The Words He Cannot Say
2023-05-22 10:00 - 2023-06-17 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Octagon Center for the Arts, 427 Douglas Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
The Words He Cannot Say — Exhibition by Leo Bird
May 22nd – June 17th, 2023
A exhibition by Leo Bird
Exhibiting in the Community Gallery

This exhibition is a collection of works of Leo’s art accompanied by Leo’s writings.

About The Words He Cannot Say:

I, 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.
From 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.
I 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.

Leo Bird’s Website: https://leobirdstandsup.com/about-leo-bird/

Upcoming event dates:

May 22nd – Exhibition Opening Day and Reception
June 17th – Exhibition Closes

Ames Art Walk - June 1st
2023-06-01 17:00 - 20:00 | Octagon Center for the Arts, 427 Douglas Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
5 PM – 8 PM June 1st, 2023

Here’s who is coming to The Octagon during Ames Art Walk!

⏪ Nathan Moore
Ceramicist, Artist, Teacher
“Born in the Midwest, my journey as a ceramic artist started at a small liberal arts college nestled in the northeast corner of Iowa. There, I became increasingly interested in clay and its power to connect people to each other and art.”

Jordan Brooks ⏩
Multi-Disciplinary
Jordan Brooks (he/him) is a creator, educator, facilitator, and community builder. He is the founder and owner of KNWSLF (pronounced “know self”). Jordan blends creative expression and inquiry with community-centered and student-centered interventions to create developmentally engaging experiences.

⏪ Cyre Empire™
Mixed Media
Provocatively Afrocentric Mix Media

Nicole and Christ Nevels ⏩
Paintings and Mixed Media
Multiple textures and materials blooming with vibrant colors mixed with people-watching, movement and martial arts make each of Mixed Media Christian-artists Christ (pronounced Chris) and Nicole Nevels paintings, drawings, prints, altered books/cards and jewelry a rich, joyful experience with a life-giving message being conveyed.

⏪ Valerie Williams
Pottery
Valerie specializes in bowls that are functional and light, graceful and very usable. She never liked stoneware – too heavy, and she didn’t like the scratchy feeling of the fork on the matte glazes. So when Valerie started throwing clay, she knew she wanted thin walls on her pots and a very smooth glaze. But Valerie found an affinity for stoneware. She loves the malleability of the clay and the communication she feels with the material when she’s throwing.

Ashley Vance ⏩
Printmaking & Mixed Media
Ashley Fay Vance is a printmaker and mixed media artist from Knoxville, Iowa. In 2022, Ashley graduated with her BFA in integrated studio arts from Iowa State University, with a minor in women’s and gender studies. Ashley’s work focuses on issues regarding feminism and social justice and primarily comprises different types of print media. Ashley is interning for ceramics artist Caroline Freese and attending grad school for art therapy and counseling in the fall.

Party on the Patio - June 15th - Featuring Cyre Empire™
2023-06-15 17:00 - 20:00 | Octagon Center for the Arts, 427 Douglas Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
Thursday, June 15th
5 PM – 8 PM
Party on the Patio is every third Thursday of the month, May – September from 5 PM – 8 PM. Performers are scheduled to perform from 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM unless otherwise noted. Drinks and light refreshments provided for a donation.
Thursday, June 15th Performer:
Cyre Empire™
Hip Hop

Cyre bio –

My name is Cyre, I am a Designer, Podcaster, Music Artist, and more. I’m from the south-side of Chicago,IL. I am aspiring to become a torch of light for the youth, to show them anything is possible by planting seeds to blossom a better future for you and I.

Lito bio –

I am designer, rapper, songwriter, self taught music engineer from Libreville Gabon. Growing up I lived in both France and Gabon and traveled around the world with my parents which enriched my cultural background. I want to disrupt the status quo with my design and my music to inspire people to be who they are and not what the society is forcing them to be.

The Octagon Annual All-Member Show
2023-06-26 08:00 - 2023-07-22 17:00 | Octagon Center for the Arts, 427 Douglas Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
June 26th – July 22nd
Reception: July 20th at 5pm
At the Community Gallery

This 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.
Reception Event:
The 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!

