Octagon Center for the Arts

Tassel Pack (Ages 5 - 15)
2020-07-20 08:00 - 2020-08-15 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Octagon Center for the Arts, 427 Douglas Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
Summer 2020 Art Camps [At Home Edition]

Project Box: Tassel Pack: $10
Embroidery floss, colored yarn, key chain fob, pony beads (video tutorial included)

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT PROJECT BOXES
The Octagon will supply the activities/projects, supplies, a short video tutorial, and some written information (when needed). Depending on the project, we will also have live “studio hours” via zoom for any questions, critiques or show and tell. Tutorial links and any virtual information will be sent out once registration is complete. Sign up any time before the end date.
Please allow 2 business days to receive the tutorial links and other information.
The listed projects below are perfect for anyone who likes to work at their own pace when it fits best with their schedule. Campers will be introduced to a variety of disciplines in mixed media, painting, drawing, and textile arts during these fun projects. Project Boxes will contain most* art supplies and materials. Pick and choose your projects that interest you. Or, pick a curated theme containing a group of projects by media type.
Supplies:
Most supplies are included in the Project Boxes with the exception of scissors, watercolor paints, glue, pencils (things you may have from the school year). However, we can offer some gently used items (crayons, markers, colored pencils, pastels, and some watercolor paint trays, etc..) for a small donation upon pick up.
Pick Up:
Project Boxes will be available for contactless pick-up at the Octagon Center for the Arts Gallery Shop Tuesdays – Thursdays from 10 am – 5:30 pm. No delivery available. Materials will be available for pick up 2 business days after registration is complete.
Email education@octagonarts.org for more information.

Print Pack (Ages 5 - 15)
2020-07-20 08:00 - 2020-08-15 17:00
Summer 2020 Art Camps [At Home Edition]

Project Box: Print Pack $15
Pre Cut matboard, cardboard and corrugated cardboard for print plate construction, papers, and rubber bands, and texture materials for monoprints (video tutorial included, paints not included)

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT PROJECT BOXES
The Octagon will supply the activities/projects, supplies, a short video tutorial, and some written information (when needed). Depending on the project, we will also have live “studio hours” via zoom for any questions, critiques or show and tell. Tutorial links and any virtual information will be sent out once registration is complete. Sign up any time before the end date.
Please allow 2 business days to receive the tutorial links and other information.
The listed projects below are perfect for anyone who likes to work at their own pace when it fits best with their schedule. Campers will be introduced to a variety of disciplines in mixed media, painting, drawing, and textile arts during these fun projects. Project Boxes will contain most* art supplies and materials. Pick and choose your projects that interest you. Or, pick a curated theme containing a group of projects by media type.
Supplies:
Most supplies are included in the Project Boxes with the exception of scissors, watercolor paints, glue, pencils (things you may have from the school year). However, we can offer some gently used items (crayons, markers, colored pencils, pastels, and some watercolor paint trays, etc..) for a small donation upon pick up.
Pick Up:
Project Boxes will be available for contactless pick-up at the Octagon Center for the Arts Gallery Shop Tuesdays – Thursdays from 10 am – 5:30 pm. No delivery available. Materials will be available for pick up 2 business days after registration is complete.
Email education@octagonarts.org for more information.

Pom Pons Pack (Ages 5 - 15)
2020-07-20 08:00 - 2020-08-15 17:00
Summer 2020 Art Camps [At Home Edition]

Project Box: Pom Pons Pack: $10
Variety of colored yarn for a few pom pons, pom pon making templates (video tutorial included)

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT PROJECT BOXES
The Octagon will supply the activities/projects, supplies, a short video tutorial, and some written information (when needed). Depending on the project, we will also have live “studio hours” via zoom for any questions, critiques or show and tell. Tutorial links and any virtual information will be sent out once registration is complete. Sign up any time before the end date.
Please allow 2 business days to receive the tutorial links and other information.
The listed projects below are perfect for anyone who likes to work at their own pace when it fits best with their schedule. Campers will be introduced to a variety of disciplines in mixed media, painting, drawing, and textile arts during these fun projects. Project Boxes will contain most* art supplies and materials. Pick and choose your projects that interest you. Or, pick a curated theme containing a group of projects by media type.
Supplies:
Most supplies are included in the Project Boxes with the exception of scissors, watercolor paints, glue, pencils (things you may have from the school year). However, we can offer some gently used items (crayons, markers, colored pencils, pastels, and some watercolor paint trays, etc..) for a small donation upon pick up.
Pick Up:
Project Boxes will be available for contactless pick-up at the Octagon Center for the Arts Gallery Shop Tuesdays – Thursdays from 10 am – 5:30 pm. No delivery available. Materials will be available for pick up 2 business days after registration is complete.
Email education@octagonarts.org for more information.

Plushie Pack (Ages 5 - 15)
2020-07-20 08:00 - 2020-08-15 17:00
Summer 2020 Art Camps [At Home Edition]

Project Box: Plushie Pack: $15
Plushie pattern, colored felt, needle, thread, wiggle eyes, polyfil stuffing (video tutorial included)

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT PROJECT BOXES
The Octagon will supply the activities/projects, supplies, a short video tutorial, and some written information (when needed). Depending on the project, we will also have live “studio hours” via zoom for any questions, critiques or show and tell. Tutorial links and any virtual information will be sent out once registration is complete. Sign up any time before the end date.
Please allow 2 business days to receive the tutorial links and other information.
The listed projects below are perfect for anyone who likes to work at their own pace when it fits best with their schedule. Campers will be introduced to a variety of disciplines in mixed media, painting, drawing, and textile arts during these fun projects. Project Boxes will contain most* art supplies and materials. Pick and choose your projects that interest you. Or, pick a curated theme containing a group of projects by media type.
Supplies:
Most supplies are included in the Project Boxes with the exception of scissors, watercolor paints, glue, pencils (things you may have from the school year). However, we can offer some gently used items (crayons, markers, colored pencils, pastels, and some watercolor paint trays, etc..) for a small donation upon pick up.
Pick Up:
Project Boxes will be available for contactless pick-up at the Octagon Center for the Arts Gallery Shop Tuesdays – Thursdays from 10 am – 5:30 pm. No delivery available. Materials will be available for pick up 2 business days after registration is complete.
Email education@octagonarts.org for more information.

