28 Mar 2014

Brucemore's Annual Plant Sale Children Invited to Decorate and Pot a Mother's Day Plant

By Rick Martin

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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26 Mar 2014

Kids Design Glass LIVE!

By Natalie Dunlop

Davenport, Iowa (March 25, 2014) - The Figge Art Museum will be hosting Kids Design Glass LIVE! on Sunday from 2-5 p.m. in the John Deere Auditorium.

This special event will feature a live feed from the Museum of Glass Hot Shop as they create a brand-new glass sculpture inspired by the Kids Design Glass contest winner, six-year-old Lyric Rice from Rock Island Academy. Lyric and the audience will interact with the Hot Shop team using SKYPE. Admission will be free and open to the public.

The contest ran from February 1-22 with over 350 submissions from area children (12 and under). Drawings came in from museum guests, area schools, students from the Figge's  Big Picture Outreach program and Free Family Day.

The Museum of Glass Hot Shop artists had the difficult task of selecting the winning drawing titled: "Foot Woman." Foot Woman was drawn by Lyric at the Lights On For Learning after school program - where the Figge makes weekly visits with the Big Picture outreach program.

Kids Design Glass is currently on display on the fourth floor of the museum and includes 52 colorful glass sculptures and the children's drawings that inspired them. The newest addition by Lyric Rice will become part of the Kids Design Glass collection from the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Washington. She will also receive her own sculpture from the Museum of Glass to take home.

Kids Design Glass will be on view through May 4, 2014.
26 Mar 2014

Free Brucemore Mansion Tours

By Tara Richards

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.

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26 Mar 2014

Call for Entries: Decorate Your Own State of Iowa Statue for Display at the State Fair

By Jane Fraser

DES MOINES, IA (03/24/2014)(readMedia)-- The Iowa State Fair will celebrate Iowa pride with a limited number of 3 ¼ foot tall painted Iowa-shaped statues on display throughout the grounds during the 2014 Fair, August 7-17. Individuals, clubs and companies are invited to submit their own designs for these sculptures by May 15.

To enter, submit an entry form along with a written description and detailed drawing of the proposed paint design. Entry forms can be downloaded from the Iowa State Fair website: http://www.iowastatefair.org/fair-attractions/contests/. All entries must be received or e-mailed to tcook@iowastatefair.org by May 15.

Selected applicants will be contacted by June 1. Pending selection, a $120 entry fee will be due at statue pick-up. Following the Fair, artists will get to keep their painted sculptures. A panel of judges will award prizes based on originality, creativeness and overall look in both the professional and novice divisions. Participants will be judged in the "professional" category if 25 percent or more of their income comes from graphic design or is artistry related.

Winners will receive a prize package including an Iowa State Fair plaque, Fair admission tickets, parking and more. The first, second and third place winners will also receive $150, $100 and $50 cash prizes, respectively. Artists' names will be displayed alongside their painted sculpture during the Fair.

Send entries to:

Tonya Cook, Special Events Director

Iowa State Fair

PO Box 57130

Des Moines, Iowa 50317-0003

Or e-mail all materials to tcook@iowastatefair.org

For questions about the contest, contact Tonya Cook at 515-262-3111, ext. 215 or tcook@iowastatefair.org.

"Nothing Compares" to the 2014 Iowa State Fair, August 7-17. The Fairgrounds are located at East 30th and East University Avenue, just 10 minutes east of downtown Des Moines. For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or visit www.iowastatefair.org.

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26 Mar 2014

Spring Workshops and Springerle Molds!

By G A H C

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!

Sunday, April 6th Scherenschnitte with Keith Bonnstetter

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.

21 Mar 2014

Hurry! April 1st Deadline to Save Money on 2015 GAHC Travel!

By G A H C
HURRY HURRY HURRY

Reserve your place on our 2015 Southern Germany River Cruise by April 1, 2014 and get a 10% discount per person with a $250 deposit.  This is the one and only deadline to save money on the cruise. After April 1st it will be more challenging for travelers to reserve space, and there will be no discount.   This cruise will sell out and it will be difficult to secure a cabin for those who decide too late.  The deposit is refundable through July 1, 2014.  Don't miss this great opportunity.   Visit our website for information and registration.
German American Heritage Center, 712 W Second Street, Davenport,  IA 52802
21 Mar 2014

The Art Legacy League

By Paul Herrera
The Board of Directors of the Art Legacy League has determined that our interests lie in the list of goals shown below. The first and last of these are critical. The first because the preservation and survival of Catich artifacts in good condition is essential to their use; the last is critical because without sufficient funding the remaining goals could not be achieved.

1. Preserve in accordance with the standards of professional art conservators the artworks of the late Reverend Edward M. Catich.

2. Sponsor or conduct educational and training activities in calligraphy and related graphic arts skills with special emphasis on Father Catich's precepts and teachings.

3. Establish and maintain documentation and records of Catich artworks.

4. Make Catich artwork accessible to the public.

5. Initiate and oversee the reproduction and distribution of his drawings, watercolors, and calligraphic works on paper and in stone.

6. Develop and oversee the publication and distribution of materials appropriate to the organization's education and training mission.

7. Develop and nurture through educational, training and promotional means a broad nation-wide constituency of individuals, business firms, foundations, museums and other institutions directly concerned with or otherwise interested in the graphic arts, their future development and future supply of well-skilled practitioners. Secure the financial support of members of this constituency.

