06 Apr 2015

Iowa State Fair to Debut Mural Painting Contest

By Gary Slater

DES MOINES, IA (04/03/2015)(readMedia)-- The 2015 Iowa State Fair, set August 13-23, will feature a custom mural designed and painted by a local artist. Individuals are invited to submit their own designs for the 12x16-ft. mural, which will be completed throughout the Fair in the Patty and Jim Cownie Cultural Center.

To enter, submit an entry form along with a detailed rendering of your proposed design. For full consideration, applicants must also send an exhibition record, three to five samples of previous work and at least two professional references. Entry forms can be downloaded from the Iowa State Fair website: http://www.iowastatefair.org/fair-attractions/art/. All entries must be received or e-mailed to jcannon@iowastatefair.org by May 1.

The selected design will be chosen June 1. The winner will receive a $2,500 stipend, up to $500 in reimbursement for supplies and an invitation to plain the mural on-site during the Fair.

Send entries to:

Jen Cannon, Competitive Events Director

Iowa State Fair

PO Box 57130

Des Moines, Iowa 50317-0003

Or e-mail all materials to jcannon@iowastatefair.org

For questions about the contest, contact Jen Cannon at 515-262-3111, ext.245 or jcannon@iowastatefair.org.

"Nothing Compares" to the 2015 Iowa State Fair, August 13-23. The Fairgrounds are located at East 30th and East University Avenue, just 10 minutes east of downtown Des Moines. Discounted gate admission tickets are on sale now through our convenient print at home ticket option at www.iowastatefair.org. For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or visit www.iowastatefair.org.

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03 Apr 2015

IOWA WATERCOLOR TRAVELING SHOW for 2014 - 2015

By Lynn Bartenhagen

On View in the Musser Mansion Gallery at the Muscatine Art Center

April 26 - May 22, 2015

FREE ADMISSION

The Muscatine Art Center is pleased to present the Iowa Watercolor Society Annual Traveling Show for

2014 - 2015. This exhibit includes this year's top five award winning paintings, as well as, Best Translucent Watercolor, and five Honorable Mentions.  There are a total of 31 watercolor paintings in the show representing the work of 29 Iowa artists.   Internationally known artist Carol Carter, from St. Louis, Mo, juried and judged this year's annual competition that was held in West Des Moines, Ia.   There were 142 entries for this year's juried show, of these, sixty-one where chosen for the Annual Show.  Carol Carter chose the eleven award winners and twenty additional paintings for the traveling show.  One can truly say the Iowa Watercolor Society Traveling Show is the best of the best.

The Iowa Watercolor Society (IWS) is an organization made up of beginning, amateur and professional artists.  The only requirement for membership is an interest in watercolor painting.  The IWS was organized in 1977 by a group of devoted artists that loved watercolor painting.  They were led by Joe Messner of Cedar Rapids.  Each year the organization holds an annual meeting, an annual juried show and one or two watercolor workshops.  The organizations primary purpose is to promote and support the arts in Iowa with an emphasis on watercolor painting.

The exhibit will be on display in the Musser Mansion Gallery from April 26 to May 22, 2015.

Please contact Melanie Alexander, Director, with any questions or concerns at 563-263-8282 or by email at malexander@muscatineiowa.gov.

The Muscatine Art Center is located at 1314 Mulberry Avenue in Muscatine, Iowa. Hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Thursday evenings until 7:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Admission is free. Donations are appreciated. Visit www.muscatineartcenter.org for more information about programs and events and to download a class brochure.

01 Apr 2015

DEADLINE EXTENDED: Loebsack Announces 2015 Congressional High School Art Competition

By Joe Hand

Original works by local high school students now due April 10th  

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack announced today that high school students in the Iowa's Second Congressional District may now submit their original artwork to be considered for the 2015 Congressional Art Competition. The annual competition is hosted by the United States House of Representatives to recognize talented young artists from across the nation. The winning student from each district is invited to Washington, D.C. to attend a reception held in their honor and will have his or her artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year. Due to local schools schedules, the deadline for entries to be received has been extended to April 10th.  

"The vast amount of talent that Iowa's students display year after year continues to amaze me. The creativity of our talented young artists demonstrates that the arts are thriving in Iowa," said Loebsack. "For a young artist, having your artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol is quite a remarkable accomplishment. I look forward to seeing this year's entries and meeting the winning student."

