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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250809T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250809T170000
DTSTAMP:20260423T075233
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
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250721T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250809T170000
DTSTAMP:20260423T075233
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
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250630T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250712T170000
DTSTAMP:20260423T075233
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
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250527T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250621T170000
DTSTAMP:20260423T075233
CREATED:20240307T184829Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250528T185530Z
UID:16125-1748340000-1750525200@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:2025 Annual Members' Show
DESCRIPTION:2025 Annual Members’ Show\nGroup Exhibition by members of the Octagon Center for the Arts\nMay 27th – June 21st\, 2025 in the Octagon Community Gallery \nAbout this group exhibition:\nThis non-juried show celebrates the skills\, creativity\, and lived experiences of the Octagon community! Let’s fill the gallery and surround ourselves with our own amazing work — established artists next to emerging artists\, all media.\n \nExhibition Dates:\nMay 27th\, 2025 – Exhibition Opening Day\nJune 21st\, 2025 – Exhibition Closes \nArtist List:\nCarolyn Abbott\, Sushila Anderson\, Abigail Badger\, Janice Bell\, Tina Campbell\, Vivian M. Cook\, Pamela Douglas\, Lisa Fontaine\, Jennifer Gauerke\, Joe Geha\, Raina Genaw\, Erik Gustafson\, Rex Heer\, Gary Hoard\, Denise Hoffman\, Laurie Hoifeldt\, Diane Holland Rickerl\, Evan Hoyt\, Summer Hoyt\, Sean Johnson\, Letitia Kenemer\, Nancy Lindsay\, Charissa Menefee\, Susan Norris\, Dori Patrick\, Clint Petersen\, Timothy F. Pross\, Kristin M. Roach\, Kimberlee Rocca\, Delayne Segar\, Robert Sunderman\, Kathy Svec\, Troy Thomas\, Barb Thompson\, Sean Thornton\, Karen Van Wert\, Rob Wallace\, Kelsey Wilson\, Jennifer Withers\, J Yang\, Thomas Zimmerman
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/2025-annual-members-show/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://octagonarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/member-show-e1709837033870.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250521T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250627T170000
DTSTAMP:20260423T075233
CREATED:20260113T211807Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260113T211807Z
UID:17443-1747821600-1751043600@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:2026 Annual Members' Show
DESCRIPTION:2026 Annual Members’ Show\nGroup Exhibition by members of the Octagon Center for the Arts\nTBD in the Octagon Community Gallery \nAbout this group exhibition:\nThis non-juried show celebrates the skills\, creativity\, and lived experiences of the Octagon community! Let’s fill the gallery and surround ourselves with our own amazing work — established artists next to emerging artists\, all media.\nSubmission information to come!\n \nExhibition Dates:\nMay 21\, 2026 – Exhibition Opening Day\nTBD – Exhibition Reception\nJune 27\, 2026 – Exhibition Closes \nArtist List:\nTBD
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/2026-annual-members-show/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://octagonarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/member-show-e1709837033870.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250422T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250510T170000
DTSTAMP:20260423T075233
CREATED:20250401T175241Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250421T205824Z
UID:16964-1745316000-1746896400@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:Group Exhibition: Round Up
DESCRIPTION:Round Up\nGroup Exhibition by Various Artists \nExhibition Dates:\nApril 22nd\, 2025 – Exhibition Opening Day\nApril 25th\, 2025 – Exhibition Public Reception\, 6:00PM – 7:30PM in the Community Gallery\nMay 10th\, 2025 – Exhibition Closes \nAbout This Exhibition:\nA “round-up” of a few like-minded artists living and working in Iowa. \nArtist List:\nSean Thornton\nRuby Walker\nRat Tunnel\nJuan Gomez\nLydia Nong\nZack Bukovich\nRafa\nSpike Dupree
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/group-exhibition-round-up/
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/2025/04/Round-Up-Banner.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250407T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250418T170000
DTSTAMP:20260423T075233
CREATED:20240307T173251Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250130T163737Z
UID:16117-1744020000-1744995600@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:2025 Elementary\, Middle School\, High School Annual Student Show
DESCRIPTION:2025 Elementary\, Middle School\, High School Annual Student Show\nApril 7th – April 18th\, 2025 in the Octagon Community Gallery \nAbout this group exhibition:\nThe Annual Student Art Show highlights artwork by elementary\, middle\, and high school students from schools within 20 miles of Ames. \nLearn more on this exhibition’s webpage here \nExhibition Dates:\nApril 7th\, 2025 – Exhibition Opening Day\nApril 18th\, 2025 – Exhibition Closes
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/2025-elementary-middle-school-high-school-annual-student-show/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://octagonarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/student-show-2022.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250227T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250329T170000
DTSTAMP:20260423T075233
CREATED:20250108T201957Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250130T164235Z
UID:16696-1740650400-1743267600@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:Octagonal: The All Media Show 2025
DESCRIPTION:February 27th – March 29th\, 2025 \nRECEPTION:\nFebruary 27th 5:30PM-7:30PM\nIn the Community Gallery\nAwards announced at 6:30PM\nALL ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND! \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nOctagonal: 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 56 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.\n\n\n2025 Juror: Chris Vance\n\n\n \n\nClick Here to learn more \nArtist List:\nAlicia Wilkinson\, Amy Williams\, Angie Huffman\, Barb Thompson\, Carolyn Abbott\, Diana Friend\, Diane Michaud Lowry\, Emily Milewsky\, Geri Wolfe Boesen\, Hana Brock\, Isaac Prior\, Jerene Kruse\, Jess Quinn\, Joanne Alberda\, Joseph Wyckoff\, Josh Sorrell\, Kaitlin Harvey\, Kelly Devitt\, Kelsey Wilson\, Kimberlee Rocca\, Linda Lewis\, Lucy Watters\, Lydia Nong\, Maggie Douglas\, Mattea Whetstone\, Megan Hammer\, Meghan Flynn\, Melynda Van Zee\, Michele Hardy\, Natalie Deam\, Pam Hibbs\, Robert Wallace\, Sara Slee Brown\, Sean Thornton\, Sydney Thompson\, Tiffany Antone\, Tim Olson\, Trey Reis\, Will Hildebrandt\, Zack Bukovich
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/octagonal-the-all-media-show-2025/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://octagonarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/octagonal-logo-cropped.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250120T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250215T170000
DTSTAMP:20260423T075233
CREATED:20230921T204230Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250130T165340Z
UID:15368-1737367200-1739638800@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:Solo Art Exhibition: Denice Peters “Be Still”