Visit the Art Legacy League website at http://artlegacyleague.blogspot.com/p/donate-today.html
21 Mar 2014

Steve Berry, International Bestselling Author, to Speak June 1, 2014 - Jumer's Casino & Hotel (HWY 92 and I280)

By Nicholas Depew
Art Legacy League Launches our Art Preservation Campaign by Bringing Steve Berry to Discuss Importance of Historic Preservation of the Arts  The Art Legacy League, (ALL) a nonprofit organization honoring the life's works of Fr. Edward M. Catich, is proud to present Steve Berry, international bestselling author to speak about historic preservation, June 1, 2014, 7pm at Jumer's Casino & Hotel. Steve Berry is the New York Times and #1 internationally recognized author of "thrill novels." His themes are meticulously researched and the fictional aspects are blended with actual historic incidents. His books have been translated into 40 languages with more than 15 million printed copies in 51 countries.

"We are so pleased that Steve accepted our invitation to share his knowledge of historical preservation. The Art Legacy League's main goal is to preserve in accordance with the standards of professional art conservators the artworks of the late Reverend Edward M. Catich, artist, author and scholar." said Paul Herrera Chairman of ALL. "We are launching the Art Preservation Campaign hoping to provide funds for continued teaching events, gallery exhibitions and lectures to share Father Catich's legacy with a national and international audience. But most importantly, the preservation of his artwork."

Steve Berry and wife Elizabeth created the HISTORY MATTERS foundation dedicated to history preservation. They travel the country lecturing and giving workshops and have helped save historic treasures raising more than $750,000. Berry has been recognized by the American Library Association, which named him the first spokesman for National Preservation Week, a role he reprised in 2013. He has also been honored for his philanthropic work with the Poets & Writers' Barnes & Noble Writers for Writers Award, the International Thriller Writers Silver Bullet Award in 2013. The Spirit of Anne Frank Human Writes Award was given to Berry for the best exemplification of the spirit of Anne Frank in their work. In addition, Steve was asked to write the forwards for the 2014-2015 re-release of the novels of James Michener, his boyhood idol and one of America's foremost storytellers.

ALL, organized in 2012 as a nonprofit organization, has adopted as its primary purpose the fostering of the Catich doctrine and making it known and accessible to all. For more information regarding this event visit the Art Legacy League at www.artlegacyleague.com For more information regarding Steve Berry, visit www.steveberry.org
19 Mar 2014

Niabi Zoo Announces Opening Day, New Hours

By Marc Heinzman
Coal Valley, IL - March 14, 2014 - Niabi Zoo has announced that it will open its gates for the 2014 season on Monday, April 7th.

The zoo, which has been closed for the winter since the end of October 2013, will be open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Saturday and 11:00 am to 5:00 pm on Sundays. As a way to welcome the community back out to the zoo, admission will be free until April 18th

Niabi Zoo Director Marc Heinzman says zoo visitors have much to look forward to this year. "The great thing about visiting Niabi Zoo," said Heinzman, "is that it's always a new adventure for our guests. A male red wolf has come all the way from Fresno, California, to join our female, Ruby, in hopes that they will breed.

We have also brought in a new female snow leopard from Albuquerque, New Mexico. In addition to all of that, we have a female baby Black and White Colobus monkey that was born here in December."

Niabi Zoo will also be featuring public feeding demonstrations in its Reptile House this year as an ongoing, and free, education program. "Seeing and learning how our snakes eat is one of the most fascinating things about reptiles, and I am excited that we will be able to include it as part of our guests' experience this year," said Heinzman. A schedule of the reptile feeding demonstrations will be announced as the Zoo's opening approaches.

Starting April 7th, Niabi Zoo will be open seven days a week.

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19 Mar 2014

Braley Invites Students to Participate in Congressional Art Competition

By Kirsten Hartman

Congressman announces annual competition, winner will receive two round-trip air tickets to see their artwork displayed in US Capitol

Washington, DC - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today invited high school students from across Iowa's First Congressional District to submit original artwork for the annual Congressional Art Competition, "An Artistic Discovery."

"There are many talented high school artists in eastern Iowa, and I encourage young artists across the First District to participate in this year's art competition," Braley said. "It's my great pleasure to feature young Iowa artists in the US Capitol, and it's a wonderful opportunity for their work to be on display for visitors from around the country to see."

The Congressional Art Competition, first held in 1982, is a nationwide high school arts competition sponsored by the US House of Representatives.  One winning piece of artwork from each congressional district will be selected to be displayed in the Cannon Tunnel of the US Capitol Building in Washington for one year.

Any high school student from the First Congressional District of Iowa is eligible to submit their artwork for consideration.  To enter, students must submit a digital image of their artwork via Braley's website.  The submissions will be compiled into an internet gallery for public voting.

The submission deadline is April 22nd, 2014.  There is a limit of one submission per student.  Voting will begin on April 23, 2014 and close on May 1, 2014 when the winner will be announced.  He or she will receive two round-trip airline tickets to Washington, DC, to see their artwork displayed and attend a winners' reception.

For full details on the 2014 Art Competition, including information on how to enter, please visit Braley's website.

List of Past Iowa First District Art Competition Winners:

2008    Stephanie Tarnish, Davenport

2009    Mitch Doll, Davenport

2010    Emily Schroeder, Cedar Falls

2011    Krista Stork, Dubuque
2012    Kelsey Feldman, West Union

2013    Skylar Papakee, Meskwaki Settlement High School

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