25 Jul 2012

Art Talk Introduces Visitors to NASA | ART Exhibition

By Steve Mohr

Davenport, IOWA (July 2012) The Figge Art Museum presents the art talk "NASA | ART: 50 Years of Exploration" at 7 pm Thursday, July 26. Figge Associate Curator, Dr. Rima Girnius, will lead the talk, which will focus on the diverse artworks in the special exhibition NASA | ART. This exhibition highlights the accomplishments, setbacks and sheer excitement of space exploration during the past five decades. Dr. Girnius' talk is free with Figge membership or paid admission.

This talk is designed to introduce visitors to the artists and ideas presented in the exhibition. In celebration of its 50th anniversary in 2008, NASA collaborated with the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum on this exhibition. Drawn from the collections of NASA and the National Air and Space Museum, NASA | ART features 72 works of art commissioned by the NASA Art Program. NASA's Art Program was established soon after the inception of the U.S. space program in 1958. The selected works span the entire history of NASA and include paintings, drawings, photographs, sculptures, and other media by such artists as Annie Leibovitz, Nam June Paik, Robert Rauschenberg, Norman Rockwell, Andy Warhol, William Wegman and Jamie Wyeth.

Dr. Girnius will also discuss the companion exhibition University of Iowa Space Pioneers: 54 Years of Exploration during her talk. This exhibition features spaceflight instruments designed and built at the University of Iowa in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, and is integrated into the NASA | ART exhibition. The University of Iowa is considered a pioneer of space research and has received international recognition for the development of spaceflight instruments flown on more than 63 successful missions.

Dr. Rima Girnius has been the Figge Associate Curator since 2008. She received her Ph.D. in Art History from Bryn Mawr College and recently contributed the introductory essay for the catalogue from the current exhibition David Plowden's Iowa (May 12, 2012 - August 26, 2012).

NASA | ART at the Figge Art Museum is generously sponsored by the ALCOA Foundation, John Deere, Genesis Health Systems and Cobham, plc.

NASA | ART was organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in cooperation with the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. The Smithsonian Community Grant program, funded by MetLife Foundation, is a proud sponsor of "NASA | ART" public programs.

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25 Jul 2012

Engineering Kids Day Camp is back and BIGGER than before!

By Jenna Smith

Spots are available and fill up quickly, sign up today!

WHAT: Engineering Kids Day Camp
WHEN: July 30 (Grades 2-3) July 31, August 1, or August 2 (Grades 4-6).  

WHERE: Putnam Museum
COST: $35, includes activities, lunch and a t-shirt! 

DAVENPORT - Engineering Kids Day Camp is back by popular demand! We have added an extra day to ensure everyone has the best engineering experience possible. This camp is an exciting, engaging experience for your young engineer. Fun, imaginative sessions including LEGO robotics and the opportunity to create and learn side by side with engineering students from Iowa State University and Quad City Professional Engineers!

Fee: $35: includes activities, lunch and a t-shirt. Choose one-day; July 30 (Grades 2-3) July 31, August 1, or August 2 (Grades 4-6). Space is limited - sign up today! Register now at www.putnam.org/summercamps or call 563-324-1054 ext. 266!

This program is a partnership sponsored by the Putnam Museum, Quad City Engineering and Science Council, and Iowa State University College of Engineering.

Engineering.JPG

 

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25 Jul 2012

Last Chance to Register! See the Mucha Exhibit at Czech & Slovak Museum with GAHC!

By Kelly Lao
Greetings!

Don't miss this opportunity to see the stunning Art Nouveau exhibit at the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library in Cedar Rapids!

Register by Wednesday, August 1st for your chance to see this once in a lifetime exhibition with the German American Heritage Center on Sunday, August 25th. Insufficient registration will cause this trip to be cancelled, do not delay!

$50 Members or $60 Non-members!
Click on the link below to register or RSVP by calling 563-322-8844!
Get more information
Register Now!
Alphonse Mucha: Inspirations of Art Nouveau features paintings, jewelry, sculptures, and lithographs from the Mucha Foundation in Praugue and London. This exhibit explores Mucha not just as the father of Art Nouveau, but also his Moravian roots, his family, his photography, and his devotion to the Slav people.

We will also see the exhibit It All Comes Out in the Wash which features the embellished textiles that were damaged in the flood of 2008 and have been painstakingly restored!
Lunch will be on your own in the Czech Village followed by a visit to Grant Wood's former home and studio.

