“Visions of Hildegard” Reception
2025-09-12 17:30 - 19:00 (America/Chicago) | Octagon Center for the Arts, 427 Douglas Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
Visions of Hildegard
Solo Exhibition by Christopher Hynes

Exhibition Dates:
September 12th, 2025 – Exhibition Opening Day
September 12th, 2025 – Exhibition Reception 5:30PM – 7PM in the Community Gallery with choir performance by the group “Good Company” at 6pm
September 28th, 2025 – Exhibition Closes

Artist Statement:
“There is a little bit of something in everything and that is what I like to explore.”
My 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.
Hildegard 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.
At 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.
Artist Biography:
Christopher 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.

Performers:
Good 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.
Website: goodcompanysings.com

Group Art Exhibition: Cedar River Artisans “Voices”
2025-10-09 08:00 - 2025-11-13 17:00
Voices
Group Exhibition by Cedar River Artisans

Exhibition Dates:
October 9th, 2025 – Exhibition Opening Day
November 13th, 2025 – Exhibition Public Reception from 6:00 – 7:30PM in the Community Gallery
November 13th, 2025 – Exhibition Closes

Artist Statement:
VOICES 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.
Exhibiting Artists:
Robert Fox, Ellen Kleckner, M.L Kline, Julia Kottal, Nancy Lindsay, Marty Mitchell, Elizabeth Rhoads Read, and John Schwartzkopf.

Artists’ Biographies:
Cedar 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.

The collective consists of eight members:
Robert Fox, Ellen Kleckner, M.L Kline, Julia Kottal, Nancy Lindsay, Marty Mitchell, Elizabeth Rhoads Read, and John Schwartzkopf.

**Work in Event Image (from top left to bottom right)
John Schwartzkopf – Swing
Marty Mitchell – Phlox at the Quarry
Bob Fox – Spotted Bee Balm
M.L. Kline – Captured Moments
Nancy Lindsay – Untold Stories
Ellen Klenecker – Loop
Julia Kottal – Colorfield Lilac, Green & Orange
Elizabeth Rhoads Read – Super Imposition

“Voices” Reception
2025-11-13 18:00 - 19:30

Octagonal: The All Media Show
2026-01-19 10:00 - 2026-03-14 17:00
Octagonal: The All Media Show
Group Exhibition by Various Artists

Exhibition Dates:
January 19, 2026 – Exhibition Opening DayJanuary 22, 2026– Exhibition ReceptionMarch 14, 2026 – Exhibition Closes

Exhibiting Artist List:

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

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

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

Octagonal Artists' Reception
2026-01-22 17:30 - 19:00
Octagonal: The All Media Show
Group Exhibition by Various Artists

Exhibition Dates:
January 19, 2026 – Exhibition Opening DayJanuary 22, 2026 – Exhibition Reception Awards announced at 6:15pmMarch 14, 2026 – Exhibition Closes

Exhibiting Artist List:

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

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

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

The Annual High School Show
2026-03-26 10:00 - 2026-04-04 17:00
The Annual High School Senior & Junior Show
Group Exhibition by Various High School Artists

Exhibition Dates:
March 26, 2026 – Exhibition Opening Day
March 26, 2026 – Artists’ Reception from 4:30-5:30pm; Awards to be announced at 5:00pm
April 4, 2026 – Exhibition Closes

The Annual High School Show Reception
2026-03-26 16:30 - 17:30

Group Art Exhibition: Joe Muench “Lessons Learned: Explorations in Metal”
2026-04-10 10:00 - 2026-04-30 17:00
Lessons Learned: Explorations in Metal
Group Exhibition by Joe Muench & former students of the ISU jewelry/metalsmithing courses
This 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.

Exhibition Dates:
April 10, 2026 – Exhibition Opening Day
April 30, 2026 – Public Reception from 5:30pm – 7pm in the Community Gallery
April 30, 2026 – Exhibition Closes

Artist Statements:
More information to come

Artist Biographies:
More information to come

“Lessons Learned: Explorations in Metal” Reception
2026-04-30 17:30 - 19:00

2026 College of Design MFA Capstone Show
2026-05-04 10:00 - 2026-05-11 17:00
2026 College of Design MFA Capstone Show
Group Exhibition by graduate students in the Integrated Visual Arts MFA program at Iowa State University
May 4th – May 11th, 2026 in the Octagon Community Gallery

About this group exhibition:
Graduate students in the Integrated Visual Arts MFA program at Iowa State University will showcase their capstone projects in the Community Gallery.

Exhibition Dates:
May 4th, 2026 – Exhibition Opening Day
May 7, 2026 – Exhibition Reception
May 11th, 2026 – Exhibition Closes

2026 College of Design MFA Capstone Reception
2026-05-07 17:30 - 19:00

2026 Annual Members' Show
2026-05-21 10:00 - 2026-06-27 17:00
2026 Annual Members’ Show
Group Exhibition by members of the Octagon Center for the Arts
May 21 – June 27 in the Octagon Community Gallery
About this group exhibition:
This 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.
Octagon Members – use the link below to submit your entry. Deadline is 11:45 PM, May 3.

Link to submit entry
Exhibition Dates:
May 21, 2026 – Exhibition Opening Day
June 11, 5:00-8:00 PM – Exhibition Reception
June 27, 2026 – Exhibition Closes
Artist List:
TBD

Octagon 60th Birthday Hullabaloo
2026-08-31 10:00 - 2026-10-10 17:00
Octagon 60th Birthday Hullabaloo
Octagon History Exhibition by the Octagon Staff

Exhibition Dates:
August 31, 2026 – Exhibition Opening Day
TBD – Exhibition Reception
October 10, 2026 – Exhibition Closes
