BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Octagon Center for the Arts - ECPv6.15.18//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Octagon Center for the Arts X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://octagonarts.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Octagon Center for the Arts REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Chicago BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20240310T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20241103T070000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20250309T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20251102T070000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20260308T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20261101T070000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20270314T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20271107T070000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250630T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250712T170000 DTSTAMP:20260425T102135 CREATED:20230921T203859Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250625T174003Z UID:15364-1751277600-1752339600@octagonarts.org SUMMARY:Solo Art Exhibition: Raluca Iancu "Over + Under" DESCRIPTION:Over + Under\nSolo Exhibition by Raluca Iancu\n\nExhibition Dates:\nJune 30th\, 2025 – Exhibition Opening Day\nJuly 10th\, 2025 – Exhibition Reception from 6pm – 7:30pm in the Community Gallery\nRaluca will be giving an Artist Talk at 6:30pm on July 10th!\nJuly 12th\, 2025 – Exhibition Closes \n \nArtist Statement:\nMy work explores disaster\, memory and vulnerability through different media\, ranging from printmaking to performance\, to edible art and printed objects. I question the way we look at tragedy as well as the way we deal with the aftermath. We depend on our technology (planes\, trains\, automobiles) and easily forget that it is just as fallible as our bodies. In our contemporary media driven culture\, catastrophes\, of all kinds\, are trivialized by their frequent appearances across the spectrum of information media\, especially as access to data is more widespread than ever before. We\, as a society\, have become desensitized to these events through constant exposure\, unable to understand the serious consequences of our actions. Separated from the outside world by our screens and windshields\, we create a culture of indifference as we learn to consume tragedy\, on all scales\, as entertainment. The automobile drastically changed the way that we experience the world\, physically\, as well as intellectually. We find ourselves with endless facets for the consideration of our impermanence\, as morbid curiosity pushes us to hyperextend our necks\, to the point of material transformation (skin\, bone\, and muscle\, into rubber). The work in this exhibition is centered on the role of automobiles in our lives and their impact on our environment. \n \nArtist Biography:\nRaluca Iancu is currently an Assistant Professor in Art & Visual Culture\, Printmaking\, at Iowa State University (ISU). She earned her MFA in Studio Art\, Printmaking\, from The University of Tennessee\, Knoxville (UTK)\, and her BFA in Printmaking from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University\, Halifax\, Nova Scotia. \nHer work investigates disaster\, memory\, and vulnerability through different media\, ranging from printmaking to performance\, to edible art and printed objects. She is interested in how our relationship with technology simultaneously enhances our lives\, while also leaving us vulnerable. \nShe has exhibited internationally\, at venues including the Art Museum of Cluj-Napoca (Romania)\, and the CICA Museum (Korea); and nationally at the International Print Center of New York (NY)\, the Bradbury Art Museum\, (AR)\, the Art Institute of Boston (MA)\, and the Hunterdon Museum (NJ)\, among others. She has been an artist in residence in the United States\, at the Hambidge Center for Creative Arts & Sciences (GA) and the Vermont Studio Center (VT)\, among others; and internationally Art Print Residence (Spain)\, the Eugeniusz Geppert Academy of Fine Arts (Poland)\, St Michael’s Printshop (Canada)\, Mi-LAB and Studio Kura (Japan)\, and\, most recently\, BetterPress Lab (Italy). URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/overunder/ LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://octagonarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Raluca.png ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org GEO:42.0257584;-93.6123172 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Octagon Center for the Arts 427 Douglas Avenue Ames IA 50010 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=427 Douglas Avenue:geo:-93.6123172,42.0257584 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250721T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250809T170000 DTSTAMP:20260425T102135 CREATED:20250130T165240Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250714T190532Z UID:16778-1753092000-1754758800@octagonarts.org SUMMARY:Group Art Exhibition: Iowa Artist/Mother Group “Elusive Balance” DESCRIPTION:Elusive Balance\nGroup Exhibition by Iowa Artist/Mother Group\n\nExhibition Dates:\nJuly 21st\, 2025 – Exhibition Opening Day\nAugust 9th\, 2025 – Exhibition Reception 2:00PM – 5:00PM in the Community Gallery\nAugust 9th\, 2025 – Exhibition Closes \n \nArtist Statement:\nWorks in this exhibition will include fiber art\, painting\, printmaking\, mixed media\, performance\, sculpture\, photography\, and video with a variety of processes and methods. With our intention to showcase the voices of Iowa artist mothers who represent a range of diverse backgrounds\, ages\, motherhood stages\, and mediums\, the exhibition will convey a collection of experiences and perspectives that the work of one singular artist’s body of work would prove challenging to convey. The Iowa Artist/Mother group presents an exhibition entitled “Elusive Balance.” The theme of this exhibition explores the challenges of finding balance within artist and mother/caregiver identities. Since there is no one way to embody motherhood\, this theme is open to broad interpretation\, encompassing ideas of rest and productivity\, contentment and overwhelm\, stability and transition\, responsibility and absurdity/play\, and societal expectations vs. personal intuition. We are interested in how one finds personal balance or simply lets go of this elusive state\, embracing or celebrating imbalance within life and art. This exhibition showcases the voices of Iowa artist mothers who represent a range of diverse backgrounds\, ages\, motherhood stages\, and mediums. Each artist has one piece on exhibit. Many of the artists are affiliated with the Iowa Artist/Mother group\, an egalitarian group started in 2021 that meets regularly to build community\, share resources\, and support artists who are also caregivers. \n \nArtist Biography:\nThe Iowa Artist/Mother group presents an exhibition entitled “Elusive Balance.” The theme of this exhibition explores the challenges of finding balance within artist and mother/caregiver identities. Since there is no one way to embody motherhood\, this theme is open to broad interpretation\, encompassing ideas of rest and productivity\, contentment and overwhelm\, stability and transition\, responsibility and absurdity/play\, and societal expectations vs. personal intuition. We are interested in how one finds personal balance or simply lets go of this elusive state\, embracing or celebrating imbalance within life and art. \nThis exhibition showcases the voices of Iowa artist mothers who represent a range of diverse backgrounds\, ages\, motherhood stages\, and mediums. Each artist has one piece on exhibit. \nMany of the artists are affiliated with the Iowa