A 300-pound tribute to river volunteers is now on long-term exhibition at the State Hygienic Laboratory.

"Strongback," a metal sculpture created with trash recycled from the Iowa and English rivers, was erected last month in the second-floor alcove of the lab's building in Coralville.

"This offers an opportunity for the public to see it there," said Lynette Seigley, Project AWARE (A Watershed Awareness River Expedition) coordinator for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. "It's back in the watershed where the trash originated."

Staff welcome “Strongback” to the Hygienic Lab by displaying the symbol for water that is depicted in gloves place throughout the 300-pound sculpture. David Williamson created the structure from trash and recyclables collected by 176 volunteers in the 2006 Project AWARE (A Watershed Awareness River Expedition). Kneeing (from left) are Nancy Hall, Stacy Freeburg, Amanda Carl and Pam Lenz. Standing (from left) are Michael Wichman, Ph.D., Shannon Murphy, Alyssa Mattson, Shari Heick, Mary DeMartino, Christopher Atchison, Mike Birmingham, Seth Zimmermann, Paul Beney, Wolf Benninghoven and Mark Hurt.

The sculpture resulted from a collaboration between the DNR and artist David Williamson, a University of Iowa graduate who has created several pieces of artwork using items found during the annual river cleanups in Iowa. The pieces have been displayed throughout Iowa during the years of the artistic off-shoot of Project AWARE.

Seigley cited the ongoing partnership between the State Hygienic Laboratory and Project AWARE and the interest shown by the lab as deciding factors in where to display "Strongback."

"It will stay there indefinitely," she said.

Staff members from the lab volunteer for the week-long river cleanup every summer, with five planning to participate in this year's trip from July 12-19 when canoes set out upon the Big Sioux River.

Just as volunteers work together to clean Iowa's rivers during Project AWARE, Williamson has made the artwork creation a collaborative effort with hundreds of volunteers helping during the Iowa State Fair

The sculpture "Drop-In," a giant, walk-in water droplet, is on long-term exhibit at the Des Moines Public Library, and "Fair Catch," a metal sculpture shaped like a canoe paddle topped by a stonefly, will soon be on its way to the public library in Jefferson.

Each piece of art also is accompanied by a poem, another collaborative effort between the artist and volunteers.

Williamson created "Strongback," a reference to the wooden forms on which canoes are built, with trash collected from the Project AWARE cleanup in 2006. That year, 176 volunteers pulled more than 48,000 pounds of garbage and recyclables from 79 miles of river in Johnson, Louisa and Washington counties.

The artist drove his truck to collect some of the metal pieces — appliances, bicycles, golf clubs and more — that were found in the water. One piece, an agitator from a washing machine with two wings broken off, provided the inspiration for "Strongback."

"Upside-down, it was this inverted funnel with a marvelous arch-like quality," Williamson said, recalling the discovery. "Somebody said, 'Can we make three arches like that for our next work?' and I said, 'Sure.'"

At 8-feet-tall, "Strongback" reflects the hard work of the volunteers, with canoe shapes built from rebar and a paddle blade that emerges from the center of the sculpture.

Williamson visited Project AWARE volunteer and canoe builder Jim Dodd in Humboldt to see how canoes were made. It was when Dodd showed him the plywood forms that act as the shape for the canoes that Williamson first heard the term, "strongback," and inspiration for the name struck.

Another volunteer suggested the globelike spheres that resulted in the sculpture, while others asked to add a catfish and work gloves.

The catfish in "Strongback" was made from bicycle seats found in the water and the work gloves are a story of their own. The design for the work gloves, cast in aluminum, was created at the Iowa State Fair. Williamson said one volunteer, Dennis, asked to have the cast made of his hand rather than gloves.

"Dennis didn't put his pinkie in far enough," Williamson said, which resulted in a three-finger design in the shape of a "W." Hearing-impaired bystanders who happened to see the design told Williamson, "That's good. It's the signlanguage sign for water," he said. "It was a fabulous, serendipitous accident by Dennis."

Williamson also collaborated on creating gates for the DNR building at the Iowa State Fair from the recycled materials. Hundreds of participants can spot a piece of the gates they salvaged, he noted, while the five gates make a strong statement about the importance of clean rivers.

"Strongback" also makes a statement with its three connected arches that represent everyone’s responsibility in shouldering the effort to protect Iowa’s rivers and watersheds. As the archways ascend in size, they symbolize the growth of Project AWARE and invite others to get involved in protecting Iowa's natural resources.

Williamson said the sculpture's long-term placement at the lab is fitting.

"I think it's an appropriate metaphor for what's going on there. The Hygienic Lab folks have been strong in backing Project AWARE over the years," he said. "With water quality and air quality, inevitably the gatekeepers for those doors are at the Hygienic Laboratory."