2023 Artist List:
Penny 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.

Party on the Patio - July 20th - Featuring The Bone People
2023-07-20 17:00 - 20:00 | Octagon Center for the Arts, 427 Douglas Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
Thursday, July 20th
5 PM – 8 PM
Party on the Patio is every third Thursday of the month, May – September from 5 PM – 8 PM. Performers are scheduled to perform from 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM unless otherwise noted. Drinks and light refreshments provided for a donation.
This event shares the same time and date as the 2023 Octagon Annual All-Member Show Reception!
More information about the All-Member show can be found here: https://octagonarts.org/the-member-show/
Thursday, July 20th Performer:
The Bone People
Rock, Jazz, R&B, Spoken Word

Jazz-poet Debra Marquart and her collaborators, Peter Manesis and Anthony Stevens, fuse elements of rock, jazz, and rhythm & blues with poetry and storytelling. The group performs in coffeehouses, bookstores, libraries, colleges and high schools across the country. In live performances, The Bone People move from storytelling to poetry to song, drawing connections between different genres and art forms. Since the group’s inception in 1992, The Bone People have worked to create a sound that blends the lyricism of poetry with the power of acoustic and electric music—to find that small sliver of a world where the two can co-exist without either one being compromised.
The Bone People Website: https://debramarquart.com/the-bone-people/

"Misplaced and Lost" Exhibition by Lisa Lockman
2023-07-31 08:00 - 2023-08-26 17:00 | Octagon Center for the Arts, 427 Douglas Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
“Misplaced and Lost” Exhibition by Lisa Lockman
July 31st – August 26th, 2023
An Exhibition by Lisa Lockman
Exhibiting in the Community Gallery

Lisa 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.”

Reception date TBD!

Party on the Patio - August 17th - Featuring King Wylde
2023-08-17 17:00 - 20:00 | Octagon Center for the Arts, 427 Douglas Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
Thursday, August 17th
5 PM – 8 PM
Party on the Patio is every third Thursday of the month, May – September from 5 PM – 8 PM. Performers are scheduled to perform from 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM unless otherwise noted. Drinks and light refreshments provided for a donation.
Thursday, August 17th Performer:
King Wylde
Rock, R&B

King Wylde is an inspiring artist who tastefully blends the genres of Alternative Rock and RnB. With a truly electrifying stage presence and killer showmanship, he is a must see musician.

"Crossroads" Exhibition by Central Iowa Textile Artists
2023-09-05 10:00 - 2023-09-30 17:00 | Octagon Center for the Arts, 427 Douglas Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
Crossroads
Group Exhibition by Central Iowa Textile Artists
September 5th – September 30th, 2023 At The Octagon Community Gallery
About this group exhibition:
“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.
The 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.
Artist List:
Ilene Bartos, Janet Bergeron, Mary Cecil, Barbara Jones, Rebecca Kemble, Sue Kluber, Rebecca Loew, Janet Pittman, Wendy Read, Barbara Riggs, Barbara Stewart, Fern Stewart
Exhibition Dates:
September 5th – Exhibition Opening Day & Reception at 5PM
September 30th – Exhibition Closes
Artist Biographies:

