Creating a Tonal Image in Charcoal and Paint Saturday, July 27 1 - 5 pm (4 - 5 pm critique session) North Studio Class Limit: 16 $250 Member discounts may not be applied to this special workshop. In this workshop we will learn the basics of charcoal drawing to get a quick impression of […]
Clay Workshop, ages 12 – 15 August 5 – 8 1 – 4 pm $145 Learn key handbuilding techniques including pinch, coil and slab construction, plus surface decoration and glazing. Students will create functional and artistic projects to be glazed, fired and picked up two weeks after class ends. Instructor: Jasmine Beul Ceramics Studio Class […]
LOCATED IN THE SMALL WALL GALLERY From Megan Anderson: I have always been in awe of nature and its beauty. I see the world through a photographer’s eyes and always wish I had a camera permanently attached to my hand. With the invention of cell phones, my dream came true. I want to show that […]
Hands on Harps (Ages 15+) August 24 at 10:00-11:30 $40/class Learn more about the harp and try out different sizes of folk harps. Participants will have the opportunity to learn to play simple melodies and chords, in unison and in rounds. The harp is a very beginner friendly instrument (even mistakes sound good on the […]
LOCATED IN MAIN GALLERY Let’s do a little math! A = πr2 There are 70,686 square miles in a circle with 150 square mile radius. Thus the name for this exhibit… 70K is a juried exhibition of artists located 150 miles from Ames or nearer. This focus on local and regional artists is an important part of the mission […]
EXPLORING ART: SESSION 1 (SEPT) Ages: 18 months – younger 3’s Day/Time: Tuesdays, 9:15 - 10am Cost: $60 for each 4 week session below. Session 1 (SEPT): September 3 – 24 Session 2 (OCT): October 1 – 22 Session 3 (NOV): October 29 – November 19 Session 4 (DEC): November 26 – December 17 THIS […]
CREATIVE EXPLORATIONS: WEDNESDAYS, SESSION 1 (SEPT) Ages: older 3’s - 5 years Day/Time: Wednesdays OR Thursdays, 9:15 – 10:00 am (Sign up for the day that suits you best!) Cost: $60 for each 4 week session below. WEDNESDAYS Session 1: September 4 – 25 Session 2: October 2 – 23 Session 3: October 30 – […]
CREATIVE EXPLORATIONS: THURSDAYS, SESSION 1 (SEPT) Ages: older 3’s - 5 years Day/Time: Wednesdays OR Thursdays, 9:15 – 10:00 am (Sign up for the day that suits you best!) Cost: $60 for each 4 week session below. WEDNESDAYS Session 1: September 4 – 25 Session 2: October 2 – 23 Session 3: October 30 – […]
LOCATED IN SWEENEY GALLERY (3RD FLOOR) Angie Huffman I try to render scenes from generally unremarkable life events that bring me joy when I first see them. Though mundane, they reach out with a harmonious balance of composition and color. Quiet and wordless, they imply a visual narrative and ask for further consideration. Transporting […]
LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY GALLERY (1st FLOOR/STREET LEVEL) Artist Statement Using site-adjusted installations as my primary mode of practice, I deploy an integrated and focused approach to both theoretical and practical questions pertaining to the nature and impact of materiality specific to the re-occupation of post-industrial spaces. My works provoke a temporal-spatial encounter that reconciles […]
About Us
The Octagon Center for the Arts is a non-profit community art center in the heart of downtown Ames, Iowa. A cornerstone of the cultural scene in Ames since 1966, the Octagon serves more than 30,000 people each year through art classes and outreach, rotating exhibits, a retail gallery shop, and the annual Octagon Art Festival.
The Octagon Center for the Arts is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization funded in part through memberships, donations, and grants, including the City of Ames Commission on the Arts (COTA) and the Iowa Arts Council.
© 2023 Octagon Center for the Arts. All rights reserved.
Octagon Center for the Arts
413 & 427 Douglas Avenue
Ames, IA 50010
Phone: 515-232-5331
Email: info@octagonarts.org
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Octagon Shop and Community Gallery
Monday-Wednesday 10:00am-5:30pm
Thursday 10:00am-7:00pm
Friday 10:00am-5:30pm
Saturday 10:00am-5:00pm
Sunday CLOSED (except during the holidays)
