A University of Iowa public-art piece that was damaged in a winter snowfall has returned to Iowa City.

Iacto, the sculpture situated on the southeast side of the Adler Journalism Building, adjacent to the Main Library and the Becker Communication Studies Building, suffered damage in February, and UI officials have worked over the past several months in coordinating repairs.

The sculpture was removed following the failure of an anchor mechanism that had rusted out and after it was determined that the anchor posts could not support proper placing.

Facilities Management had been working over the past several months with Conservation of Sculpture and Objects Studio Inc. of Chicago to evaluate the damage undertaken by the sculpture.

While UI spokesman Tom Moore said a delivery date had been eyed before the fall semester began Aug. 26, dealing with some other, higher priority projects resulted in this project being pushed back.

Repair and refurbishing of the piece has come at a cost of $11,800 to the UI, with the new base being constructed with a $5,000 price tag, Moore said.

Iacto, sculpted in 2004, is the creation of American sculptor James Sanborn, according to UI Facilities Management.

The metallic cylinder sculpture is illuminated at night, casting shadows of the words and symbols onto the surrounding buildings. The name “Iacto” is derived from the Latin word “icatare,” meaning to cast or to throw.

Iacto is similar to Sanborn’s most famous sculpture, Kryptos, which is located at the CIA headquarters in Langley, Va.

— by Quentin Misiag