The German American Heritage Center and the Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities are happy to announce additional showings of companion films to the current  "White Rose" Exhibit at GAHC.  We had a full house on Sunday, Jan.29 and apologize to those who had to be turned away!   Please try to join us for the following opportunities:

 

Saturday, Feb 4, 4:00 - "The White Rose" 1983    EXTRA SHOWING ADDED

 

Sunday, Feb 5, 1:00 and 4:00 "Sophie Scholl: The Final Days," 2006 Nominated as 'Best Foreign Film'

 

Figge Museum Auditorium                 $5 Admission; Students Free with I.D.

The Des Moines Metro Opera Company,

Iowa's Premier Opera Company performing

by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

 

Mozart's delightful commentary on love, forgiveness, tolerance and the brotherhood of mankind has become one of the most beloved operas in all the repertory. Filled with star-studded queens, dragons, bird-catchers, heroes and heroines and noble priests, The Magic Flute is a spectacular potpourri of worldly and heavenly delights all set with sublime enchantment to some of Mozart's greatest music! It is the perfect opera to delight and dazzle audiences of all ages.

 

2 hour performance, sung in English

Tuesday, February 7, 2012 - 7:00 p.m.

Rogalski Center, St. Ambrose University

Premium Seating $25 (limited to 60)   General Admission $15

Sorry...no GAHC discount

Tickets in person at GAHC, by mail or phone order

(563) 322-8844 or contact kelly.lao@gahc.org

 

This performance is supported in part by the
Riverboat Development Authority

The Endow Iowa tax credit still has around $2 million available on a first-come, first-served basis.  This fund is designed for individuals, businesses and corporations to make charitable contributions to organizations such as the German American Heritage Center; it allows Iowa communities to address their most pressing needs while acknowledging the generosity of the donors through a 25% state tax credit.  For example, a $1,000 donation produces a tax credit of $250 which may be deducted off the total Iowa tax bill for 2011.  The donations must be processed by the Community Foundaton of the Great River Bend, who handles the transactions on GAHC's behalf.

 

This option is also possible for individuals who wish to implement a Chritable IRA Rollover.  This permits a transfer of up to $100,000 directly from an IRA to a charity and avoid reporting it as income.  The Charitable IRA Rollover is eligible for the 25% Endow Iowa tax credit, but the transfer must go directly to our partner in this endeaver, the Community Foundation of the Great River Bend, which is the designated receiver of such funds toward GAHC's benefit.  It can go into an existing fund (the GAHC endowment, for example) or the donor may create a new fund.  Under current law this option expires at the end of the year, so you must act now to set things in motion.

 

Please contact the following individuals if you would like assistance with these procedures or if you require additional information:

 

Stan Reeg, GAHC endowment chair:  563-386-1509
Susan Skora or Hap Volz, Community Foundation of the Great River Bend:  563-326-2840
The German American Heritage Center's temporary exhibit "In Praise Of The Pencil" closes on Sunday, October 30th at 4 p.m. This is your last chance to see the amazing pencil sculptures, pencil art by local artists, a history of the pencil and how it is made, as well as impressive pencil collections. Stop in to the Center before it's too late.

In connection with the current PENCIL exhibit at the German American Heritage Center and Museum, the Book Discussion Group will discuss the book "The Pencil" written by Henry Petroski. The discussion will be led by St. Ambrose University Professor Michael Hustedde.

 

Petroski's witty and unexpected history of the pencil includes a wide range of characters: from the American philosopher Henry David Thoreau, and Toulouse Lautrec, who declared, "I am a pencil", to the great nineteenth-century manufacturing families, such as Dixon and Faber. Petroski charmingly celebrates the design history of one of mankind's most essential, and yet undervalued tools.


 

The program will be held at the German American Heritage Center and Museum, 712 West 2nd Street. Davenport, at 2:00 on Sunday, August 28th.

 

Free to members, free to non-members with museum admission.

 

See the pencil art and collections on display at GAHC.

Watch for information regarding the visit to the Quad-Cities of the author Henry Petroski.

