Mooney Art Gallery

[KOHLSDORF] A proud fine arts tradition is alive and well in Charles City, thanks to its lively arts community. We're stopping in at the public library, where a permanent display of prints are showcased, made possible by the generosity of a local art collector.

[KAMRYN KRONSCHNABEL] We are currently in the Charles City Library's Mooney Gallery. It's a small section of the library that has been set aside and was renovated in about the year 2000 to give space to all of this beautiful art that you see on the walls around us.

[KOHLSDORF] Born in 1859, Arthur Mooney spent most of his youth in Charles City, where his love for art first took shape. After studying photography and art in the Midwest and building a successful career with Eastman Kodak in New York, he traveled widely, collecting the fine art prints that now anchor this remarkable local collection, all donated to the library in 1941 after his death.

[KAMRYN KRONSCHNABEL] All of these prints are original.

[KOHLSDORF] Originals from masters like Rembrandt, Dali, Goya, and Picasso, plus highlights from other renowned artists, including Iowa's own Grant Wood.

[KAMRYN KRONSCHNABEL] I would be hard pressed to think of another free museum, frankly anywhere in Iowa, much less a small town like Charles City, where you could come in and at no cost, visit and see a Picasso and see some Rembrandts and see a piece of art that was made 500 years ago. Just the sheer breadth of the collection is really quite impressive.

[KOHLSDORF] The Mooney Art Gallery, reflecting one collector's passion as well as the artistic spirit of Charles City.