Artist/Mother group\, an egalitarian group started in 2021 that meets regularly to build community\, share resources\, and support artists who are also caregivers. \nYou can learn more about this travelling exhibition HERE \nParticipating Artists:\nAlicia Wilkinson\, Akwi Nji\, Alexandra Ackerman\, Allison Rowe\, Amenda Tate\, Astrid Hilger Bennett\, Catherine Reinhart\, Bailey Fry-Schnormeier\, Emily Newman\, Emily Jalinsky\, Genevra Daley\, Hope Spragg\, Jamie Elizabeth Hudrlik\, Jill Wells\, Julia Franklin\, Kelly Devitt\, Kay Ireland\, Kristin M. Roach\, Larassa Kabel\, Lauren A. Ross\, Mirzam Perez\, Ramona Muse Lambert\, Sheena Daugherty\, Stephanie Brunia\nNote: These artists have extend invitations to a selection of other female-identifying Iowa artists/caregivers for inclusion in the exhibition. URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/elusivebalance/ LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://octagonarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Allison-Rowe.png ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org GEO:42.0257584;-93.6123172 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Octagon Center for the Arts 427 Douglas Avenue Ames IA 50010 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=427 Douglas Avenue:geo:-93.6123172,42.0257584 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250809T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250809T170000 DTSTAMP:20260425T102135 CREATED:20250821T220718Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250821T220718Z UID:17205-1754748000-1754758800@octagonarts.org SUMMARY:“Elusive Balance” Reception DESCRIPTION:Elusive Balance\nGroup Exhibition by Iowa Artist/Mother Group\n\nExhibition Dates:\nJuly 21st\, 2025 – Exhibition Opening Day\nAugust 9th\, 2025 – Exhibition Reception 2:00PM – 5:00PM in the Community Gallery\nAugust 9th\, 2025 – Exhibition Closes \n \nArtist Statement:\nWorks in this exhibition will include fiber art\, painting\, printmaking\, mixed media\, performance\, sculpture\, photography\, and video with a variety of processes and methods. With our intention to showcase the voices of Iowa artist mothers who represent a range of diverse backgrounds\, ages\, motherhood stages\, and mediums\, the exhibition will convey a collection of experiences and perspectives that the work of one singular artist’s body of work would prove challenging to convey. The Iowa Artist/Mother group presents an exhibition entitled “Elusive Balance.” The theme of this exhibition explores the challenges of finding balance within artist and mother/caregiver identities. Since there is no one way to embody motherhood\, this theme is open to broad interpretation\, encompassing ideas of rest and productivity\, contentment and overwhelm\, stability and transition\, responsibility and absurdity/play\, and societal expectations vs. personal intuition. We are interested in how one finds personal balance or simply lets go of this elusive state\, embracing or celebrating imbalance within life and art. This exhibition showcases the voices of Iowa artist mothers who represent a range of diverse backgrounds\, ages\, motherhood stages\, and mediums. Each artist has one piece on exhibit. Many of the artists are affiliated with the Iowa Artist/Mother group\, an egalitarian group started in 2021 that meets regularly to build community\, share resources\, and support artists who are also caregivers. \n \nArtist Biography:\nThe Iowa Artist/Mother group presents an exhibition entitled “Elusive Balance.” The theme of this exhibition explores the challenges of finding balance within artist and mother/caregiver identities. Since there is no one way to embody motherhood\, this theme is open to broad interpretation\, encompassing ideas of rest and productivity\, contentment and overwhelm\, stability and transition\, responsibility and absurdity/play\, and societal expectations vs. personal intuition. We are interested in how one finds personal balance or simply lets go of this elusive state\, embracing or celebrating imbalance within life and art. \nThis exhibition showcases the voices of Iowa artist mothers who represent a range of diverse backgrounds\, ages\, motherhood stages\, and mediums. Each artist has one piece on exhibit. \nMany of the artists are affiliated with the Iowa Artist/Mother group\, an egalitarian group started in 2021 that meets regularly to build community\, share resources\, and support artists who are also caregivers. \nYou can learn more about this travelling exhibition HERE \nParticipating Artists:\nAlicia Wilkinson\, Akwi Nji\, Alexandra Ackerman\, Allison Rowe\, Amenda Tate\, Astrid Hilger Bennett\, Catherine Reinhart\, Bailey Fry-Schnormeier\, Emily Newman\, Emily Jalinsky\, Genevra Daley\, Hope Spragg\, Jamie Elizabeth Hudrlik\, Jill Wells\, Julia Franklin\, Kelly Devitt\, Kay Ireland\, Kristin M. Roach\, Larassa Kabel\, Lauren A. Ross\, Mirzam Perez\, Ramona Muse Lambert\, Sheena Daugherty\, Stephanie Brunia\nNote: These artists have extend invitations to a selection of other female-identifying Iowa artists/caregivers for inclusion in the exhibition. URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/elusive-balance-reception/ LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://octagonarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Allison-Rowe.png ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org GEO:42.0257584;-93.6123172 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Octagon Center for the Arts 427 Douglas Avenue Ames IA 50010 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=427 Douglas Avenue:geo:-93.6123172,42.0257584 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250818T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250905T170000 DTSTAMP:20260425T102135 CREATED:20250130T170916Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250731T183446Z UID:16782-1755511200-1757091600@octagonarts.org SUMMARY:Group Art Exhibition: Alexandra and Jeremy Ackerman "Just Duet” DESCRIPTION:Just Duet\nGroup Exhibition by Alexandra Ackerman and Jeremy Ackerman\n\nExhibition Dates:\nAugust 18th\, 2025 – Exhibition Opening Day\nSeptember 5th\, 2025 – Exhibition Reception 5:30PM – 7:30PM in the Community Gallery\nSeptember 5th\, 2025 – Exhibition Closes\n\n \nArtists’ Statements:\n\nAlexandra Ackerman:\nFor as long as I can remember I have found comfort and joy in making things with my hands. Art has helped me process and respond to the beauty and complexity of the world through every phase of life. Now\, as an adult\, I can see that all my work is in honor of childhood and in dedication to my childhood self\, the girl who found pure freedom in creating her own worlds. My paintings are “internal landscapes”\, unique environments that reflect a deep love of color\, pattern\, nature\, and play. My visual language draws from my years of experience farming and gardening across the country. I have found infinite pleasure in the simple act of watching plants grow; my hands in the soil\, bearing witness to the life cycle from seed to fruit\, contemplating the mysteries of clouds\, bugs\, and steaming piles of compost. The transformative experience of pregnancy and motherhood have also shaped me as an artist\, giving new meaning to the concept of “creation”.