In connection with the current PENCIL exhibit at the German American Heritage Center and Museum, the Book Discussion Group will discuss the book "The Pencil" written by Henry Petroski. The discussion will be led by St. Ambrose University Professor Michael Hustedde.

 

Petroski's witty and unexpected history of the pencil includes a wide range of characters: from the American philosopher Henry David Thoreau, and Toulouse Lautrec, who declared, "I am a pencil", to the great nineteenth-century manufacturing families, such as Dixon and Faber. Petroski charmingly celebrates the design history of one of mankind's most essential, and yet undervalued tools.

 

The program will be held at the German American Heritage Center and Museum, 712 West 2nd Street. Davenport, at 2:00 on Sunday, August 28th.

 

Free to members, free to non-members with museum admission.

 

See the pencil art and collections on display at GAHC.

Watch for information regarding the visit to the Quad-Cities of the author Henry Petroski.

"In Praise of the Pencil"
an  exhibit honoring 250 years of the first pencil factory in Germany

Sunday, August 21  2:00 pm.

Grand opening of the exhibit and prize ceremony for winning entrants.

  • Featuring: Local Pencil Art Show
  • The Fantastic Pencil Sculptures of Jennifer Maestre
  • Pencil History and Design Timeline
  • Famous Pencil Fans
  • Pencil Collections
  • How Pencils are Made DVD and Illustrated Steps
  • Pencil Trivia and more!

ENTRY DEADLINE FOR THE PENCIL ART COMPETITION:  JULY 18, 2011

 

The German American Heritage Center (GAHC) invites you to submit works of art for an exhibition entitled "In Praise of the Pencil."  The purpose of the exhibit is to enrich public understanding of the role of Germany and German-Americans in the development and manufacture of the pencil as an artistic medium, a common tool in many trades, and a useful everyday object.  The pencil celebrates its 250th

anniversary of mass manufacture in Germany in the year 2011.

 

 

"In Praise of the Pencil" is a juried exhibition open to artists living within a 250 miles radius of the Quad Cities. Works may be submitted for showing in two media, pencil sketches or sculpture in which pencils or pencil pieces are the primary construction material.  It is not necessary to feature the pencil itself as subject of the work. Pencils used may be graphite or colored. Artists may submit in one or both media and may have work exhibited in one or both media. Prizes will be awarded in two age divisions - junior artists in grades 6-12 and adult.

 

Specifics:   Sketches and sculpture must be original, created in the last two years and not previously exhibited at GAHC.   All work must be framed or supplied with a base and otherwise be ready to display with the artist's name, age division and title of the work on the back or under the base. Signed reproductions are excluded. Sketches have no size restrictions; sculpture should not exceed 27" in height.   Only three cases can accommodate a 25"width; most have shelves 16" wide. GAHC can refuse works which do not meet these requirements or are found unsuitable for exhibit. Prices should reflect a 35% commission retained by GAHC in event of a sale.

 

Entry: Fill out the entry form and list the title, size, medium and year created for each entry.  Note if a detail image is included.   Repeat process for each additional entry.  Submit images on a CD as jpg files with a minimum of 300 dpi resolution. Each file must be less than 5 MB. Label each file with a number that corresponds to the number on your entry blank and the title. To maintain anonymity for the blind jury, your name must not be included in the file's name, but do write your name on your disc.

 

Entry fee: $10 per entry; unlimited.

 

Awards and Prizes: Best of Show, First Place, Second Place and Third Place in each age division.

 

Jurors:   Work will be juried by Quad City Arts Public and Visual art Committee, the German American Heritage Center and a professional art educator in the local community.

 

Questions?    Contact Janet Brown-Lowe at GAHC (563) 322-8844 or director@gahc.org.   Additional entry blanks are available at GAHC or may be downloaded from the QC Arts website atwww.quadcityarts.com.

Funding for this exhibit through October 30 provided by the 

Riverboat Development Authority and Wenger Truck Lines.

"MEET MARY TODD LINCOLN"

A free history event for seniors, 60 and older.

