Our favorite Herky on Parade 3 statues, from must-see locations to student-led designs
The iconic University of Iowa mascot and local artists have made their presence known across Johnson County this summer as part of the third edition of Herky on Parade.
On May 1, one hundred Herky statues were placed throughout the area, with artists drawing inspiration from local legends, pop culture icons, and even American history.
There's even a mystery Herky coming this month, while there are plenty of other great designs to choose from.
Here are some of my favorites, featuring must-visit locations, can't-miss backstories, and plain beautiful designs.
More: Third-rendition of Herky on Parade includes TMNT, RAGBRAI and Transformers-inspired designs
Ninja Turtle Herky
Where: MidWestOne Bank, 1906 Keokuk St, Iowa City
Artist: Jim Kelly, owner of Lucky Pawz, sculptor and Herky on Parade veteran artist
"Cool, dude," Raphael once said.
Ninja Turtle Herky was the first to catch my eye when I got my first glimpse of the statues. As I approached, someone stepped up and started spinning the pizza box sitting in his right hand.
I was hooked.
Like a hamster spinning the wheel, I endlessly rotated the pizza box as if I were winding the clock back to my childhood.
The true-to-form Ninja Turtle design is well done and an almost perfect fit for Herky, who, no offense meant to the legend himself, has a pretty similar head shape to the four pizza-loving mutants.
Go give it a spin.
More: Five things to do in Iowa City weekend include the Iowa Arts Festival and a movie in the park
Old Gold Herky Celebrating Duke Slater
Where: The Pentacrest, near Clinton Street and Iowa Avenue
Artist: Iowa City-area artist Sarah Lenger
Naturally, Nile Kinnick gets a lot of attention. Rightfully so, as Iowa football's first-and-only Heisman Trophy winner. He's also an Iowa native who tragically died too young.
That said, Duke Slater does not get nearly enough love from the Hawkeye community.
The University of Iowa recently commemorated his similarly illustrious career in 2021 when it renamed the field at Kinnick Stadium in his honor. A university residence hall on the west side also bears his name.
Slater was the first Black athlete in school history to earn All-American honors in 1919. He was among the first Black athletes in the country to earn the honor.
Slater was, by the university's account, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound tackle who dominated at the UI and in the National Football League. He was a seven-time All-NFL honoree in those 10 seasons.
This Duke Slater Herky is awesome. At 30 years old, while still playing football, Slater enrolled in and graduated from the University of Iowa law school.
He eventually returned to his home state of Illinois and was a judge in Cook County, which includes Chicago, for several decades. Slater was the first Black Superior Court judge to serve on Chicago's high court.
Slater is a name with a story that ought to be remembered more. I hope more people recognize him through the sharp work of Iowa City-area artist Sarah Lenger.
More: The top 10 artists to see at the Iowa Arts Festival this weekend
Scarecrow Herky
Where: Wilson's Orchard near the store, 4823 Dingleberry Rd NE #1, Iowa City
Artist: Hannah Wright, a 2018 University of Iowa graduate who majored in History and Studio Art
Everyone knows that Wilson's Orchard is a beautiful place. It provides the perfect opportunity to wander through green grass, go apple picking and feel the summer breeze.
Plus, you can visit Scarecrow Herky.
Artist Hannah Wright's design was inspired by an illustration she made when Herky on Parade 2.0 was revealed while she was a UI student. The northeast Iowa native decorated Herky on paper with a similar scarecrow design, drawing on the fall leaves dotting the windows at the Burge Residence Hall marketplace. That design has come to life.
More: Powered by passion of art, 13-year-old designs National Park-themed Herky on Parade statue
Solon Strong Herky
Where: Mushroom Park, 110 S Dubuque St, Solon
Artists: The Solon High School Visual Arts Department
Proceeds from the post-parade purchase of Herky statues have always been funneled toward local schools, so it's fitting that members of the Solon High art department came together to design a locally-focused statue.
Paying homage to the Solon Beef Days and the hay bale toss event, this statue fittingly flexes his right arm around a big, detailed hay bale.
It is also one of the first statues placed outside of Iowa City, Coralville and North Liberty.
This year's 100-statue drop includes six statues in Solon, three in Tiffin, and even one at the Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids.
That continued expansion is a reflection of the tremendous and still-growing reach and resonance of Herky on Parade.
Ryan Hansen covers local government and crime for the Press-Citizen. He can be reached at [email protected] or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ryanhansen01.
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Herky on Parade 3: Our favorite statues in the third rendition
