“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

Third Thursdays: Downtown Ames Music Walk!
2025-09-18 17:00 - 20:00
Downtown Ames Music Walk!
Thursday, September 18th, 5:00pm – 8:00pm
Participate in Music Walk, from 5:00-8:00pm, throughout downtown and stop by to see our featured band, Foxpin!
Join us on the Octagon Patio in the alley on the west side of the building for good music and good company!
Our Performer:
Foxpin is a band from Ames, Iowa that performs earnest rock music with bluesy keys and a tasteful rhythm section. Foxpin members are Ben Erbes (keys), Chase Abner (bass/vocals), Dan McClanahan (drums), and Lane Jahn (guitar/vocals).
Check our their music and socials:
Music LinkTree
Facebook
Instagram

54th Annual Octagon Art Festival
2025-09-28 10:00 - 16:00
The Octagon Art Festival takes place the fourth Sunday of September along Main Street in downtown Ames, IA. The festival is held outdoors on pavement, RAIN OR SHINE. Visual arts, children’s art area, food vendors and performing arts form the foundation of the Octagon Art Festival. Approximately 10,000 people attend the festival.

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

Witches Walk!
2025-10-09 18:00 - 20:00
Come out for a scary good time on Thursday, October 9!
Downtown businesses will be open late and hosting snacks and sips between 6:00 – 8:00pm.
Visit us at the Octagon Shop and gift yourself with a great pair of earrings, then come back in November for a gift for someone else! 10% off all earrings in the Octagon Shop!
This Downtown event is generally geared towards adults, but all are welcome and costumes are encouraged. If you are looking for a trick or treating opportunity for kids, join us for Downtown Trick or Treat on October 30!
Visit the Downtown Ames event to get more info for deals and activities at other Ames businesses

Third Thursdays: Halloween Maker’s Table!
2025-10-16 17:30 - 19:30
Halloween Maker’s Table!
Thursday, October 16th, 5:30pm – 7:30pm
We provide an array of Halloween and fall art supplies and you create to your heart’s content! Open to all ages, from 5:30-7:30pm, for a $5 fee.

Featured Artist Talk: Carol Patrick
2025-10-23 18:00 - 19:00
Featured Artist Talk
Creating With Carol
October 23, 2025 from 6:00 – 7:00pm in the Octagon Shop
Free! Ages 16+
Join Ames artist Carol Patrick and learn how she creates new from old, how to combine colors and patterns, and a few of her tips that make sewing fun and easy. Carol creates unique reversible aprons from vintage tablecloths; learn how she does it and a bit about the history of 40’s and 50’s tablecloths.
Carol sells her aprons in the Octagon Shop, but will have additional aprons for sale that haven’t been available in the Shop!

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

Third Thursdays: Mandalas and Music!
2025-11-20 18:00 - 20:00
Mandalas and Music!
Thursday, November 20th, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Learn to create a paint mandala as you listen to meditative music. The perfect way to relax before the rush of the holiday season. Open to anyone 18+ from 6:00-8:00pm. Refreshments available for a donation.

3rd Annual Winter Market
2025-11-24 10:00 - 2025-12-24 17:00
3rd Annual Winter Market
Event by Octagon Shop

Event Dates:
November 24th, 2025 – Event Opening Day
December 24th, 2025 – Event Closes

About This Event:
The Octagon will hold the 3rd annual Winter Market, featuring great finds on holiday-themed artworks from local artists and week-by-week special deals.
11/24 – 11/30 : Cards & Ornaments
12/1 – 12/7 : Fiber
12/8 – 12/14 : Jewelry & Glass
12/15 – 12/21 : Pottery

Winter Sidewalk Sales
2026-01-08 10:00 - 2026-01-10 17:30
Holiday Ornaments 20% Off & Select Artist’s Works 20-50% Off
Get ready… Set… Shop local!
Winter Sidewalk Sales in Downtown Ames are a semi-annual sale held by businesses in the Downtown district. Not only will you find great deals, you’ll be supporting the local community by shopping local! You’ll find discounts, promotions, sales and many other good deals! Take a stroll in Downtown Ames and check out what our local businesses have to offer.
Don’t forget – Parking is FREE in the Downtown district on Saturday, January 10!

Third Thursdays: Snack, Sip, and Sparkle! Jewelry Night
2026-01-15 18:00 - 20:00
Snack, Sip, and Sparkle! Jewelry Night
Thursday, January 15th, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Join us for a metal jewelry demonstration by Terrie Hoefer and an opportunity to make your own jewelry. For $5, adults have an opportunity to create a metal piece with Terrie – pre-registration required. Click Tickets to register.
We will also have a free jewelry option for anyone who attends. Open to all ages with a variety of snacks and drinks.

