Connections Murals Public Art Project
THE ARTIST

Mural Location:
Mirzam Perez Art Studio, 611 6th Avenue (one building west of Clarity Eye Care)
East wall

Cornelia Clarke's cat, Polly, c. 1900.

As a child, Grinnellian Cornelia Clarke (1884-1936) trained her cats to be dressed and sit for photos, which were published in Country Life in America magazine and eventually became a book of the photos entitled Peter and Polly, published by Doubleday and Co. in 1912. She attended Grinnell College, graduating in 1909, and pursued a successful and more serious career as a nature photographer. Over 1200 of her photos were published in magazines, encyclopedias, books and newspapers, the majority taken at or near her home in Grinnell.

Artists continue to thrive in Grinnell, from photographers to potters to painters and sculptors. One visit to the Grinnell Arts Center or the Pioneer Bookshop will reveal books, artwork, exhibits and art classes taught by Grinnell artists.

A project of the Grinnell Area Arts Council.

A special thank you to Mirzam Perez for hosting this mural.
Thank you to Monique Shore for her collaboration and support of this project.

Support for this project is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Iowa Arts Council, which exists within the Iowa Economic Development Authority, as well as by Grinnell College, the City of Grinnell, Friends of Drake Community Library, Drake Community Library and Grin Cupola.