We hope you will take advantage of this fantastic bus trip and register right away!
The Bus will meet at 1002 West Kimberly Rd. Davenport. (Behind the Kentucky Fried Chicken) at 9 am!

Where:
Czech and Slovack Museum and Library
Cedar Rapids, IA



When:
Saturday August 25, 2012 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM CDT
23 Jul 2012

Frederick the Great program

By Kelly Lao

Davenport, IA- The German American Heritage Center will host Kai Swanson of Augustana College as he asks the question, "Which Frederick was Greater? King, General, Composer?" on Sunday, July 29th at 2pm. His talk will be followed by a performance by Janet Stodd on the flute performing a short selection of Frederick's own compositions during the 300th anniversary of this notable historical figure. Admission is $5 adults, $4 seniors, $3 children, and free for members.

GAHC is located at 712 W 2nd St. Davenport, IA. For more information please call 563-322-8844 or visit gahc.org.

20 Jul 2012

Meet & Greet Candidates for Director of the Muscatine Art Center

By Barbara Christensen

The Board of Trustees of the Muscatine Art Center is pleased to announce a public forum to meet the candidates for the position of Director of the Muscatine Art Center.  A reception will be held on Thursday, July 26, 2012 from 6 to 8PM in the Stanley Gallery of the Muscatine Art Center.

The candidates who will be present are Allison Sheridan, who currently serves as Collections Manager and Communication Coordinator at the University Museums at Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, and Michael Schonhoff who is the Assistant Curator, Exhibition Management and Community Outreach at H & R Block Artspace at the Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, Missouri. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet the candidates for the Director's position and provide feedback to the Muscatine Art Center's Board of Trustees.

Parking is available on Mulberry Avenue and in the parking lot behind the Stanley Gallery.

20 Jul 2012

"When We Left Earth: The NASA Missions" To Be Shown Every Sunday at the Figge

By Susan Horan

Lift off for Discovery!

WHEN WE LEFT EARTH: THE NASA MISSIONS

Landmark Series Detailing 50 Years of NASA Every Sunday at the Figge

Davenport, IOWA (July 2012) Relive mankind's greatest adventure?the development of a rocket allowing them to leave the earth and explore space?through episodes of the Discovery Channel's landmark special series "When We Left Earth: The NASA Missions" every Saturday and Sunday at 2:30pm between July 21 and October 7 at the Figge Art Museum. "When We Left Earth," the dramatic story of NASA's pioneering, awe-inspiring missions, commemorates the first 50 years of space exploration. This series is being offered in conjunction with NASA|Art: 50 Years of Exploration, on view at the Figge July 14 through October 7, 2012.

Narrated by award-winning actor Gary Sinise, "When We Left Earth" is the incredible story of humankind's greatest adventure, as it happened, told by the people who were there. From the early quest of the Mercury program's goal of putting a man in space to the historic moon landings, through the Soyuz link-up and the first un-tethered space walk by Bruce McCandless, this series documents how the space age came of age.

The vivid HD series features vintage rushes and all of the key onboards, as filmed by the astronauts themselves. The sequences are captured by cameras onboard the spaceships, enabling the series to tell the stories at a depth never seen before.

"The story of NASA is really America's story. People coming together with grit, audaciousness and determination to go?quite literally?where no man had gone before," said John Ford, President and General Manager, Discovery Channel. "'When We Left Earth' is a story of great human courage, innovation and groundbreaking science and technology. We are proud to have played a part in preserving NASA's film archives so that future generations can celebrate this glorious past and dream and build an even brighter future."

Each of the six episodes will air four times in the John Deere Auditorium at the Figge: episode 1, Ordinary Supermen will be shown July 21, July 22, September 1 and September 2; episode 2, Friends and Rivals will be shown July 28, July 29, September 8 and September 9; episode 3, Landing the Eagle will be shown August 4, August 5, September 15 and September 16; episode 4, The Explorers will be shown August 11, August 12, September 22 and September 23; episode 5, The Shuttle will be shown August 18, August 19, September 29 and September 30; and episode 6, Home in Space will be shown August 25, August 26, October 6 and October 7.

"When We Left Earth" is produced for Discovery Channel by Dangerous Films. Richard Dale is executive producer for Dangerous Films. Bill Howard is the executive producer for Discovery Channel.

