Creatures of Grinnell
Public Art Project
Get ready to explore Grinnell in a whole new way!
Creatures of Grinnell is a new public art project celebrating the imagination of our local youth and the unique spirit of our community.
Throughout town, you'll find a series of 15 whimsical public art installations—all based on original creature designs dreamed up by Grinnell's very own kids.
How the Magic Happened
In the summer of 2025, the Grinnell Area Arts Council collected creature drawings from creative kids at Art in the Park, the Farmers Market, the Link program, and various Arts Council camps. A dedicated "Creature Committee" then selected 15 of these imaginative monsters and animals to be transformed into large-scale, outdoor art pieces for residents and visitors to discover.
See Every Creature at the Stewart Gallery Exhibit
Dates: June 13 – July 2, 2026
Location: Stewart Gallery (Grinnell Arts Center, 926 Broad Street)
Come celebrate the boundless creativity of Grinnell’s kids at this special gallery exhibition. While only 15 were selected for the outdoor installations, all submitted creature drawings will be proudly on display. Drop in to see the original inspirations behind the project and find your child's or neighbor's artwork!
Join Us for the Kickoff Picnic!
Date: June 13, 2026 | Time: 10:00 am | Location: Grinnell Arts Center Lawn, 926 Broad Street
Help us launch this city-wide hunt! The Creatures of Grinnell Kickoff Picnic is a free community event featuring:
Free Community Breakfast: Grab some delicious morning food with neighbors.
Creature Parade: Dress as your favorite creature or bring your favorite puppet or make one at our puppet table! We’ll gather at 10:30 am for a casual parade with our fellow creatures!
The Great Creature Hunt: Grab your official map and head out to discover these hidden gems tucked away in our parks, downtown, and public spaces across town.
Artist Names and Ages, listed in order from left to right
Top Row:
1. “Dark Dragon” by Henry (7), in the GAAC front yard
2. Jo, at the corner of 4th Ave. & Broad St.
3. Senta (8), in Central Park
4. Callan (9), in Marvin Garden
5. Henry (7), in Central Park along 4th Ave.
Middle Row:
6. “Dog” by Helen (7), at St. Mary Catholic Church
7. Guy (7), at the corner of Pearl St. & Marvin Ave.
8. Mason (8), in Marvin Garden
9. Connor, in the Drake Library Prairie
10. “Axolotl” by Avelyn (10), by the Grinnell Bike Trail Tunnel, near Iowa Valley
Bottom Row:
11. “The Blood Hound” by Emil, in Merrill Park
12. Garrison (8), in the GAAC front yard
13. “Snuggles” by Marcel (8), on 5th Ave., by Pagliai’s Pizza
14. “Turnip Guy” by Jamie (4), at 1022 Broad St.
15. Nora (9), at Chuong Garden
Many thanks to the team who created this project through the Iowa Arts Council’s Creative Places Accelerator Program: Adrienne Hardin (City of Grinnell), local artist Joe Lacina, and Monica St. Angelo (Grinnell Area Arts Council) with special thanks to our Creature Selection Committee: Farren Johnson, Elliott Squier and Lesley Wright.
Support for this project was provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Iowa Arts Council, which exists within the Iowa Economic Development Authority, and the City of Grinnell.
