The mural project at the Fairfield 2nd Street railroad underpass is more than halfway complete and nearing its finish line, according to a social media post from Jenny Sammons on July 15th.
The project has been three years in the making, beginning as a proposal put together by local artist Chad Starling and Shanaz Kreider, chair of the Fairfield Volunteer Center. Because the underpass is owned by Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway and the stretch of 2nd Street is also a state highway, the proposal required approval not only from Mayor Connie Boyer and the City Council, but also from BNSF and the Iowa Highway Department — a process that took three years to navigate. By the time the project was finally approved, Starling had moved on to other work, and Sammons stepped in to take over the design and execution.
Additional challenges arose once work began in June, including thunderstorms and torrential rainfall that caused water to pour down the sides of the underpass and wash away painting progress, requiring a gutter system to be installed above the mural. The Iowa Highway Department also required flaggers to be on site during the work — an expense that had not been budgeted for. Prep work on the underpass was completed by Partner Construction before volunteers began painting, and crews of community members have been helping Sammons bring the mural to life ever since.
The mural is centered around the theme of “Bloom and Grow” and incorporates iconic Fairfield architectural imagery and whimsical landscape details as a homage to the city and surrounding countryside. Drivers heading south into town will see a cityscape with a night sky featuring the Jefferson County Courthouse, the gazebo, Carnegie Museum, McElhinny House, and the B Street water tower. Drivers heading north out of town will see a rural landscape with a daytime sky featuring the Maasdam Barn, Bonnifield Cabin, grain elevator, and an antique train.
Sammons, who moved to Iowa from Washington D.C. about 12 years ago to study art at Maharishi International University, describes her work as whimsical and storybook-like in nature, with a simplified style she uses to bring warmth and joy to her subjects. Of all her public art work, the underpass mural represents the biggest undertaking of her career. Her previous public art experience includes painting windows for the Fairfield Beautification Commission and a mural for Studio Oski in Oskaloosa.
The project has received broad community support. Everybody’s Whole Foods donated storage warehouse space, the Fairfield Food Collective and Williams Automotive provided water access for pressure washing and cleanup, and Richard and Kendra Lint offered use of their parking lot. Volunteers have played a central role throughout, and their help is still needed for the final stretch — not just painters, but people willing to run errands, clean brushes, and help with setup and cleanup. Those interested can find the volunteer sign-up link on the Visit Fairfield Facebook page.
Sammons said community interest has been high throughout the process, with people stopping daily to watch, ask questions, and offer encouragement. She noted that the face of the mural currently being worked on is nearly complete, with one large section remaining on the east face of the west pillar, end caps still to be painted, and a few finishing touches left across the entire project.
On a sobering note, Sammons reported that one section of the mural has already been vandalized. She said the damage can be repaired but used the moment to remind the community that public art belongs to everyone. “Thank you to everyone who’s been cheering us on, lending a hand, and helping care for this project,” she said.