DESCRIPTION:Be Still\nSolo Exhibition by Denice Peters\nJanuary 20th – February 15th\, 2025 At The Octagon Community Gallery \nAbout this solo exhibition:\n \nCreating realistic pastel paintings using strong light and shadow with a bit of nostalgia and a sense of peace is my goal. I’m inspired by the effect that light has on objects. It’s the spark of brightness shining against the darkness that appeals to me. Every painting is about this dramatic glow evoking an emotional response\, regardless of the subject. Ipaint without any tools other than my fingers and pastel sticks. My work is pure soft pastels. No other medium is used . I paint in my self honed style I call ‘Blended Reality’. I want to help others see the beauty and peace that is all around us. Life is too short to do otherwise. \nExhibition Dates:\nJanuary 20th\, 2025 – Exhibition Opening Day\nJanuary 23rd\, 2025 – Exhibition Reception\, 5:30PM – 7:30PM in the Community Gallery\nFebruary 15th\, 2025 – Exhibition Closes \nArtist Biography:\n \nDenice Peters is a recognized woman artist in Contemporary Realism Art. This native of NW Iowa has painted with pastels for over 30 years. Her work centers around dramatic light and mood. Her artworks resonate with the viewer and is laced with nostalgia. Her level of skill has bestowed her with recognition In magazines\, national and international competitions and awards. Also she’s achieved a level of talent that garnered her as a juried member of the prestigious International Guild of Realism and earned Signature Status in Pastel Society of America\, MidAmerican Pastel Society and the Iowa Pastel Society and elected as President of the Iowa Pastel Society. Born in 1958 in LeMars\, Iowa\, USA\, and raised on a farm instilled in her connection to the earth and Midwest values. She incorporates these things into her still life paintings. Married to her high school sweetheart and raising a family slowed her art career until they got older. When she decided to take a workshop \, it changed her life\, introducing her to pastels. She had found her medium and never looked back She didn’t have the opportunity to earn an art degree\, so she took it upon herself to hone her talent\, learning by trial and error. She took every art class she could in high school and was selected to be in the advanced art class as a senior. In time she developed a style that she refers to as “Blended Reality”. She worked with pastels until she reached the outcome she could see in her head. She was told you can’t paint realistically with soft pastels\, but she bucked the trend and painted in her own way. She uses no implements\, just pastels and her fingers. So she becomes a part of the work in every way. Her work is collected mostly by private collectors in the US and 2 other countries Denice’s work can be seen on her website denicepelers.com and through Kavanaugh Gallery in West Des Moines\, IA. \n 
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/be-still/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20241216T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250111T170000
DTSTAMP:20260423T075233
CREATED:20230921T204100Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241218T195911Z
UID:15366-1734343200-1736614800@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:The Faces I've Seen.
DESCRIPTION:The Faces I’ve Seen.\nSolo Exhibition by Karen Cooper\nDecember 16th\, 2024 – January 11th\, 2025 At The Octagon Community Gallery \nAbout this solo exhibition:\n \nExhibition Dates:\nDecember 16th\, 2024 – Exhibition Opening Day\nDecember 19th\, 2024 – Exhibition Reception 6PM – 7PM in the Community gallery\nJanuary 11th\, 2025 – Exhibition Closes \nArtist Biography:\n \nI am a watcher. \nIf someone with an interesting face\, or someone who looks like they might be great in a painting\, is out there on a sidewalk somewhere in the world\, then I say ‘game on’. It’s time to capture some reference material. Lots of these captures come via my camera. On a perfect day\, some of these random\, and often unknowing ‘models’ are stationary long enough to make it to my sketchbook. I have said the bottom line and always the focus\, is that the painting be a thing of substance and solidity and interest and beauty. But here’s something I am observing as my work matures – I no longer like playing it safe. I find it important and necessary to NOT paint safe – but rather to see the challenge\, accept it\, and give it my best shot. \nKaren was born and raised in Nebraska\, and then moved across the river to live in Iowa. From 2013 thru 2017\, Karen lived in Lipetsk\, Russia – long enough for the power and beauty of Russian impressionist art to make a potent impact. Study with a talented figurative artist while in Lipetsk\, increased the desire/need to draw with substance and clarity\, as part of the painting process. Karen has now returned to live\, and paint in Grinnell\, Iowa. \n 
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/the-faces-ive-seen/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20241111T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20241210T170000
DTSTAMP:20260423T075234
CREATED:20240307T172804Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241029T164120Z
UID:16114-1731319200-1733850000@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:The Octagon 2nd Annual Winter Market
DESCRIPTION:The Octagon 2nd Annual Winter Market\nEvent by Octagon Shop\nNovember 11th – December 10th\, 2024 in the Octagon Community Gallery \nAbout this event:\nThe Octagon Shop is excited to announce a temporary expansion in our Community Gallery! From November 11th – December 10th\, we will have new work by Shop artists\, fun discounts and other surprises! Stay tuned!\n \nExhibition Dates:\nNovember 11th\, 2024 – Exhibition Opening Day\nDecember 10th\, 2024 – Exhibition Closes
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/16114/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20241007T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20241102T170000
DTSTAMP:20260423T075234
CREATED:20230921T202712Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241008T171119Z
UID:15360-1728295200-1730566800@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:Demulcent Terrain
DESCRIPTION:Demulcent Terrain\nSolo Exhibition by Lisa Truax\nOctober 7th – November 2nd\, 2024 At The Octagon Community Gallery\nReception: October 10th 5PM – 7PM in the Community Gallery\n \nAbout this solo exhibition:\n \nI am interested in the contrast between places such as parks and natural areas and modern ways of building and living. We have cultural ideas of beauty and the sense of the untouched associated with these places. Outdoor landscapes seem to be in their natural state\, but are actually created\, planned\, built\, and maintained as part of our culture. We think of nature as untouched and wild\, and not something controlled or created by humans.  \nI question the idea of culturally valuable versus personally valuable natural space. The contrast between the natural and man-made\, and the seen and the unseen are determining factors. The effect of these elements on our lives and psyche are important considerations.  \nNatural places can have positive effects on our well being\, many of which we may not yet understand. The relationship we have both culturally and individually\, the contrast between wildness and wilderness\, and the effect this relationship has on daily living is the focus of my work. \nExhibition Dates:\nOctober 7th\, 2024 – Exhibition Opening Day\nNovember 2nd\, 2024 – Exhibition Closes\nReception: October 10th 5PM – 7PM in the Community Gallery \nArtist Biography:
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/demulcent-terrain/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240903T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240928T170000
DTSTAMP:20260423T075234
CREATED:20230921T200309Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240909T170750Z
UID:15358-1725357600-1727542800@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:Mixed Emotions
DESCRIPTION:Mixed Emotions\nSolo Exhibition by Kelly Devitt\nSeptember 3rd – September 28th\, 2024 At The Octagon Community Gallery \nAbout this solo exhibition:\n \nExhibition Dates:\nSeptember 3rd\, 2024 – Exhibition Opening Day\nSeptember 26th\, 2024 – Exhibition Closing Reception\, 5pm – 7pm in the Community Gallery\nSeptember 28th\, 2024 – Exhibition Closes \nArtist Biography: \nKelly Devitt is a ceramic artist who primarily creates sculptures depicting emotions physically expressed through the human body. Born in Ames\, Iowa\, she received her BFA in Integrated Studio Arts from Iowa State University in 2017 and her MFA in Ceramics from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in 2022. Kelly is currently an Instructor of Art at the Southwestern Community College in Creston\, IA.