\nFor the past twenty years I have constantly sought to balance my roles of mother and artist\, finding joy and tears in the process. During the pandemic I shifted my focus from watercolor to acrylic and mixed media. I began gluing fabric scraps onto wood panels\, and painting around and over them. Cutting and gluing was grounding and healing in a time of extreme uncertainty. My current work – a series of acrylic and fabric paintings on wood – explores a combination of contrasting themes: wild vs. cultivated landscape\, domestic vs. natural environment\, order vs. chaos. Each painting seeks harmony and balance in color and composition\, texture and pattern. I am especially inspired by folk art\, botanical art\, aboriginal art\, and patchwork quilts. I hope my paintings will stimulate curiosity and encourage the viewer to look at the world with fresh eyes. \nJeremy Ackerman:\nThe irreverent artist Ray Johnson produced a series of seemingly improvised performances during his career that he referred to as “Throw Away Gestures.” Usually consisting of a few unremarkable objects\, Johnson would break down social norms by interacting with these objects in playful yet unsettling ways. These performances were not slick but rather a series of untethered gestures that were meant to surprise those\nbearing witness. Simple\, uncomplicated\, yet full of possibilities. In my most recent series of mixed media cut paper collages\, I’ve adapted Johnson’s concept of the “Throw Away Gesture” for two dimensional work. Scribbles became loose forms that were drawn up very quickly; sometimes without even looking at the paper. As the number of my throw away gestures accumulated I would look for interesting relationships between them. The drawn gestures then went through a comically tedious process of being cut out with an x-acto blade. Ultimately\, I was left with a collection of forms that were chopped up\, reduced\, expanded\, connected\, colored\, layered and sometimes actually thrown away.\nMy lifelong fascination with music played a major role in the aesthetic of these works. Rhythm and color push against each other as the cut out gestures dive\, slam\, twerk\, bounce and pogo; avatars for all the things floating around in my head. In these artworks the viewer might see glimmers of my lived experience of punk rock\, doo-wop\, death obsession\, new age philosophy\, hamburgers\, boom boxes\, spirits in the material world\, guilt\, divine comedies\, garbage collection\, aboriginal dreamtime conduits\, cosmic jazz and other such additions to a life time laundry list. In the end\, these sets of throw away gestures and random rules ushered in a new era of psychedelic storytelling that was in hot pursuit of self actualization. \n \nArtists’ Biographies:\n \nAlexandra Ackerman:\nAlexandra Ackerman is a mixed media artist who uses color\, pattern\, and form (both organic and geometric) to create playful and dynamic abstract landscapes. Her artwork has been influenced by her years of experience working on farms and in gardens across the U.S. She is also inspired by folk art\, patchwork quilts\, abstract expressionism\, and the Midwest landscape. Originally from Ann Arbor\, Michigan\, Ackerman grew up a keen observer of the natural world\, knowing from a young age that she would be an artist. She earned her BFA at Massachusetts College of Art\, where she explored a variety of media\, often incorporating fabric\, collage\, and found objects into her work. Ackerman has continued her exploration for three decades\, maintaining a childlike freedom in her painting while balancing her roles as artist and mother. She has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions nationally and her work has found a home in many public and private collections. Recent exhibitions include the Iowa State Capitol\, Memorial Union Gallery at ISU\, and the Dubuque Museum of Art biennial. Her work can be found at Liz Lidgett Gallery and Prairie Lights Bookstore. Alexandra shares a studio with her husband\, Jeremy\, in downtown Iowa City. \nJeremy Ackerman:\nIn the 1990’s\, visual artist Jeremy Ackerman attended Massachusetts College of Art in Boston. There he studied unconventional painting and installation with Afro Cuban artist Magadlena Compos-Pons. Heavily influenced by Compos-Pons’ polymathic approach to art making\, Jeremy began to explore a multitude of media including drawing\, sculpture\, film and performance. After moving back to his hometown of Minneapolis at the end of the century\, Jeremy continued to create art work while also founding the critically acclaimed eclectic pop group\, Walker Kong. During this creative era of music making\, Jeremy also began to experiment with cut paper collage. As his cut paper practice developed\, so did his vision for what could be expressed with the medium. Jeremy has spent the last two decades creating a body of cut paper work that distills hyperactive movement into eye popping psychedelic dreamscapes.\nDuring the pandemic Jeremy created his most ambitious work to date “Run Run Run (We Could Have Died)!” The first public viewing will be at Octagon Center for the Arts. In addition to growing his visual art\, Jeremy recently started a recording studio/ DIY music label\, Mouse Traxx Sounds. He is a current member of the music group\, Oranj Ruffs\, whose debut album was released in June 2024. He lives in Iowa City with his partner Alexandra\, and their two children. URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/justduet/ LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://octagonarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/AJAckerman.png ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org GEO:42.0257584;-93.6123172 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Octagon Center for the Arts 427 Douglas Avenue Ames IA 50010 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=427 Douglas Avenue:geo:-93.6123172,42.0257584 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250905T173000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250905T193000 DTSTAMP:20260425T102135 CREATED:20250821T221402Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250821T221402Z UID:17207-1757093400-1757100600@octagonarts.org SUMMARY:"Just Duet” Reception DESCRIPTION:Just Duet\nGroup Exhibition by Alexandra Ackerman and Jeremy Ackerman\n\nExhibition Dates:\nAugust 18th\, 2025 – Exhibition Opening Day\nSeptember 5th\, 2025 – Exhibition Reception 5:30PM – 7:30PM in the Community Gallery\nSeptember 5th\, 2025 – Exhibition Closes\n\n \nArtists’ Statements:\n\nAlexandra Ackerman:\nFor as long as I can remember I have found comfort and joy in making things with my hands. Art has helped me process and respond to the beauty and complexity of the world through every phase of life. Now\, as an adult\, I can see that all my work is in honor of childhood and in dedication to my childhood self\, the girl who found pure freedom in creating her own worlds. My paintings are “internal landscapes”\, unique environments that reflect a deep love of color\, pattern\, nature\, and play. My visual language draws from my years of experience farming and gardening across the country. I have found infinite pleasure in the simple act of watching plants grow; my hands in the soil\, bearing witness to the life cycle from seed to fruit\, contemplating the mysteries of clouds\, bugs\, and steaming piles of compost. The transformative experience of pregnancy and motherhood have also shaped me as an artist\, giving new meaning to the concept of “creation”.