Ames Resident Launched Campaign to Save State Gym Mosaic
George Montgomery is seeking to protect an Eric Sealine mural from potential damage during upcoming facility changes.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Gymnastics
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Longtime Ames resident George Montgomery has started a campaign to preserve a mosaic created by artist Eric Sealine. The artwork, which depicts a woman swimming, is located on the west wall of the State Gym at Iowa State University.
Why it matters
The effort follows concerns expressed by Sealine that planned renovations to the swimming pool area could alter or damage the historic installation. The university maintains full ownership and authority over the building and its artistic assets.
The State Gym structure was originally completed in 1913, with a significant western addition finished in 2012. The university includes this swimming pool mosaic in its official Art Walk program.
The players
George Montgomery
He is an Ames resident of 60 years who is organizing the petition to save the artwork.
Eric Sealine
He is the artist who created the mosaic depicting a woman swimming at the State Gym.
Iowa State University
This is the public land-grant research university that owns the State Gym and manages its internal art collection.
The details
George Montgomery and his high school graduating class plan to circulate a petition aimed at ensuring the mosaic remains protected during facility updates. The university last showcased the artwork during an official Art Walk event hosted at the facility.
Timeline
The original State Gym building was completed in 1913.
A western addition to the facility was finished in 2012.
The university hosted an Art Walk event at State Gym in August 2026.
Season Trajectory
This preservation effort underscores the ongoing friction between modernizing historic campus athletic facilities and maintaining the integrity of site-specific art. The initiative marks a point of public oversight for pieces curated under the Iowa State University Museums Art Walk program.
Residents and university affiliates can participate by signing the upcoming petition circulating through local alumni groups. The outcome will dictate whether the mosaic remains a visual fixture for future visitors attending campus tours and university-led Art Walk events.
The takeaway
Preserving campus art often requires early community intervention before facility construction plans are finalized. Residents interested in institutional change are encouraged to organize through formal petitioning and direct dialogue with university administrators.
Further reading
Learn more about local athletic facilities and related programs in our Gymnastics section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Iowa State Daily.
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Should universities prioritize preserving historic campus artwork over proposed building renovations?