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/mixed-emotions/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240729T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240824T170000
DTSTAMP:20260423T075234
CREATED:20230921T200149Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231116T213217Z
UID:15356-1722247200-1724518800@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:Compositions of Line
DESCRIPTION:Compositions of Line\nSolo Exhibition by Isaac Prior\nJuly 29th – August 24th\, 2024 At The Octagon Community Gallery \nAbout this solo exhibition:\n \nExhibition Dates:\nJuly 29th\, 2024 – Exhibition Opening Day\nAugust 24th\, 2024 – Exhibition Closes \nArtist Biography: \nBorn and raised in Ames\, I have been creating artwork professionally since 2012. I am a full time precious metalsmith at Ames Silversmithing\, creating\, repairing\, and designing jewelry. My focus is on abstract line art\, using hundreds of lines to give illusions of folds\, dimension\, or twists.
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/compositions-of-line/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240624T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240718T170000
DTSTAMP:20260423T075234
CREATED:20230921T200020Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240621T193100Z
UID:15354-1719223200-1721322000@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:American Oddities
DESCRIPTION:American Oddities\nSolo Exhibition by Nick Gadbois\nJune 24th – July 18th\, 2024 At The Octagon Community Gallery \nAbout this solo exhibition:\n \nI am a contemporary painter living and working in Kansas City\, Missouri.  My landscape work centers on subjects mostly from the Heartland of America.  The artwork ranges from a somewhat straightforward painting approach to surreal tinged scenes.  My palette displays a heightened dramatic sense of color. The paintings I create are based on photographs\, many of which I take myself.  In terms of surrealism\, I chose to not create scenes from the imagination but paint scenes from real life that already appear surreal.  My newer work pays tribute to what I call American oddities.  To me these subjects show the offbeat\, quirky\, and playful side of the American spirit.  Subjects such as the World’ largest rocking chair\, the giant strawberry\, Cornhenge\, Carhenge\, Wall Drug and the World’s largest ball of twine show a creative inventiveness uniquely American.  My work celebrates subjects from the Heartland that I feel deeply attracted to.  I want to call attention to the roadside attractions in America. \nExhibition Dates:\nJune 24th\, 2024 – Exhibition Opening Day\nJuly 18th\, 2024 – Exhibition Closing Reception 4:30pm – 6:00pm in the Community Gallery\nJuly 18th\, 2024 – Exhibition Closes
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/american-oddities/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240520T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240615T170000
DTSTAMP:20260423T075234
CREATED:20230921T195735Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240307T184512Z
UID:15352-1716199200-1718470800@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:2024 Annual Members' Show
DESCRIPTION:2024 Annual Members’ Show\nGroup Exhibition by members of the Octagon Center for the Arts\nMay 20th – June 15th\, 2024 At The Octagon Community Gallery \nAbout this group exhibition:\nThis unjuried show celebrates the skills\, creativity\, and lived experiences of the Octagon community! Let’s fill the gallery and surround ourselves with our own amazing work — established artists next to emerging artists\, all media.\n \nExhibition Dates:\nMay 20th\, 2024 – Exhibition Opening Day\nJune 15th\, 2024 – Exhibition Closes \nArtist Biographies:\nTBA
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/annual-member-show/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240501T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240509T193000
DTSTAMP:20260423T075234
CREATED:20230921T195521Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240423T182914Z
UID:15350-1714557600-1715283000@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:Iowa State University Integrated Visual Arts MFA Exhibition 2024
DESCRIPTION:Iowa State University Integrated Visual Arts MFA Exhibition 2024\nAn exhibition by MFA students in the Integrated Visual Arts program at Iowa State University\nMay 1st – May 9th\, 2024 At The Octagon Community Gallery \nAbout this group exhibition:\n \nThe MFA in IVA is a distinctive and unique interdisciplinary program offering integrative study among a combination of the following areas: ceramics\, computer applications\, drawing\, textiles\, illustration\, jewelry/metalsmithing\, painting\, printmaking\, photography\, furniture design\, and areas outside of Art and Design. \nMFA students are required to participate in an end-of-semester exhibition during the first four semesters of the program. For this public exhibition\, each student submits a selection of their strongest and most representative work from the semester along with an artist statement to be critiqued by the Art and Visual Culture faculty at Iowa State University.   \nArtists: \nOmid Afsharpour\nNatalie Deam\nParisa Keshavarziyan\nElnaz Masrour\nSam McCauley\nMatty Palamara\nMaryam Siahgaldeh Ghasempour\nNicole Soriano\nRana Tiba\nMichael Vitha Nolan\nRuby Walker\n \nExhibition Dates: \nMay 1st\, 2024 – Exhibition Opening Day \nMay 9th\, 2024 – Closing Reception 6-7:30pm \nMay 9th\, 2024 – Exhibition Closes
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/college-of-design-mfa-capstone-show/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits
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ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240408T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240420T170000
DTSTAMP:20260423T075234
CREATED:20230921T195243Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240307T175400Z
UID:15347-1712570400-1713632400@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:2024 Elementary\, Middle School\, High School Annual Student Show
DESCRIPTION:2024 Elementary\, Middle School\, High School Annual Student Show\nApril 8th – April 20th\, 2024 At The Octagon Community Gallery \nAbout this group exhibition:\n \nThe Student Art Show highlights artwork by local elementary\, middle\, and high school students annually. Previous participating schools included: Ames\, Ballard\, Gilbert\, Home Schools\, Madrid\, Nevada\, Roland-Story\, and United Community School. \nLearn more on this exhibition’s webpage here \nExhibition Dates:\nApril 8th\, 2024 – Exhibition Opening Day\nApril 20th\, 2024 – Exhibition Closes
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/elementary-middle-school-high-school-annual-student-show/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://octagonarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/elementary.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org
GEO:42.0257584;-93.6123172
