Iowa City teen designs Herky statue around family memories

IOWA CITY Iowa (KCRG) - Think Iowa City revealed 100 Herky the Hawk statues across Johnson County Wednesday morning. It’s part of the third installment of Herky on Parade, an event that only takes place every 10 years. It started in 2004 and took place again in 2014.

This year, more than 260 designs were submitted by 150 artists, but only 100 made the final cut. It’s 25 more statues than in the past. High demand and the number of applicants prompted the increase.

Organizers say the designs this year are some of the most impressive.

”It’s so much fun all summer to see little kids and families running around, wanting to get their photo with all hundred Herkies it’s just great family fun for the whole summer, said Josh Schamberger, president of Think Iowa City.

Some of the designs include a Herky that looks like it’s made of butter, a Caitlin Clark Herky and one based off of Zack Johnson.

One of the statues that was placed Wednesday morning is entitled ‘America’s Best Idea.’ The age of the designer may come as a surprise. Archie Damschen is that designer and he’s just 13 years old.

A few of the art pieces he’s completed over the years are watercolor paintings inspired by family trips to National Parks across the country. Those National Parks were his inspiration to create his submission for the third Herky on Parade.

”We had gone to the 2014 Herky on Parade, and we just loved it. It was super fun to go and see all of the designs. Dad was the one who found out anyone can apply; anyone could do this. I think it’d really cool if you tried to do one,” Archie Damschen, the artist of the National Park themed statue.

Now his design is on display for thousands to see.

”I was up in my room, of course like drawing or doing something and they called me down,” Archie Damschen said. ”And they said, Arch we have some exciting news, I was like oh boy, oh boy, your application got picked and I was like really? This is so cool!”

He worked on his statue in his garage multiple hours, right up to the deadline to make sure every detail was perfect. His National Park Herky is one of 100 Herky the Hawk statues placed around Johnson County.

”It’s fun. This is the third time we’ve done this. 20th anniversary of the original Herky on parade and it’s just incredible how the artists continue to inspire and it seems like get better and better. They were great in the last two iterations but this time around it’s just unbelievable,” said Schamberger.

Getting picked came with another unique honor for Archie.

”We were told, yes, by the folks with Think Iowa City that he is the youngest solo artist to ever decorate a Herky by himself,” said Charlie Damschen, Archie’s father.

For Archie, he’s just excited to share his art with others. TV9 asked him what he wanted people to think when they see his statue.

“A 13-year-old did this?” Archie responded.

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