The public is invited to join the Muscatine Art Center in welcoming Carol Ehlers, art history speaker, as she presents a 45 minute lecture on the art of French Post-Impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh. The lecture will take place Thursday, April 26 at 5:30 pm in the Muscatine Art Center's Music Room. Admission is free.

Vincent Willem van Gogh was born on March 30, 1853 in the Netherlands, the oldest child of a minister of the Dutch Reformed Church. He began to draw as a child but did not begin painting until his late twenties. Van Gogh's work was exhibited for the first time in August 1885 in the windows of a paint dealer in The Hague.

Despite his rejection of academic teaching van Gogh took the higher level admission exams at the Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp and in January 1886 graduated in painting and drawing. He left for Arles in 1888, and in the spring of 1889 entered a hospital near there after having famously cut off his own ear.  During his stay the clinic and its garden became the main subjects of his paintings and many of his most compelling and best recognized work date from this period of his life.

In 1890, after years of painful anxiety and frequent bouts of mental illness, van Gogh died at the age of 37. At his death his work was known to only a handful of people and appreciated by fewer still. In just over a decade he had produced more than 2100 works of art, many that today, are among the most sought after and admired paintings in the world.

In 1992 the Muscatine Art Center's collections were significantly enriched by a gift of twenty-seven works of art by Toulouse-Lautrec, Matisse, Degas, Boudin, Chagall, Renoir, and other European artists. The collection was a gift from the estate of Mary Musser Gilmore in honor of her parents, Richard Drew Musser and Sarah Walker Musser.

EVENT DETAILS:

Lecture: "The Wonderful World of Color: Vincent van Gogh"

Who: Carol Ehlers

When: Thursday, April 26, 2012

Time: 5:30 PM

Where: The Muscatine Art Center's Music Room

Admission to this program is FREE.

Please contact Katy Doherty, Program Coordinator, with any questions or concerns at 563-263-8282 or by email at kdoherty@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.

ROCK ISLAND, IL (04/18/2012)(readMedia)-- Five Augustana seniors majoring in art will display their work at the Augustana College Art Museum (3703 7th Ave.), as part of the Senior Studio Art Exhibition. The exhibition opens Saturday, April 28, and runs through Saturday, May 19. The museum is open from noon to 4 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays, and closed for final exams May 15-17.

The exhibition is the culmination of a process and the student's academic experience at Augustana. The process, known as Senior Inquiry, is a signature of the Augustana experience. It encourages seniors to demonstrate the critical thinking and communication skills they've developed and to reflect on the value of their work for the common good.

Amanda Eslinger, a senior from Coal Valley, Ill., majoring in art, has a cermanic sculpture portfolio that confronts the guises that people don to "mask" unpleasant social reactions.

This student has been guided by a faculty mentor and has worked countless hours to properly display her efforts, expression and progress made during the past four years.

The exhibiting artists will discuss their art in the Augustana College Art Museum during a 50-minute walking tour program on Tuesday, May 8, at 10:30 a.m. The public also is invited to the closing reception for the exhibition on Sunday, May 20, from 12:45-2 p.m.

Coal Valley, IL - April 17, 2012 - Niabi Zoo announced today that it will be holding its annual Earth Day celebration, Party for the Planet, on Sunday, April 22. The event, which will be held from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Zoo, will feature a variety of activities and information to help both kids and adults alike learn how they can make every day Earth Day.

New this year is the Rhythm of Conservation Sweepstakes, sponsored by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and K12. Families who are passionate about education and interested in learning more about wildlife conservation can find information at Party for the Planet about how to enter to win amazing prizes, such as a trip to Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge and a NOOK Tablet™.

Niabi Zoo will be unveiling its new "Hands Up for Conservation" program, which will allow parents to help their children make a lasting impression at Niabi Zoo while supporting global conservation efforts. This new limited-time program allows parents to purchase a wooden tile that will be decorated with their child's handprint, and will be permanently installed in a display at Niabi Zoo. Proceeds will support Niabi Zoo's conservation programs around the world. Additionally, Niabi Zoo will be launching its electronics recycling  program, which will allow zoo visitors to bring in old and unwanted electronic devices to have them properly disposed of in an environmentally safe way. Proceeds from the donated electronics go toward supporting gorilla conservation in the wild.

Niabi Zoo will be open from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Regular admission rates will apply.

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SPRINGFIELD, IL (04/16/2012)(readMedia)-- Author and historian Betty Carlson Kay will portray three women who significantly contributed to the Union efforts during the Civil War at the Illinois State Military Museum April 21. The event is free and open to the public. For more information contact the Illinois State Military Museum at 217-761-3910.