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240229T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240330T170000
DTSTAMP:20260423T075234
CREATED:20230921T194959Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240307T192147Z
UID:15344-1709227800-1711818000@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:2024 Octagonal: The All Media Show
DESCRIPTION:February 29th – March 30th\, 2024 At The Octagon Community Gallery \nAbout this group exhibition:\nOctagonal: 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! \nExhibition Dates:\nFebruary 29th\, 2024 – Exhibition Opening Day and Opening Reception\nMarch 30th\, 2024 – Exhibition Closes \nCongratulations to the winners of this year’s Octagonal!\nFrom left to right: Catherine Reinhart (Fiber Award)\, Diana Friend (Wood Award)\, Juliana Jones (Mixed Media Award)\, Natalie Deam (Paper Award)\, Katie DuVal Mihelich (Metal Award)\, Carolyn Abbot (Best of Show Award). Not shown: Steve Aitchison (Clay Award)\, Meghan Flynn (Painting Award) \n  \n  \n\n2024 Juror: Jill Wells\nIowa-based artist\, advocate and mentor\, Jill Wells (she/her) has firmly situated herself within art and advocacy work. A 2005 graduate of Drake University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree\, she is well known for her dynamic\, colorful\, and tactile multimedia works investigating race\, history\, stereotypes\, accessibility\, and human experiences. By exploring the powerful alignment between arts integration and Universal Design\, Wells’ work seeks solutions for innovative pathways into accessible art…\nLearn more on the Octagonal page!\n\n \n  \n  \n  \nThis year we will feature artwork from:\nAlicia Wilkinson\, Angie Huffman\, Anna Segner\, Cameryn Piskule\, Caroline Freese\, Carolyn Abbott\, Catherine Reinhart\, Chelsea Herman\, Cody LeClair\, Diana Friend\, Eirianeth Claire Hays\, Elissa Wenthe\, Hope Bass\, Indonesia Fulcher\, Jan Friedman\, Janet Bergeron\, Jennifer Gauerke\, Joe Crimmings\, Joshua McCunn\, Juliana Jones\, Katie DuVal Mihelich\, Kelly Devitt\, Kelsey Wilson\, Leo Bird\, Liz Koerner\, Louise O’Donnell\, Lydia Nong\, Maddison Jo Edwards\, Margaret Lewis\, Mark True\, Megan McCoy\, Meghan Flynn\, Natalie Deam\, Penny Adam\, Ruby Walker\, Steve Aitchison\, Terri Eger
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/octagonal-the-all-media-show-2024/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://octagonarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/octagonal-logo.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240122T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240224T170000
DTSTAMP:20260423T075234
CREATED:20230921T194751Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240110T160253Z
UID:15342-1705917600-1708794000@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:The Music in My HeART
DESCRIPTION:The Music in My HeART\nSolo Exhibition by Antonia Ruppert\nJanuary 22nd – February 24th\, 2024 At The Octagon Community Gallery \nExhibition Dates:\nJanuary 22nd\, 2024 – Exhibition Opening Day\nFebruary 24th\, 2024 – Exhibition Closes \nArtist Biography:\nChicago-born Antonia Ruppert is an artist\, singer-songwriter and educator who has been\npainting for over 30 years. Growing up in the Austin community\, she creates paintings that\nconnect people and tell a story. The oldest of six siblings\, with no funds to purchase art\nsupplies\, she recalls drawing on discarded paper inserts from her Mom’s stockings. These\nhumble beginnings have been instrumental in inspiring hundreds of paintings and drawings\,\nwhere hope\, faith and community are central.\nRuppert was the 2021 Invest South/West Artist in Residence for Chicago’s Austin community\nand the 2022 Artist in Residence for the Addison Public Library. Ruppert is an honoree of the\nPeggy A. Montes Unsung Heroine Award for Cook County\, IL.\nRuppert has been featured in the Museum of Science and Industry Black Creativity Exhibition\,\nMoraine Valley Community College and the Dupage Art League’s Best of the Best Exhibition.\nHer favorite paintings and murals can be found in numerous regional venues including the\nChicago Public Library\, Berwyn North District 98 Elementary Schools\, University of Chicago\nHospitals\, Acorn Public Library\, Addison Public Library\, Austin Childcare Network\, Chicago\nSchool of Professional Psychology\, Forest Park Park District\, Elmwood Park Public Library\,\nGrand Prairie Services\, Living Springs Community Church\, Markham Public Library\, Near\nNorth Montessori School\, Oak Forest Park District and the Oak Park Area Arts Council.\nIn 2021\, she collaborated with the Office of the Mayor of the City of Berwyn and the Award-\nWinning Junior State of America Morton West Debate Club Chapter to commission and speak\nat the first Juneteenth Commemoration held in the city. Most recently\, she supported the\nMayor of the Village of Hazel Crest and the new 2023 Arts Committee.\nRuppert is thankful to God for her gifts and is the illustrator of a recently published children’s\nbook —The Place Where I Belong—by Candice Klopfenstein.\nRuppert’s art and music will be featured in upcoming exhibitions at the Harold Washington\nLibrary Center\, The Chicago Public Library North Austin Branch Library and now the Octagon\nCenter for the Arts in Ames\, Iowa in 2024.\nRuppert is well known at the frontlines of the artivist community and seeks to uplift her entire\ncommunity with artistic expression. Like African American sculptor\, Elizabeth Catlett\, Ruppert\naims to “do something for the betterment of all of us.”
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/the-music-in-my-heart/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20231218T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240113T170000
DTSTAMP:20260423T075234
CREATED:20230921T193908Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231211T195814Z
UID:15337-1702893600-1705165200@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:Uncontainable Meanderings and Affinities
DESCRIPTION:Uncontainable Meanderings and Affinities\nGroup Exhibition by Ethan Edvenson and Kimberlee Rocca\nDecember 18th\, 2023 – January 13th\, 2024 At The Octagon Community Gallery \nAbout this group exhibition:\n \nExhibition Dates:\nDebember 18th\, 2023 – Exhibition Opening Day\nJanuary 4th\, 2024 – Exhibition Reception at 5pm in the Community Gallery\nJanuary 13th\, 2024 – Exhibition Closes \nArtist Biographies: \nEthan Edvenson is a fine artist from Des Moines\, IA who creates mixed media drawings. He conveys individualism\, humor\,\nand rebirth through gestural marks\, surreal imagery\, and storytelling. Edvenson graduated from the University of Northern\nIowa with a BFA in studio art and Art History minor. \nKimberlee Rocca is an Iowa artist whose passion for color\, process\, experimentation and reclamation merge to translate\nher love of nature and modern lines into vibrant and textural 2-d and 3-d abstract works and play sculptures. Works are\ncreated from mixed media and discarded construction debris.
