Greenfield artist Ray “Bubba” Sorensen II has another project to keep him busy. Sorensen, who has been painting Adair County’s version of the “Freedom Rock” (located off of Highway 25, south of Interstate 80) every year since 1999, will add Guthrie County to the list of counties which have commissioned him to create a version of the Freedom Rock. For the next few summers Sorensen and his family will travel the state of Iowa to put a (smaller and unique to their area) Freedom Rock in each county.

At the prompting of Phyllis Wakefield, the Guthrie County Arts Council commissioned Sorensen to paint a similarly-themed rock in Guthrie County, in 2014. The work of art, which was approved by the City Council in Guthrie Center last week, will be painted on a 5 ton, nearly 11 foot tall rock located on park-like property owned by the city located directly north of the Guthrie County Fairgrounds on the north side of Highway 44. The council agreed to construct a one way gravel driveway on the property for access to the rock, and also to donate $2,000 to the rock project. Although final plans have not yet been completed, Wakefield estimates the cost of the final project at $20-30,000. Persons or organizations interested in donating are asked to contact GCAC treasurer Ruth Owen at 641-332-2196.

In addition to Adair County, Freedom Rock paintings have been completed in Shelby, Dallas, Polk, Ringgold, Pocahontas and Mitchell Counties. 37 other Counties including Adams, Audubon, Crawford, Carroll, Fremont, Mills, Page, Taylor and Union, have booked Sorensen to paint a Freedom Rock in the coming years.

The original Freedom Rock in Adair County, is a more than 60 ton)boulder that is repainted every year with a different “Thank You” for our nations Veterans to honor their service to our country. Sorensen paints The Freedom Rock on his own, with the support of family and friends. Sorensen is not commissioned to paint the original rock, but is able to do so each year with the generous help of donations.