June 20th. 

Production Timeline:

Our tentative schedule is as follows: A Midsummer’s Mural will begin painting mid-May. Train car artists can start painting at the beginning of June and will need to be completed by the third week of August. Specific dates will be determined at a later date. We will have special days when all artists will be invited to paint simultaneously as part of a mural or community festival for the public to attend. A public mural dedication will follow the completion of the mural. 

Requested Design Themes:

The theme of the mural is the history of the railroad in Council Bluffs, the steel manufacturing process, and the history of Katelman Steel Company. Katelman Steel has been an integral part of the Council Bluffs community since 1928. One family owned the business from its inception until 2005, when it was purchased by the current owner, Tony Hovenga. They retained the Katelman name as a continuation of the business and out of respect for the original owners.

The business started as a foundry and transitioned to steel fabrication in the 1970’s. They have provided steel structures to surrounding communities in Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota. The structures include schools, churches, office buildings, warehouses and public structures. 

Mural designs should include imagery depicting the production of steel from start to finish. This includes the transportation of the material to the Katelman shop via the railroad system. The railroad is integral to Council Bluffs’ history, as well as the personal history of the owner of Katelman steel. Hovenga’s grandfather worked for the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad in Northern Iowa until his retirement in the early 1970’s. This railroad was purchased by Union Pacific Railroad in the mid 1990’s. 

Artists may find inspiration in one or many aspects of steel production. Starting with the raw steel being produced in Indiana, hauled by trains to warehouses in Kansas City or Dubuque, and transported by semi trucks to Katelman Steel. The steel is then produced to a finished product in the shop, transported to a jobsite, structures erected by cranes, and to the final completed building. 

The story of how our built environment is produced is often lacking from our visual narratives. This mural will honor the hard work of all the individuals that labor to create the buildings and utilities that our community relies on. 

A few of Katelman Steel’s past projects have been the new Council Bluffs police station, expansion of the Council Bluffs Courthouse, two new high schools in the Omaha area and numerous structures at Metro Crossing in Council Bluffs. Current projects include an addition to the Omaha VA Hospital, Statcom Milstar project at Offutt Air Force Base and the main terminal expansion at Eppley Airport. 

We have compiled a slideshow of image references for your convenience in researching your design. It includes links to websites with more information as well as some photo references. Please use it as a jumping off point for your own inspiration.

Image References for Katelman

Thank you for your interest in being part of this project. 

Please email any questions to

Richard Harrison, midsummer@cox.net

or Rebecca Storz, rebecca.midsummer@gmail.com