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/ethan-edvenson-kimberlee-rocca/
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/Untitled-design-18.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org
GEO:42.0257584;-93.6123172
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20231109T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20231209T170000
DTSTAMP:20260423T075234
CREATED:20230921T192156Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231017T201227Z
UID:15335-1699524000-1702141200@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:Octagon Winter Market
DESCRIPTION:Octagon Winter Market!\nNovember 9th – December 9th\, 2023 At The Octagon Community Gallery \nAbout this group exhibition:\nThe Octagon Shop is excited to announce a temporary expansion in our Community Gallery! From November 9th to December 9th\, we will have new work by Shop artists\, fun discounts and other surprises!\nStay Tuned! \n  \nExhibition Dates:\nNovember 9th – Exhibition Opening Day\nDecember 9th – Exhibition Closes
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/octagon-holiday-shop/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits
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ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20231009T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20231104T170000
DTSTAMP:20260423T075234
CREATED:20230921T191825Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231010T211032Z
UID:15330-1696845600-1699117200@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:"Intersection of Parallel" Group Exhibition by Jen Hem and Julie Russell-Steuart
DESCRIPTION:Intersection of Parallel\nGroup Exhibition by Jen Hem and Julie Russell-Steuart\nOctober 9th – November 4th\, 2023  \nOpening Reception: Thursday\, October 12th\, 6-8pm \nThe Octagon Community Gallery \nAbout this group exhibition:\n \nEven as they act individually and independently\, the work of these artists cross paths and intersect in powerful ways. Printmaker Julie Russell-Steuart and mixed media artist Jen Hem face off on the parallel gallery walls to tell a story together. Viewers will move through the space they inhabit\, pick up the threads and follow them to places of their own. \nWeaving themes of voice\, activism\, advocacy\, social justice and mental health\, Jen and Julie create an experience together that is only as deep and curious as one is willing to dive in: an of-the-moment snapshot of the emotions and undercurrents of being alive right now. \nJen Hem talks about their underlying themes and experience with mental health\, “Depression can be debilitating and painful\, literally like you’re bound with your mouth sewn shut. Pulling myself ‘up by my bootstraps’ was impossible. It can be hard to function\, sometimes hard to even get out of bed…and it can be even harder to ask for help due to fear of not being heard and being dismissed\, but finding yourself—and your voice—is possible”. \nSome of Hem’s mixed media works are large\, spanning six feet with figurative-based vibrant  and energetic images and emotions running through them.  \nHem believes that art is a powerful tool for healing and self-expression. They say that the ink “pulls the art out of me\, I do not tell the brush what to paint.” This process allows Hem to tap into their subconscious mind and create works that are both honest and raw. \nThey contrast with Julie’s more restrained and tightly coiled root-like drypoint etchings\, some with boundary pushing colors\, like textured neon inks and “rainbow rolls.” Her work also draws on a spontaneity of expression and a dialogue with the work. An enigmatic figure and the anthropomorphic root shapes of a small series within delve into storytelling and narrative art. Poem fragments as titles are incorporated using hand-set metal type offer a layer of contextual experience. Other work is more focused on specific time and place like the 2020 George Floyd protests in “Names in Ash.” \nJen’s works speak too with painted words found in shapes\, and symbology like locks and birds. Jen and Julie both share the heart as a symbol and vehicle of expression. Together\, Hem and Russell-Steuart create an exhibition that is both deeply personal and universally resonant to viewers\, especially activists and advocates finding their voice. \nExhibition Dates:\nOctober 9th – Exhibition Opening Day\nNovember 4th – Exhibition Closes \nJulie will teach a pop-up letterpress poster printing workshop on Saturday\, Oct 21\, from 1 to 4pm\, focusing on expressing a message with a short intro to protest poster print history. The resulting student prints will be displayed in the exhibition on a resource wall. Sign up for poster workshop here. \n\n\n\n\nJoin us for the opening reception on Thursday\, October 12\, from 6-8pm\, to meet the artists and see their work in person. The exhibition will be on view through November 4\, 2023. \n\n\n\n\n  \nArtist Biographies: \nJen Hem is an Iowa artist who works primarily in India Ink\, and is active in Mental Health Awareness Advocacy\, Advocacy for the Awareness of Violent and Sexual crimes\, and exploring other mediums through their art. Jen exhibits some attributes of realism\, pop art\, minimalistic line art\, and abstract expressionism. Their art is full of color and infused with vulnerable emotions\, and psychological undertones that have developed through their experience growing up in poverty amidst a difficult family life. Jen often says “the quiet part out loud” in their art\, as they bring awareness to topics including mental health\, consent\, sexual crimes\, inequality\, LBGTQ+ rights\, and abuses often not openly discussed. \nVisual artist Julie Russell-Steuart grew up in Maryland and earned a BFA in General Fine Art from Maryland Institute\, College of Art. Her work encompasses multiple mediums with a particular interest the synthesis of word and image. She publishes artist’s books and prints on a vintage Vandercook printing press under the imprint Caveworks Press. A guillotine paper cutter and seven type cabinets full of metal typefaces and various antique cuts round out her print shop. Her artwork often combines two or more printmaking techniques like linoleum carving\, pressure printing\, collograph\, polyester lithography\, drypoint\, laser cut plates\, metal type and wood engraving. She has shown her work internationally\, and her books are collected by several University libraries\, including The University of Iowa\, Texas State University\, and the University of Kentucky Lucille Little Fine Arts Library. She resides in Reinbeck\, Iowa\, with her husband David\, and daughter Venus.
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/jen-hem-and-julie-russell-steuart/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230905T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230930T170000
DTSTAMP:20260423T075234
CREATED:20230829T170335Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230901T152632Z
UID:15249-1693908000-1696093200@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:"Crossroads" Exhibition by Central Iowa Textile Artists
DESCRIPTION:Crossroads\nGroup Exhibition by Central Iowa Textile Artists\nSeptember 5th – September 30th\, 2023 At The Octagon Community Gallery \nAbout this group exhibition:\n“Crossroads” – A place where two roads meet and cross each other. An intersection where a choice must be made\, to go straight\, or change course and take a new direction. We come to many crossroads in our lives\, places where we decide to stay on the straight path\, to take the path least taken\, or to create a new path altogether. Sometimes life events force us down a path we don’t choose. \nThe artists who are members of the Central Iowa Textiles Artists have been creating art for many years. They come from varied backgrounds. Although only one member has a degree in art\, all have studied with various artists in the field of textiles and beyond\, for many years as they honed their own style and process. \nArtist List:\nIlene Bartos\, Janet Bergeron\, Mary Cecil\, Barbara Jones\, Rebecca Kemble\, Sue Kluber\, Rebecca Loew\, Janet Pittman\, Wendy Read\, Barbara Riggs\, Barbara Stewart\, Fern Stewart \nExhibition Dates:\nSeptember 5th – Exhibition Opening Day & Reception at 5PM\nSeptember 30th – Exhibition Closes \nArtist Biographies:\n\nIlene Bartos –\nIlene has been working with fiber arts and quilting for over 20 years\, designing both traditional\nand art quilts. Her works have hung in galleries and shows and won various awards and blue\nribbons. She enjoys being a lecturer at guilds and loves teaching others how to make quilts