A decade of art in downtown Jefferson 🎉
Celebrating 10 Years of Ring Out for Art
March 1, 2026
Ten years ago, a simple but powerful idea took shape in downtown Jefferson. What if we brought large-scale, thought-provoking art right to the heart of our community?
In 2016, the Tower View Team selected the very first sculptures for what would become one of Jefferson’s most beloved traditions. Today, Ring Out for Art continues to grow, drawing artists from across the country and surrounding the Bell Tower Plaza with creativity each year.
How it all started
Ring Out for Art began through a strong partnership between the Tower View Team, Home State Bank, and Greene County Board Supervisors. From the beginning, the goal was clear: bring interesting, creative, and thought-provoking artwork to Jefferson for both residents and visitors to enjoy.
As Deb McGinn, Tower View Team Chairwoman, shares:
“Tower View Team and Home State Bank formed a strong partnership back in 2016 to launch the Ring Out for Art outdoor sculpture event downtown, and it continues to thrive in 2026. Artist submissions from across the United States have grown from just six entries that first year to 66 this year. From the beginning, the goal has always been to bring interesting, thought-provoking, and creative artwork to the Bell Tower Plaza for our community and visitors to enjoy.”
What started with just six artist submissions has now grown to 66 entries this year alone. That growth speaks volumes about the reputation Jefferson has built as a welcoming place for public art!
Art at the heart (the Bell Tower Plaza) of the community
Each year, sculptures are placed around the Courthouse, creating a walkable outdoor gallery in the center of downtown. Families take photos, visitors stop to read the plaques, and locals return again and again to see the pieces from new angles.
RAGBRAI, 2023
Over the past decade, these sculptures have sparked conversations, inspired curiosity, and added another layer of vibrancy to our historic square.Ring Out for Art has become more than an event. It is part of the identity of downtown Jefferson.
Photos from the “Party on the Plaza”, 2025 - An event to celebrate the arrival of the Ring out for Art sculptures.
The partnerships that make it possible
A project like this does not happen without collaboration.
We are incredibly grateful to Home State Bank for their ongoing financial commitment to the sculpture program. Their support has helped make it possible to bring high-quality artwork to downtown Jefferson year after year. This investment in creativity has had a lasting impact on the look and feel of the Plaza.
We are grateful to the Greene County Board of Supervisors for allowing the Bell Tower Plaza to be used for the sculpture display under their art policy. Their support makes it possible to showcase these works in such a prominent and meaningful location.
We also want to thank Wade Weiss and his team for bringing in and removing the display pads each year. The behind-the-scenes work is essential to making the public display safe, professional, and ready for the community to enjoy.
And of course, thank you to the Tower View Team for their vision and dedication over the past ten years. Their leadership has helped turn a creative idea into a lasting tradition!
Looking ahead
Ring Out for Art, 2023
Ten years later, Ring Out for Art is still growing! More artists, more engagement, and more community pride! What began as a partnership and a bold idea has become a defining part of Jefferson’s downtown experience. We are proud of the vision that started it, the partnerships that sustain it, and the creativity that continues to shape it.
Here’s to ten years of art surrounding the Bell Tower Plaza, and to many more ahead. 👏 Stay tuned for the sculptures to arrive in May 2026!