Painters Pack (Ages 5 - 15)
2020-07-20 08:00 - 2020-08-15 17:00
Summer 2020 Art Camps [At Home Edition]

Project Box: Painters Pack: $25
1, 11” x 14” pre stretched canvas, 3, artist inspired drawing and painting projects (Heather Galler, Jasper Johns, Sandra Silberzweig),color wheel, samples, sharpie or ink dauber, paper. (Video tutorials included, paints or pastels not included) Canvas not shown.

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT PROJECT BOXES
The Octagon will supply the activities/projects, supplies, a short video tutorial, and some written information (when needed). Depending on the project, we will also have live “studio hours” via zoom for any questions, critiques or show and tell. Tutorial links and any virtual information will be sent out once registration is complete. Sign up any time before the end date.
Please allow 2 business days to receive the tutorial links and other information.
The listed projects below are perfect for anyone who likes to work at their own pace when it fits best with their schedule. Campers will be introduced to a variety of disciplines in mixed media, painting, drawing, and textile arts during these fun projects. Project Boxes will contain most* art supplies and materials. Pick and choose your projects that interest you. Or, pick a curated theme containing a group of projects by media type.
Supplies:
Most supplies are included in the Project Boxes with the exception of scissors, watercolor paints, glue, pencils (things you may have from the school year). However, we can offer some gently used items (crayons, markers, colored pencils, pastels, and some watercolor paint trays, etc..) for a small donation upon pick up.
Pick Up:
Project Boxes will be available for contactless pick-up at the Octagon Center for the Arts Gallery Shop Tuesdays – Thursdays from 10 am – 5:30 pm. No delivery available. Materials will be available for pick up 2 business days after registration is complete.
Email education@octagonarts.org for more information.

Painted Animal Jar (Ages 5 - 15)
2020-07-20 08:00 - 2020-08-15 17:00
Summer 2020 Art Camps [At Home Edition]

Project Box: Painted Animal Jar: $15
1 glass jar/lid with attached, unpainted toy animal miniature, 1, 2 oz.bottle craft paint (surprise color)

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT PROJECT BOXES
The Octagon will supply the activities/projects, supplies, a short video tutorial, and some written information (when needed). Depending on the project, we will also have live “studio hours” via zoom for any questions, critiques or show and tell. Tutorial links and any virtual information will be sent out once registration is complete. Sign up any time before the end date.
Please allow 2 business days to receive the tutorial links and other information.
The listed projects below are perfect for anyone who likes to work at their own pace when it fits best with their schedule. Campers will be introduced to a variety of disciplines in mixed media, painting, drawing, and textile arts during these fun projects. Project Boxes will contain most* art supplies and materials. Pick and choose your projects that interest you. Or, pick a curated theme containing a group of projects by media type.
Supplies:
Most supplies are included in the Project Boxes with the exception of scissors, watercolor paints, glue, pencils (things you may have from the school year). However, we can offer some gently used items (crayons, markers, colored pencils, pastels, and some watercolor paint trays, etc..) for a small donation upon pick up.
Pick Up:
Project Boxes will be available for contactless pick-up at the Octagon Center for the Arts Gallery Shop Tuesdays – Thursdays from 10 am – 5:30 pm. No delivery available. Materials will be available for pick up 2 business days after registration is complete.
Email education@octagonarts.org for more information.

Monochromatic Self Portraits (Ages 5 - 15)
2020-07-20 08:00 - 2020-08-15 17:00
Summer 2020 Art Camps [At Home Edition]

Project Box: Monochromatic Self Portraits: $10
Paper sheets, skinny sharpie, mystery color colored pencil, facial feature idea guide (video tutorial included)

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT PROJECT BOXES
The Octagon will supply the activities/projects, supplies, a short video tutorial, and some written information (when needed). Depending on the project, we will also have live “studio hours” via zoom for any questions, critiques or show and tell. Tutorial links and any virtual information will be sent out once registration is complete. Sign up any time before the end date.
Please allow 2 business days to receive the tutorial links and other information.
The listed projects below are perfect for anyone who likes to work at their own pace when it fits best with their schedule. Campers will be introduced to a variety of disciplines in mixed media, painting, drawing, and textile arts during these fun projects. Project Boxes will contain most* art supplies and materials. Pick and choose your projects that interest you. Or, pick a curated theme containing a group of projects by media type.
Supplies:
Most supplies are included in the Project Boxes with the exception of scissors, watercolor paints, glue, pencils (things you may have from the school year). However, we can offer some gently used items (crayons, markers, colored pencils, pastels, and some watercolor paint trays, etc..) for a small donation upon pick up.
Pick Up:
Project Boxes will be available for contactless pick-up at the Octagon Center for the Arts Gallery Shop Tuesdays – Thursdays from 10 am – 5:30 pm. No delivery available. Materials will be available for pick up 2 business days after registration is complete.
Email education@octagonarts.org for more information.