\nFor the past twenty years I have constantly sought to balance my roles of mother and artist\, finding joy and tears in the process. During the pandemic I shifted my focus from watercolor to acrylic and mixed media. I began gluing fabric scraps onto wood panels\, and painting around and over them. Cutting and gluing was grounding and healing in a time of extreme uncertainty. My current work – a series of acrylic and fabric paintings on wood – explores a combination of contrasting themes: wild vs. cultivated landscape\, domestic vs. natural environment\, order vs. chaos. Each painting seeks harmony and balance in color and composition\, texture and pattern. I am especially inspired by folk art\, botanical art\, aboriginal art\, and patchwork quilts. I hope my paintings will stimulate curiosity and encourage the viewer to look at the world with fresh eyes. \nJeremy Ackerman:\nThe irreverent artist Ray Johnson produced a series of seemingly improvised performances during his career that he referred to as “Throw Away Gestures.” Usually consisting of a few unremarkable objects\, Johnson would break down social norms by interacting with these objects in playful yet unsettling ways. These performances were not slick but rather a series of untethered gestures that were meant to surprise those\nbearing witness. Simple\, uncomplicated\, yet full of possibilities. In my most recent series of mixed media cut paper collages\, I’ve adapted Johnson’s concept of the “Throw Away Gesture” for two dimensional work. Scribbles became loose forms that were drawn up very quickly; sometimes without even looking at the paper. As the number of my throw away gestures accumulated I would look for interesting relationships between them. The drawn gestures then went through a comically tedious process of being cut out with an x-acto blade. Ultimately\, I was left with a collection of forms that were chopped up\, reduced\, expanded\, connected\, colored\, layered and sometimes actually thrown away.\nMy lifelong fascination with music played a major role in the aesthetic of these works. Rhythm and color push against each other as the cut out gestures dive\, slam\, twerk\, bounce and pogo; avatars for all the things floating around in my head. In these artworks the viewer might see glimmers of my lived experience of punk rock\, doo-wop\, death obsession\, new age philosophy\, hamburgers\, boom boxes\, spirits in the material world\, guilt\, divine comedies\, garbage collection\, aboriginal dreamtime conduits\, cosmic jazz and other such additions to a life time laundry list. In the end\, these sets of throw away gestures and random rules ushered in a new era of psychedelic storytelling that was in hot pursuit of self actualization. \n \nArtists’ Biographies:\n \nAlexandra Ackerman:\nAlexandra Ackerman is a mixed media artist who uses color\, pattern\, and form (both organic and geometric) to create playful and dynamic abstract landscapes. Her artwork has been influenced by her years of experience working on farms and in gardens across the U.S. She is also inspired by folk art\, patchwork quilts\, abstract expressionism\, and the Midwest landscape. Originally from Ann Arbor\, Michigan\, Ackerman grew up a keen observer of the natural world\, knowing from a young age that she would be an artist. She earned her BFA at Massachusetts College of Art\, where she explored a variety of media\, often incorporating fabric\, collage\, and found objects into her work. Ackerman has continued her exploration for three decades\, maintaining a childlike freedom in her painting while balancing her roles as artist and mother. She has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions nationally and her work has found a home in many public and private collections. Recent exhibitions include the Iowa State Capitol\, Memorial Union Gallery at ISU\, and the Dubuque Museum of Art biennial. Her work can be found at Liz Lidgett Gallery and Prairie Lights Bookstore. Alexandra shares a studio with her husband\, Jeremy\, in downtown Iowa City. \nJeremy Ackerman:\nIn the 1990’s\, visual artist Jeremy Ackerman attended Massachusetts College of Art in Boston. There he studied unconventional painting and installation with Afro Cuban artist Magadlena Compos-Pons. Heavily influenced by Compos-Pons’ polymathic approach to art making\, Jeremy began to explore a multitude of media including drawing\, sculpture\, film and performance. After moving back to his hometown of Minneapolis at the end of the century\, Jeremy continued to create art work while also founding the critically acclaimed eclectic pop group\, Walker Kong. During this creative era of music making\, Jeremy also began to experiment with cut paper collage. As his cut paper practice developed\, so did his vision for what could be expressed with the medium. Jeremy has spent the last two decades creating a body of cut paper work that distills hyperactive movement into eye popping psychedelic dreamscapes.\nDuring the pandemic Jeremy created his most ambitious work to date “Run Run Run (We Could Have Died)!” The first public viewing will be at Octagon Center for the Arts. In addition to growing his visual art\, Jeremy recently started a recording studio/ DIY music label\, Mouse Traxx Sounds. He is a current member of the music group\, Oranj Ruffs\, whose debut album was released in June 2024. He lives in Iowa City with his partner Alexandra\, and their two children. URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/just-duet-reception/ LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://octagonarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/AJAckerman.png ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org GEO:42.0257584;-93.6123172 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Octagon Center for the Arts 427 Douglas Avenue Ames IA 50010 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=427 Douglas Avenue:geo:-93.6123172,42.0257584 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250912T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250928T170000 DTSTAMP:20260425T102135 CREATED:20250904T155651Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250904T155651Z UID:17247-1757671200-1759078800@octagonarts.org SUMMARY:Solo Art Exhibition: Christopher Hynes “Visions of Hildegard” DESCRIPTION:Visions of Hildegard\nSolo Exhibition by Christopher Hynes\n\nExhibition Dates:\nSeptember 12th\, 2025 – Exhibition Opening Day\nSeptember 12th\, 2025 – Exhibition Reception 5:30PM – 7PM in the Community Gallery with choir performance by the group “Good Company” at 6pm\nSeptember 28th\, 2025 – Exhibition Closes \n \nArtist Statement:\n“There is a little bit of something in everything and that is what I like to explore.” \nMy work is all about storytelling–my Assemblages\, Sculptures\, Collages\, and Pigmented Plasters all bear a narrative element. Through observing\, reinterpreting\, repurposing\, and reimagining objects\, materials and artifacts\, I create visual poems that are sometimes political and serious\, sometimes whimsical and humorous\, but always with purpose and intent. When I’m in my studio everything I need is there and the universe is perfect. \nHildegard of Bingen saw the world as a whole – nearly nine  centuries before spaceflight allowed us to see the Earth as a  vulnerable orb against the darkness of space. I have long had a  personal connection with this exceptional mystic. Having raised  ten children- I was the tenth- my mother returned to her vocation  as a Benedictine nun after my father passed away. She told me  about Hildegard\, her work and her visions in the early eighties  before she became known and celebrated in bibliotherapy  research. So when Alex [collaborative composer] shared his ideas of working with Hildegard of  Bingen’s concepts and music for our second collaboration\, I was immediately drawn in. The number 3 occurs with regularity in  Hildegard’s writings\, and Alex made this central in his new  composition. I then decided to base my palette on the three  primary colors and their opposites. The nine paintings divided in  three subsets of three sizes – 24 x 24\, 48 x 48\, and 24 x 48 inches  determined the size of the paintings. I worked exclusively in pigmented plaster\, which dates back to  the Babylonians. It is a material that Hildegard would have been  familiar with and that I discovered while working the trades in  the early 2000s. I apply the plaster with a variety of knives ranging  from large mud knives to very small palette knives typically used  for oil Paint on a surface of wood Panels or from plywood found  on job sites. Each tool allows