Tickets sponsored by Eye Surgeons Associates of the Quad Cities

 

The German American Heritage Center, located at the foot of the Centennial Bridge in Davenport, has a special opportunity for active QC seniors scheduled at its facility on Friday, July 29 at 1:30 p.m.   At that time seniors may enjoy an historical presentation by Dr. Marrietta Castle of Rock Island, who will be appearing in period costume speaking as Mary Todd Lincoln.   Seniors can learn of Mrs. Lincoln's life as told ten years after her husband's assassination and at the time of her release from a sanitarium where she had been committed by her oldest son, Robert.  The show lasts about one hour.

 

The presentation is FREE to area seniors 60 and over;  tickets are available at CASI, 1035 W. Kimberly in Davenport and at the Life Fitness Center in Bettendorf.  This opportunity is a community service to seniors sponsored by the generosity of Eye Surgeons Associates of the Quad Cities. Tickets are limited; one per person; first come first served.

 

"Meet Mary Todd Lincoln" is a special senior event to coincide with two unique exhibits available at the German American Heritage Center.  Those include a first floor exhibit "The Civil War - The German Element" and the visit to the Quad Cities of the traveling "History on the Move" trailer from the Iowa State Historical Society which will be in the Center's parking lot from July 28 through August 7.  The trailer is entitled "The Fiery Trial: Iowa in the Civil War" and features Iowa's role in the great conflict, the war's causes and aftermath, the work of Annie Wittenmyer on behalf of soldiers, widows and orphans, and Iowa's role in the the Civil Rights movement after the war's end.  There is also a touchscreen feature which allows Iowans to search for a Civil War soldier ancestor by name and county and learn his fate with the Union army.  Seniors may experience the presentation, the exhibits and the permanent display of "The German Immigrant Experience" on the third floor.  All portions of the senior visit for this event are air conditioned and handicapped accessible.

 

Residents of area senior living facilities have been invited to visit the Civil War exhibits at designated times during the week of August 1 - August 5.  The general public is also welcome to attend; see the GAHC website www.gahc.org for times and admission prices.  A special $10 family rate ticket will be in effect from July 28 - August 7.  There is no charge to visit only the traveling "Fiery Trial" trailer.

Dear Friends of the German American Heritage Center:


As you may know, the GAHC will be hosting a traveling exhibit entitled "The Fiery Trail: Iowa and the Civil War".  We are asking for your assistance with this exhibit

sometime between July 28 and August 7.  We need people to man the exhibit and help answer questions from visitors.  Each tour of duty will last three hours and following are the times where we need you help:

 

Thursday, July 28   10 - 1,   1 - 4,  and a special event at 6:30 p.m. for members only.

 

Friday, July 29    4 to 7 p.m.

 

Saturday, July 30    4 to 7 pm

 

Monday, August 1    10 to 1,  1 to 4, and 4 to 7

 

Wednesday, August 3    4 to 7

 

Friday August 5     10 to 1.  1 to 4,  and 4 to 7

 

Saturday, August 6      10 to 1,  1 to 4,   and 4 to 7

 

Sunday August 7    12 to 4

 

There will be a drop-in orientation for volunteers on Wed July 27  4 - 6 pm

 

Please contact us at 563-322-8844 if you can help us to make this a meaningful experience for visitors to the GAHC.

 

"Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin and His Airships"

Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin first came to the US in l863, sent as a war observer of the Northern armies by the King of Baden.  He received a permit to pass into the battlefields from President Lincoln after being recommended by then-general Carl Schurz.  In a few months he was to leave the war zone, explore the American frontier and experience his first balloon.   Up, up and away to a new career and a new world!

A lecture will be presented Sunday, July 24 at 2:00 by Werner Zarnikow, a GAHC member and frequent volunteer in our archives where he provides language translation assistance.

He has been fascinated by Zeppelin's career since the latter's  flight over Davenport when Zarnikow was a young lad.  His collection of Zeppelin memorabilia will be on display on the 4th floor of GAHC during July.

This presentation will also feature a popular song from Zeppelin's  peak career years "Come Take a Trip in My Airship," sung by Barbara Kuttler and accompanied by Mark Prebyl on a vintage German piano.

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