Mini Gnome Garden (Ages 5 - 15)
2020-07-20 08:00 - 2020-08-15 17:00
Summer 2020 Art Camps [At Home Edition]

Project Box: Mini Gnome Garden: $15
Mini gnome figure, 3 artificial succulents, Spanish moss, craft brown tag board garden container, magic stones

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT PROJECT BOXES
The Octagon will supply the activities/projects, supplies, a short video tutorial, and some written information (when needed). Depending on the project, we will also have live “studio hours” via zoom for any questions, critiques or show and tell. Tutorial links and any virtual information will be sent out once registration is complete. Sign up any time before the end date.
Please allow 2 business days to receive the tutorial links and other information.
The listed projects below are perfect for anyone who likes to work at their own pace when it fits best with their schedule. Campers will be introduced to a variety of disciplines in mixed media, painting, drawing, and textile arts during these fun projects. Project Boxes will contain most* art supplies and materials. Pick and choose your projects that interest you. Or, pick a curated theme containing a group of projects by media type.
Supplies:
Most supplies are included in the Project Boxes with the exception of scissors, watercolor paints, glue, pencils (things you may have from the school year). However, we can offer some gently used items (crayons, markers, colored pencils, pastels, and some watercolor paint trays, etc..) for a small donation upon pick up.
Pick Up:
Project Boxes will be available for contactless pick-up at the Octagon Center for the Arts Gallery Shop Tuesdays – Thursdays from 10 am – 5:30 pm. No delivery available. Materials will be available for pick up 2 business days after registration is complete.
Email education@octagonarts.org for more information.

Book Arts Pack (Ages 5 - 15)
2020-07-20 08:00 - 2020-08-15 17:00
Summer 2020 Art Camps [At Home Edition]

Project Box: Book Arts Pack (Ages 5 – 15) $15
Supplies to create 2 mini accordion books, 1 Turkish map fold book, and 1medium size concertina folded book (video tutorial included for concertina book).

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT PROJECT BOXES
The Octagon will supply the activities/projects, supplies, a short video tutorial, and some written information (when needed). Depending on the project, we will also have live “studio hours” via zoom for any questions, critiques or show and tell. Tutorial links and any virtual information will be sent out once registration is complete. Sign up any time before the end date.
Please allow 2 business days to receive the tutorial links and other information.
The listed projects below are perfect for anyone who likes to work at their own pace when it fits best with their schedule. Campers will be introduced to a variety of disciplines in mixed media, painting, drawing, and textile arts during these fun projects. Project Boxes will contain most* art supplies and materials. Pick and choose your projects that interest you. Or, pick a curated theme containing a group of projects by media type.
Supplies:
Most supplies are included in the Project Boxes with the exception of scissors, watercolor paints, glue, pencils (things you may have from the school year). However, we can offer some gently used items (crayons, markers, colored pencils, pastels, and some watercolor paint trays, etc..) for a small donation upon pick up.
Pick Up:
Project Boxes will be available for contactless pick-up at the Octagon Center for the Arts Gallery Shop Tuesdays – Thursdays from 10 am – 5:30 pm. No delivery available. Materials will be available for pick up 2 business days after registration is complete.
Email education@octagonarts.org for more information.

#OutrageToChange
2020-07-01 - 2020-07-31
You can see all the details about this important and unusual exhibit here.

OCTAGONAL 2020: The Annual All Media Exhibit
2020-02-07 10:00 - 2020-04-04 17:00
LOCATED IN THE MAIN GALLERY
Octagonal: The All-Media Exhibit 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 51 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 Exhibit, 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.
2020 Juror: Jordan Weber
Using utilitarian materials, Jordan Weber produces sculptural social objects that speak to the ways in which racially oppressed peoples are restricted physically, geographically, and socially. The architecture of his work attempts to create inclusive environments where visitors might test or practice forms of sustainable urbanism. These public works are often modified to fit the site specificity of their environments both inside museums and cultural institutions and individual communities alike.
Weber is a Des Moines based multi-disciplinary artist/activist who works predominately with inner-city communities nationwide. His work has been exhibited at White Box, New York; Union for Contemporary Art, Omaha; Intersect Art Center, St. Louis; The Soap Factory, Minneapolis; Smack Mellon, New York; Manifest Justice, Los Angeles; Charlotte Street Foundation; Kansas City; Gallery 38, Los Angeles; Open Engagement, Chicago; Truth to Power, Philadelphia; 50/50, Kansas City. Awards and fellowships include Harvard LOEB candidate, A Blade of Grass fellowship NYC, Tanne Foundation award, Joan Mitchell nominee, USA Artist nominee, Des Moines Public Art Foundation fellowship, Iowa Arts Council Artist Fellowship (Creative Capital) and the African American Leadership Forum Fellowship. He is currently in residence at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis.
Thank you to HAILA Architecture Structure Planning Ltd. and the Huff Endowment for sponsoring Jordan’s juror honorarium.

2020 Selected Work
A sincere thank you to all who submitted work. Congratulations to those whose work was chosen for this year’s exhibit. Please join us for the reception on February 7, 2020, 5 – 7pm with awards presented at 6pm.

Limens CHRISTOPHER CHIAVETTA
2020-02-07 10:00 - 2020-03-21 17:00
LOCATED IN SWEENEY GALLERY (THIRD FLOOR)
Artist Statement
Limen may pertain to the sill of a doorway, the threshold itself, or the point at which a stimulus
produces a physiological or psychological response. It marks a boundary of perception. The
thresholds presented here explore feelings of liminality, and loss. Things emerge and divide,
crystalize in time, accrete, stratify, and dissolve. Sometimes they just burn. I see in these
material states of transformation a way to discuss inner experience, but I also see them as the
life expressions of the immanent world. Processing charcoal at home has become a way for me
to reflect on these subjects in a direct and personal manner.

