This new Des Moines art installation aims to serve as a connection to Iowa's rivers

A new interactive art installation is coming to Des Moines in an effort to reconnect Iowans to the rivers that flow through the heart of Iowa.

Iowa Confluence (ICON) Water Trails has partnered with Bravo Greater Des Moines, the Polk County Board of Supervisors and Polk County Conservation to make the installation called "Hello, River" possible. The sculpture is a product of a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

"Hello, River" has been installed along the Des Moines River by the Lauridsen Skatepark and the site where Iowans eventually will be able to surf and paddle whitewater rapids at the Center Street dam as part of the regional ICON Water Trails project. The sculpture, a larger-than-life iridescent pearl inspired by a mussel native to Iowa's rivers, will play sounds "captured from within the river," a news release from ICON said.

"It creates another opportunity for residents and visitors to connect with the waterways that set our region apart,” ICON director Stephanie Oppel said in the release.

The installation is not yet open to the public. There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony later this year.

“We are proud to support the work of ICON and excited to see nature, recreation and art come together," Angela Connolly, the chair of the Polk County Board of Supervisors, said in the release.

A Minneapolis-based studio developed the concept hoping to create an approachable method for engaging with waterways.

"'Hello, River' serves as a conversation starter about what it means to safely recreate, how users must be aware of the water trails, and why accessibility — to nature and art — is critical to thriving communities," the release said.

Kyle Werner is a reporter for the Register. Reach him at kwerner@dmreg.com.