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

Davenport, Iowa (February 27, 2013) - PechaKucha Nights are coming to the Quad Cities starting this Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the lobby of the Figge Art Museum.

PechaKucha Nights are informal and fun gatherings where creative people get together and share their ideas, works, thoughts, or hobbies in the PechaKucha 20x20 format. This format allows presenters to show 20 slides for 20 seconds each (six minutes and 40 seconds in total) to keep presentations concise and fast-paced. The images advance automatically and the presenter talks along to the images.

Devised by Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham of Klein Dytham architecture, the first PechaKucha Night was held in Tokyo in February 2003 as an event for young designers to meet, network and show their work in public. Now, they are held in over 600 cities around the world by a city organizer. According to Davenport's city organizer Melissa Hueting, Director of Education at the Figge, "PechaKucha Nights provide a perfect environment for idea-sharing and we are excited to see community members come together and celebrate a passion for creativity and life-long learning through this informal yet informative opportunity."

The first PechaKucha Night in Davenport will feature seven presenters including Mayor Gluba who will speak about RiverVision. Gluba said, "The Figge Art Museum is a great community asset, and I commend its staff for the creativity and hard work they have put into developing PechaKucha Night in Davenport. We have a lot of creative, artistic people in the Quad Cities area so I am looking forward to seeing the other presentations. I encourage everyone who can to join us at this fun, free event.'"

Other participants include : local photographer Joshua Ford of Ford Photography, Davenport Schools Foundation Program Director Gene Conrad, Black Girls United! Founder/Director Shanna Cramer, local artist Steve Banks, map collector H. Dee Hoover and Community Arts Director Jessi Black of Quad City Arts.

Museum admission is free on Thursday evenings and this event will include free light appetizers beginning at 5:30 p.m. along with a cash bar. Thursday is the first of many PechaKucha Nights the Figge will be hosting. For more information on future dates, visit www.figgeartmuseum.org. If you are interested in becoming a presenter please contact Melissa Hueting at mhueting@figgeartmuseum.org.

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