Contemporary Approach in Drawing (JAN/FEB)
2020-01-19 12:30 - 16:00
Contemporary Approach in Drawing (JAN/FEB)
Ages: 18 years old and up
Day/Date/Time: Sundays, 12:30 – 4 pm, January 19 – February 9 (4 weeks)
Cost: $250
Description:
“If you can draw a triangle, you can draw this.” ~Jack Wilkes, Instructor (see photo)
Using drawing techniques, value, design elements, and observational skills, participants will learn to create three finished drawings with charcoal and pencil. Students will also learn how to use value in volume, pattern and perspective with burnishing and blending techniques. At the end of the class, students will be able to recognize different themes in their drawings such as symbolism, metaphors and contemporary relationships as they relate personally their work, and themselves. Materials list – pending
Instructor: Jack Wilkes
Studio: TBA
Class limit: 12
Registration closes when the class fills or on at 6am on 1/15/20. Students cannot be added after the registration closes.

To register:

scroll down to the “Tickets” section near the bottom of this page
enter the number of “tickets” you want (one ticket per student)
click “add to cart”
complete the contact information form that appears after you add a ticket
complete the payment information
check your email for your receipt

Please note:

Students cannot be added after the registration closes.
Octagon members receive class discounts. Please login before registering for classes and your discount will be applied automatically.
If you are not a member, but would like to join, click here. Purchase your membership first. Then login and proceed as noted above to receive your discount. Your discount will not be applied unless you are logged in.

Please contact us with any registration questions or concerns. Click here to send a message. Thanks for supporting arts education at the Octagon!

Alight and Allure EMILY MINNIE
2020-01-18 10:00 - 2020-03-21 17:00
LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY GALLERY (FIRST FLOOR)
Artist Biography
Emily Lambertsen Minnie is an artist who specializes in charcoal drawing and oil painting. She
earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Northern Iowa and a Master of
Fine Arts degree from the University of Tennessee. Emily taught art for three years at Tulane
University in New Orleans before living and working as an artist and illustrator for seven years in
Brooklyn, NY. In the summer of 2016 she moved back to Iowa. She currently enjoys dividing her
time between drawing and painting in her Iowa City home studio, working for the Iowa City
School District and family time spent with her husband and two children.
Artist Statement
My art practice is the study, investigation and re-creation of images that entice and allure me
due to the beauty of their light and composition and the drama created by the human form
frozen in a moment. I employ the ability of a two-dimensional artwork whose source is photo or
film, to feel personal and familiar while working to create artwork that is separated from its
source material’s narrative and considered for its core essence.
My charcoal series consists of 19” x 30” drawings on BFK Rives Paper. I love to watch the
drama created on the gallery wall by these black and white images. From afar they look like
their source film still. Up close, they reduce to illusions of light and velvety smudges of charcoal.
My wall installations are made sight specific to fit the wall. They are created from small, hand
drawn pencil sketches and watercolors that are scanned, enlarged and printed on pre-pasted
wallpaper. In a gallery, the change of scale to life-sized adds a human connection and the
enlarged nature reveals an exaggerated artist’s mark.
My oil paintings are created on gallery wrapped 24” x 36” canvas. My canvas preparation
consists of 3 coats of gesso with a fine grit sanding between each coat. While painting, I get lost
in the textured and smooth layers of warm and cool tones mingling together. I find great
satisfaction creating paintings of figures that, even in their stillness, interact with the space and
the light around them.

Children’s Picture Book Design and Self-publishing, ages 15+ (DEC)
2019-12-07 10:00 - 14:00
Children’s Picture Book Design and Self-publishing
Ages: 15 years old and up
Day/Date/Time: Saturday, December 7, 10 am – 2 pm (30 minute break at 12 pm)
Cost: $135
Description:
Have you always wanted to create you very own children’s book but just don’t know how to get it off the ground? Self-published children’s author and Illustrator of My Very Silly Monster, Tim Read will share what he has learned on his creative journey into children’s publishing. He will talk about the ins and outs of self-publishing as well as the challenges of the genre.
Students will have an opportunity to share their manuscript and receive positive constructive feedback from other classmates and the instructor. Students will learn the basics of layout/design and benefits of online print-on-demand publishing.
Instructor: Tim Read
Studio: TBA
Class limit: 25
Registration closes when the class fills or on at 6am on 12/5/19. Students cannot be added after the registration closes.

To register:

scroll down to the “Tickets” section near the bottom of this page
enter the number of “tickets” you want (one ticket per student)
click “add to cart”
complete the contact information form that appears after you add a ticket
complete the payment information
check your email for your receipt

Please note:

Students cannot be added after the registration closes.
Octagon members receive class discounts. Please login before registering for classes and your discount will be applied automatically.
If you are not a member, but would like to join, click here. Purchase your membership first. Then login and proceed as noted above to receive your discount. Your discount will not be applied unless you are logged in.

Please contact us with any registration questions or concerns. Click here to send a message. Thanks for supporting arts education at the Octagon!

Wheelthrowing: Ceramic Mugs & Vases (DEC)
2019-12-02 18:00 - 21:00
Wheelthrowing: Ceramic Mugs & Vases
Ages: 16 years old and up
Time/Day: Mondays, 6 – 9 pm
Dates: (3 weeks) December 2 – 16
Cost: $95 includes 12.5 lbs. of clay, all glazes and firing.
Description: Students at all skill levels will learn, review and hone wheel throwing techniques.
Instructor: Jackie Comito
Location: Ceramics Studio
Class Limit: 7
Registration closes when the class fills or on at 6am on 11/29/19. Students cannot be added after the registration closes.