WHO:

Betty Carlson Kay, the Illinois State Military Museum and the Illinois National Guard & Militia Historical Society

WHAT:

Three Illinois Women During the Civil War: Author and historian Betty Carlson Kay will portray Jennie Hodgers, Mother Bickerdyke and Julia Dent Grant during a 40 minute presentation, which is free and open to the public. The event is being hosted the Illinois State Military Museum and sponsored by the Illinois National Guard & Militia Historical Society

WHEN: Saturday April 21, 2012 at 02:00PM Central Time (US & Canada)

WHERE:Illinois State Military Museum
1301 N. MacArthur Blvd
Springfield, Illinois 62702

NOTES:

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Learn the history of Cedar Rapids' most well-known, evocative, and imagination-capturing residence, as if the walls themselves can tell their story. Explore every room in the mansion during the Nooks and Crannies Tour, Brucemore's most popular specialty tour, Tuesday through Friday, May 15 through 18 at 6:00 p.m.

This 90-minute tour is guided by Brucemore staff who open the doors to the Skinner pipe organ room, point out architectural marvels and oddities in the attic, and bring the Tahitian Room to life with rain dripping off the tin ceiling. Visitors have the opportunity to roam each floor, peek behind all doors, and satisfy their curiosity through the expanded access to the mansion and the extremely knowledgeable Brucemore staff. Not only will the quirky and curious aspects of the mansion be revealed, but also the superior craftsmanship and ongoing preservation projects of this historic structure.

 

"Discover America's Hidden Gems is this year's theme for Preservation Month," said April Kamp-Whittaker, Director of Learning and Museum Projects. "Artistry, architecture, craftsmanship, preservation, conservation, and sustainability are at the heart of the Nooks and Crannies Tour, giving participants the first-hand opportunity to see how Brucemore continues to be a national historic gem."

 

Advance ticket purchase for the Nooks and Crannies Tour is required. Space is limited. Call (319) 362-7375 or visit the Brucemore Store. Admission is $15 per person and $12 for Brucemore members.  The tour is not recommended for children under 10 or individuals who have difficulty walking or climbing stairs.

 

Brucemore, Iowa's only National Trust Historic Site, is located at 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The 26-acre park-like estate in the heart of Cedar Rapids boasts a Queen Anne style mansion built between 1884 and 1886. Brucemore has been home to three prominent families who used the estate as a center for culture and the arts. The estate continues to be a hub for cultural, philanthropic, and educational activities. Each year thousands of visitors attend specialty tours, concerts, fine arts performances, children's programs, holiday celebrations, preservation events, and garden workshops on the estate. For more information, call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org.

 

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The Mannerchor Penzlin 1907 E.V. will be performing for free at Marycrest Senior Campus's Upham Theater, located at 1607 W12th St in Davenport, on Monday April 16th at 7pm. The Mannerchor Penzlin 1907 E.V. is a men's choir from Northern Germany. Founded in 1907, the choir has existed for over 100 years, was active during the GDR and continued and extended its work after the unification of Germany. The choir has a diverse repertoire reaching from classical to modern arrangements, but its central aim is the preservation of German folk and Shanty (sailor songs). This April, 30 members of the choir will perform its multifarious repertoire throughout the Midwest. Christian Bomeier is the conductor. This event is sponsored by the Riverboat Development Authority and the Quad City German-American Clubs.

The Figge Art Museum and the University of Iowa Libraries are pleased to announce the release of the Grant Wood Digital Collection (http://digital.lib.uiowa.edu/grantwood/) in conjunction with the Grant Wood Biennial Symposium 2012, April 13-14, 2012.

This unique digital collection includes more than 12 scrapbooks and albums of news clippings, photographs, postcards, letters, and related ephemera assembled by Grant Wood's sister Nan Wood Graham chronicling her brother's professional life.

For the first time, scholars, students and the general public will have unprecedented virtual access to the scrapbook materials.  Due to their fragility, access to the actual scrapbooks is simply impossible.

"Nan Wood Graham is one of the most famous faces in the history of art, immortalized in Wood's iconic painting American Gothic. The materials Graham compiled provide wonderful insight into Wood's life in Iowa and his development as one of the most famous American artists of the 20th century," said Andrew Wallace, Figge Art Museum. "It is gratifying to know that, through this digital collection, people around world are able to learn about the life and times of Grant Wood through the words of close friends, family, and fellow artists."

This digital collection project would not have been possible without the generous assistance of the Henry Luce Foundation American Art Renewal Fund and through additional funding for imaging equipment provided by an anonymous donor.

These materials, along with several hundred artifacts, including the artist's wire-rimmed glasses, palettes, paint box, and easel, are part of the Figge Art Museum's Grant Wood Archive. The Archive has provided primary source material for numerous articles, catalogues, and monographs for over 40 years, most recently by R. Tripp Evans for his award-winning 2010 biography "Grant Wood - A Life."

The collection is the latest edition in the Iowa Digital Library, which features nearly a half million digital objects created from the holdings of The University of Iowa Libraries and its partners. Included are illuminated manuscripts, historical maps, fine art, political cartoons, scholarly works, and more. Digital collections are coordinated by Digital Research & Publishing.

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

 

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Original works by local high school students due April 18th

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack announced today that the deadline for high school students in the Second Congressional District to submit original pieces of art to be considered in the Congressional Art Competition is April 18th.  In the spring of every year, the United States House of Representatives hosts this competition to recognize talented young artists from across the nation. The winning student from each district is invited to Washington, DC for the ribbon-cutting ceremony and will have his or her artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year.

