What's the first thing you think of when you hear, "Des Moines, Iowa?" Some of the more politically attuned might think of the Iowa caucus, you know, that little soiree that usually forecasts the next President. The State Fair is another good answer. But if you're like me (a few years ago) your answer might very well be corn. But there's so much more to this city than anyone not currently living here can imagine. Not the least of which is a thriving movement to gain a cultural foothold in the greater discussion of art in this country. Some of the loudest arguments happen to be coming from John and Mary Pappjohn. No, not the pizza guy.

Exhibit "A" in that debate is the wonderfully diverse art they've collected to populate their downtown sculpture garden, and the latest piece is the kind of curveball big league pitchers dream about when they go to sleep. White Ghost from the Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara is just the kind of shake-up that a world class collection needs. Out of place, uncomfortable, challenging, and yet, perfect.

Towering above those who stop to consider it, White Ghost demands to be taken seriously. I doubt highly it suffers any fools. And it shouldn't, especially considering that two of the three total copies of the 12 foot tall, steel and fiberglass ghosts, took a stand on New York's very own Park Avenue at the entrance to Asia Society at 70th and Park Armory at 67th in September of 2010 to celebrate Yoshitomo's exhibit "Nobody's Fool."

And now we have one here. In Des Moines. And no, it's not in some corn field either.