To register:

scroll down to the “Tickets” section near the bottom of this page
enter the number of “tickets” you want (one ticket per student)
click “add to cart”
complete the contact information form that appears after you add a ticket
complete the payment information
check your email for your receipt

Please note:

Students cannot be added after the registration closes.
Octagon members receive class discounts. Please login before registering for classes and your discount will be applied automatically.
If you are not a member, but would like to join, click here. Purchase your membership first. Then login and proceed as noted above to receive your discount. Your discount will not be applied unless you are logged in.

Please contact us with any registration questions or concerns. Click here to send a message. Thanks for supporting arts education at the Octagon!

Exploring Art, ages: 18 months – younger 3’s (Session 4: DEC)
2019-11-26 09:15 - 2019-12-17 10:00
EXPLORING ART: SESSION 4 (DEC)
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 REGISTRATION IS FOR SESSION 4 (DEC) ONLY. Check the class listing for additional sessions. Register for just one or all four; a separate registration is required for each session.
Description. Children and their adult partner will explore art together in a relaxed environment. Toddlers will create their own works of art while learning new skills like tearing paper, gluing, cutting, coloring over texture, painting with different objects, moving through transitions and imitating art making processes. Activities will focus on age appropriate, playful, artistic and sensory materials.
Limit: 6 adult/child pairs.
Instructor: Beth Weninger
Location: Hunziker Studio
Registration closes when the class fills or on at 6am on 11/22/19. Students cannot be added after the registration closes.

To register:

scroll down to the “Tickets” section near the bottom of this page
enter the number of “tickets” you want (one ticket per student)
click “add to cart”
complete the contact information form that appears after you add a ticket
complete the payment information
check your email for your receipt

Please note:

Students cannot be added after the registration closes.
Octagon members receive class discounts. Please login before registering for classes and your discount will be applied automatically.
If you are not a member, but would like to join, click here. Purchase your membership first. Then login and proceed as noted above to receive your discount. Your discount will not be applied unless you are logged in.

Please contact us with any registration questions or concerns. Click here to send a message. Thanks for supporting arts education at the Octagon!

Hand Built Clay Ornaments (NOV)
2019-11-12 18:00 - 21:00
Hand Built Clay Ornaments (NOV)
Ages: 16 years old and up
Day/Date/Time: Tuesdays, 6 – 9 pm, November 12 – 19 (2 weeks)
Cost: $50
Description: Create autumn and winter hand built ornaments for your holiday packages, wreaths, and for use in decorating. Students will learn to use slab and hand building techniques. Bring your favorite cookie cutters for shape ideas.
Instructor: Susan Anderson
Studio: Ceramics
Class limit: 8
Registration closes when the class fills or on at 6am on 11/8/19. Students cannot be added after the registration closes.

To register:

scroll down to the “Tickets” section near the bottom of this page
enter the number of “tickets” you want (one ticket per student)
click “add to cart”
complete the contact information form that appears after you add a ticket
complete the payment information
check your email for your receipt

Please note:

Students cannot be added after the registration closes.
Octagon members receive class discounts. Please login before registering for classes and your discount will be applied automatically.
If you are not a member, but would like to join, click here. Purchase your membership first. Then login and proceed as noted above to receive your discount. Your discount will not be applied unless you are logged in.

Please contact us with any registration questions or concerns. Click here to send a message. Thanks for supporting arts education at the Octagon!

All Kinds of Art, K - 5 (FRI, NOV 8)
2019-11-08 09:00 - 15:00
All Kinds of Art! Fall Conference Workshops
Ages: K – 5
Time: 9 am – 3 pm
Cost: $50 for each one day workshop
Thursday, November 7
Friday, November 8
THIS REGISTRATION IS FOR FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8 ONLY. Check the class listing for additional sessions. Register for just one or both; a separate registration is required for each session.
Description: Join the Octagon and get creative on your day off! Bring a sack lunch and drink.
Registration closes when the class fills or on at 6am on 11/6/19. Students cannot be added after the registration closes.

To register:

scroll down to the “Tickets” section near the bottom of this page
enter the number of “tickets” you want (one ticket per student)
click “add to cart”
complete the contact information form that appears after you add a ticket
complete the payment information
check your email for your receipt

Please note:

Students cannot be added after the registration closes.
Octagon members receive class discounts. Please login before registering for classes and your discount will be applied automatically.
If you are not a member, but would like to join, click here. Purchase your membership first. Then login and proceed as noted above to receive your discount. Your discount will not be applied unless you are logged in.

Please contact us with any registration questions or concerns. Click here to send a message. Thanks for supporting arts education at the Octagon!

