February 26, 2013 (Dubuque, Iowa) - Dubuque County Fine Arts Society is pleased to announce that it will act as an umbrella 501c3 organization for an up and coming creative program: Rogue Collections.

Rogue Collections, created by Samantha Jones, of Dubuque, is designed to give cosmetologists an opportunity to showcase a unique art form and express creative potential through accessible runway shows. By connecting passionate artists in a community setting, Rogue Collections offers inspiration for local stylists while continuing to showcase Dubuque as a creative leader and arts destination.

On April 21st, 2013, Rogue Collections will present its inaugural hair/art runway show titled ELEMENTS. The show welcomes five creative local stylists presenting artistic collections based on the elements Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water.

The show is set for 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 21 at Eronel - 285 Main St. There will be a cover of $10 at the door with VIP advance tickets available.

In order to increase community outreach, and to impact women, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Opening Doors: Maria House & Teresa Shelter.

"Becoming a partner of the DCFAS was the first step in the right direction for Rogue Collections. We are very excited to work with the organization and learn as much as we can from them, and their affiliates. Rogue Collections and the DCFAS is the perfect partnership.  We are bringing an underrepresented art form to the forefront of Dubuque, as well as giving back to the community. Thanks to the DCFAS, we will have an opportunity to expand, and really start out the first year of production the best way possible." - Samantha Jones - Director - Rogue Collections

The Dubuque County Fine Arts Society, a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit arts organization, has enriched the Dubuque community through the arts for the past 33 years. DCFAS serves as an "umbrella" organization for a range of affiliate groups and programs and is governed by an active volunteer board and several committees. The group's mission is "to encourage, promote, and present local and regional arts including music, writing, theater, and fine art."
Bringing music, writing, theater, and fine art to the Dubuque community since 1976

Davenport, Iowa (February 28, 2013) - Beginning Saturday the Figge Art Museum will present the exhibition: Marking Territory: Cartographic Treasures of the Mississippi River and the World Beyond in the second floor print gallery.  

Curated by Rima Girnius, PhD, the exhibition features a selection of more than 25 historic maps that range from early representations of the world to more detailed examinations of America's vast interior west of the Mississippi. The exhibition explores how maps communicate highly complex ideas about identity, politics and culture.

American identity coincided with the evolution of maps. From the late 17th through the 19th centuries, cartographers and explorers recorded what they were learning about the United States interior west of the Mississippi. Never innocent of broader political objectives, these maps of the New World function as exercises in power, attempts on the part of one nation and race to exert control over another. For example, the shifting boundaries of Iowa in the 19th century demonstrate the American government's interest in solidifying borders and publicly laying claim on territories.

In documenting the fluidity and continuity between territories, maps suggest that the West is capable of being traversed and thus inhabited, conquered and exploited. Informed by political agendas and underlying values, maps function as important historical and cultural documents that offer a compelling look into the past. They remind the exhibition viewer to look for what is not only present in an image but also what has been hidden from view.

According to Girnius, "The featured maps contribute to our growing knowledge of the physical world by functioning as essential navigation and information-gathering tools and thus providing insight on what people knew (or thought they knew) about their environment."

The exhibition will be on display through June 16 and is sponsored by Humanities Iowa.

Companion Programming:

Collecting and Curating Reception and Talk

Thursday, March 7

6 p.m. Reception • 7 p.m. Talk

Presenters: Rima Girnius, PhD, and H. Dee Hoover

Introduction to the exhibition by Curator Rima Girnius followed by a gallery talk with map collector H. Dee Hoover about the maps featured.

Artist Talk

Personal Geography: Charting a Course

7 p.m. Thursday, March 21

Presenter: Maureen Bardusk

Join studio artist Maureen Bardusk for a presentation of her unique stitched paper work, during which she will discuss her ideas and technique. Bardusk also will describe her creative life in Galena, Illinois, after which she will provide audience members with a hands-on display of her work in various stages.

Free Family Day

Maps: Adventure, Fun & Family

10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Saturday, April 13

Find the fastest route to the FREE Figge Family Day, "Maps-Adventure, Fun and Family." Make a treasure map, learn about maps of all kinds, chart your family tree and more as you explore the wonderful world of maps!

Docent-led Tours

3:30 p.m. Saturday, March 2, 9, 16 and 23

6 p.m. on Thursdays, March 7 and 21

1:30 p.m. on Sundays in April 7, 14, 21 and 28

Interactive Workshop

Given Space: Writing Your Own Cartography

6-8 p.m. Thursday, June 6

Presenter: E. Marie Bertram

Join poet and Augustana Professor E. Marie Bertram for this interactive workshop combining visual art and the written word. This workshop is free, but space is limited so registration is required. To register, contact Heather Aaronson at 563.326.7804 x2045 or haaronson@figgeartmuseum.org .

X Marks the Spot

March 9-June 16

Families can visit X Marks the Spot in Studio 1. Chart a route to learning and adventure, exploring everything from the trusty road atlas to genealogical maps that trace your family history. 

About the Figge Art Museum 

The Figge Art Museum is located on the riverfront in downtown Davenport at 225 West Second Street. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday and Sundays 12-5 p.m. Thursdays the museum is open until 9 p.m. Admission to the museum and tour is $7. Admission is free to Figge members and institutional members. To contact the museum, please call 563.326.7804, or visit www.figgeartmuseum.org.

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Brucemore announces the Thursday Night Lineup schedule of evening specialty tours for the month of April. Each tour focuses on a different aspect of the estate's history, ranging from life in the early twentieth century to architecture and landscape design.  Space is limited on each tour; advance ticket purchase recommended. Admission fees and further details are available at www.brucemore.org or by calling (319) 362-7375.

April 4, 6:00 p.m. - Evening Mansion Tour: Explore over a century of Cedar Rapids history through the lives of the three families who called Brucemore home. The families of Brucemore were business and community leaders in a century of evolution of the Midwest. 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.

April 11, 6:00 p.m. - Nooks & Crannies Tour - Visit every floor, peek into closed rooms, and satisfy curiosity through this all-access pass to the Mansion. Marvel at the Skinner pipe organ room, discover the architecture and oddities in the attic, and experience the sight and sound of a "rain storm" in the basement Tahitian Room. Examine the superior craftsmanship and learn about ongoing preservation work. The tour is not recommended for children under ten or individuals who have difficulty walking or climbing stairs.

April 18, 6:00 p.m. - Spring Landscape Hike - Discover current landscape issues, the role of public use, and the seasonal chores required to preserve the historic grounds amongst the subtle and spectacular seasonal dressings of the 26-acre landscape. See how planting choices with sensitivity to native species and seasonal display affect the overarching impact of a landscape design. Seek advice from Brucemore gardeners and ask questions on topics ranging from particular plantings to landscape designs.

April 25, 6:00 p.m. - Hands on History Interactive Family Tour: Bring the whole family on this interactive tour of both the grounds and Mansion. Learn about the daily lives of children and families at Brucemore 100 years ago while practicing etiquette of the era, learning to set a Victorian dinner table, and creating a craft project.

About the Thursday Night Lineup

Every Thursday night Brucemore will feature a different specialty tour focusing on topics for all interests, including arts and culture, Midwestern industry, gardening, landscape design, architecture, preservation, behind-the-scenes at Brucemore, and growing up in the early twentieth century. For more information on the Thursday Night Lineup or the May schedule, visit www.brucemore.org or call (319) 362-7375.

About Brucemore