me to create different textures and  details\, working with this ancient medium in a modern context. I  chose the orbs to reflect Hildegard’s visionary depictions and the  larger expansive world she perceived. The paintings represent the  vibrant energy she found within her contemplative state in  monastic life. I must say creating them takes me into a deep  meditative state. The first three paintings I created\, measuring 24″ x 24″\, have the  primary colors red\, blue\, and yellow\, on a field of their complementary opposites\, green\, orange\, and purple. \nAt the heart of each piece is an orb within a square\, symbolically  enclosed by a gilt cross. These simple yet powerful forms are  inspired by Hildegard’s Benedictine tradition\, evoking spiritual  balance\, the intersection of the earthly and the divine\, and the  cyclical nature of spiritual growth. The gold reflects spiritual awareness. Hildegard explained that  her visions were not observed by the senses but within her soul\,  opened to experience. She called it “the reflection of the living light” and said it was “not spatial\, but far\, far brighter than a  cloud which carries the sun. The three larger square paintings\, 48″ x 48”\, have an orb in a  secondary color on a field of blended primary and secondary  colors. These paintings symbolize Hildegard’s visions of the great  unknown cosmos and her mystical experiences of astral travel.  The orbs serve as metaphors for Hildegard’s visions and meditations on the divine order of the cosmos\, which she documented in  her manuscripts. These orbs also evoke the mystical nature of her  “Music of the Spheres\,” an ancient and medieval philosophical  idea where the movements of celestial bodies are not random but  instead follow a harmonious and ordered system\, stirring with  life. As she writes in her final text\, The Book of Divine Works: “the  waters flow as if alive\, and the sun lives within its own light\, and  when the moon has waned it is rekindled by the light of the sun  and thereby lives anew\, and the stars shine forth in their own light  as though alive.”‘ The final three paintings are horizontal works\, measuring 24×48\,  inspired by the trio of musicians’ free improvisations that run  throughout the jazz composition. The three primary colors in  these pieces mirror the fluid and spontaneous nature of improvisation\, where distinct yet interconnected elements come together  to create a cohesive whole. The paintings have a visual reference  to Physica\, Hildegard’s treatises on medicinal plants\, recording  one of the first compendiums of European plants that offered  insight into their herbal properties and their use as remedies. \nArtist Biography:\nChristopher Hynes is the youngest of 10 children and grew up in Washington\, D.C. around artists\, writers\, and politicos. As a young man he was a studio assistant for several Washington artists. He also worked in an archival frame shop but\, mostly\, he played in rock and roll bands. In 1988 he turned to the visual arts full time. He is mostly self-taught and has had numerous group and one-man shows in Texas\, New York\, D.C.\, and other cities. His work is in many private collections across the United States. He’s lived in Austin since 1984. URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/solo-art-exhibition-christopher-hynes-visions-of-hildegard/ LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://octagonarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ChrisHynes.png ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org GEO:42.0257584;-93.6123172 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Octagon Center for the Arts 427 Douglas Avenue Ames IA 50010 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=427 Douglas Avenue:geo:-93.6123172,42.0257584 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250912T173000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250912T190000 DTSTAMP:20260425T102135 CREATED:20250904T155550Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250904T155550Z UID:17245-1757698200-1757703600@octagonarts.org SUMMARY:“Visions of Hildegard” Reception DESCRIPTION:Visions of Hildegard\nSolo Exhibition by Christopher Hynes \n\nExhibition Dates:\nSeptember 12th\, 2025 – Exhibition Opening Day\nSeptember 12th\, 2025 – Exhibition Reception 5:30PM – 7PM in the Community Gallery with choir performance by the group “Good Company” at 6pm\nSeptember 28th\, 2025 – Exhibition Closes \n \nArtist Statement:\n“There is a little bit of something in everything and that is what I like to explore.” \nMy work is all about storytelling–my Assemblages\, Sculptures\, Collages\, and Pigmented Plasters all bear a narrative element. Through observing\, reinterpreting\, repurposing\, and reimagining objects\, materials and artifacts\, I create visual poems that are sometimes political and serious\, sometimes whimsical and humorous\, but always with purpose and intent. When I’m in my studio everything I need is there and the universe is perfect. \nHildegard of Bingen saw the world as a whole – nearly nine  centuries before spaceflight allowed us to see the Earth as a  vulnerable orb against the darkness of space. I have long had a  personal connection with this exceptional mystic. Having raised  ten children- I was the tenth- my mother returned to her vocation  as a Benedictine nun after my father passed away. She told me  about Hildegard\, her work and her visions in the early eighties  before she became known and celebrated in bibliotherapy  research. So when Alex [collaborative composer] shared his ideas of working with Hildegard of  Bingen’s concepts and music for our second collaboration\, I was immediately drawn in. The number 3 occurs with regularity in  Hildegard’s writings\, and Alex made this central in his new  composition. I then decided to base my palette on the three  primary colors and their opposites. The nine paintings divided in  three subsets of three sizes – 24 x 24\, 48 x 48\, and 24 x 48 inches  determined the size of the paintings. I worked exclusively in pigmented plaster\, which dates back to  the Babylonians. It is a material that Hildegard would have been  familiar with and that I discovered while working the trades in  the early 2000s. I apply the plaster with a variety of knives ranging  from large mud knives to very small palette knives typically used  for oil Paint on a surface of wood Panels or from plywood found  on job sites. Each tool allows me to create different textures and  details\, working with this ancient medium in a modern context. I  chose the orbs to reflect Hildegard’s visionary depictions and the  larger expansive world she perceived. The paintings represent the  vibrant energy she found within her contemplative state in  monastic life. I must say creating them takes me into a deep  meditative state. The first three paintings I created\, measuring 24″ x 24″\, have the  primary colors red\, blue\, and yellow\, on a field of their complementary opposites\, green\, orange\, and purple. \nAt the heart of each piece is an orb within a square\, symbolically  enclosed by a gilt cross. These simple yet powerful forms are  inspired by Hildegard’s Benedictine tradition\, evoking spiritual  balance\, the intersection of the earthly and the divine\, and the  cyclical nature of spiritual growth. The gold reflects spiritual awareness. Hildegard explained that  her visions were not observed by the senses but within her soul\,  opened to experience. She called it “the reflection of the living light” and said it was “not spatial\, but far\, far brighter than a  cloud which carries the sun. The three larger square paintings\, 48″ x 48”\, have an orb in a  secondary color on a field of blended primary and secondary  colors. These paintings symbolize Hildegard’s visions of the great  unknown cosmos and her mystical experiences of astral travel.  