Ilene Bartos –
Ilene has been working with fiber arts and quilting for over 20 years, designing both traditional
and art quilts. Her works have hung in galleries and shows and won various awards and blue
ribbons. She enjoys being a lecturer at guilds and loves teaching others how to make quilts that
are slightly beyond their comfort level or outside the traditional box. Quilting combines her
passion for color with her love of fabric and gives infinite possibilities for creative
expression.Ilene authored two traditional quilt books in 2009 and 2010 but has since been
devoting her time to designing contemporary art quilts and writing patterns for them. She loves
teaching others how to work with bright colors because it makes everyone smile – her motto is to
spread joy, one quilt at a time.
Janet Bergeron –
Textiles have defined Janet’s world since the age of eight. From garment construction,
costume design, quilting, dyeing, and construction, her happiness has always been
found in her sewing room. Her work has been exhibited locally and in a number of regional and traveling
exhibitions, as well as many homes and offices.
Mary Cecil –
Mary Cecil has always had an interest in the arts but never found her niche until she
discovered quilting. As with most quilters, she began with more traditional designs but
then began to see challenges in more diverse forms of expression. Her life in both the
US and Mexico has offered endless inspiration from images of architecture, birds, plants
and more, which she captures with her camera and then brings to life in fabric. Her work
has received recognition in a variety of venues and she continues to improve and
explore textile art making.
Barbara Jones –
For the past twenty years, Barbara has been involved in quilting, primarily in creating
fabric wall art rather than making bed quilts.
Over the years she has sold many of her “fabric paintings” and has had her art
displayed in galleries throughout the US. Her work as also been displayed in magazines
and newspaper articles. In 2006 she started a pattern company of primarily whimsical animals. The patterns are
sold in quilt stores throughout the US, the UK, Australia and Canada.
Her process for many of her art quilt “paintings” begins with a sketch of the motif,
(usually an animal) which is then transferred to the background fabric. The quilt
“paintings” often include various media, i.e., painted or hand-dyed fabric by the artist,
wool, silk, yarn, zippers, buttons, sticks, etc. many of the fabric “paintings” are done
entirely by hand, so each piece requires months to complete.
Barbara likes to bring awareness of the environmental issues facing many animals that
are disappearing or on the endangered species list through her art.
Rebecca Kemble –
Rebecca has always been inspired by her environment, and found joy in creating.
Whether in the countryside, or the city, there is always something that catches her
interest to influence her art. As a mixed media artist, she tends to combine the use of
paint, dye, fabric and stitch to create both image and texture. Her work has been shown
internationally, nationally, and resides in private collections throughout the United
States. Because of her awareness of the world around her, she is also keenly aware of how the
environment is being affected by changes in our climate. Her latest works have focused
on the “little” things that provide so much for our survival.
Sue Kluber –
There has never been a moment in Sue Kluber’s life that did not include art.
Observing all that nature offered consumed her. Love of the changing seasons ,the
wildlife, and a grandmother who lived “by the signs” were treasured inspirations, as
were life lessons from a colorful and diverse cast of talented characters that crossed
her path. She has entered some shows, won a few awards, and sells some pieces,
but the rewards are really the joy of capturing moments that she loves in the art.
Rebecca Loew –
Rebecca Loew is a textile artist living in Grinnell, Iowa. She has been quilting for more
than 40 years, but in the past ten years Rebecca has explored many other areas of the
fiber arts. She has exhibited her work in several gallery shows and has art in private
collections. She has taught Shibori, natural dying, and other textile arts at the Des
Moines Art Center.
Janet Pittman –
Janet Pittman, a quilt artist from West Des Moines, Iowa, has been quilting and
designing as owner of Garden Trellis Designs for over 30 years. Janet’s quilt designs
have appeared in Love of Quilting, American Patchwork and Quilting, and Country
Marketplace magazines. She the author of Appliqué, the Basics and Beyond, Colorful
Quilts for Playful Kids and First Time Machine Appliqué.
Inspiration for her wall hangings comes from photographs she has taken of her own
garden and of gardens and other sites on her travels. She finds that the color variations
in hand-dyed fabric and batik fabric add to the natural feel of her mostly realistic
designs. Many of her quilts are embellished with decorative threads, machine or hand
stitched, to add texture and color to the images.
Wendy Read –
Just as many young children have throughout the generations, Wendy Read became
comfortable with the fiber arts at an early age, from playing with her mother’s button
basket and the fabric scraps that fell on the floor as her mother sewed, to making many
of her own clothes as a teenager. As an adult drawn to the arts, she naturally
experimented with the media she was most familiar with, incorporating exotic and
interesting fibers and materials, paints, and dyes to create her art. Born in Baton Rouge,
Louisiana, she was fortunate to have the influence of several professional and amateur
artists in her family, as well as year-round access to nature.
Her work has been displayed in numerous exhibits and private showings, and has won
many awards throughout the country. While she uses many fiber art techniques, there is
usually extensive thread-painting in her work, where the thread becomes her paint, and
the sewing machine her paintbrush.
Barbara Riggs –
Barbara Riggs has been a fiber artist and art quilter for over 20 years. Having grown up
on a farm in Iowa has greatly influenced her art. Nature is a theme that is very much
reflected in her work. Capturing what she saw with drawings and paintings was what
drew her to the art world. When the paints and solvents had to be put away, she had to
find another medium to continue to create art. Having had a needle and thread in her
hands from a very young age, it was a natural transition to move to fiber art. Her work
has been shown internationally, nationally and in many local and regional venues,
featured in national publications, and received numerous awards.
Barbara Stewart –
Barbara (Barb) Stewart was first associated and greatly influenced into the art world by her
maternal grandmother, who was an outstanding artist, and by her Uncle Harry whose
drawings would have received numerous awards had they been displayed. Unfortunately,
she never inherited these artistic blessing, but was quite crafty and could literally sew
anything. For her, quilting was always a dream to pursue, but that was not possible until her
retirement. However, prior to her retirement, quilting expanded from the traditional style to
include an amazing form of “art quilting”, which allowed more creativity and spontaneity.
Then, with the directive of many exceptional art quilters, books and classes, she was able to
acquire knowledge involving various techniques that expanded her art quilting abilities,
including creation of three-dimensional quilts. Barb’s quilts have been influenced by her life
experiences, by nature, by other artists, by various themes or challenges from art quilt
groups she is involved with, and quite often by scripture. Exhibits of her art quilts have
occurred in various venues and at numerous private showings. Her quilts have also
received awards and have been purchased. Art quilting became a blessing for Barb, always
encouraging her to stretch her mind and imagination to create artistic beauty for others to
enjoy.
Fern Stewart –
Fern Stewart has quilted for the past 40 years. Her early work mimicked the quilt
movement of the time relying on templates, a limited color palette and traditional
approach. She quickly moved beyond those limitations and acknowledged her
independent creative spirit. She has created a number of award winning quilts.
Currently she is working on a series of quilts entitled Urban Development in which
she reflects on the changes to cities due to population growth and developer greed.
Social changes, housing density, loss of habitat and related concerns will be the
focus of her next four quilts.

