MUSCATINE, IOWA (November 20, 2024) — The Muscatine Art Center is excited to announce two events just days apart at the Muscatine Art Center! Welcome December with a performance from Sunny Jain in the Muscatine Art Center Music Room on Thursday, December 5, beginning at 5:15PM. Then, join us at the Muscatine Art Center again on Saturday, December 7, 10AM-1PM, to purchase ornaments from Heartfelt and Handmade Ornament Competition, and vist vendors and join the family fun at the Family Festival & Market!
Sunny Jain is a composer, drummer, dhol-player, and thought-leader. The career of Sunny Jain is a celebration of cultural diaspora: Deep-rooted tradition that ripples outward, changing — and being changed by — the cultures that it touches. Called the “Hendrix of dhol” by Manchester Salon (UK), Jain founded the pioneering band Red Baraat, a frenzied fusion of bhangra, hip-hop, jazz, rock, and sheer, unbridled energy that NPR has called “the best party band in years.” The band has performed across the globe including stops at the White House (Obama), London Olympics, TED, Austin City Limits, and Bonnaroo.
In 2021, Jain released Phoenix Rise, a collaborative effort featuring over fifty artists such as Arooj Aftab, Michael League (Snarky Puppy), Adrian Quesada (Black Pumas), Endea Owens (The Late Show with Stephen Colbert), and Joe Russo (jam-band darling). Jain was a 2023-24 Visiting Scholar and Artist in Residence at Wesleyan University, where he developed his first music theatrical show, Love Force, which reflects on the multiple identities so many immigrant families confront. This December, Jain and his band are one of the Artist in Residence through the Quad City Arts Visiting Artist Series, and the Muscatine Art Center is delighted to host the performance free of charge in the Muscatine Art Center Music Room on Thursday, December 5, starting at 5:15PM.
Just two days later, the Muscatine Art Center will host the closing of the Heartfelt and Handmade Ornament Competition. Beginning at 10AM, December 7, ornaments that were part of the competition can be purchased and taken home. New this year is the addition of the Heartfelt and Handmade Family Festival and Market, which takes place at the same time as ornament purchasing, 10AM-1PM. This event features a vendor market with a variety of arts, crafts, food, antiques, and more. Be sure to visit this event where you can find something for everyone on your Holiday shopping list!
Join the family fun! During the vendor market, kids, and families can also enjoy the holiday spirit. There will be a good-will donation hot chocolate bar, studio crafts for kids, and pictures with Santa. The Muscatine Art Center is decked out for the holidays, making this a must-see event. Admission to this event is free. Proceeds benefit Friends of the Muscatine Art Center and educational programs at the Muscatine Art Center. This year’s sponsors include HNI Corporation, SSAB, and Kay Chapman CPA.
The Muscatine Art Center is open Tuesday through Friday, 10AM-5PM; Thursdays, 10AM-7PM; and Saturdays and Sundays, 1-5PM. The Muscatine Art Center is located at 1314 Mulberry Avenue, Muscatine, Iowa. Call 563-263-8282 for up-to-date details or visit muscatineartcenter.org for more information about programs and events.
