Octagon Center for the Arts

Octagonal 2023: The All Media Show
2023-03-03 08:00 - 2023-04-08 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Octagon Center for the Arts, 427 Douglas Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
Octagonal: The All-Media Show is the annual, juried all-media exhibition at the Octagon Center for the Arts in Ames, Iowa. Originally titled the Clay and Paper Show, the exhibit opened in 1968 to provide an opportunity to the central Iowa arts community. Over the past 54 years, the exhibit morphed over the decades to become the Clay, Fiber, Paper, Glass, Metal, Wood Exhibit that has featured hundreds of artists from dozens of states. The newest version of the exhibit, Octagonal: The All-Media Show, launched in 2018 taking a note from the past while moving forward to continue to provide an exciting opportunity for artists across Iowa, the Midwest, and the nation. This exhibit features a regionally-recognized juror each year, attracts artists from across the United States, and provides significant cash awards.

CLICK HERE to visit the Octagonal Page

Exhibit Timeline

Applications Open: Dec 2, 2022
Applications Close: Jan 15, 2023, 11:59 pm
Notification of Jury Results: Jan 25, 2023
Artwork Delivery/Drop-off Deadline: Feb 18, 2023*
Exhibit Opening/Reception: March 3
Exhibit Closes: April 8
Artwork Pickup Dates: April 10 – 14, 2023
Artwork Ship Dates: April 17 – 21, 2023
*All artwork must be received by February 18, 2023. Dropoff only on weekdays (in-person)or via mail.

2023 Juror: Ash Hanson

Ash Hanson has 15 years of experience working with rural communities to activate stories, connect neighbors, and exercise collective imagination.
She is the Executive Director of the Department of Public Transformation (DoPT), an artist-led nonprofit working at the intersection of creativity and civic life in rural communities; the founder of PlaceBase Productions, a theater company that creates original, site-specific musicals celebrating small-town life; and, a member of the Center for Performance and Civic Practice Leadership Circle. Previously, she was the Program Director for the Minnesota Theater Alliance, serving the statewide performing arts community, and the Program Director for Public Art Saint Paul, producing large-scale public art events and experiences.
She was an Artist-in-Residence in the City of Minneapolis Planning Department and with the Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership, where she employed creative community engagement strategies for equitable participation in urban and rural planning processes. She holds an MA in Applied Theater with a focus on Rural Community Development, and she was named an Obama Foundation Fellow and a Bush Fellow for her work with rural communities. She believes deeply in the power of play and exclamation points!
Click to visit Ash Hanson’s website

Below are the accepted artists for 2023. Congratulations!

Last Name
First Name
Title

Arp
Jordan
Heart of Gold

Arp
Jordan
Red, White, BOOM

Busby
Betty
Don’t Touch Me

Busby
Betty
In the Beginning

Cooper
Karen
Doing Fine.

Deam
Natalie
Skullwreck

DuVal Mihelich
Katie
How Do I Say Goodbye?

Freese
Robert
Original Social Post

Gauerke
Jennifer
Comfortmaker

Hardy
Michele
Circles #51

Hoyt
Summer
The Spring of Fortitude

Huffman
Angie
Saturday

Joffe-Bouska
Marcia
RIO DEL OLVIDO (river of forgetfulness)

Kruse
Jerene
Peaceful Shelter

Lemons
Jon
Blank Billboard

McKaig
Kelly
Orbits and Excavations: Nine-Patch Orbit

Park
Sangsook
An old diary memory (Brooch)

Petersen
Clinton
Red City

Pfeiffer
Jarred
Twin Columns

prior
Isaac
Blue Folds, Waves

Quinn
Jess
Symphony In Purple and Green

Reeves
Elizabeth
Consumption

Reinhart
Catherine
Inland Surveying

Reinhart
Catherine
Clan Curio

Rocca
Kimberlee
A Stone’s Throw

Roethler
Megan
Dining Room

Shea
Bradley
Over the Hills and Far Away

Simonsen
Richard
NAUTICA

Sorrell
Josh
Generate

staniforth
art
jungle

Wallace
Rob
Eye of the Tiger

Whalley
Tom
Twister

Whetstone
Mattea
Nutshell

Wilkinson
Alicia
Childhood Sky [healing pixel textile painting]

Wollert
Zach
Construct

Zhang
Dafang
Chinese Wisteria

To all artists who submitted art to Octagonal this year, we want to thank you for supporting the Octagon!