The orbs serve as metaphors for Hildegard’s visions and meditations on the divine order of the cosmos\, which she documented in  her manuscripts. These orbs also evoke the mystical nature of her  “Music of the Spheres\,” an ancient and medieval philosophical  idea where the movements of celestial bodies are not random but  instead follow a harmonious and ordered system\, stirring with  life. As she writes in her final text\, The Book of Divine Works: “the  waters flow as if alive\, and the sun lives within its own light\, and  when the moon has waned it is rekindled by the light of the sun  and thereby lives anew\, and the stars shine forth in their own light  as though alive.”‘ The final three paintings are horizontal works\, measuring 24×48\,  inspired by the trio of musicians’ free improvisations that run  throughout the jazz composition. The three primary colors in  these pieces mirror the fluid and spontaneous nature of improvisation\, where distinct yet interconnected elements come together  to create a cohesive whole. The paintings have a visual reference  to Physica\, Hildegard’s treatises on medicinal plants\, recording  one of the first compendiums of European plants that offered  insight into their herbal properties and their use as remedies. \nArtist Biography:\nChristopher Hynes is the youngest of 10 children and grew up in Washington\, D.C. around artists\, writers\, and politicos. As a young man he was a studio assistant for several Washington artists. He also worked in an archival frame shop but\, mostly\, he played in rock and roll bands. In 1988 he turned to the visual arts full time. He is mostly self-taught and has had numerous group and one-man shows in Texas\, New York\, D.C.\, and other cities. His work is in many private collections across the United States. He’s lived in Austin since 1984. \n  \nPerformers:\nGood Company is a premier women’s ensemble\, bringing together women of all ages and walks of life to share the beauty of choral music in Ames. A small group of Good Company members will be performing two works by Hildegard of Bingen\, under the direction of Steve Hoifeldt.  \nWebsite: goodcompanysings.com URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/visions-of-hildegard-reception/ LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://octagonarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ChrisHynes.png ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org GEO:42.0257584;-93.6123172 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Octagon Center for the Arts 427 Douglas Avenue Ames IA 50010 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=427 Douglas Avenue:geo:-93.6123172,42.0257584 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251009T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251113T170000 DTSTAMP:20260425T102135 CREATED:20250130T183635Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251007T170046Z UID:16788-1759996800-1763053200@octagonarts.org SUMMARY:Group Art Exhibition: Cedar River Artisans “Voices” DESCRIPTION:Voices\nGroup Exhibition by Cedar River Artisans\n\nExhibition Dates:\nOctober 9th\, 2025 – Exhibition Opening Day\nNovember 13th\, 2025 – Exhibition Public Reception from 6:00 – 7:30PM in the Community Gallery\nNovember 13th\, 2025 – Exhibition Closes \n \nArtist Statement:\nVOICES will center around what makes our thoughts similar not what makes us different. We look beyond ideologies\, divisive words\, materials and techniques. We live in a time when it is more critical than ever to come together as a country\, community\, and region and find commonalities. How does the ephemeral nature of paper speak to a paused sunset? How can abstraction bring us together in an age of dialogue and representation? Our focus returns full circle to look at our core values to share our interior person experiences and the kinship of the Cedar River Artisans with the greater Iowa community. \nExhibiting Artists:\nRobert Fox\, Ellen Kleckner\, M.L Kline\, Julia Kottal\, Nancy Lindsay\, Marty Mitchell\, Elizabeth Rhoads Read\, and John Schwartzkopf.\n \nArtists’ Biographies:\nCedar River Artisans (CRA) is a consortium of professional artists seeking public and private art commissions for collaborative or individual artwork. We are based in Cedar Rapids\, Iowa. Our artists live in Cedar Rapids and the surrounding regions. Individually\, the members have a history of success in juried art shows throughout the area and are represented in several leading galleries and museums. As a collective we are interconnected. The Cedar River Artisans work in a broad swatch of materials: printmaking\, sculpture\, ceramics\, pastel\, oil painting\, fiber arts and photography. Our working method is collaborative\, and our objective is to produce a unified visual statement through our art and to bring the power of art into your public or commercial spaces.\n\nThe collective consists of eight members: \nRobert Fox\, Ellen Kleckner\, M.L Kline\, Julia Kottal\, Nancy Lindsay\, Marty Mitchell\, Elizabeth Rhoads Read\, and John Schwartzkopf. \n  \n**Work in Event Image (from top left to bottom right)\nJohn Schwartzkopf – Swing\nMarty Mitchell – Phlox at the Quarry\nBob Fox – Spotted Bee Balm\nM.L. Kline – Captured Moments\nNancy Lindsay – Untold Stories\nEllen Klenecker – Loop\nJulia Kottal – Colorfield Lilac\, Green & Orange\nElizabeth Rhoads Read – Super Imposition URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/group-art-exhibition-cedar-river-artisans-voices/ LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://octagonarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Cedar-River-Gallery-Carousel.png ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org GEO:42.0257584;-93.6123172 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Octagon Center for the Arts 427 Douglas Avenue Ames IA 50010 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=427 Douglas Avenue:geo:-93.6123172,42.0257584 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251113T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251113T193000 DTSTAMP:20260425T102135 CREATED:20250904T191934Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251007T170208Z UID:17211-1763056800-1763062200@octagonarts.org SUMMARY:“Voices” Reception DESCRIPTION:Voices\nGroup Exhibition by Cedar River Artisans\nExhibition Dates:\nOctober 9th\, 2025 – Exhibition Opening Day\nNovember 13th\, 2025 – Exhibition Public Reception from 6:00 – 7:30PM in the Community Gallery\nNovember 13th\, 2025 – Exhibition Closes \n  \nArtist Statement:\nVOICES will center around what makes our thoughts similar not what makes us different. We look beyond ideologies\, divisive words\, materials and techniques. We live in a time when it is more critical than ever to come together as a country\, community\, and region and find commonalities. How does the ephemeral nature of paper speak to a paused sunset? How can abstraction bring us together in an age of dialogue and representation? Our focus returns full circle to look at our core values to share our interior person experiences and the kinship of the Cedar River Artisans with the greater Iowa community. \nExhibiting Artists:\nRobert Fox\, Ellen Kleckner\, M.L Kline\, Julia Kottal\, Nancy Lindsay\, Marty Mitchell\, Elizabeth Rhoads Read\, and John Schwartzkopf. \nArtists’ Biographies:\nCedar River Artisans (CRA) is a consortium of professional artists seeking public and private art commissions for collaborative or individual artwork. We are based in Cedar Rapids\, Iowa. Our artists live in Cedar Rapids and the surrounding regions. Individually\, the members have a history of success in juried art shows throughout the area and are represented in several leading galleries and museums. As a collective we