Party on the Patio - September 21st - Madhyami Deshmukh
2023-09-21 17:00 - 20:00 | Octagon Center for the Arts, 427 Douglas Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
Thursday, September 21st
5 PM – 8 PM
Party on the Patio is every third Thursday of the month, May – September from 5 PM – 8 PM. Performers are scheduled to perform from 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM unless otherwise noted. Drinks and light refreshments provided for a donation.
Thursday, September 21st Performer:
Madhyami Deshmukh
Indian Classical Music

By request of our performer for cultural reasons, drinks and refreshments will be available after the performance! We are encouraging our guests to respect this request from our performer.

"Intersection of Parallel" Group Exhibition by Jen Hem and Julie Russell-Steuart
2023-10-09 10:00 - 2023-11-04 17:00 | Octagon Center for the Arts, 427 Douglas Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
Intersection of Parallel
Group Exhibition by Jen Hem and Julie Russell-Steuart
October 9th – November 4th, 2023
Opening Reception: Thursday, October 12th, 6-8pm
The Octagon Community Gallery
About this group exhibition:

Even 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.
Weaving 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.
Jen 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”.
Some of Hem’s mixed media works are large, spanning six feet with figurative-based vibrant and energetic images and emotions running through them.
Hem 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.
They 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.”
Jen’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.
Exhibition Dates:
October 9th – Exhibition Opening Day
November 4th – Exhibition Closes
Julie 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.

Join 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.

Artist Biographies:
Jen 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.
Visual 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.

