Curt Swarm’s sculpture ‘Peggy’ up for award

By Curt Swarm - Mt. Pleasant, IA

'Peggy” represents Peggy Whitson, Iowa's female astronaut who has spent more time in space than any other woman. Peggy Whitson is from a farm in Western Iowa, Mount Ayre, and graduated from Iowa Wesleyan college in Mt. Pleasant before going on to graduate school.

Peggy Whitson has baled many bales of hay. The sculpture, 'Peggy” is made out of hay rake tines. The big circle represents the earth, with 'Peggy” orbiting around it in her space ship. (The circle of tines rotates.) The sculpture represents Peggy Whitson baling hay in outer space.

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Deb McGinn, chairwoman of the Tower View Team of Jefferson Matters: Main Street, said Swarm's sculpture had been chosen as one of three 'Ring Out for Art” exhibits in the town of Jefferson, Iowa. All three artists will be receiving $1,000 stipend provided by Home State Bank of Jefferson, Iowa. One of the three sculptures will be chosen by the public through a voting process to be held on line this summer and will remain in its community for an entire year and will win an additional $500.

'After Mr. Swarm's sculpture was chosen, we learned Peggy has a Jefferson connection. His sculpture 'Peggy” represents Peggy Whitson, Iowa's female astronaut who has spent more time in space than any other woman. After we chose the sculptures, we learned one of Peggy's cousins lives right here in our community! She might have gone into space but it's a small world after all. We invite you to Jefferson, Iowa this summer to enjoy Ring Out for Art and all the other public art found in our Main Street district.”