About Discovery Communications

Discovery Communications is the world's number-one nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 170 countries.  Discovery empowers people to explore their world and satisfy their curiosity through 100-plus worldwide networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Investigation Discovery and HD Theater, as well as leading consumer and educational products and services, and a diversified portfolio of digital media services including HowStuffWorks.com.  Discovery Communications is owned by Discovery Holding Company (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB), Advance/Newhouse Communications and John S. Hendricks, Discovery's founder and chairman. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.

 

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20 Jul 2012

Figge to Host "Papergirl Quad Cities" Exhibit

By Susan Horan

Davenport, IOWA (July 2012) The Figge Art Museum will be hosting the one-day exhibit Papergirl Quad Cities, which will run from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm on Thursday, July 19th in the Figge's Lobby. Papergirl Quad Cities will showcase works that will be distributed as part of the Papergirl Quad Cities project. Papergirl collects all kinds of artwork from anywhere to be bundled up and distributed for free by bicycle.

 

Papergirl Quad Cities is part of a global project that aims to open the art world into the urban streets of everyday life. What began in Berlin in 2006 as a response to other forms of street art?such as graffiti and stencils?is now an international movement that seeks to surprise people by upturning the predictability of day-to-day life. Papergirl also seeks to make people aware of how art is ever-present in daily living. In short, Papergirl is participatory, analogue, non-commercial and impulsive.

 

Papergirl Quad Cities has been organized by East Moline native Glorie Iaccarino.  Ms. Iaccarino will give the talk "Public Art Philanthropy" at 6:00pm on Thursday, July 19.  This talk will focus on the three core areas of the Papergirl project: Art, Philanthropy and Bikes.  During the talk Ms. Iaccarino will discuss the importance of Public Art and will provide examples of public art, places that benefit from public art, and the five types of public art.  This talk is offered in conjunction with "Thursdays at the Figge". From 5pm-8pm guests will have the opportunity to create their own original works to donate to the project.

 

"As an artist and community-teaching artist, I believe anyone can learn how to create art and develop his or her creativity. I see a formula: Skill, perception, and product. It is in the perception that passion is born and the product is a gift in which we, as observers, engage. With Papergirl Quad Cities, we are offering opportunities in which to engage," stated Ms. Iaccarino.

 

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 our website, www.figgeartmuseum.org.

 

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17 Jul 2012

Brucemore Celebrates Tenth Anniversary of Cabaret in the Courtyard: Susan Werner and Courtyard Jesters

By Tara Richards

Brucemore will celebrate the tenth anniversary of Cabaret in the Courtyard, the sophisticated and saucy nightclub event at Brucemore, August 9 - 11 and 16 - 18 at 7:30 p.m. The ambience of the Brucemore Visitor Center courtyard will be transformed into a cabaret club with tables, chairs, twinkling lights, and stars on the stage and in the sky for two back-to-back weekends you don't want to miss. Cabaret in the Courtyard is sponsored by Bankers Trust and Novak Design Group.

The first weekend, August 9 - 11, features local Eastern Iowa native and singer-songwriter Susan Werner.  Last seen in Cedar Rapids at the grand opening of CSPS in 2011, she will charm audiences with her effortless blend of folk, country, agnostic gospel, jazz, and pop. Visit www.susanwerner.com for more information about Susan Werner or to sample her music.

The second weekend, August 16 - 18, brings four local comedians and well-known performers - Jason Alberty, Tim Boyle, Leslie Charipar, and Meg Merckens - to one stage to entertain audiences with stand-up comedy, improv, and humorous song. Courtyard Jesters follows the success of Brucemore's original production, Tenors Tonight, in 2011. Richard Barker is the stage director and Gerard Estella, one of the stars from the 2006 series, will return as musical director.

Advance tickets are $20 per person and $18 per Brucemore member. All tickets are $25 at the gate (if available). Limited space available; please call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org to purchase tickets. Individuals reserving five or more advance tickets will have tables reserved under their name. All performances begin at 7:30 p.m. with gates opening at 7:00 p.m. On-site parking is available. Patrons are encouraged to bring their favorite beverages and glasses, but no food is allowed.

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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17 Jul 2012

Figge Art Museum partners with UI Department of Physics and Astronomy on NASA | ART exhibition

By Susan Horan

Davenport, IOWA (July 2012) The Figge Art Museum's upcoming exhibition, NASA | ART: 50 Years of Exploration, features a companion display of spaceflight instruments and models designed and built at the Department of Physics and Astronomy in the University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

The department led investigations of the upper atmosphere and magnetosphere under the direction of James Van Allen, and UI scientists since have built instruments flown on more than 60 space missions. Faculty members Mary Hall Reno and Kathy Kurth, along with UI Libraries Special Collections and Archives, were eager to help coordinate the display. "These historic instruments aren't normally available for people to walk in and view," notes Kurth. "We're grateful for the chance to make them accessible to the public."