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

HeART of Ames
2026-02-01 10:00 - 2026-02-16 17:30
Love is in the Air in the Heart of Ames!
Indulge in all that Downtown Ames has to offer as our Downtown Businesses present a curated celebration of love and connection February 1-16!
Our mission? To showcase Downtown Ames as the ultimate date night destination to celebrate those you love! Our Downtown Businesses have curated a list of ideas for experiences, gifts, gal-entines, food and kids to help guide your way through the Heart of Ames celebrating those you love and care for.
Join us to feel the heartbeat of Downtown Ames as you create unforgettable moments together in the heart of the Ames.
Event Specials:
More information to come

Join the Resistance! Create your protest hat
2026-02-07 14:00 - 16:00
We will gather at the Octagon Center, 427 Douglas, to create Norwegian protest hats, called a nisselue. You bring your supplies, we will provide the pattern and the space. Why the nisselue? In the 1940’s, Norwegians made and wore red pointed hats with a tassel as a form of visual protest against Nazi occupation of their country. Within two years, the Nazis made these protest hats illegal and punishable by law to wear, make, or distribute. This is a chance to engage in one of the oldest forms of resistance, knitting, with like-minded friends. To knit you will need:
Red yarn (200 yards, DK or Worsted); knitting needles (4,6 or 8); your beverage of choice; attitude.
To crochet you will need:
Red yarn (200 yards, Worsted); Crochet hook (4.5 or 5.0 mm); your beverage of choice; attitude.

Third Thursday Mandalas and Music
2026-02-19 18:00 - 20:00
Spend a few hours relaxing while creating beautiful mandalas and enjoying meditative music. This free event is open to ages 16+ and refreshments will be available for a donation.

Third Thursday Game Night
2026-03-19 17:30 - 20:30
Join us for a fun night of board games and cards. Families and friends of all ages, join us from 5:30-7:00. If you prefer an adults only space and more advanced games, come from 7:00-8:30. Beverages will be available for a donation. Bring your own favorite game or use one of ours!

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

Third Thursday Patch to Quilt
2026-04-16 18:00 - 20:00
Enjoy demonstrations from area quilters, from cutting fabric for patches to the finished quilt. You can try creating your own square as well!

“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

Art From the Attic - Octagon Art Sale
2026-05-13 10:00 - 2026-05-16 17:00
Art From the AtticArt Sale Event by Octagon ShopEvent Dates:Wednesday, May 13th, 2025 – Member’s Only Pre-Sale, 4:00-7:00Thursday, May 14th, 2025 – Event Public Opening DaySaturday, May 16th, 2025 – Event Closes
About This Event:Art from the Attic begins Thursday, May 14! Purchase art from members of the Octagon who have graciously donated original artwork, and pieces we have gathered from our building that need a new home. We believe that art is for everyone, so you will find a variety of styles and prices that are affordable. Stop by the gallery between 10AM and 7PM to browse through one-of-a-kind artworks that will fit perfectly in your space at incredibly low prices. The sale continues Friday, 10AM to 7PM and Saturday, 10AM to 5PM.

Members Only Pre-Sale:
Members can join us Wednesday, May 13 from 4:00-7:00 PM for a special pre-sale. Members have the first opportunity to browse and purchase work for sale. It’s our way of saying thank you for supporting the Octagon through your membership!

Donating Artwork:
If you have quality art pieces that you no longer have room for or no longer fits with your décor, we would love to have you consider donating it to our art sale. We provide incredible discounts on quality work to make it accessible to people from all walks of life. We are focused on original art and prints, as opposed to items purchased from box stores or home décor businesses. All proceeds go to support classes and events at the Octagon.

If you choose to donate, please make sure artwork is not damaged, dirty or faded. If you have multiple or large pieces, live in Ames, and don’t have a way to transport them to the Octagon, please contact office@octagonarts.org or admin@octagonarts.org and the Octagon staff will make arrangements for pick up. Also, we are not able to accept jewelry for the sale. Once donated to the sale, the Octagon has full ownership and discretion of any remaining, unsold artwork.

We appreciate your commitment to the Octagon and our mission, through your membership, donations and attendance at events. If this is something you are interested in participating in, you can bring your art pieces to the Octagon Monday through Thursday, 10 AM to 5:30 PM. If those times don’t work for you, give us a call and we can set up a time to meet you.

NOTE: Per IRS guidelines, the Octagon is not able to provide a donation receipt for artwork since it’s a noncash charitable contribution, and the Octagon is unable to establish a cash value for donated artwork.

Early Sale on Large Pieces

If you have been looking for art to fill a large space, we have some options for you! We know that walking in to a sale and making a decision about a large piece is difficult. This is your opportunity to see the art and its measurements early. Each can be purchased beginning April 28.
Prices range from $50-$175
If you are interested in purchasing one of these pieces, contact Laura at admin@octagonarts.org.

Belisario Manrique37.5″x47″

Disappearing PlanetVicki Adams
31″x41″

Untitled43.25×49.5

Map of Germany32.5×39.5

The ReefMargaret Daniels

Tapa cloth, hand painted42×28

Tea TableUnknown
28″x35:

Gray and GoldJohn Roger Cox
15.5″x21.5″

Haveman37.5″x28″

Sunrise from Upper Valley, San Francisco40.5″x31″

UntitledVS Cloe
32″x28″

TriptychJo Myers-Walker

Triptych 1Jo Myers-Walker

Triptych 2Jo Myers-Walker

Triptych 3Jo Myers-Walker

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

Third Thursday Paint & Plant
2026-06-18 17:30 - 20:00
We provide the flower pot and paint, you create a beautiful home for your plants! We will have plants available for a small fee or give one of your own plants a new home. Open to all ages. Refreshments available for a donation.

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

55th Annual Octagon Art Festival
2026-09-27 10:00 - 16:00
