It’s hard to overlook a slightly-larger-than-life chartreuse green sofa and matching table, especially when they’re displayed in such a prominent, high-traffic place as West Twin Park.

That, of course, is the idea. Local artist Tim Adams made the eye-catching furniture from a recycled anhydrous ammonia tank and painted it an unforgettable color, both trademarks of much of his work.

He named the sculpture “Park Yourself.”

“It took a lot of trial and error to come up with a finished couch. I failed three times before I got it right,” he said.

Such is the life of the artist. Despite suffering through too much math in high school and college, it wasn’t algebra and geometry that led Adams to a perfectly contoured outdoor sofa.

“I had to learn to make a full-sized cardboard model of the sofa. I figured if it looked right, and fit me, someone of average build and weight, it would turn out all right.”

That it did is a matter of history, but Webster Citians may well ask what happened to it?

“I sent it to several different art walks in other cities, which paid me back some of the original fabrication cost. That’s one way to make a living in the world of public art.”

But then, Mo Seamonds began talking to Adams about “a third space.” It’s a simple idea. Aside from where we live, and where we work, that critical third space is where we can relax, socialize, and perhaps find out what it means to be human. Seamonds wanted to create such a space in Webster City and Adams was all-in.

“I wanted to make a contribution,” recalls Adams, “so I sold it to them for $1,000 and another sheet metal tank I can use on future projects.”

Soon, very soon, “Park Yourself” will be “parked” in front of the studios and gallery of Legacy Learning Boone River Valley, 719 Seneca Street, Webster City. Sponsored by Legacy, and funded with an Iowa Arts Council catalyst grant, the couch will not only provide an inviting third place place to sit, but will display the paintings of artists working in Legacy’s studio. And, it turns out, they’re some very special artists.

The art of special needs people, created at Legacy, has been applied to the bench by Pat O’Loughlin. The newly-decorated sofa, the collective work of Adams, the special needs artists, and O’Loughlin will be dedicated at a ribbon-cutting Monday, September 16, at 6 p.m.

Seamonds calls it “a nice collaboration, a work of many talents.”

The half block on Seneca Street from the mid-block alley to First Street will be closed to traffic at 4 p.m., and will be the site of a street dance from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. A simple meal of hot dogs and chips will be provided to attendees “for as long as supplies last.” A number of food trucks will be brought in as well, including the Main Scoop Ice Cream truck from Clarion.

Music will be provided by disc jockey MoJo of Britt.

There is no charge and it has been planned to “be as inclusive as possible, with everyone welcome.”

Seamonds is the owner of The Produce Station Pottery and Ice House Gallery in Webster City, and a regular instructor at Legacy Learning Boone River Valley.