Xi-Ma, an instructor from the Confucius Institute, a branch of the University of Iowa's International Programs, will conduct a class at the Muscatine Art Center on the ancient art of calligraphy. Assisting Ma will be Erin Mullins of the Confucius Institute.  There is no experience necessary and all supplies will be included in the registration fee. Class size is limited so be sure to register now!

The Chinese Calligraphy class will be held on Thursday, April 3, 2014. Class will run from 5:15 through 6:45.  The registration fee is $10.00.  All class supplies will be provided however,  you may also purchase your own brush for the class for $5.00. Both instructors were here last year for the class. Call us at 563.263.8282 to get signed up now!

Chinese calligraphy is one of the most ancient forms of written communication. It has developed over thousands of years, and is a very fluid language. Chinese calligraphy, unlike the letters based on the Roman system of writing, does not separate each individual character that forms a word. Chinese writing uses the painted character to express an idea or word in its entirety. This calligraphy must be both functional and beautiful. It is a true art form.

Xi Ma is the Curriculum Coordinator at the Confucius Institute.  Ma also teaches Confucius Institute courses. She is a returning Iowa Alumnus, moving to Iowa City in 2012 from Bronx, New York where she coordinated the Mandarin Language Program for Fordham University.  Ma holds an MA in Asian and Slavic Languages and Literatures from the University of Iowa, an MA in Foreign Language and Applied Linguistics and a BA in English from Anhui University.

Erin Mullins is the Program Coordinator at the Confucius Institute. A graduate of the University of Iowa, Mullins holds an M.A. in Counselor Education and a B.A. in Elementary Education.  Joining the Confucius Institute at the University of Iowa in 2011, Mullins previously provided outreach education and services to area schools and community agencies.

EVENT DETAILS:

What: Chinese Calligraphy Class

Who: Xi Ma of the Confucius institute

When: Thursday, April 3, 2014

Time: 5:15-6:45 PM

Where: The Muscatine Art Center

Admission to this program is FREE. Please contact, Lynn Bartenhagen, Office Coordinator, with any questions or concerns at 563-263-8282 or by email atlbartenhagen@muscatineiowa.gov.

The Muscatine Art Center is open to the public Tuesday,Wednesday and Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM, Thursday from 10 AM to 7 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5 PM Admission is FREE.

Take home a treasure from Brucemore's 1915 Lord & Burnham greenhouse at the annual Brucemore Plant Sale on Saturday, May 10, from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. New for 2014, children are invited to create the perfect Mother's Day gift by decorating a potted plant. Several plants seen in Brucemore's formal garden will be available for sale, including annuals, perennials, and hanging baskets. Featured plants include a giant hosta named "Empress Wu," bleeding hearts, and varieties not found at other nurseries. A variety of herbs will also be available, including basil, thyme, and rosemary. Plant Sale prices range from $2.50 to $50.00 with all the proceeds benefiting garden and landscape rehabilitation projects at Brucemore. The garden staff will be available to provide expert advice on the selection, placement, and care of plants. For further information on the Brucemore Plant Sale, call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org. 

About Brucemore 

Experience Brucemore, an unparalleled blend of tradition and culture, located at 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At the heart of the historic 26-acre estate stands a nineteenth-century mansion filled with the stories of three Cedar Rapids families.  Concerts, theater, programs, and tours enliven the site and celebrate the heritage of a community.  For more information, call (319) 362-7375or visit www.brucemore.org.

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Celebrate Preservation Month at Brucemore with free guided tours of the 21 room mansion on Saturday, May 3 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Sunday, May 4 from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. Follow a guide on a tour of the 21-room mansion and investigate the art, furnishings, technology, architecture, surrounding landscape, and stories preserved at Brucemore. Tours will begin approximately every 15 minutes with the last tour beginning at 3:00 p.m.  Free tour weekend is sponsored by Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust.

Three families owned the Brucemore estate between 1884 and 1981?the Sinclairs, the Douglases, and the Halls. They were business and community leaders during a century of evolution in the Midwest. Caroline Sinclair, widow of pioneer industrialist, T.M. Sinclair and mother of six, hired architects Josselyn and Taylor to build the mansion for $55,000 in 1884. In 1906, George Bruce Douglas, of the Quaker Oats and Douglas and Company fortunes, acquired the home with his wife Irene, transforming the property into a country estate they named Brucemore. In 1937, their daughter, Margaret, inherited Brucemore with her husband, Howard Hall, founder of Iowa Manufacturing and Iowa Steel and Ironworks. The Halls added flair to the estate with famous guests, including Presidents Herbert Hoover and Harry Truman and their exotic pet lion. The Queen Anne architecture, 1925 Grant Wood Porch, 1929 Skinner pipe organ, and 1930s Grizzly Bar and Tahitian Room reflect the vibrant history of remarkable people.  The changes they made to their estate, the impact they had on their community, and the stories they left behind shape our understanding of modern Cedar Rapids, eastern Iowa, and the American Midwest.

The National Trust created Preservation Month in 1971 to spotlight grassroots preservation efforts around the country, and has since grown into an annual celebration for local communities to honor their past and help build their future. The 2014 Preservation Month theme, "New Age of Preservation: Embark, Inspire, Engage," is meant to excite communities and introduce new audiences to the work being done to enrich and preserve the places that make your community special.

Brucemore will offer other Preservation Month activities in May, including:

• Iowa Manufacturing: A Family Portrait exhibit - Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; and Sunday, 12:00 to 4:00 p.m.
• Nooks and Crannies Tour - May 1 and 15, 6:00 p.m.
• Hired Help Tour - May 8, 6:00 p.m.
• Brucemore Summer Plant Sale - May 10, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
• Historic Neighborhood Walk - May 22, 6:00 p.m.
• Brucemore in Bloom Tour - May 29, 6:00 p.m.

For more information about Preservation Month activities during May and throughout the year, visit Brucemore's website at www.brucemore.org or call (319) 362-7375. Visit the National Trust for Historic Preservation website at www.preservationnation.org for more information about Preservation Month.

About Brucemore

Experience Brucemore, an unparalleled blend of tradition and culture, located at 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At the heart of the historic 26-acre estate stands a nineteenth-century mansion filled with the stories of three Cedar Rapids families.  Concerts, theater, programs, and tours enliven the site and celebrate the heritage of a community.  For more information, call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org.

There is still time to order Spring and Easter themed molds from House on the Hill. Whether it is baking or crafting, we have just what you need to make beautiful springerle this time of year! Call 563-322-8844 to find out more! Or visit us to see lovely examples from Connie of House on the Hill!

We have 2 sessions available to learn this paper cutting craft! 12:30-1:30 or 2:00-3:00. Both sessions will be creating the same design. Cost is $15 for members and $20 for non-members. Room available in both sessions. Call 563-322-8844 to register today!
Pre-payment and pre-registration required. Ages 12 and up!

Unfortunately the basket weaving class if full. Please check back with us next year.