are interconnected. The Cedar River Artisans work in a broad swatch of materials: printmaking\, sculpture\, ceramics\, pastel\, oil painting\, fiber arts and photography. Our working method is collaborative\, and our objective is to produce a unified visual statement through our art and to bring the power of art into your public or commercial spaces. \nThe collective consists of eight members:\nRobert Fox\, Ellen Kleckner\, M.L Kline\, Julia Kottal\, Nancy Lindsay\, Marty Mitchell\, Elizabeth Rhoads Read\, and John Schwartzkopf. \n  \n**Work in Event Image (from top left to bottom right)\nJohn Schwartzkopf – Swing\nMarty Mitchell – Phlox at the Quarry\nBob Fox – Spotted Bee Balm\nM.L. Kline – Captured Moments\nNancy Lindsay – Untold Stories\nEllen Klenecker – Loop\nJulia Kottal – Colorfield Lilac\, Green & Orange\nElizabeth Rhoads Read – Super Imposition URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/voices-reception/ LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://octagonarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Cedar-River-Gallery-Carousel.png ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org GEO:42.0257584;-93.6123172 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Octagon Center for the Arts 427 Douglas Avenue Ames IA 50010 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=427 Douglas Avenue:geo:-93.6123172,42.0257584 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260119T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260314T170000 DTSTAMP:20260425T102135 CREATED:20260113T203150Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260113T205205Z UID:17226-1768816800-1773507600@octagonarts.org SUMMARY:Octagonal: The All Media Show DESCRIPTION:Octagonal: The All Media Show \nGroup Exhibition by Various Artists \n  \nExhibition Dates: \nJanuary 19\, 2026 – Exhibition Opening DayJanuary 22\, 2026– Exhibition ReceptionMarch 14\, 2026 – Exhibition Closes \n  \nExhibiting Artist List: \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Joanne Alberda – Lunar LandscapeShelly Bales – WonderlustJasmine Beul – Rose Window BottleAmanda Brown – SpaceBetsy Busby – Behold the OnionMaureen Burke – AweTroy Cannon – Osprey’s CrySara Carlson – Too Close To The SunTroy Chebuhar – Waste GeocentricismNatalie Deam – Swim SwarmPamela Douglas – Red Lily PadsLinda Emmerson – LondonJoani Feiner – Enticing RufflesElaina Fredrickson – Chaotic ExposureJill Guffy– Abstract Duet: Coming and Going \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Kaitlin Harvey – Forget Me Nots & MarigoldsJoanna Haug – It’s Over Why Scream?Jim Heemstra – Decay of the MightyHeather Hicks – Neck CrackWill Hildebrandt – FloraDiane Holland Rickerl – Mary JaneEvan Hoyt – Ascent from SlumberMarcia Joffe-Bouska – THE UNRAVELINGPeggy Johnston – Party at Nick’sAnnie Laursen – Gray VLinda Lewis – Comfortable in her own skinIngrid Lilligren – TumblingSarah Loch-Test – Mining NecklaceDiane Michaud Lowry – UnityGenevieve Moritz – Cats in Bloom \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Lydia Nong – Oranges Smell GoodDeb O’Brien – BirdsongGeoff Paulline – Playin’ PossumSarah Perkins – Barnacle ContainerIsaac Prior – Aeons WaltzSara Rieger – Sinking by the Bow at MidnightLiona Rocca – Image BearerKarl Schecht – Cosmic Marble #9Hongci Shih – Ephemeral BlessingAudrey Stirling – Glowing in the ShadowsSydney Thompson – PenumbraMattea Whetstone – DoneAlicia Wilkinson – The TreasureGraham Young – Renting on Pluto\, Dreaming of Saturn URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/octagonal-the-all-media-show/ LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://octagonarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Octagonal-Carousel.png ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org GEO:42.0257584;-93.6123172 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Octagon Center for the Arts 427 Douglas Avenue Ames IA 50010 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=427 Douglas Avenue:geo:-93.6123172,42.0257584 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260122T173000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260122T190000 DTSTAMP:20260425T102135 CREATED:20260113T205903Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260122T180751Z UID:17808-1769103000-1769108400@octagonarts.org SUMMARY:Octagonal Artists' Reception DESCRIPTION:Octagonal: The All Media Show \nGroup Exhibition by Various Artists \n  \nExhibition Dates: \nJanuary 19\, 2026 – Exhibition Opening DayJanuary 22\, 2026 – Exhibition Reception       Awards announced at 6:15pmMarch 14\, 2026 – Exhibition Closes \n  \nExhibiting Artist List: \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Joanne Alberda – Lunar LandscapeShelly Bales – WonderlustJasmine Beul – Rose Window BottleAmanda Brown – SpaceBetsy Busby – Behold the OnionMaureen Burke – AweTroy Cannon – Osprey’s CrySara Carlson – Too Close To The SunTroy Chebuhar – Waste GeocentricismNatalie Deam – Swim SwarmPamela Douglas – Red Lily PadsLinda Emmerson – LondonJoani Feiner – Enticing RufflesElaina Fredrickson – Chaotic ExposureJill Guffy– Abstract Duet: Coming and Going \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Kaitlin Harvey – Forget Me Nots & MarigoldsJoanna Haug – It’s Over Why Scream?Jim Heemstra – Decay of the MightyHeather Hicks – Neck CrackWill Hildebrandt – FloraDiane Holland Rickerl – Mary JaneEvan Hoyt – Ascent from SlumberMarcia Joffe-Bouska – THE UNRAVELINGPeggy Johnston – Party at Nick’sAnnie Laursen – Gray VLinda Lewis – Comfortable in her own skinIngrid Lilligren – TumblingSarah Loch-Test – Mining NecklaceDiane Michaud Lowry – UnityGenevieve Moritz – Cats in Bloom \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Lydia Nong – Oranges Smell GoodDeb O’Brien – BirdsongGeoff Paulline – Playin’ PossumSarah Perkins – Barnacle ContainerIsaac Prior – Aeons WaltzSara Rieger – Sinking by the Bow at MidnightLiona Rocca – Image BearerKarl Schecht – Cosmic Marble #9Hongci Shih – Ephemeral BlessingAudrey Stirling – Glowing in the ShadowsSydney Thompson – PenumbraMattea Whetstone – DoneAlicia Wilkinson – The TreasureGraham Young – Renting on Pluto\, Dreaming of Saturn URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/octagonal-artists-reception/ LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://octagonarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Octagonal-Reception-Carousel.png ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org GEO:42.0257584;-93.6123172 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Octagon Center for the Arts 427 Douglas Avenue Ames IA 50010 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=427 Douglas Avenue:geo:-93.6123172,42.0257584 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260326T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260404T170000 DTSTAMP:20260425T102135 CREATED:20260113T210247Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260402T231604Z UID:17223-1774519200-1775322000@octagonarts.org SUMMARY:The Annual High School Show DESCRIPTION:The Annual High School Senior & Junior Show\nGroup Exhibition by Various High School Artists\n\nExhibition Dates:\nMarch 26\, 2026 – Exhibition Opening Day\nMarch 26\, 2026 – Artists’ Reception from 4:30-5:30pm; Awards to be announced at 5:00pm\nApril 4\, 2026 – Exhibition Closes URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/the-annual-student-show/ LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://octagonarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Student-Show-Gallery-Carousel.png ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org GEO:42.0257584;-93.6123172 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Octagon Center for the Arts 427 Douglas Avenue Ames IA 50010 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=427 Douglas Avenue:geo:-93.6123172,42.0257584 