Octagon Winter Market
2023-11-09 10:00 - 2023-12-09 17:00 | Octagon Center for the Arts, 427 Douglas Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
Octagon Winter Market!
November 9th – December 9th, 2023 At The Octagon Community Gallery
About this group exhibition:
The 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!
Stay Tuned!

Exhibition Dates:
November 9th – Exhibition Opening Day
December 9th – Exhibition Closes

Uncontainable Meanderings and Affinities
2023-12-18 10:00 - 2024-01-13 17:00 | Octagon Center for the Arts, 427 Douglas Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
Uncontainable Meanderings and Affinities
Group Exhibition by Ethan Edvenson and Kimberlee Rocca
December 18th, 2023 – January 13th, 2024 At The Octagon Community Gallery
About this group exhibition:

Exhibition Dates:
Debember 18th, 2023 – Exhibition Opening Day
January 4th, 2024 – Exhibition Reception at 5pm in the Community Gallery
January 13th, 2024 – Exhibition Closes
Artist Biographies:
Ethan Edvenson is a fine artist from Des Moines, IA who creates mixed media drawings. He conveys individualism, humor,
and rebirth through gestural marks, surreal imagery, and storytelling. Edvenson graduated from the University of Northern
Iowa with a BFA in studio art and Art History minor.
Kimberlee Rocca is an Iowa artist whose passion for color, process, experimentation and reclamation merge to translate
her love of nature and modern lines into vibrant and textural 2-d and 3-d abstract works and play sculptures. Works are
created from mixed media and discarded construction debris.

The Music in My HeART
2024-01-22 10:00 - 2024-02-24 17:00 | Octagon Center for the Arts, 427 Douglas Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
The Music in My HeART
Solo Exhibition by Antonia Ruppert
January 22nd – February 24th, 2024 At The Octagon Community Gallery
Exhibition Dates:
January 22nd, 2024 – Exhibition Opening Day
February 24th, 2024 – Exhibition Closes
Artist Biography:
Chicago-born Antonia Ruppert is an artist, singer-songwriter and educator who has been
painting for over 30 years. Growing up in the Austin community, she creates paintings that
connect people and tell a story. The oldest of six siblings, with no funds to purchase art
supplies, she recalls drawing on discarded paper inserts from her Mom’s stockings. These
humble beginnings have been instrumental in inspiring hundreds of paintings and drawings,
where hope, faith and community are central.
Ruppert was the 2021 Invest South/West Artist in Residence for Chicago’s Austin community
and the 2022 Artist in Residence for the Addison Public Library. Ruppert is an honoree of the
Peggy A. Montes Unsung Heroine Award for Cook County, IL.
Ruppert has been featured in the Museum of Science and Industry Black Creativity Exhibition,
Moraine Valley Community College and the Dupage Art League’s Best of the Best Exhibition.
Her favorite paintings and murals can be found in numerous regional venues including the
Chicago Public Library, Berwyn North District 98 Elementary Schools, University of Chicago
Hospitals, Acorn Public Library, Addison Public Library, Austin Childcare Network, Chicago
School of Professional Psychology, Forest Park Park District, Elmwood Park Public Library,
Grand Prairie Services, Living Springs Community Church, Markham Public Library, Near
North Montessori School, Oak Forest Park District and the Oak Park Area Arts Council.
In 2021, she collaborated with the Office of the Mayor of the City of Berwyn and the Award-
Winning Junior State of America Morton West Debate Club Chapter to commission and speak
at the first Juneteenth Commemoration held in the city. Most recently, she supported the
Mayor of the Village of Hazel Crest and the new 2023 Arts Committee.
Ruppert is thankful to God for her gifts and is the illustrator of a recently published children’s
book —The Place Where I Belong—by Candice Klopfenstein.
Ruppert’s art and music will be featured in upcoming exhibitions at the Harold Washington
Library Center, The Chicago Public Library North Austin Branch Library and now the Octagon
Center for the Arts in Ames, Iowa in 2024.
Ruppert is well known at the frontlines of the artivist community and seeks to uplift her entire
community with artistic expression. Like African American sculptor, Elizabeth Catlett, Ruppert
aims to “do something for the betterment of all of us.”