that\nare slightly beyond their comfort level or outside the traditional box. Quilting combines her\npassion for color with her love of fabric and gives infinite possibilities for creative\nexpression.Ilene authored two traditional quilt books in 2009 and 2010 but has since been\ndevoting her time to designing contemporary art quilts and writing patterns for them. She loves\nteaching others how to work with bright colors because it makes everyone smile – her motto is to\nspread joy\, one quilt at a time. \nJanet Bergeron –\nTextiles have defined Janet’s world since the age of eight. From garment construction\,\ncostume design\, quilting\, dyeing\, and construction\, her happiness has always been\nfound in her sewing room. Her work has been exhibited locally and in a number of regional and traveling\nexhibitions\, as well as many homes and offices. \nMary Cecil –\nMary Cecil has always had an interest in the arts but never found her niche until she\ndiscovered quilting. As with most quilters\, she began with more traditional designs but\nthen began to see challenges in more diverse forms of expression. Her life in both the\nUS and Mexico has offered endless inspiration from images of architecture\, birds\, plants\nand more\, which she captures with her camera and then brings to life in fabric. Her work\nhas received recognition in a variety of venues and she continues to improve and\nexplore textile art making. \nBarbara Jones –\nFor the past twenty years\, Barbara has been involved in quilting\, primarily in creating\nfabric wall art rather than making bed quilts.\nOver the years she has sold many of her “fabric paintings” and has had her art\ndisplayed in galleries throughout the US. Her work as also been displayed in magazines\nand newspaper articles. In 2006 she started a pattern company of primarily whimsical animals. The patterns are\nsold in quilt stores throughout the US\, the UK\, Australia and Canada.\nHer process for many of her art quilt “paintings” begins with a sketch of the motif\,\n(usually an animal) which is then transferred to the background fabric. The quilt\n“paintings” often include various media\, i.e.\, painted or hand-dyed fabric by the artist\,\nwool\, silk\, yarn\, zippers\, buttons\, sticks\, etc. many of the fabric “paintings” are done\nentirely by hand\, so each piece requires months to complete.\nBarbara likes to bring awareness of the environmental issues facing many animals that\nare disappearing or on the endangered species list through her art. \nRebecca Kemble –\nRebecca has always been inspired by her environment\, and found joy in creating.\nWhether in the countryside\, or the city\, there is always something that catches her\ninterest to influence her art. As a mixed media artist\, she tends to combine the use of\npaint\, dye\, fabric and stitch to create both image and texture. Her work has been shown\ninternationally\, nationally\, and resides in private collections throughout the United\nStates. Because of her awareness of the world around her\, she is also keenly aware of how the\nenvironment is being affected by changes in our climate. Her latest works have focused\non the “little” things that provide so much for our survival. \nSue Kluber –\nThere has never been a moment in Sue Kluber’s life that did not include art.\nObserving all that nature offered consumed her. Love of the changing seasons \,the\nwildlife\, and a grandmother who lived “by the signs”  were treasured inspirations\, as\nwere life lessons from a colorful and diverse cast of talented characters that crossed\nher path.  She has entered some shows\, won a few awards\, and sells some pieces\,\nbut the rewards are really the joy of capturing moments that she loves in the art. \nRebecca Loew –\nRebecca Loew is a textile artist living in Grinnell\, Iowa. She has been quilting for more\nthan 40 years\, but in the past ten years Rebecca has explored many other areas of the\nfiber arts. She has exhibited her work in several gallery shows and has art in private\ncollections. She has taught Shibori\, natural dying\, and other textile arts at the Des\nMoines Art Center. \nJanet Pittman –\nJanet Pittman\, a quilt artist from West Des Moines\, Iowa\, has been quilting and\ndesigning as owner of Garden Trellis Designs for over 30 years. Janet’s quilt designs\nhave appeared in Love of Quilting\, American Patchwork and Quilting\, and Country\nMarketplace magazines. She the author of Appliqué\, the Basics and Beyond\, Colorful\nQuilts for Playful Kids and First Time Machine Appliqué.\nInspiration for her wall hangings comes from photographs she has taken of her own\ngarden and of gardens and other sites on her travels. She finds that the color variations\nin hand-dyed fabric and batik fabric add to the natural feel of her mostly realistic\ndesigns. Many of her quilts are embellished with decorative threads\, machine or hand\nstitched\, to add texture and color to the images. \nWendy Read –\nJust as many young children have throughout the generations\, Wendy Read became\ncomfortable with the fiber arts at an early age\, from playing with her mother’s button\nbasket and the fabric scraps that fell on the floor as her mother sewed\, to making many\nof her own clothes as a teenager. As an adult drawn to the arts\, she naturally\nexperimented with the media she was most familiar with\, incorporating exotic and\ninteresting fibers and materials\, paints\, and dyes to create her art. Born in Baton Rouge\,\nLouisiana\, she was fortunate to have the influence of several professional and amateur\nartists in her family\, as well as year-round access to nature.\nHer work has been displayed in numerous exhibits and private showings\, and has won\nmany awards throughout the country. While she uses many fiber art techniques\, there is\nusually extensive thread-painting in her work\, where the thread becomes her paint\, and\nthe sewing machine her paintbrush. \nBarbara Riggs –\nBarbara Riggs has been a fiber artist and art quilter for over 20 years. Having grown up\non a farm in Iowa has greatly influenced her art. Nature is a theme that is very much\nreflected in her work. Capturing what she saw with drawings and paintings was what\ndrew her to the art world. When the paints and solvents had to be put away\, she had to\nfind another medium to continue to create art. Having had a needle and thread in her\nhands from a very young age\, it was a natural transition to move to fiber art. Her work\nhas been shown internationally\, nationally and in many local and regional venues\,\nfeatured in national publications\, and received numerous awards. \nBarbara Stewart –\nBarbara (Barb) Stewart was first associated and greatly influenced into the art world by her\nmaternal grandmother\, who was an outstanding artist\, and by her Uncle Harry whose\ndrawings would have received numerous awards had they been displayed. Unfortunately\,\nshe never inherited these artistic blessing\, but was quite crafty and could literally sew\nanything. For her\, quilting was always a dream to pursue\, but that was not possible until her\nretirement. However\, prior to her retirement\, quilting expanded from the traditional style to\ninclude an amazing form of “art quilting”\, which allowed more creativity and spontaneity.\nThen\, with the directive of many exceptional art quilters\, books and classes\, she was able to\nacquire knowledge involving various techniques that expanded her art quilting abilities\,\nincluding creation of three-dimensional quilts. Barb’s quilts have been influenced by her life\nexperiences\, by nature\, by other artists\, by various themes or challenges from art quilt\ngroups she is involved with\, and quite often by scripture. Exhibits of her art quilts have\noccurred in various venues and at numerous private showings. Her quilts have also\nreceived awards and have been purchased. Art quilting became a blessing for Barb\, always\nencouraging her to stretch her mind and imagination to create artistic beauty for others to\nenjoy. \nFern Stewart –\nFern Stewart has quilted for the past 40 years.  Her early work mimicked the quilt\nmovement of the time relying on templates\, a limited color palette and traditional\napproach.  She quickly moved beyond those limitations and acknowledged her\nindependent creative spirit.  She has created a number of award winning quilts. \nCurrently she is working on a series of quilts entitled Urban Development in which\nshe reflects on the changes to cities due to population growth and developer greed. \nSocial changes\, housing density\, loss of habitat and related concerns will be the\nfocus of her next four quilts.
