Mixed Media Faces, ages 6 - 12 July 15 – July 18 9 – 11:30 am $140 Students will create expressive faces and portraits from life, photos, and imagination, while being inspired by artists from the past as well as the present, from abstract to real. A variety of media – collage, charcoal, paint, string, glass […]
Painting: Myths and Dreamscapes, ages 10 - 14 July 15 – 18 1 – 3:30 pm $140 Unleash your creativity and imagination as you develop foundational painting skills with acrylic paints and watercolors. Learn about ancient myths from Egypt, Asia, and Latin America, and then travel space and time as you create a fantasy world […]
LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY GALLERY Diary of a Mad World Artworks by Derrick Burbul July 20 to September 7, 2019 Artist Statement My images and writings have sometimes been juxtaposed, but never combined, until this body of work. The relationship between images and words can be traced back all the way to fourth century B.C. […]
Robot Sculptures, ages 8 - 10 July 22 – 25 9 – 11:30 am $140 Study the basics of 3D design and build a sculpture that is out of this world. Draw your prototype, experiment with building techniques, and use wire, cardboard, found objects, and repurposed electronics to construct your extraterrestrial sculpture. Instructor: Susan Norris Class […]
Creating a Precise Linear Drawing for Painting Thursday, July 25 6 - 8 pm North Studio Class Limit: 16 $90 Membership discounts may not be applied to this workshop. Learn the fundamentals of making a linear drawing in preparation for painting. We will discuss accurate shapes, proportional agreement and identifying important information needed during […]
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 […]
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.
© 2025 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)