Once again, to make the contest as easy as possible and open to as many students as possible, this year's winner will be chosen by the public through an online vote. Details on how to submit art work are available by clicking here to visit Loebsack's website. All entries must be received no later than Friday, April, 10th at 11:59pm. The artist of the winning piece will receive two round trip tickets to Washington, D.C. to attend the reception and unveiling of their artwork in the Capitol (all other expenses must be covered by the winner). For additional details about the competition, students or teachers should contact Jared Mullendore at 563-323-5988 or by email at Jared.Mullendore@mail.house.gov.

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01 Apr 2015

University of Iowa Faculty Biennial Exhibition Opens Saturday

By Natalie Dunlop

Davenport, Iowa (March 30, 2015) - Opening Saturday at the Figge Art Museum in the fourth floor gallery is the University of Iowa Art Faculty Biennial exhibition.

Curated by University of Iowa Museum of Art (UIMA) Museum Director Dr. Sean O'Harrow, the UIMA will kick off the spring season with this annual exhibition featuring the recent work of world renowned UI Studio Arts professors including: Eliza Au, Isabel Barbuzza, Peter Chanthanakone, Monica Correia, John Dilg, Laurel Farrin, Sue Hettmansperger, Anita Jung, Sarah Kanouse, Michele Lauriat, Amanda Lechner, Steve McGuire, Daniel Miller, Virginia Myers, Jeff Rich, Ronald M. Rozencohn, James Snitzer, Margaret Stratton, Serina Sulentic, Serhat Tanyolacar, Breanne Trammell, Josh Van Stippen, Susan Chrysler White, Rachel Williams, Jon Winet and Kee-Ho Yuen.

As a direct reflection of the range of medium taught in the Studio Arts program, the pieces and installations on display will include works of paint, sculpture, inter-media, mixed-media, metal arts, photography, 3-dementional design and graphic design. This year, works by the fellows of the Grant Wood Colony will also be included.

A free public reception celebrating the opening of this exhibition as well as the Eye on UI: Brodsky, Dorfman, Kipniss, Lanyon exhibition will take place at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 11 with light appetizers and a cash bar. Free and open to the public.

University of Iowa students, faculty and staff receive free admission to the Figge with their UI ID cards; UIMA members get in free with their UIMA Membership cards.

The exhibition will be on display April 4 - May 31, 2015.

Companion Programming:

Dancers in Company Performance

6 p.m. Thursday, April 9

Free Admission
Dancers in Company consists of twelve dancers, undergraduates and graduate students from the University of Iowa. The group will return to the Figge for a performance in the lobby as part of a night that celebrates the artistic traditions at the University of Iowa. Presently, the company is directed by Charlotte Adams. Sponsored by the River Cities' Reader.

Artist Talks

7 p.m. Thursday, April 9
Free Admission
University of Iowa faculty from the School of Art will speak about their pieces included in the exhibition University of Iowa Art Faculty Biennial (April 4-May 31).

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 noon to 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, and free to all on Thursday evenings from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. To contact the museum, please call 563.326.7804, or visit www.figgeartmuseum.org.

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-end-

26 Mar 2015

Blurring the Edges Exhibit

By Dubuque Area Arts Collective

OPENING RECEPTION:

Saturday, March 28, 6 - 10PM Dubuque Area Arts Collective (902 Main St, Dubuque IA)
LIVE MUSIC: Idpyramid

The Dubuque Area Arts Collective is proud to present Blurring the Edges, a new group show featuring abstract and experimental art. The exhibit highlights work by established and emerging local artists, as well as national and international artists.

Traditional media, including painting, multimedia, and digital art, will be represented, as well as nontraditional media such as body prints in ink, and petri dish photographs. 

Admission is free, with donations welcome. Hors d'oeveres and drinks will be provided.

LIVE MUSIC:
Music will be provided by Idpyramid, a 4-piece band from the Quad Cities. Idpyramid's music melds synth-soaked melodies with ambient soundscapes and drum machines, providing an aural compliment to the abstract and experimental visuals. Listen to them here: http://idpyramid.bandcamp.com/

OPEN HOURS:
Exhibit will be open until April 25th. Gallery open Saturdays and Sundays from 12 to 4 PM or by appointment

26 Mar 2015

A Breath of Spring An artistic celebration of spring

By Pat Bereskin
Quad City Atom Studio + Gallery is pleased to announce a group exhibition of artwork which will be presented at The Quad City Botanical Center 2525 4th Avenue Rock Island, IL.  The show will run from from March 20th  to April 30th with a special opening reception Sunday, April 12th from 12:00- 3:00 p.m. During the reception, gallery artists will be painting and sculpting in the gardens for your viewing pleasure. It's a great opportunity for those interested to watch, interact, and learn how the artists find inspiration in the gardens and go through the creative process in their work.