ANGE ALTENHOFEN & JOSH SORRELL
2019-11-08 - 2019-12-27
LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY GALLERY
Ange Altenhofen
“Metaphorical function” is a term I use to describe my work, dovetailing sculptural form with the innate potential for usefulness and interaction that every three-dimensional object possesses. In this scenario function follows form, recycling art into a prosaic, functional object that is activated through touch and let loose in the world. I tend to think that inanimate objects have “souls”, or at least earn something akin to a soul as they get used more and more frequently over time.
The “Braille Series” is an ongoing body of work that references metaphorical function and incorporates Braille as a surface texture, not only to deliver information through touch, but to suggest blemishes on the skin that invite a haptic experience not unlike apes have while grooming one another. I first began using Braille text in my work after I was diagnosed with a degenerative eye condition that could eventually lead to permanent blindness. At the time of diagnosis I panicked- how does a visual artist make art without sight? This question sent me searching for answers and eventually led to creative discoveries I may never have found otherwise: understanding and revelation through physical touch and interaction with the art object itself.
Ange Altenhofen was born and raised in Chariton, Iowa. She earned a BFA in Studio Art from the University of Northern Iowa, briefly attended the University of Iowa to study art history and Italian, and earned an MFA in Sculpture and Ceramics from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Living part-time in Florence, Italy, she worked as an apprentice to puppeteer Rocco Cosentino, and as the assistant director and student advisor for an international art academy, Arte Sotto un Tetto. Since 1993, Ange has lived predominantly in Chicago, exhibiting her artwork both nationally and internationally including galleries and museums in Tel Aviv, Vienna, Florence, Chicago, and New York. She is also an established costume designer and has worked for numerous theater companies in Chicago, co-founding the costume performance company DeCorps Costume Collective in 2001. Most recently she has worked as a published archaeological illustrator for the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago, drawing artifacts from archaeological sites in Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Israel. In 2015 Ange returned to Iowa to write and illustrate a
children’s book that she hopes to publish in 2019.
Josh Sorrell
I paint to explore human nature within our current social structures. The subjects of my work examine how our experiences affect our fragile identity.
Josh Sorrell, an Iowa native, produces representational artwork altered by abstract elements. Using oil or charcoal as the preferred medium, Josh examines themes of
personal and cultural significance while also attempting to draw a new perspective from accepted ideas. Subjects are often presented within a surreal atmosphere meant to strengthen its impact. This focus on combining both real and imaginary components allow the viewer to create their own unique interpretation.
http://joshsorrell.com/

MAKER NIGHT: Easy Silver Earrings, ages 21+ (NOV)
2019-11-07 18:30 - 20:30
MAKER NIGHT: Easy Silver Earrings
Ages: 21 years old and up
Day/Date/Time: Thursday, November 7, 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Cost: $45 materials included
Description: 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 earrings from silver wire and beads. You may bring your own beads, or use ours.
Instructor: Terrie Hoefer
Location: Adams Studio
Class limit: 12
Registration closes when the class fills or on at 6am on 11/5/19. Students cannot be added after the registration closes.

To register:

scroll down to the “Tickets” section near the bottom of this page
enter the number of “tickets” you want (one ticket per student)
click “add to cart”
complete the contact information form that appears after you add a ticket
complete the payment information
check your email for your receipt

Please note:

Students cannot be added after the registration closes.
Octagon members receive class discounts. Please login before registering for classes and your discount will be applied automatically.
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Please contact us with any registration questions or concerns. Click here to send a message. Thanks for supporting arts education at the Octagon!

Caricature, Ages 13+ (NOV)
2019-11-07 18:00 - 19:30
Caricature
Ages: 13 years old and up
Day/Date/Time: Thursday, November 7, 6 – 7:30 pm
Cost: $60
Description: Have you ever wondered how caricature artist do what they do? Learn basic techniques of caricature art and that of famous artists in the field. Students will learn how to see their subject through the eyes of a caricaturist and with a little practice be able to impress their friends and family with their new found skills. Note: Some drawing skill helpful but not required. Portrait drawing is helpful but again…not required.
Instructor: Tim Read
Studio: TBA
Class limit: 16
Registration closes when the class fills or on at 6am on 11/5/19. Students cannot be added after the registration closes.

To register:

scroll down to the “Tickets” section near the bottom of this page
enter the number of “tickets” you want (one ticket per student)
click “add to cart”
complete the contact information form that appears after you add a ticket
complete the payment information
check your email for your receipt

Please note:

Students cannot be added after the registration closes.
Octagon members receive class discounts. Please login before registering for classes and your discount will be applied automatically.
If you are not a member, but would like to join, click here. Purchase your membership first. Then login and proceed as noted above to receive your discount. Your discount will not be applied unless you are logged in.

Please contact us with any registration questions or concerns. Click here to send a message. Thanks for supporting arts education at the Octagon!

All Kinds of Art, K - 5 (THURS, NOV 7)
2019-11-07 09:00 - 15:00
All Kinds of Art! Fall Conference Workshops
Ages: K – 5
Time: 9 am – 3 pm
Cost: $50 for each one day workshop
Thursday, November 7
Friday, November 8
THIS REGISTRATION IS FOR THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7 ONLY. Check the class listing for additional sessions. Register for just one or both; a separate registration is required for each session.
Description: Join the Octagon and get creative on your day off! Bring a sack lunch and drink.
Registration closes when the class fills or on at 6am on 11/5/19. Students cannot be added after the registration closes.

To register:

scroll down to the “Tickets” section near the bottom of this page
enter the number of “tickets” you want (one ticket per student)
click “add to cart”
complete the contact information form that appears after you add a ticket
complete the payment information
check your email for your receipt

Please note:

Students cannot be added after the registration closes.
Octagon members receive class discounts. Please login before registering for classes and your discount will be applied automatically.
If you are not a member, but would like to join, click here. Purchase your membership first. Then login and proceed as noted above to receive your discount. Your discount will not be applied unless you are logged in.

Please contact us with any registration questions or concerns. Click here to send a message. Thanks for supporting arts education at the Octagon!