"We're always trying to find ways to collaborate with other institutions," says Rima Girnius, associate curator for the Figge. "And since the University of Iowa has always been at the forefront of space research, we couldn't pass up this opportunity."

Alongside 72 paintings, drawings, photographs, and sculptures by such artists as Annie Leibovitz, Norman Rockwell, Andy Warhol, and Jamie Wyeth, visitors to the museum can view 11 spaceflight instruments associated with the missions referenced by the art.

The UI instruments include a spare Rockoon (a rocket-borne instrument launched by Van Allen in 1953); a spare of the UI instrument flown on the first successful U.S. satellite, Explorer 1; a spare of the UI-built Hawkeye satellite; and models of the currently operating Juno and Cassini spacecraft.

Exhibiting the spaceflight instruments alongside the artwork they made possible reinforces, says Girnius, "the connection between science and art." The exhibition will also feature a music production by the Kronos Quartet based on sounds of space gathered by Don Gurnett, UI professor of physics and astronomy.

The exhibitions will run from July 14 to October 7. For more information and a schedule of accompanying events and activities, visit www.figgeartmuseum.org.

About NASA | ART: 50 Years of Exploration 

In celebration of its 50th anniversary in 2008, NASA collaborated with the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum on the exhibition NASA | ART: 50 Years of Exploration. Drawn from the collections of NASA and the National Air and Space Museum, the exhibition features 72 works of art commissioned by the NASA Art Program. Established soon after the inception of the U.S. space program in 1958, NASA's Art Program provides a unique way to communicate the accomplishments, setbacks, and sheer excitement of space exploration to the public. The selected works span the entire history of NASA and include paintings, drawings, photographs, sculptures, and other media by such artists as Annie Leibovitz, Nam June Paik, Robert Rauschenberg, Norman Rockwell, Andy Warhol, William Wegman, and Jamie Wyeth.

NASA | ART at the Figge Art Museum is generously sponsored by the ALCOA Foundation, John Deere, Genesis Health Systems and Cobham, plc.

NASA | ART was organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in cooperation with the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. The Smithsonian Community Grant program, funded by MetLife Foundation, is a proud sponsor of "NASA | ART" public programs.

STORY SOURCE: Iowa Now, News from the University of Iowa; Figge Art Museum

Description: Description: Description: Description: rockoon

PHOTO: A spare Rockoon?a rocket-borne instrument carried into the upper atmosphere by a balloon before being launched to higher altitude?is one UI item on display at the Figge Art Museum in Davenport. Courtesy of the UI Department of Physics and Astronomy.
16 Jul 2012

Lights! Sirens! Action!

By Jenna Smith

WHAT: Lights! Sirens! Action! Emergency Responders Exhibit
WHEN: Opens Saturday, July 21 - February!

WHERE: Putnam Museum
COST: Exhibit Hall Pricing: Adult: $7; Senior/Military/Student: $6; Youth: $5; Members: Free. Make it the perfect emergency combo by adding Rescue 3D for only $4.50!

 

DAVENPORT - Lights! Sirens! Action! is an exhibit that explores how emergency responders spring into action when someone calls 911! This is a family oriented, hands-on exhibit that features local emergency responders - fire fighters, law enforcement officers, EMT's and dispatchers who help people in emergency situations.

See equipment used by local responders and discover how new technologies have changed the way responders do their jobs. Local emergency staff and vehicles will be on-site for you to explore at the Museum on Saturdays to have an up-close and personal experience!

Talk to the professionals and tour the emergency vehicles that will be at the Museum Saturdays through September!

Saturday, July 28: East Moline Police Department

Saturday, August 4: Quad City Airport Fire Department

Saturday, August 11: Red Cross Emergency Responders Vehicle and Medic Ambulance

Saturday, August 25: Rock Island Police Department

Saturday, September 1: Davenport Police Department

Saturday, September 8: Bettendorf Police

Saturday, September 15: Scott County Sheriff and Media Ambulance

Saturday, September 22: Davenport Fire Department

Saturday, September 29: Scott County Sheriff and Medic Ambulance

 

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