Davenport, Iowa - August 2011 -The Figge Art Museum and the River Music Experience will host the family workshop "Art of Percussion" on Saturday, August 13 from 10am to 2pm.  Families will enjoy a fun, creative day at the Figge beginning with an entertaining performance of Native American music and stories presented by Larry Lockwood on the Figge plaza. Afterwards, participants will create cool and colorful rain sticks, drums, maracas and other shakers and noise makers out of recycled materials in the Figge Studios, and then play these percussion instruments in a musical procession to neighboring River Music Experience. Terry Hanson and fellow musician Ellis Kell will lead a mega drum circle, working out dynamic rhythms and beats.

Schedule:
10 am                       Registration 
10:15 - 10:45am       Native American stories and music on Figge plaza
10:45am-12pm        Instrument building in Figge Studios

12 - 12:30pm            Lunch break

12:30pm                   Musical procession to River Music Experience
12:45 - 2pm              Drum circle at River Music Experience

The fee for this workshop is $10 per family.  This workshop is appropriate for children of all ages; an adult must be present for each family.  Families can pre-register by contacting Heather at 563.326.7804 x 2045 or haaronson@figgeartmuseum.org; day of registration will be available in the Figge lobby at 10am. Families should pack a sack lunch. 

This workshop is in partnership with River Music Experience and supported with Quad City Arts Dollar$ funds, provided by the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, the Doris and Victor Day  Foundation, the John Deere Foundation, the Mary Iva Gittens Knouse Charitable Trust, Quad City Arts Partners and Festival of Trees.

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DES MOINES, IA (08/08/2011)(readMedia)-- The Patty and Jim Cownie Cultural Center will be bursting with fine art at the 2011 Iowa State Fair. Home to Iowa's largest art show, the Cultural Center features sand sculptures, art activities, demonstrations and much more. As the Fair celebrates 100 years of the Butter Cow, art throughout the Cultural Center will pay tribute to Iowa's buttery icon August 11-21.

Sandscapes, a team of national, international and world champion sand sculptors, returns to the Cultural Center atrium to construct a Butter Cow-themed masterpiece. Watch the progress unfold as the team works throughout the Fair to complete the sculpture, showcasing their talents from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the atrium each day.

Stop by to see the outstanding art entered in this year's Fair. The state's largest art show will showcase exhibits in the areas of fine arts, photography, creative arts, wood projects and doll house and miniature room displays. Several special Butter Cow categories promise to provide creative commemorations of the world-renowned buttery bovine.

Fairgoers can even let their creativity loose and try their hands at making art. Make and Take projects available in the Cultural Center include name bracelets, candles and blown glass ornaments. Youngsters will also have a special chance to make a masterpiece at Art Attack. Occurring daily from 1-5 p.m. in the courtyard, Art Attack features special arts and crafts activities for kids to make and then take home.

Live demonstrations and working exhibits also offer Fairgoers the opportunity to see art in action, with artists demonstrating such art forms as wood carving, cardboard art, charcoal portraits and many more.

For a complete schedule of activities in the Cultural Center, visit iowastatefair.org.

"Nothing Compares" to the 2011 Iowa State Fair, celebrating 100 years of the Butter Cow August 11-21. For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or visitwww.iowastatefair.org.

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(Davenport, IA) - The Quad-City Times will sponsor a free admissions weekend at the Figge Art Museum Friday, July 29 through Sunday, July 31. While Lance Armstrong is not scheduled to make an appearance at the RAGBRAI finish line, visitors to the Downtown Davenport Street Fest are invited to seeLance Armstrong at the Figge for free during the Bix7/RAGBRAI weekend.   Lance Armstrong, a photo of Armstrong nude on his bike taken by famed photographer Annie Leibovitz in 1999, is currently on view in the Figge lobby. The Figge's Bix7/RAGBRAI weekend events will also include a free Spin Art activity on the Plaza from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, July 29 and from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, July 31. The museum will lead a free guided tour of The Art of Seating on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.

The Figge Museum currently features three special exhibitions, in addition to works in the permanent collection.  The Art of Seating: 200 Years in American Chair Design includes more than 40 distinctive chairs selected from the Jacobsen American Chair Collection. Intriguing Images: Docent Picks from the Figge Collection features works popular with Figge visitors and docent and the exhibition Water Views from the Figge Collection explores and celebrates the beauty and diversity of water.

The permanent collection now showcases Pleasures from a Country Life, a new gallery installation featuring selections from the John Deere Art Collection.  Recent changes to the permanent collection also include the installation The American West as a Myth, which highlights the Figge's Western Collection, and The Spirit of Haitian Art, which showcases the Figge's impressive Haitian Collection. 

The free admission weekend is great opportunity for families, visitors, and locals to escape the head and explore the museum during the downtown festivities. For more information contact the Figge Art Museum at 563.326.7804.

The Art of Seating is developed by the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville and the Jacobsen Collection of American Art; tour organized by International Arts & Artists, Washington, D.C.  and sponsored locally by Sears Manufacturing, Paragon Commercial Interiors, Inc., and Rick Bowers.

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The exhibit "Iowa in the Civil War: The German Element" is available through August 7. A companion FREE traveling exhibit from the Iowa State Historical Society in the GAHC parking lot features "The Fiery Trial: Iowa in the Civil War." Visitors can see why Iowa entered the war, the impact of war on the state of Iowa, the work of Annie Wittenmyer as she cared for the wounded and orphaned, and efforts in Iowa to improve civil rights for all after the war.

A special touchscreen feature allows Iowans to search for their Union army ancestors in the Civil War by name and county.

A special $10 family ticket for all inside exhibits is available during the "Fiery Trial" run from July 28 through August 7. Other tickets are Adults $5, Seniors $4 and children $3.

Special hours for the civil war features are July 28 - August 7 from 10:00 through 7:00 EXCEPT July 28 10:00 - 4:00; July 31 noon to 6:00 and August 7, noon to 4:00.

Information available at www.gahc.org OR (563) 322-8844 or info@gahc.org