Six Atom Gallery artists will be featured in the show: Pat Bereskin, Brad Bisbey, Dan Johnson, Dean Kulger, Gene Brack and David Anderson. Bereskin, Bisbey, and Anderson often call on mid-western landscapes and flora for inspiration in their work, while Brack and Johnson explore unique painting techniques where vivid color, shape, and line are energizing forces.  Kugler is a sculptor who explores the beauty and intricacies of the human form and experiments with nontraditional methods and materials.

This exhibition beautifully combines the innovative artwork with the plants and flowers that are growing and blooming in the gardens at the Botanical Center and truly makes it a celebration of spring in the Quad Cities.

Quad City Botanical Center 2525 4th Avenue Rock Island, Illinois 309-794-0991. The Botanical Center is open 10am - 4pm Monday through Saturday (open late Tuesday night until 7pm) and 11am - 4pm Sunday.  For additional information please contact Karen, (309) 794-0991.

Atom Studio & Gallery is located at 225 E 2nd street, Suite 104, Davenport, Iowa in Bucktown Center for the Arts.  We provide opportunities for involvement, exposure and action in our community and culture through art. The gallery is open Wednesday through Saturday, from 11am to 6 pm. Contact information is Pat Bereskin atomstudiogallery@gmail.com telephone is 563-508-4630

26 Mar 2015

A new exhibition will be opening at the Figge Art Museum this weekend. Danish Modern: Design for Living will be on display in the Katz Gallery starting Saturday.

By Natalie Dunlap

Danish Modern: Design for Living

Davenport, Iowa (March 23, 2015) - Iconic examples of 20th century furniture design will be coming to the Figge Art Museum beginning Friday with the exhibition Danish Modern: Design for Living. Organized by the Museum of Danish America in Elk Horn, Iowa, Danish Modern brings together a wonderful selection of the most influential pieces of post-war furniture design. 

As evidenced by stylish set designs of the popular AMC series Mad Men, Danish furniture design played a major role in American interior décor during the 1950s and '60s, where it was perfectly at home in the glass and steel skyscrapers of Manhattan and the ubiquitous pastel painted, single-level ranch homes of suburbia.

Dozens of vintage pieces from the period by designers such as Poul Henningsen, Arne Jacobsen, Niels Otto Møller, Borge Mogensen and Hans Wegner will be on view. Wegner is featured with his most popular designs including the Round Chair, later known simply as "the Chair" after it gained wide popularity in televised presidential debates between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon.

In addition, light fixtures, toys, tablewares and serving pieces will be included.

Wynne Schafer, a professional interior designer and primary consultant for the exhibition's layout, is thrilled for this exhibition to be featured at the Figge.  "Danish design is a highly regarded style expressing beautiful forms adapted for modern day needs," she explained.  "The designs are based on simplified historical forms and nature using high quality production and efficient use of materials.  These elegant products are timeless in style and bring beauty to our everyday lives."

Danish Modern: Design for Living reminds us of how intertwined Danish design and our daily lives were in the post-war era, and invites us to look ahead by looking back at some of the most forward-thinking designs of the time.

This exhibition is sponsored by Schafer Interiors and will be on view in the Katz Gallery this Saturday, March 28  - Sunday, June 21, 2015.

COMPANION EVENTS:

Opening Reception, Talk and Tour
Thursday, April 2
5:30 p.m. Opening Reception (members only)
7 p.m. Exhibition Talk (open to public)

Museum of Danish America Executive Director Dr. John Mark Nielsen will discuss Danish design as it's lived in Denmark. Following the talk, Tova Brandt, Albert Ravenholt Curator of Danish-American Culture, will give a tour of the exhibition.

Gallery Talk
Thursday, April 30
7 p.m. Danish Modern Talk

Join Wynne Schafer for a gallery talk about the exhibition. Schafer, a professional interior designer, is the primary consultant for the exhibition's layout and installation and has taught interior design and decorative art history for 30 years at Scott Community College. 