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260326T163000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260326T173000 DTSTAMP:20260425T102135 CREATED:20260402T232026Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260402T232026Z UID:17985-1774542600-1774546200@octagonarts.org SUMMARY:The Annual High School Show Reception DESCRIPTION:The Annual High School Senior & Junior Show\nGroup Exhibition by Various High School Artists\n\nExhibition Dates:\nMarch 26\, 2026 – Exhibition Opening Day\nMarch 26\, 2026 – Artists’ Reception from 4:30-5:30pm; Awards to be announced at 5:00pm\nApril 4\, 2026 – Exhibition Closes URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/the-annual-high-school-show-reception/ LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://octagonarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Student-Show-Gallery-Carousel.png ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org GEO:42.0257584;-93.6123172 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Octagon Center for the Arts 427 Douglas Avenue Ames IA 50010 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=427 Douglas Avenue:geo:-93.6123172,42.0257584 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260410T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260430T170000 DTSTAMP:20260425T102135 CREATED:20260113T210621Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260402T231734Z UID:17434-1775815200-1777568400@octagonarts.org SUMMARY:Group Art Exhibition: Joe Muench “Lessons Learned: Explorations in Metal” DESCRIPTION:Lessons Learned: Explorations in Metal\nGroup Exhibition by Joe Muench & former students of the ISU jewelry/metalsmithing courses  \nThis exhibit features work created by Joe Muench\, Professor Emeritus of Art and Visual Culture\, in the College of Design at Iowa State University and Mr. Muench’s former students of the jewelry/metalsmithing courses. \n\nExhibition Dates:\nApril 10\, 2026 – Exhibition Opening Day\nApril 30\, 2026 – Public Reception from 5:30pm – 7pm in the Community Gallery\nApril 30\, 2026 – Exhibition Closes \n\nArtist Statements:\nMore information to come \n\nArtist Biographies:\nMore information to come URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/group-art-exhibition-joe-muench-lessons-learned-explorations-in-metal/ LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://octagonarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/V.-2-1.png ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org GEO:42.0257584;-93.6123172 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Octagon Center for the Arts 427 Douglas Avenue Ames IA 50010 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=427 Douglas Avenue:geo:-93.6123172,42.0257584 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260430T173000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260430T190000 DTSTAMP:20260425T102135 CREATED:20260402T231912Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260402T231912Z UID:17817-1777570200-1777575600@octagonarts.org SUMMARY:“Lessons Learned: Explorations in Metal” Reception DESCRIPTION:Lessons Learned: Explorations in Metal\nGroup Exhibition by Joe Muench & former students of the ISU jewelry/metalsmithing courses  \nThis exhibit features work created by Joe Muench\, Professor Emeritus of Art and Visual Culture\, in the College of Design at Iowa State University and Mr. Muench’s former students of the jewelry/metalsmithing courses. \n\nExhibition Dates:\nApril 10\, 2026 – Exhibition Opening Day\nApril 30\, 2026 – Public Reception from 5:30pm – 7pm in the Community Gallery\nApril 30\, 2026 – Exhibition Closes \n\nArtist Statements:\nMore information to come \n\nArtist Biographies:\nMore information to come URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/lessons-learned-explorations-in-metal-reception/ LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://octagonarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/V.-2-1.png ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org GEO:42.0257584;-93.6123172 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Octagon Center for the Arts 427 Douglas Avenue Ames IA 50010 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=427 Douglas Avenue:geo:-93.6123172,42.0257584 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260504T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260511T170000 DTSTAMP:20260425T102135 CREATED:20240307T184208Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260113T211016Z UID:16122-1777888800-1778518800@octagonarts.org SUMMARY:2026 College of Design MFA Capstone Show DESCRIPTION:2026 College of Design MFA Capstone Show\nGroup Exhibition by graduate students in the Integrated Visual Arts MFA program at Iowa State University\nMay 4th – May 11th\, 2026 in the Octagon Community Gallery \n\nAbout this group exhibition:\nGraduate students in the Integrated Visual Arts MFA program at Iowa State University will showcase their capstone projects in the Community Gallery.\n \n\nExhibition Dates:\nMay 4th\, 2026 – Exhibition Opening Day\nMay 7\, 2026 – Exhibition Reception\nMay 11th\, 2026 – Exhibition Closes URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/2026-college-of-design-mfa-capstone-show/ LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org GEO:42.0257584;-93.6123172 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Octagon Center for the Arts 427 Douglas Avenue Ames IA 50010 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=427 Douglas Avenue:geo:-93.6123172,42.0257584 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260507T173000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260507T190000 DTSTAMP:20260425T102135 CREATED:20260113T211101Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260113T211101Z UID:17437-1778175000-1778180400@octagonarts.org SUMMARY:2026 College of Design MFA Capstone Reception DESCRIPTION:2026 College of Design MFA Capstone Show\nGroup Exhibition by graduate students in the Integrated Visual Arts MFA program at Iowa State University\nMay 4th – May 11th\, 2026 in the Octagon Community Gallery \n\nAbout this group exhibition:\nGraduate students in the Integrated Visual Arts MFA program at Iowa State University will showcase their capstone projects in the Community Gallery.\n \n\nExhibition Dates:\nMay 4th\, 2026 – Exhibition Opening Day\nMay 7\, 2026 – Exhibition Reception\nMay 11th\, 2026 – Exhibition Closes URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/2026-college-of-design-mfa-capstone-reception/ LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org GEO:42.0257584;-93.6123172 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Octagon Center for the Arts 427 Douglas Avenue Ames IA 50010 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=427 Douglas Avenue:geo:-93.6123172,42.0257584 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260831T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261010T170000 DTSTAMP:20260425T102135 CREATED:20260113T212739Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260113T212739Z UID:17221-1788170400-1791651600@octagonarts.org SUMMARY:Octagon 60th Birthday Hullabaloo DESCRIPTION:Octagon 60th Birthday Hullabaloo\nOctagon History Exhibition by the Octagon Staff \n\nExhibition Dates:\nAugust 31\, 2026 – Exhibition Opening Day\nTBD – Exhibition Reception\nOctober 10\, 2026 – Exhibition Closes URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/octagon-60th-birthday-hullabaloo/ LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org GEO:42.0257584;-93.6123172 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Octagon Center for the Arts 427 Douglas Avenue Ames IA 50010 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=427 Douglas Avenue:geo:-93.6123172,42.0257584 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR