How a New Yorker, 12 high school students transformed Tama-Toledo for RAGBRAI
TOLEDO, Iowa — In the scenic shop of the historic Wieting Theatre, one of the oldest theaters in Iowa, are 12 artists adding the final touches to their art for the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa.
As they worked on the final artworks, they passed the aux cord to Eric Rosario, known more affectionately as Ro, from the Bronx, a borough of New York City, so he can control the background music. He picks songs from the musical "Alexander Hamilton" and pop star Taylor Swift.
The group of high school students has been working for months to create 30 pieces of public art that will be displayed in Tama-Toledo as the neighboring towns serve as an overnight stop for this year's 50th anniversary of RAGBRAI. It's just one of the ways the two towns are preparing to host a 1970s-theme day on July 27, culminating in a show from English rock band Foghat know for hits like "Slow Ride" and "I Just Want to Make Love to You."
“Any opportunity I get, I like to share with the kids that they have a purpose — not just to hang out, but to do something," Rosario said. “These kids are incredible and gifted beyond belief, and I don’t think they get shown enough on how gifted they are.”
Rosario has been drawing since the day he could remember with whatever tools he had. He kept his talents between a pen and paper, but this New Yorker could have never sketched his future in Tama, Iowa, a town of about 3,000 people.
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The 53-year-old retired from the military and moved to Tama 13 years ago with his wife, Jenny Rosario, 46, who grew up in Chelsea, Iowa, but went to school in Toledo. With no other connection to Iowa, Rosario said there were only three things he knew of the Hawkeye State: the Iowa State Fair, corn and RAGBRAI.
Yet he jumped right in to the community, getting involved in the schools so he could know more about where his four children would grow up. Each year he would be asked to ride RAGBRAI and each year he would decline because he hadn't trained for it.
But when Tama-Toledo was picked as an overnight stop on this year's ride, everything changed.
Katherine Ollendieck, executive director of the Tama County Economic Development Commission, which led the charge to be an overnight town, said leaders knew they wanted public art to be part of their stop.
They needed someone who not only had the talents to draw, but could execute the grand plan — and it was no question that Rosario could make it happen. So this year, he was asked to do 30 different drawings for RAGBRAI instead of the usual request to bike across the state.
”I know RAGBRAI is a big deal,” Rosario said.
He was told the theme was the 1970s and with 30 blank canvases, he knew he needed more help. Rosario contacted the newly formed art club at South Tama County High School to present the opportunity.
The club's leaders didn't hesitate to jump on their very first assignment.
“Once I knew this was Ro, I knew how this was going to go,'' said Ciela Ornelas, president of the art club. “I got into it as this was going to be something fun to do and give back to the community.”
Rosario said it seems like everyone in New York City hustles, but in Tama people tend to forget the opportunities and change that can happen. Ever since they started drawing over a month ago, the students have consistently shown up to add ink to the plywood displays.
“The kids are unstoppable. I get here and two to three kids are getting down and to work,” Rosario said.
He said he gave them some drawings but they brought their ideas and color to life.
“Art has a voice to it and is a representation of what the town has. I think it's cool to see a bunch of people all over the world come here and check this place out,” said Jesse Ordaz, 15, a sophomore and member of the art club.
Arianna Herrera, 16, a senior and another member of the art club, said displaying the club's art is nerve racking, but its members are proud to showcase the high school's efforts to host RAGBRAI.
The 4' by 8' pieces of plywood will be displayed throughout both communities in highly visible locations, including at the shuttle stops, where riders will be picked up in a 1970s-themed bus, reminiscent of a Volkswagen bus, to transport riders to the campgrounds, showers, entertainment and food.
Along with the artwork will be props like peace signs and flowers, so artists encourage riders to take pictures and post them on social media with #tamatoledoragbrai.
That night's entertainment will feature two stages. Playing at Toledo Heights Park are: Under Current at 2:30 p.m., Earth Wind & Fire Tribute Band at 4 p.m., Not Quite Brothers at 6:15 p.m. and the headliner, Foghat, at 8:30 p.m.
On the Tama stage on Third Street are: TA Music at 1:30 p.m., Lincoln Highway Band at 4 p.m., and My Fellow Americans at 6 p.m.
“We will absolutely bring the fun. We’ll bring the organized chaos as much as possible and our entertainment line up is off the scale,” Ollendieck said. “We are leaving nothing out. We are leaving it all on the table that day.”
“It's not going to be a slow ride that day," said Ollendieck, referring to one of FOGHAT's greatest hits, "it's going to be a hammer down and get to Tama-Toledo as you are not going to want to miss the party."
Nixson Benítez is a breaking news intern at the Des Moines Register. He can be reached at nbenitez@registermedia.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Tama-Toledo goes all in with the 1970s theme for RAGBRAI