2024 Octagonal: The All Media Show
2024-02-29 17:30 - 2024-03-30 17:00 | Octagon Center for the Arts, 427 Douglas Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
February 29th – March 30th, 2024 At The Octagon Community Gallery
About this group exhibition:
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!
Exhibition Dates:
February 29th, 2024 – Exhibition Opening Day and Opening Reception
March 30th, 2024 – Exhibition Closes
Congratulations to the winners of this year’s Octagonal!
From 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)

2024 Juror: Jill Wells
Iowa-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…
Learn more on the Octagonal page!

This year we will feature artwork from:
Alicia 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

A Place To Mend FREE EVENT (Ages 21+)
2024-03-28 17:30 - 20:00 | Octagon Center for the Arts, 427 Douglas Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
A Place to Mend
Thursday, March 28th, 5:30 – 8 pm in the Dance Studio
Free, or a suggested donation of $5 for instruction, tips -n- tricks.
Ages 21+ (Feel free to bring your favorite beverage; alcoholic or non-alcoholic)
Have a few mending/repair projects you have been wanting to work on? Gather them up and join the Octagon for some creative, productive, and soulful fun. You are encouraged to bring any projects to work on, ie.. knitting, crochet, needle work, whatever. We will have a special guest, and author of Mend it Better, Kristin Roach, with us for this community gathering. Kristin is also a published author of worldwide knitting patterns, the Craftleftovers zine series, a community organizer, artist, and owner of Little Woods: Herbs and Teas in downtown Ames.
Event Location: Octagon Center for the Arts, Dance Studio
UPCOMING MENDING NIGHTS:
April 25
May 23
June 27

2024 Elementary, Middle School, High School Annual Student Show
2024-04-08 10:00 - 2024-04-20 17:00 | Octagon Center for the Arts, 427 Douglas Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
2024 Elementary, Middle School, High School Annual Student Show
April 8th – April 20th, 2024 At The Octagon Community Gallery
About this group exhibition:

The 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.
Learn more on this exhibition’s webpage here
Exhibition Dates:
April 8th, 2024 – Exhibition Opening Day
April 20th, 2024 – Exhibition Closes

A Place To Mend FREE EVENT (Ages 21+)
2024-04-25 17:30 - 20:00 | Octagon Center for the Arts, 427 Douglas Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
A Place to Mend
Thursday, April 25th, 5:30 – 8 pm in the Dance Studio
Free, or a suggested donation of $5 for instruction, tips -n- tricks.
Ages 21+ (Feel free to bring your favorite beverage; alcoholic or non-alcoholic)
Have a few mending/repair projects you have been wanting to work on? Gather them up and join the Octagon for some creative, productive, and soulful fun. You are encouraged to bring any projects to work on, ie.. knitting, crochet, needle work, whatever. We will have a special guest, and author of Mend it Better, Kristin Roach, with us for this community gathering. Kristin is also a published author of worldwide knitting patterns, the Craftleftovers zine series, a community organizer, artist, and owner of Little Woods: Herbs and Teas in downtown Ames.
Event Location: Octagon Center for the Arts, Dance Studio
UPCOMING MENDING NIGHTS:
May 23
June 27

Iowa State University Integrated Visual Arts MFA Exhibition 2024
2024-05-01 10:00 - 2024-05-09 19:30 | Octagon Center for the Arts, 427 Douglas Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
Iowa State University Integrated Visual Arts MFA Exhibition 2024
An exhibition by MFA students in the Integrated Visual Arts program at Iowa State University
May 1st – May 9th, 2024 At The Octagon Community Gallery
About this group exhibition:

The 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.
MFA 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.
Artists:
Omid Afsharpour
Natalie Deam
Parisa Keshavarziyan
Elnaz Masrour
Sam McCauley
Matty Palamara
Maryam Siahgaldeh Ghasempour
Nicole Soriano
Rana Tiba
Michael Vitha Nolan
Ruby Walker

