Exploring Art, ages: 18 months – younger 3’s Tuesdays, 9:15 - 10am $55 for each 4 week session below: January 8 - 29 February 19 – March 12 April 2 – 23 May 7 - 28 Children and their adult partner will explore art together in a relaxed environment. Toddlers will create their own works of art […]
LOCATED IN THE SMALL WALL GALLERY Biography and Artist Statement AJ Zandt is an artist and printmaker from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Surface Wear is the result of his latest efforts to expand the relationship between the human body and surface through the lens of skin and clothing. Each work in the exhibition is comprised of varied […]
Easy Silver Earrings, 16+ Thursday, May 16 6:30 – 8:30 pm $35 materials included Learn about wire work and make your own earrings. Learn about metals, wire, gauges, tools, and also learn about gemstones, wrapped eye loops and how to make head pins, bead links and dangles. Each participant will be able to create one pair of […]
LOCATED IN THE SWEENEY GALLERY Artist Statement and Bio: Mary Jones Mary Jones makes maps of the wilderness of personal history. Images and words are layered out of time and perspective; space is described by the inhabitants, whose journeys are being told. Details get piled on in the way that life is lived– in steps, […]
Hands on Harps, ages 16+ 2 dates available: May 18, 10:00-11:30 or August 24, 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 […]
LOCATED IN THE MAIN GALLERY Print Retrospective Artist Bio: April Katz April Katz received her M.F.A. degree from Arizona State University. She is Morrill Professor at Iowa State University where she has taught printmaking since 1999. For nineteen years she organized the university’s annual international postcard print exchange. From 2004 - 2006 Katz served […]
LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY GALLERY Artist Statement for Measured Perceptions During a 2015 trip to Spain, Katz encountered evidence of La Convivencia (the coexistence of Muslim, Jewish and Christian populations) in Medieval Spain that provided hope for our current time of vitriolic discourse. Measured Perceptions embraces the similarities and unique contributions of the varied cultures […]
Make Your Own Mugs, ages 16+ Tuesdays, 6 – 9 pm May 28 – June 11 (3 weeks) $85 All skill levels: Beginners will learn basic wheel throwing techniques to create mugs, and learn the fundamentals of wedging clay and glazing. Intermediate and advanced students will be guided to continue and practice their artistic pursuits. […]
Maker Night: Mosaics, ages 21+ Thursday, May 30 6:30 – 9 pm $50 Bring a friend, snacks and a beverage of your choice and get creative with glass mosaics. Each student will learn basics of designing and laying down glass on backing. Pieces will be grouted by the Octagon staff and ready for pick up […]
Maker Night -- Travel Sketch Journals: Mapping it all out! (ages 21+) Thursday, June 6 (Register by May 23) 6:30 – 9 pm $45 Create a personal and meaningful travel journal. We will cover simple techniques on how to capture details quickly while on the move that you can apply to your journal right away. […]
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)
