18 Aug 2015

Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds Announce Iowa Culture App

By Jeff Morgan

Free mobile app features more than 3,500 arts, history and cultural destinations in Iowa

 

(DES MOINES) - Iowa Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds announced today the launch of Iowa Culture, a new interactive mobile app that puts the largest, most comprehensive statewide collection of Iowa arts, history and cultural destinations in the palm of your hand.

"I travel to all 99 counties every year, so I know these destinations are points of pride that connect Iowans and visitors to the stories of Iowa," Branstad said. "I am very pleased we now have this fun and interactive tool that helps people discover and experience Iowa's best-kept secrets. I encourage Iowans and others to download Iowa Culture and use it today."

"The Iowa Culture app not only serves as a marketing and promotional tool, it also offers life-long learning opportunities for people of all ages and across all generations as they discover and experience Iowa," Reynolds said. "I am especially pleased this project aligns with our STEM initiative by showcasing the use of digital technology as an educational tool, while connecting Iowans with even more opportunities to learn across Iowa.  I join Governor Branstad in encouraging Iowans to download it and use it today."

The Iowa Culture app includes more than 3,500 historic sites, arts experiences and cultural destinations, including sites on the National Register of Historic Places, museums, historic schools and theaters, performing art centers, public art, and science and nature sites.

Through the app, people can plan vacations, weekend getaways and daytrips all across Iowa with a simple search by category or subcategory, keyword, or destinations in their immediate vicinity. Users can also filter their search by town and view destinations as far as 50 miles or as close as one mile to the chosen town. They can also create their own tours or explore featured tours included in the app.

The department began working on the app in 2013 when it recognized Iowa needed a comprehensive inventory of arts, history and cultural destinations. In 2014, the department hosted 30 Community Conversations across the state to ask Iowans for input on local cultural vitality and how the State Historical Building could be a hub for Iowans interested in arts, history, historic preservation and other cultural initiatives.

"During these community conversations, Iowans said they want their communities to be promoted as progressive, innovative and culturally healthy," Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs Director Mary Cownie said. "Iowans also said they want to increase awareness of and ensure greater sustainability for Iowa's hidden gems. The Iowa Culture app delivers on those requests by giving people information they can use to discover and explore all of the cultural amenities that Iowa has to offer."

The Iowa Culture was developed by the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs and is free and compatible with most iPhones and Android Smartphones. It is available for download by searching "Iowa Culture" in the Apple and Google Play stores.

The Iowa Culture app will continue to grow and evolve as more destinations are identified and added. Iowans are encouraged to suggest a place, submit photos, provide feedback and get more information by visiting www.iowacultureapp.com.

WIN AN EXCLUSIVE IOWA CULTURE EXPERIENCE

 

In conjunction with today's announcement, the Department of Cultural Affairs is launching the Iowa Culture Selfie Contest.

Iowans and others are invited to share their most creative selfie at any of the destinations on Iowa Culture and share it on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with #iowaculture for a chance to win exclusive experiences and getaways to some of Iowa's unique cultural destinations.

Visit www.iowacultureapp.com for details and official rules.

Share your experiences using #iowaculture.

Facebook: iowaculture

Twitter: @iowaculture

Instagram: @iowaculture

 

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17 Aug 2015

EARTH Exhibit Closing Reception & Release of Grain Magazine

By Dubuque Area Arts Collective

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 7-10PM

@ Dubuque Area Arts Collective (902 Main St, Dubuque IA)
MUSIC: Brooks Strause (Singer-songwriter from Iowa City)
FREE - Accepting Donations

Everyone Is busy during the summer, and the Dubuque Area Arts Collective is not exempt. From our latest gallery exhibit to Instagram photo contests to mural painting to publishing the magazine in your hands, we're busy doing what we love and sharing it with the community.

We kicked off the summer accepting submissions for the eARTh exhibit, which focused on work addressing environmental issues and/or made from recycled materials. We received hundreds of amazing submissions from Galena, IL to NYC to Africa. The final selections contributed to what we've been told was our strongest show yet.

IN THIS GRAIN ISSUE:

We showcase work from the show, including Jave Gakumei Yoshimoto's multi-colored screen prints that won "best of show." In the spirit of the eARTh show, we continue our exploration of the show's themes by taking a closer look at some of the work from eARTh. We also introduce you to new artists like painter Tony Cavallo, who will never be accused of actively trying to reduce his carbon footprint, and yet truly recycles and reuses as a way of life, not as an activist but as part of his monk-like pursuit of perfecting his craft. Also, Dubuque's own Jessica Weis, whose work was featured in the eARTH exhibit, details how to create impressively high quality ink from thing you can find in your backyard. 

EARTH EXHIBIT HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Jeremy Rudd - Dyersville IA, Thomas Agran - Iowa City, IA  &
Carole Spelic - Platteville, WI

INSTAGRAM PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS:

Last but not least, we choose the 10 winners of our Instagram photo contest: Nature and Architecture in Downtown Dubuque. One might not expect to define a cell phone pic as "moving," but just see for yourself what one Dubuque and an iPhone can do.