Exhibition Dates:
May 1st, 2024 – Exhibition Opening Day
May 9th, 2024 – Closing Reception 6-7:30pm
May 9th, 2024 – Exhibition Closes

Art Sale at the Octagon!
2024-05-13 12:00 - 2024-05-16 19:00 | IA
The Octagon Center for the Arts is planning to hold an art sale from May 13th to the 16th, 2024. This unique event will allow patrons to view and purchase items from the Octagon which have never before been featured in the Octagon Shop!
May 13-15, Noon-5:00
May 16, Noon-7:00
Octagon Community Gallery

Party on the Patio - May 16th
2024-05-16 17:00 - 20:00 | Octagon Center for the Arts, 427 Douglas Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
Thursday, May 16th
5 PM – 8 PM
Party on the Patio is every third Thursday of the month, May – September from 5 PM – 8 PM. Performers are scheduled to perform from 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM unless otherwise noted. Drinks and light refreshments provided for a donation.

2024 Annual Members' Show
2024-05-20 10:00 - 2024-06-15 17:00 | Octagon Center for the Arts, 427 Douglas Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
2024 Annual Members’ Show
Group Exhibition by members of the Octagon Center for the Arts
May 20th – June 15th, 2024 At The Octagon Community Gallery
About this group exhibition:
This 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.

Exhibition Dates:
May 20th, 2024 – Exhibition Opening Day
June 15th, 2024 – Exhibition Closes
Artist Biographies:
TBA

A Place To Mend FREE EVENT (Ages 21+)
2024-05-23 17:30 - 20:00 | Octagon Center for the Arts, 427 Douglas Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
A Place to Mend
Thursday, May 23rd, 5:30 – 8 pm in the Dance Studio
Free, or a suggested donation of $5 for instruction, tips -n- tricks.
Ages 21+ (Feel free to bring your favorite beverage; alcoholic or non-alcoholic)
Have a few mending/repair projects you have been wanting to work on? Gather them up and join the Octagon for some creative, productive, and soulful fun. You are encouraged to bring any projects to work on, ie.. knitting, crochet, needle work, whatever. We will have a special guest, and author of Mend it Better, Kristin Roach, with us for this community gathering. Kristin is also a published author of worldwide knitting patterns, the Craftleftovers zine series, a community organizer, artist, and owner of Little Woods: Herbs and Teas in downtown Ames.
Event Location: Octagon Center for the Arts, Dance Studio
UPCOMING MENDING NIGHTS:
June 27

Party on the Patio - June 20th - Ben Sanders
2024-06-20 17:00 - 20:00 | Octagon Center for the Arts, 427 Douglas Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
Thursday, June 20th
5 PM – 8 PM
Party on the Patio is every third Thursday of the month, May – September from 5 PM – 8 PM. Performers are scheduled to perform from 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM unless otherwise noted. Drinks and light refreshments provided for a donation.
Thursday, June 20th Performer:
Ben Sanders, piano

Ben Sanders is a jazz pianist from Des Moines Iowa who performs in both group and solo acts around the metro. While Ben primarily performs jazz music his repertoire is influenced by blues, funk and pop music.

American Oddities
2024-06-24 10:00 - 2024-07-18 17:00 | Octagon Center for the Arts, 427 Douglas Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
American Oddities
Solo Exhibition by Nick Gadbois
June 24th – July 18th, 2024 At The Octagon Community Gallery
About this solo exhibition:

I 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.
Exhibition Dates:
June 24th, 2024 – Exhibition Opening Day
July 18th, 2024 – Exhibition Closing Reception 4:30pm – 6:00pm in the Community Gallery
July 18th, 2024 – Exhibition Closes