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/crossroads-exhibition-by-central-iowa-textile-artists/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230731T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230826T170000
DTSTAMP:20260423T075234
CREATED:20230727T194741Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230727T194741Z
UID:15236-1690790400-1693069200@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:"Misplaced and Lost" Exhibition by Lisa Lockman
DESCRIPTION:“Misplaced and Lost” Exhibition by Lisa Lockman\nJuly 31st – August 26th\, 2023\nAn Exhibition by Lisa Lockman\nExhibiting in the Community Gallery\n \n\n \nLisa Lockman is an artist and a Professor of Art at Nebraska Wesleyan University where she teaches ceramics and metalsmithing. Her current work – ceramic murals and vessels – is influenced by maternal ancestry and the exploration of new technologies utilized with clay. “My interests in ancestry\, specifically the women of my paternal side\, and new technologies in art and ceramics have become the major influences in my current work.”\n \nReception date TBD!
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/misplaced-and-lost-exhibition-by-lisa-lockman/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Exhibits
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://octagonarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/LisaLockman1.jpg
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:20230626T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230722T170000
DTSTAMP:20260423T075234
CREATED:20230703T195409Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230703T195816Z
UID:15177-1687766400-1690045200@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:The Octagon Annual All-Member Show
DESCRIPTION: \nJune 26th – July 22nd\nReception: July 20th at 5pm\nAt the Community Gallery \n\n\n\n\nThis unjuried show celebrates the skills\, creativity\, and lived experiences of the Octagon community! Let’s fill the gallery and surround ourselves with our own amazing work — established artists next to emerging artists\, all media. \nReception Event:\nThe reception for this show will be a closing reception on July 20th at 5pm. This shares the same date as our Patio Party\, so there will be a live performance from our musical guest\, The Bone People! You wont want to miss it! \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n2023 Artist List:\nPenny Adam\, Deborah Anders-Bond\, Tiffany Antone\, Sherry Berghefer\, Casey Bridgham\, Terry Brigman\, Tina Campbell\, Linda Cather\, Johnson Caitlyn Chellew\, Susan Cunningham\, Mark Doherty\, Pamela Douglas\, Timothy F. Pross\, Caroline Freese\, Vaibhavi Gala\, Jennifer Gauerke\, Joe Geha\, Jill Guffy\, Erik Gustafson\, Katharine Hensley\, Donna Hoff-Grambau\, Carl Kurtz\, Kristin M. Roach\, Joshua McCunn\, Matthew McLain\, Diane Michaud Lowry\, Michael Moore\, Christ & Nicole Nevels\, Rebecca Newton\, Rosalise Olson\, Katy Patterson Phelps\, Isaac Prior\, Kuntal Raythatha\, Kyle Renell\, Kimberlee Rocca\, Jill Sneed\, Josh Sorrell\, Tracey Stewart\, Kathy Svec\, Troy Thomas\, Dean Traver\, Mark True\, Rob Wallace\, Alicia Wilkinson\, Amanda Williams\, Kelsey Wilson\, Irina Yavorskaya\, Thomas Zimmerman.
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/the-octagon-annual-all-member-show/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Exhibits
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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:20230522T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230617T170000
DTSTAMP:20260423T075234
CREATED:20230516T170803Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230516T172411Z
UID:15047-1684749600-1687021200@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:The Words He Cannot Say
DESCRIPTION:The Words He Cannot Say — Exhibition by Leo Bird\nMay 22nd – June 17th\, 2023\nA exhibition by Leo Bird\nExhibiting in the Community Gallery\n\n \nThis exhibition is a collection of works of Leo’s art accompanied by Leo’s writings.\n \nAbout The Words He Cannot Say:\n\n\n\nI\, Leo Bird (b. 1991\, Ames\, Iowa) was diagnosed with autism when I was three years old and created the graphic memoir The Words He Cannot Say. In this memoir I show how I overcame alienation and bullying\, succeeded in my job search\, and learned from mistakes through the patient help of parents\, teachers\, and classmates.  \nFrom analyzing my past\, I learned how I or someone else could have acted differently so the conflict could have had a better outcome. I write and draw to provide commentary on actions that my peers and I took in the past\, without being influenced by any book\, movie\, author\, or genre. My work is life becoming art instead of art imitating life. Some parts of The Words He Cannot Say were written objectively enough to allow subjective opinions. Audiences react to it in ways that surprise me and I learn from the audience. My stories inspire audiences to be kind\, self aware\, courageous\, and adventurous and have debunked myths. The artist I draw like is Alex Katz\, whom I had not heard of before artists had analyzed my art. I aim to use a color scheme that creates the maximum amount of contrast between adjacent colors using the minimum amount of color. \nI got the idea for The Words He Cannot Say an interview in the summer between my junior and senior year of college in 2013. The interviewer suggested I could teach people about autism. I thought I could do that by using the true storytelling techniques I learned in my Writing Short Stories Class. When I shared my stories\, I learned that nuerotypicals (people without autism) and even cats and dogs faced the same challenges fitting in as I did and found the topic interesting\, so I shifted the focus of The Words He Cannot Say to fitting in\, building talent and character and allowed The Words He Cannot Say to lose the autism theme. This discovery motivated me to write about my life.\n\n \nLeo Bird’s Website: https://leobirdstandsup.com/about-leo-bird/\n\n \nUpcoming event dates:\n\nMay 22nd – Exhibition Opening Day and Reception\nJune 17th – Exhibition Closes\n\n \n 
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/the-words-he-cannot-say/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Exhibits
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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;VALUE=DATE:20230417
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20230514
DTSTAMP:20260423T075234
CREATED:20230314T165340Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230406T160449Z
UID:14918-1681689600-1684022399@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:2023 Elementary/Middle/High School Annual Student Show