13 Aug 2015

DON'T MISS THESE EVENTS AT THE GERMAN AMERICAN HERITAGE CENTER

By Janet Brown-Lowe
2)  Nationally known author and TV personality Bruce Johnson appears at GAHC on Sunday 2:00.  He will speak on "1901 - The Year That Set the Arts and Crafts Movement in Motion." This program enriches our current exhibit since Gustav Stickley was a leading figure in the American Arts and Crafts era.
3) Registrations have been steadily received for the October Genealogy Workshop. Those interested should get signed up      before the sessions are full.  Last year many last minute registrations had to be turned away.
13 Aug 2015

Figge Task Force Meeting - September 10, 2015

By Jackie E. Holecek
The agenda is available at the following link:  http://www.cityofdavenportiowa.com/egov/documents/1439396464_67181.pdf
12 Aug 2015

Dedication of Chris Craft Boat Now on Display at the Buffalo Bill Museum in LeClaire, Iowa

By Cindy Bruhn
LeClaire, Iowa. The public is invited to the Buffalo Bill Museum, 199 Front Street, LeClaire, Iowa, on Sunday, August 23 at 1pm for the dedication of the 1939 Chris Craft Runabout donated by the Suiter family in the River Pilot's Pier. Light refreshments will be served.
With legendary local banker and river enthusiast Glen Suiter's passing in May of 2013, the Suiter family has decided to honor Glen and his passion for boating, the Mississippi River, and the rich history that the LeClaire Buffalo Bill Museum in LeClaire, Iowa offers visitors. The Suiter Family has generously donated Glen's historical, artisan Chris Craft wooden boat for display at the museum to add to their growing collection of fascinating cultural artifacts.
The artisan (Pre-War) 1939 Chris Craft Utility Series 15.5' Runabout was built to fare the lakes and rivers of a nation moving up stream. Chris Smith, founder of the company that would one day bear his name, started his business with the vision of building a boat that was as versatile and reliable as the public demanded it. Originally intended for hunters and fishermen, the Chris Craft line soon expanded eventually earning it the distinction as the largest mahogany boat manufacturer in the world. With the United States recovering from the pains of the Great Depression, Chris Craft built the Utility Series to be both practical and affordable. During the years of World War II, Navy sailors became familiar with Chris Craft designs as the company produced more than 10,000 wooden landing craft for WWII vessels to aid in the war effort.
The boat donated to the Buffalo Bill Museum in LeClaire, Iowa by the Suiter family is a fully restored example of the American craftsmanship that to this day sets a Chris Craft apart. The JV II, as this vessel was named, was powered by an original Gray Marine 4-cylinder engine that produced 60 HP allowing it to reach a top speed of 40 mph. In 1971, Chris Craft discontinued their mahogany hulls, "woodys" as they were called, for newer fiberglass designs.
The "woodys" soon became highly sought after by collectors and boat enthusiasts alike. The JV II, like its neighbor, the Lone Star Wooden Hull Stream-powered Vessel, spent its final operating years along the banks of the Mighty Mississippi. How fitting it is to be back in the port of LeClaire along side another wooden hull vessel of such great distinction.
Today, the museum welcomes nearly 22,000 visitors a year from all over the United States and at least 20 foreign countries. It operates 7 days a week, primarily through the efforts of volunteers, and remains a popular tourist destination along the I-80 corridor.
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11 Aug 2015

Family Craft Projects at Southwest Branch

By Lisa Lockheart

Rock Island, IL: Families can work together to make a small lighted garland at two Family Craft activities at the Rock Island Southwest Branch on Tuesday and Saturday.

This month's free craft involves making a small lighted garland out of cups, fabric and a light string. Families can register for the 6:00 pm session on Tuesday, August 11 or the 10:00 am session on Saturday, August 15. Both sessions are offered in the Community Room of the Southwest Branch, 9010 Ridgewood Road. The event is free and materials are provided.

To sign up, call 309-732-7338 or use the online registration system on the library calendar at www.rockislandlibrary.org. The Southwest Branch hosts a new craft on the second Tuesday and following Saturday of each month.

For information on other free events, contact Rock Island Library at 309-732-READ (7323), visit the library website at www.rockislandlibrary.org, or follow the library's Facebook and Twitter sites.

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11 Aug 2015

Statement Regarding Recent Report on Governance of Niabi Zoo

By Marc Heinzman
Coal Valley, IL - August 7, 2015 - Late in the day on Thursday, August 6th, 2015, Niabi Zoo staff and the Rock Island County Forest Preserve District received a copy of the "Campaign Positioning, Feasibility and Program Analysis Report" compiled by the McCarthy/Blansett Group LLC on behalf of the Niabi Zoological Society. The report is being forwarded on to all members of the Rock Island County Forest Preserve District Commission for review.

In the interim while the study is being reviewed, Niabi Zoo is continuing to move forward with the recommendations outlined in the Five-Year Strategic Action Plan that was published by the consulting firm Schultz & Williams in October 2014 and approved by the Forest Preserve Commission. Schultz & Williams is a nationally recognized consulting firm which has worked with dozens of respected zoos and aquariums from all around the country.