A Place To Mend FREE EVENT (Ages 21+)
2024-06-27 17:30 - 20:00 | Octagon Center for the Arts, 427 Douglas Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
A Place to Mend
Thursday, June 27th, 5:30 – 8 pm in the Dance Studio
Free, or a suggested donation of $5 for instruction, tips -n- tricks.
Ages 21+ (Feel free to bring your favorite beverage; alcoholic or non-alcoholic)
Have a few mending/repair projects you have been wanting to work on? Gather them up and join the Octagon for some creative, productive, and soulful fun. You are encouraged to bring any projects to work on, ie.. knitting, crochet, needle work, whatever. We will have a special guest, and author of Mend it Better, Kristin Roach, with us for this community gathering. Kristin is also a published author of worldwide knitting patterns, the Craftleftovers zine series, a community organizer, artist, and owner of Little Woods: Herbs and Teas in downtown Ames.
Event Location: Octagon Center for the Arts, Dance Studio
UPCOMING MENDING NIGHTS:
TBA

Party on the Patio - July 18th - TBD
2024-07-18 17:00 - 20:00 | Octagon Center for the Arts, 427 Douglas Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
Thursday, July 18th
5 PM – 8 PM
Party on the Patio is every third Thursday of the month, May – September from 5 PM – 8 PM. Performers are scheduled to perform from 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM unless otherwise noted. Drinks and light refreshments provided for a donation.
Thursday, July 18th Performer:
TBD

Compositions of Line
2024-07-29 10:00 - 2024-08-24 17:00 | Octagon Center for the Arts, 427 Douglas Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
Compositions of Line
Solo Exhibition by Isaac Prior
July 29th – August 24th, 2024 At The Octagon Community Gallery
About this solo exhibition:

Exhibition Dates:
July 29th, 2024 – Exhibition Opening Day
August 24th, 2024 – Exhibition Closes
Artist Biography:
Born 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.

Party on the Patio - August 15th - Sweet Tator
2024-08-15 17:00 - 20:00 | Octagon Center for the Arts, 427 Douglas Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
Thursday, August 15th
5 PM – 8 PM
Party on the Patio is every third Thursday of the month, May – September from 5 PM – 8 PM. Performers are scheduled to perform from 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM unless otherwise noted. Drinks and light refreshments provided for a donation.
Thursday, August 15th Performer:
Sweet Tator

We are excited to welcome Sweet Tator to our monthly patio party. Sweet Tator has been busking since 1982 and loves playing with a variety of musicians. He will be joined by Kurt, a longtime friend in music. They got together several years ago to play at some local farmers markets. They decided they really needed to hire some “real musicians”, so they started drafting some of the locals to play with and “The Luther Jam” was born. With the belief that music really is too important to leave to professionals, they soldier on in the service of song.

Mixed Emotions
2024-09-03 10:00 - 2024-09-28 17:00 | Octagon Center for the Arts, 427 Douglas Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
Mixed Emotions
Solo Exhibition by Kelly Devitt
September 3rd – September 28th, 2024 At The Octagon Community Gallery
About this solo exhibition:

Exhibition Dates:
September 3rd, 2024 – Exhibition Opening Day
September 26th, 2024 – Exhibition Closing Reception, 5pm – 7pm in the Community Gallery
September 28th, 2024 – Exhibition Closes
Artist Biography:
Kelly 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.

Party on the Patio - September 19 - Marilyn Jerome
2024-09-19 17:00 - 20:00 | Octagon Center for the Arts, 427 Douglas Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
Thursday, September 19th
5 PM – 8 PM
Party on the Patio is every third Thursday of the month, May – September from 5 PM – 8 PM. Performers are scheduled to perform from 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM unless otherwise noted. Drinks and light refreshments provided for a donation.
Thursday, August 15th Performer:
Marilyn Jerome

Marilyn Jerome has been performing for about 15 years in central Iowa; before moving to Iowa, she was performing in the Kansas City area as the lead vocalist in a country rock band. Her sound is a blend of genres including country, rock, folk, and blues. She covers Johnny Cash, Bonnie Raitt, The Everly Brothers, Elle King, Eric Clapton, John Prine, Brandi Carlisle, The Eagles, and many, many more.
