In Des Moines, a city defined by its iconic landmarks — the Travelers Umbrella, the gleaming dome of the Iowa State Capitol, the towering 801 Grand, and the luminous latticework of “Nomade” — one of its most beloved symbols is undergoing a transformation.

On Oct. 21, crews started dismantling “Nomade” at the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park in downtown Des Moines. By nightfall, the sculpture’s head was removed, and a chain-link fence surrounded the deconstruction.

“’Nomade’ is undergoing planned conservation work and will return in the spring,” said Amy Day, the senior director of communications and marketing at the Des Moines Art Center, which operates the Pappajohn Sculpture Park. “This is the first major project of many happening over the next three years.”

The Des Moines Art C

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