Inklings SARA MERRITT
2019-11-02 - 2019-11-30
LOCATED IN THE SMALL WALL GALLERY (3RD FLOOR)
I think of these works as inklings, for their humble beginnings as tiny ink doodles, and for those small, nagging ideas, fears, and behaviors that have the power to become reality – whether beautiful or monstrous in their realization. The earliest works date back to 1997, when my mother was diagnosed with Huntington’s
Disease. They represent the management of multiple internal struggles – first with my own body image and the desire to find perfection within asymmetrical, writhing color; then the quest to contain my body and mind as my mother slowly began losing control over hers.
My practice is sometimes an inquiry into the interaction and display of bodies – as physical forms, printable images, philosophical constructs; as patterns, collections; recognizable or hidden and refigured. Through transition from one form or material to another, I can define new bodies to explore concepts of inscription, concealment, authenticity, illusion, and decay in a carefully sutured experience where nothing is as it seems. Other times, I paint simply to release – a wordless outpouring of thought and emotion.
Ultimately, everything I make echoes that first movement of ink on paper. My time spent with that writhing color is sacred, laborious, my personal visual expression at its core, in its purest, most honest form. It is a dance in two dimensions – movement controlled, contained, and preserved.
I hope you enjoy.
I am a native Ames artist, arts and dance instructor, and currently work full-time developing educational programming for Reiman Gardens at Iowa State University. From a weird and winding career path and with over 20 years’ experience teaching everything from silk-screening, painting, and problem-solving, to martial arts, belly dance, and zendoodle, I am consistently drawn to the connections between things and people, the intricacies of visual patterning, and the spectrum of perception – especially as an exploration through distortion.
I started assisting my dad in teaching photography classes for Ames’ Super Summer TAG program when I was 15, and have been leading art classes of all kinds ever since – mostly in informal settings through community education. I discovered belly dance at 17 at the suggestion of my mom – who had been a dancer in the 60’s – and now dance professionally, performing with the Mirage Middle Eastern Dance Troupe and teaching dance in Ames and surrounding areas. As an adolescent like any other I struggled with self-esteem, body image, and the looming future of my tight-knit family as my mom was diagnosed with Huntington’s Disease – a debilitating and rare degenerative genetic disease causing uncontrollable movements, memory loss, and dementia. To combat fear and loss of control I began transforming absent-minded doodles and sketches into meditative works on paper.
Throughout the last few decades while teaching I have worked as a hotel housekeeper, a bartender and waitress, a bookstore clerk, a hippie shop associate, a Renaissance festival commissioned artist, a commercial screen-printer, a Destination Imagination coach, and an educational associate for middle school Special Education. I have met and worked with students of all ages, abilities, and temperaments, and I am still unfailingly fascinated by all the nuances in individual perception that manifest through personal interaction. In short, I love teaching art – perhaps the oldest method of human expression built from the
desire to create and communicate.
As an introvert who habitually does extroverted things, I depend on solitude and time to myself in order to thrive. Movement through art and dance often helps me process my own thoughts and make personal decisions. After yet another somewhat twisted path through higher education, I ended up receiving a degree of my own design – a Bachelor of Arts in Art, Sexuality, & Aesthetic Perception from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst in 2003. With the support of my amazing husband Matthew I obtained a Master of Fine Arts in Painting from the San Francisco Art Institute in 2011, and quickly returned home to help care for my mother, who passed in 2013.
I believe absolutely in the power of visual expression and informal education; for me, it all begins with an inkling – a tickle of thought, a spark of energy, a compulsion to make a mark, express movement, or share something unspoken with others. I will continue to create, to dance, and to teach as long as I am able. And maybe after.
https://www.saramerritt.com/

EMILY VERDOORN & JON KAMRATH
2019-11-02 - 2019-12-21
LOCATED IN SWEENEY GALLERY (3RD FLOOR)
Emily Verdoorn
Through drawing, I form vital relationships with the world of my everyday experience. My process often begins by drawing on location. I enjoy drawing places and spaces steeped in the personality of their inhabitants. My drawings develop in response to time spent observing places and things – their habits, personality, rituals, and the people that frequent them. I love discovering the mundane glory in the commonplace. From observational drawing, I often collect marks, textures, and patterns which I draw in with other findings in my daily life. This process is more about listening than telling, more about responding than initiating. For me, making is a process of discovery, a conversation, a way to experience life more deeply for the maker and the viewer alike.
Emily Verdoorn has loved drawing and making things for as long as she can remember. As a child, it was simply unselfconscious enjoyment which encouraged her to make. Gradually, she discovered drawing as a means to more deeply engage with the world around her. In 2017, Emily graduated from Belhaven University with a BFA in Visual Art. Currently, Emily is continuing to develop her drawing process alongside teaching art lessons to children in her hometown, Des Moines.
Jon Kamrath
My “Block House” series was initially inspired by watching my own kids play with a wooden block set. I began considering ways to incorporate the same visual vocabulary into my own work, and to combine the whimsy of children’s toys with the long history of modern architecture. I found clay and wood to be the perfect medium for this. The trompe l’oeil wooden block appearance allows opportunities to explore surface texture, layering and color. Additionally, the clay construction methods present an opportunity to experiment with form, and build sculptures that appear to sag and slump in ways impossible for wood. I greatly enjoy the unique dichotomy between permanence and fleeting, hard and soft, serious and fun.
I use bright colors to invoke a splash of fun, then subtly mute these to carefully draw out the rich texture and tie all the pieces together aesthetically. When combined with multiple forms each piece visually and conceptually transforms, referencing evolving landscapes, urban development, and architectural relationships. The next step with these pieces was the addition of welded steel scaffolding. This allows the sculptures to grow in size and complexity, bringing the pieces to the next level conceptually as well as aesthetically. Solid construction pushes the bounds of visual balance and stability, while offering great physical strength and support. I am calling this new series “Structures”, referring both to the physical objects, but also the societal structures that create the building blocks and precarious foundations that many of us build our lives on.
Jon Kamrath works out of his studio in Mahtomedi, MN where he lives with his wife and 3 young children. He received his BA in Art Education from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. After marrying his muse, Jon moved to Iowa to earn his MFA in Integrated Visual Arts (sculpture) from Iowa State University. He has taught art at Fergus Falls Middle School and Eagle Ridge Academy. After taking a break from teaching to focus on his sculpture career Jon is currently busy creating large scale outdoor sculptures for universities and corporations, as well as smaller intimate pieces for galleries, homes and private collections.
Jon inherited craftsmanship skills, love of tools, and architectural appreciation from working with his father as a finish carpenter for many summers. He now blends these skills with the playful inspiration of his kids and the artistic vocabulary he learned through studying and teaching art. You can find more of Jon’s work at various galleries in the greater Twin Cities region, outdoor parks in the Midwest, or online at his website or Instagram.
http://www.kamrathsculpture.com/