As part of its Strategic Action Plan, Niabi Zoo continues to work toward reaccreditation by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums and continually enhance and upgrade Niabi Zoo for the benefit of its visitors and animals. In addition to ongoing improvements, Niabi Zoo is also working to ensure its long-term financial stability by maintaining a responsible fund balance and working with a balanced operating budget year after year.

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11 Aug 2015

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site Offers Tallgrass Prairie Programs This September, "Find Your Park"... in a Prairie

By Rick Martin

WEST BRANCH, IOWA– On Saturday, September 5 join a park ranger for a campfire talk about prairie animals past and present. The multisensory family program will include pelts, sounds, photography from American prairies. The campfire program is free and begins at 7:30 p.m. on the village green at the intersection of Parkside Drive and Main Street in historic downtown West Branch.  Visitors and their families are welcome to bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on, and toasting sticks and marshmallows.

Then on Labor Day Monday, September 7 a park ranger leads visitors through the reconstructed 81-acre tallgrass prairie at Herbert Hoover National Historic Site. Learn how and why the National Park Service is reconstructing this endangered habitat as part of the landscape commemorating Herbert Hoover's life.

The walk begins at the tallgrass prairie observation deck by the gravesite parking lot at 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. The walk is less than a mile and lasts about 60 minutes. Bring water, dress for the weather, and wear comfortable walking shoes. Hats, sunscreen, sunglasses, and insect repellent are also recommended.

On Saturday, September 26, help collect and distribute native plants in the tallgrass prairie at Herbert Hoover National Historic Site. All ages are welcome. Participating volunteers will be rewarded with a coupon for free entry into their favorite federal public land areas that have entrance fees. Contact Denise Collar or Adam Prato at (319) 643-2541 if you are interested.

Meet at the Visitor Center at 8:30 a.m. for an orientation and to get signed up. Work will be from 9:00 a.m. to about 1:00 p.m. Please dress for the weather, and wear comfortable work clothes.  Long pants and closed toe shoes are required.  Bring a water bottle, hat, sunscreen, long sleeved shirt, insect repellent, a snack, and a shopping bag (paper or plastic) or ice cream pail for seed collection.  The park has work gloves and other required tools.

This year the National Park Service launched its "Find Your Park" campaign which begins a two year celebration commemorating its first 100 years of preservation and service to the public. "Find Your Park" is aimed at getting people out to experience all their national parks have to offer and to share their favorite stories about National Parks. Visit www.findyourpark.com to learn more.

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site and the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum are in West Branch, Iowa at exit 254 off I-80. Both are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time. For more information go online at www.nps.gov/heho or call (319) 643-2541.

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site

110 Parkside Drive

PO Box 607

West Branch, Iowa 52358

319 643-2541 phone

319 643-7864 fax

www.nps.gov/heho

Twitter: @HooverNPS

Facebook: HerbertHooverNHS

07 Aug 2015

Woodfest in the Amana Colonies

By Executive Director

Friday, August 21st, Saturday, August 22rd   & Sunday, August 23rd

Amana, IA -   All are invited to join us next weekend at the Amana Colonies RV Park for the Midwest's Greatest Wood Show.  There is something for everyone at this one of a kind festival that is all about wood.

Woodfest is sponsored by the Amana Arts Guild, with over 50 exhibitors.  Admission is free to enjoy wood creations and demonstrations at the Amana RV Park and Event Center.  Event hours are: Friday 11am to 5pm, Saturday 10 am to 5pm and Sunday 10am to 4pm.

In an air-conditioned setting, visitors can watch and visit with skilled crafters transforming wood into useful, artistic and entertaining objects. Featured this year will be the works of George Wright and his unique fish creations, as well as Marie McDonough and her rose carvings.  In addition, visitors will see the premier showing of nationally recognized model builder Barclay Lawder's historic train and Mack truck.  The popular sawing of logs into lumber as well as chainsaw carving will be on- going throughout each day of the family event.  Woodcrafters interested in participating in this or next year's show, should contact the coordinator at 319-622-3908 or woodfest@southslope.net for details.

For more information about Woodfest go to http://www.amanaartsguild.com/
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07 Aug 2015

Amana Festival of the Arts this Saturday

By Executive Director

The Amana Arts Guild will sponsor its Festival of the Arts on Saturday August 8, 10 AM - 5 PM at the Middle Amana Park in Middle Amana, Iowa.

This special event will feature sales of fine arts, crafts and traditional Colony folk arts by local and guest artists. A unique part of the festival will be demonstrations as visitors will enjoy observing: woodturning, quilting, tinsmithing, basket-making, spinning and painting.

Guests will also enjoy local foods such as Amana bratwurst, kraut, homemade apple fritters and baked goods along with a special homemade rhubarb drink.

Entertainment throughout the day: Sweet Cacophony, Dustin Busch and Blame Not The Bard

Also a children's art corner and an Amana Colony Quilt raffle.

Amana Arts Guild: 319 622-3678

E-mail:  amanarts@southslope.net

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