Unveiling Party At West Glen Town Center Tonight Will Debut Mural

WEST DES MOINES, IA — The third public art project at West Glen Town Center will be unveiled during a party tonight. The piece is an interactive mural created by Des Moines artist Kelsey Lampe.

Lampe has been all over the metro area creating art in recent weeks. Last week she completed a mural at the new Outlets of Des Moines mall in Altoona and last month she was among artists whose work was announced as part of the Local program at West Elm, a Williams Sonoma-branded home furnishings shop in Des Moines' East Village.

Omne Partners, mall management officials at West Glen, commissioned the new mural as part of its goal of making the property "the hub of public art" in West Des Moines, said Jennifer Howell, property manager.

Howell told Patch artists creating projects for the property have free rein in their design. For Lampe's piece, located between Shotgun Betty's and Worn, she had only one directive: "For this mural we told her we want it to be interactive, but the design is completely up to her," Howell said.

The newest work is meant to draw people "particularly in the area of photography," Howell said recently. A promotional item on the West Glen Facebook page calls it "Instagram-worthy."

West Glen's first mural, a colorful abstract wall painting by Drake University alumnnus Brett Budzinski, is located in the area between Hurts Donuts and WineStyles in a walkway dubbed the Avenue of the Arts. A metal and glass panel sculpture by Des Moines artist James Ellwanger was added last month on the property.

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Howell said the stronger focus on art this summer and fall is part of a recent re-branding of the property by Omne Partners. West Glen opened in 2005 and was purchased in 2012 by MRES West Glen Holdings. Omne Partners of Omaha is the management partner.

The mural unveiling party will be from 4 to 7 tonight at Shotgun Betty's, 5535 Mills Civic Parkway. Pizza and drinks will be available.

Artist photo provided by Kelsey Lampe