DESCRIPTION:The Octagon Center for the Arts highlights artwork by local elementary\, middle\, and high school students annually. \n \n\n\n\nGRADES K – 8 (Virtual):\nSHOW DETAILS: \n\n\n\nGoogle Form Submission Due: 5 pm\, Saturday\, April 1\, 2023\nVirtual Exhibit Opening: Monday\, April 17\, 2023\nArt from Grades K – 8 will be displayed virtually.\nEach elementary and middle school student may submit one piece to exhibit. \n\n\n\n\nENTRY REQUIREMENTS: \n\n\n\nAll submitted artwork must be entered into the Google Form by April 1st at 5:00 pm to be included in the show.\nAll media will be accepted.\nPhotographic reproduction of entries may be used or copied by the Octagon Center for the Arts\, without further agreement by the artists\, for exhibition and/or publication (print or online). Artwork may not be credited in publications due to space limitations.\n\n\n\n \nGRADES 9 – 12:\nIMPORTANT DATES: \n\n\n\nShow Opening in the Community Gallery: Monday\, April 17\, 2023\nReception: Thursday\, April 20\, 2023\, 4:00-5:30pm in the Community Gallery. Our juror will announce high school awards and share comments on the show.\nShow Closing in the Community Gallery: Saturday\, May 13\, 2023\n\n\n\n\nENTRY REQUIREMENTS: \n\n\n\nIf you are a 9-12 art instructor or homeschool parent and would like to enter your students’ work into the show\, please email the Gallery Director to recieve a copy of the complete submission guidellines.\nEligible high schools or homeschool students must be located within 20 miles from Ames.\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n2023 EXHIBIT JUROR: SUSAN NORRIS \n \nSusan Norris\, an Ames artist\, is a human magpie. Walk with her and you’ll witness her exclaim as she picks up a bit of rusty metal or a shard of plastic. Variety is the spice of Norris’ life from the colors\, patterns and textures of her thrifted clothing and garden to the way she sets a table. \nShe is a scrappy collector and determined connector who can stitch Humpty-Dumpty back together again in a variety of imaginative ways. During the 2021 Ames Artist Studio tour folks asked\, “How did you think of so many different ways to put things together?” \nNorris is passionate about rescuing discarded objects\, likening them to discarded people. The process of finding\, sorting and grouping objects inspires ideas for expression through assemblage. Norris is currently experimenting with ways to combine her lifelong love of hand stitching and her newfound interest in mending with found object art. \n\n\n\n\n  \nQUESTIONS?\nContact: Casey Bridgham\, Gallery Director \nAddress: 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA 50010 \nPhone: 515-232-5331 \nEmail: exhibits@octagonarts.org \n 
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/2023-elementary-middle-high-school-annual-student-show/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits
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ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org
GEO:42.0257584;-93.6123172
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230303T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230408T170000
DTSTAMP:20260423T075234
CREATED:20230127T152946Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230307T185106Z
UID:14733-1677830400-1680973200@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:Octagonal 2023: The All Media Show
DESCRIPTION: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.\n\n \nCLICK HERE to visit the Octagonal Page\n\n \n\nExhibit Timeline \n\n\n\nApplications Open: Dec 2\, 2022 \nApplications Close: Jan 15\, 2023\, 11:59 pm \nNotification of Jury Results: Jan 25\, 2023 \nArtwork Delivery/Drop-off Deadline: Feb 18\, 2023* \nExhibit Opening/Reception: March 3 \nExhibit Closes: April 8 \nArtwork Pickup Dates: April 10 – 14\, 2023 \nArtwork Ship Dates: April 17 – 21\, 2023 \n*All artwork must be received by February 18\, 2023. Dropoff only on weekdays (in-person)or via mail. \n  \n\n\n\n2023 Juror: Ash Hanson \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\nAsh Hanson has 15 years of experience working with rural communities to activate stories\, connect neighbors\, and exercise collective imagination. \nShe 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. \nShe 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! \nClick to visit Ash Hanson’s website \n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\nBelow are the accepted artists for 2023. Congratulations! \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLast Name\nFirst Name\nTitle\n\n\nArp\nJordan\nHeart of Gold\n\n\nArp\nJordan\nRed\, White\, BOOM\n\n\nBusby\nBetty\nDon’t Touch Me\n\n\nBusby\nBetty\nIn the Beginning\n\n\nCooper\nKaren\nDoing Fine.\n\n\nDeam\nNatalie\nSkullwreck\n\n\nDuVal Mihelich\nKatie\nHow Do I Say Goodbye?\n\n\nFreese\nRobert\nOriginal Social Post\n\n\nGauerke\nJennifer\nComfortmaker\n\n\nHardy\nMichele\nCircles #51\n\n\nHoyt\nSummer\nThe Spring of Fortitude\n\n\nHuffman\nAngie\nSaturday\n\n\nJoffe-Bouska\nMarcia\nRIO DEL OLVIDO (river of forgetfulness)\n\n\nKruse\nJerene\nPeaceful Shelter\n\n\nLemons\nJon\nBlank Billboard\n\n\nMcKaig\nKelly\nOrbits and Excavations: Nine-Patch Orbit\n\n\nPark\nSangsook\nAn old diary memory (Brooch)\n\n\nPetersen\nClinton\nRed City\n\n\nPfeiffer\nJarred\nTwin Columns\n\n\nprior\nIsaac\nBlue Folds\, Waves\n\n\nQuinn\nJess\nSymphony In Purple and Green\n\n\nReeves\nElizabeth\nConsumption\n\n\nReinhart\nCatherine\nInland Surveying\n\n\nReinhart\nCatherine\nClan Curio\n\n\nRocca\nKimberlee\nA Stone’s Throw\n\n\nRoethler\nMegan\nDining Room\n\n\nShea\nBradley\nOver the Hills and Far Away\n\n\nSimonsen\nRichard\nNAUTICA\n\n\nSorrell\nJosh\nGenerate\n\n\nstaniforth\nart\njungle\n\n\nWallace\nRob\nEye of the Tiger\n\n\nWhalley\nTom\nTwister\n\n\nWhetstone\nMattea\nNutshell\n\n\nWilkinson\nAlicia\nChildhood Sky [healing pixel textile painting]\n\n\nWollert\nZach\nConstruct\n\n\nZhang\nDafang\nChinese Wisteria\n\n\n\n  \n\nTo all artists who submitted art to Octagonal this year\, we want to thank you for supporting the Octagon!
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/octagonal-2023-the-all-media-show/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://octagonarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Screenshot-2023-01-27-092844.jpg
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:20230130T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230225T170000
DTSTAMP:20260423T075234
CREATED:20230127T151029Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230127T151910Z
UID:14723-1675065600-1677344400@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:Snáithín Bainneanach/Feminine Fiber
DESCRIPTION:Snáithín Bainneanach/Feminine Fiber — Exhibition by Cynthia O’Hern\nJanuary 30th – February 25th 2023\nA new fiber exhibition by Cynthia O’Hern will be exhibiting from January 30th to February 25th in the Community Gallery!\n\n\n\nCynthia O’Hern is a figurative fiber artist who utilizes the process of feltmaking to create figure and form by coaxing wool fibers into solid cloths of felted wool. She is drawn to the medium of felt for its tactile nature; its slow\, conscious process; and its latent expressive potential.\n\n\n \nUpcoming event dates:\n\nJanuary 30th – Exhibition opening day\nFebruary 2nd – 5:00pm Artist talk at the Community Gallery\n\n \n 
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/snaithin-bainneanach-feminine-fiber/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Exhibits
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://octagonarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/326779912_886695819113303_2630140141490379219_n-e1674832458289.jpg
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