"The creativity of our talented young artists demonstrates that the arts are thriving in Iowa.  Each year that I have hosted this contest, I have been amazed by the talent of these students," said Loebsack. "For a young artist, having your artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol is quite a remarkable accomplishment. Judging this competition is always difficult, but I look forward to seeing this year's entries and meeting with the artists."

All entries should be sent to Loebsack's Iowa City office at 125 South Dubuque Street, not later than Wednesday, April, 18th.  Loebsack will also host a reception to honor all students who submit artwork on Saturday, April 21st from 11:00am to Noon at the University of Iowa's Art Building West on North Riverside Drive in Iowa City. For additional details about the competition, students should contact Dave Leshtz in Loebsack's Iowa City office at 319-351-0789.

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THE KADDISH SERIES: PRINTS BY MAURICIO LASANSKY

On view April 15 - June 3, 2012

In response to the recent death of internationally known master printmaker, Mauricio Lasansky, the Muscatine Art Center will host an exhibition of his art from the permanent collection entitled, "The Kaddish Series", beginning Sunday, April 15 and continuing through June 3, 2012.

Mauricio Lasansky was born October 12, 1914 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where his father worked as a banknote engraver. At the age of 19, he began to study painting, sculpture and printmaking at the Escuela Superior of Bellas Artes (Superior School of Fine Arts), Buenos Aires. In 1943 Lasansky came to the United States on a Guggenheim Fellowship and spent a year studying the print collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. In 1945 he was appointed lecturer in printmaking at the University of Iowa, where he established the first Master of Fine Arts in printmaking program in the country. In 1961 Time magazine called the University of Iowa the "printmaking capital of the United States."

As a printmaker, Mauricio Lasansky was known for the grand scale of his images, his vivid color, and the complex layering of multiple print techniques, including engraving, etching, lithography, drypoint, electric stippling and aquatint, in a single work.

In the 1970's, after two decades of work that focused on the horrors of Nazi Germany, Lasansky began working on the eight images that comprise the Kaddish Series. While still very much concerned with the Holocaust, the Kaddish Series focuses on it's aftermath and the ways those who survived deal with the experience.  One part of the Kaddish prayer, which is often recited as part of Jewish funeral services, is a request for peace. The images in this series reveal the artist's belief that finding even a small amount of peace on this earth often comes at a terrible price.

Each of the eight Kaddish prints includes a number from 6,102,301 to 6,102,308, representing the number of Jewish victims of the Nazis, and each image also includes a dove, the universal symbol of peace.

The Kaddish Series was purchased directly from the artist by the Muscatine Art Center in 1979, and is part of collection that includes 25 of his prints.

Mauricio Lasansky was one of the few modern artists who limited their work almost exclusively to the graphic media. Due to his early contributions in the development of graphic techniques and his dedication to teaching printmaking, Lasansky is considered to be a forerunner in the evolution of printmaking as a critical art form and is internationally recognized as one of the "fathers" of 20th Century American printmaking.

Please contact Barbara Christensen, director, with any questions or concerns at 563-263-8282 or by email at bchristensen@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.

Celebrate Preservation Month and National Tourism Week at Brucemore with free guided tours of the mansion Saturday, May 5 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Sunday, May 6 from noon to 3:00 p.m. The 21-room Queen Anne style mansion and 26-acre park-like estate, built between 1884 and 1886, provides insight into Cedar Rapids' rich history and Midwestern life in the early twentieth century. Tours will begin approximately every 15 minutes with the last tour beginning at 3:00 p.m.

 

In 1971, the National Trust created Preservation Week 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. Brucemore will offer other Preservation Month activities in May, including:

  • Brucemore's Historic Neighborhood Walk - May 3, 6:00 p.m. and May 5, 12:00 p.m.
  • Brucemore Plant Sale - May 12, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
  • Nooks and Crannies Mansion Tours - May 15-18, 6:00 p.m.
  • Historic Landscape Tours - May 19, 10:30 a.m. and May 24, 6:00 p.m.

 

The 2012 Plant Sale will celebrate the newly-restored Lord & Burnham Greenhouse.  This annual event funds preservation projects throughout the estate. 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.

 

The Cedar Rapids Convention and Visitors Bureau invites you to "Discover CR: Be a Tourist in Your Town" by celebrating National Tourism Week, May 5 through 13. Other participating businesses and organizations can be found by visiting www.cedar-rapids.com/partners/tourist-in-your-town/.

 

Brucemore, Iowa's only National Trust Historic Site, is located at 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The 26-acre park-like estate in the heart of Cedar Rapids boasts a Queen Anne style mansion built between 1884 and 1886. Brucemore has been home to three prominent families who used the estate as a center for culture and the arts. The estate continues to be a hub for cultural, philanthropic, and educational activities. Each year thousands of visitors attend specialty tours, concerts, fine arts performances, children's programs, holiday celebrations, preservation events, and garden workshops on the estate. For more information, call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org.

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