Docent-led Tours
1:30 p.m. Sundays, April 12, 19
1:30 p.m. Saturdays, April 18, 25

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 noon to 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, and free to all on Thursdayevenings from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. To contact the museum, please call 563.326.7804, or visit www.figgeartmuseum.org.

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23 Mar 2015

Niabi Zoo Announces 2015 Opening Day

By Marc Heinzman

Coal Valley, IL - March 16, 2014 - Niabi Zoo has announced that it will open its gates for the 2015 season on Monday, March 23.

The zoo, which has been closed for the winter since the end of October 2014, will be open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Saturday and 11:00 am to 5:00 pm on Sundays. As a way to welcome the community back out to the zoo, admission will be free until March 27.

Niabi Zoo Director Marc Heinzman says zoo visitors have much to look forward to this year. "The great thing about visiting Niabi Zoo," said Heinzman, "is that it's always a new adventure for our guests. We have several exciting construction projects that we are working hard to finish up, including a new koi pond pavilion and a major renovation of part of our bird building, which will be the future home of meerkats, a brand new species to Niabi Zoo." Heinzman added that the meerkats have not arrived at the Zoo yet, but zoo guests can preview their newly constructed habitat during their visit. A special announcement will be made in the future when the animals have arrived and are ready for public viewing. "This new exhibit is incredibly immersive and brings huge improvements to one of the oldest parts of the Zoo," said Heinzman.

Also new at Niabi Zoo this year is the male giraffe that was born on February 10; however Heinzman said he will not be on public display right away. "We want to give our new giraffe time to adjust to all the sounds, crowds, and all the other new things that come with the zoo being open to the public," said Heinzman. "It's a big change at Niabi Zoo between the quiet of being closed for the winter and the hustle and bustle of when we open for the year."

Starting March 23, Niabi Zoo will be open seven days a week.

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20 Mar 2015

Back By Popular Demand: Putnam Pro Series

By Putnam Museum
NEW! The Putnam Pro Afterschool Series is six weeks of exciting, hands-on learning that invites students to dive deep into exciting concepts! Use the Putnam's FabLab Classroom and cool tools in the Museum and Science Center to take learning to the next level! This opportunity is open to 4th-8th graders.

Classes start the Week of April 20th and run 4-5:30pm!

Tuesdays - Hardware Hackers
Wednesdays - Putnam Programmers Pro
Thursdays - Space Explorers Pro
READ MORE ON CLASS DESCRIPTIONS AND PRICE
Contact Alice Loff at 563.336.7296 or email aloff@putnam.org for more information.
Putnam Summer Camps
On sale now!
Putnam campers and their parents look forward to Putnam Summer Camps all year long! From coding and inventing, to exploding and exploring, there is a camp to spark any kid's interest. Don't wait too long because camps fill up fast and are on sale now. Check out a few favorites below!
20 Mar 2015

Gene Brack: Variations: Conflicting Harmonies

By Pat Bereskin

Following WWII, the Abstract Expressionism's movement spread internationally from New York. Artists, like Quad City's Gene Brack, have taken inspiration from this American movement and applied it to their body of work. "I love the rich texture of oil paints. There is something sculptural about the way they adhere to the canvas. The vivid and rich colors give me a variety of choices as I manipulate them into compositions that are, at times, geometric and, at other times, subtle and restful," said Brack recently in an interview.

Coming from a theatrical background as a set designer, Brack captures his dramatic effects best in harsh diagonal lines and almost comedic curving lines. There is drama in the clash of design elements; lines and color create a rich contrast that tips the balance of the composition and frees one's imagination.

Along with Brack's southern roots in central Florida, faith, education, and service in the US Air Force have affected Brack's journey. His use of color and texture open a viewer's eyes to this innovative work.

It is Atom Studio + Gallery's privilege to welcome Gene Brack as one of our own. We cordially invite you to the opening of his show, Variations: Conflicting Harmonies, which will be sure to enchant the public. A reception in his honor will be held March 27th from 6 to 9 p.m. The show will continue through April 19th, and affter the 19th, a selection of Brack's work will be included in the gallery, which is located at 225 E. 2nd Street, downtown Davenport.

Atom Studio + Gallery has a full selection of summer courses and classes available for all ages and abilities. Please contact the gallery at atomstudiogallery@gmail.com or Pat Bereskin at 563-508-4630 for further information.

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