Mixed Bag of Art, K - 5 (NOV)
2019-11-01 09:00 - 15:00
Mixed Bag of Art — One day workshops
Ages: K – 5
Time: 9 am – 3 pm
Cost: $50 for each one day workshop
Monday, October 7
Friday, November 1
THIS REGISTRATION IS FOR FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1 ONLY. Check the class listing for additional sessions. Register for just one or both; a separate registration is required for each session.
Description: Join the Octagon and get creative on your day off! Bring a sack lunch and drink.
Registration closes when the class fills or on at 6am on 10/30/19. Students cannot be added after the registration closes.

To register:

scroll down to the “Tickets” section near the bottom of this page
enter the number of “tickets” you want (one ticket per student)
click “add to cart”
complete the contact information form that appears after you add a ticket
complete the payment information
check your email for your receipt

Please note:

Students cannot be added after the registration closes.
Octagon members receive class discounts. Please login before registering for classes and your discount will be applied automatically.
If you are not a member, but would like to join, click here. Purchase your membership first. Then login and proceed as noted above to receive your discount. Your discount will not be applied unless you are logged in.

Please contact us with any registration questions or concerns. Click here to send a message. Thanks for supporting arts education at the Octagon!

Creative Explorations, ages older 3’s - 5 years (Thurs. Session 3: NOV)
2019-10-31 09:15 - 2019-11-21 10:00
CREATIVE EXPLORATIONS: THURSDAYS, SESSION 3 (NOV)
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 – November 20
THURSDAYS
Session 1: September 5 – 26
Session 2: October 3 – 24
Session 3: October 31 – November 21
THIS REGISTRATION IS FOR THURSDAY, SESSION 2 (OCT) ONLY. Check the class listing for additional sessions. Register for just one or all four; a separate registration is required for each session.
Description.This class is dedicated to the process of exploration through materials such as paint, charcoal, fabric, plastic, sculpture media, cardboard, paper, ink etc…Use of scissors and proper handling of materials will be covered. Practice of arranging materials, and basic color mixing projects will also be explored.
Class Limit: 6
Instructor: Beth Weninger
Location: Hunziker Studio
Registration closes when the class fills or on at 6am on 10/29/19. Students cannot be added after the registration closes.

To register:

scroll down to the “Tickets” section near the bottom of this page
enter the number of “tickets” you want (one ticket per student)
click “add to cart”
complete the contact information form that appears after you add a ticket
complete the payment information
check your email for your receipt

Please note:

Students cannot be added after the registration closes.
Octagon members receive class discounts. Please login before registering for classes and your discount will be applied automatically.
If you are not a member, but would like to join, click here. Purchase your membership first. Then login and proceed as noted above to receive your discount. Your discount will not be applied unless you are logged in.

Please contact us with any registration questions or concerns. Click here to send a message. Thanks for supporting arts education at the Octagon!

Creative Explorations, ages older 3’s - 5 years (Wed. Session 3: NOV)
2019-10-30 09:15 - 2019-11-20 10:00
CREATIVE EXPLORATIONS: WEDNESDAYS, SESSION 3 (NOV)
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 – November 20
THURSDAYS
Session 1: September 5 – 26
Session 2: October 3 – 24
Session 3: October 31 – November 21
THIS REGISTRATION IS FOR WEDNESDAY, SESSION 3 (NOV) ONLY. Check the class listing for additional sessions. Register for just one or all four; a separate registration is required for each session.
Description.This class is dedicated to the process of exploration through materials such as paint, charcoal, fabric, plastic, sculpture media, cardboard, paper, ink etc…Use of scissors and proper handling of materials will be covered. Practice of arranging materials, and basic color mixing projects will also be explored.
Class Limit: 6
Instructor: Beth Weninger
Location: Hunziker Studio
Registration closes when the class fills or on at 6am on 10/28/19. Students cannot be added after the registration closes.

To register:

scroll down to the “Tickets” section near the bottom of this page
enter the number of “tickets” you want (one ticket per student)
click “add to cart”
complete the contact information form that appears after you add a ticket
complete the payment information
check your email for your receipt

Please note:

Students cannot be added after the registration closes.
Octagon members receive class discounts. Please login before registering for classes and your discount will be applied automatically.
If you are not a member, but would like to join, click here. Purchase your membership first. Then login and proceed as noted above to receive your discount. Your discount will not be applied unless you are logged in.

Please contact us with any registration questions or concerns. Click here to send a message. Thanks for supporting arts education at the Octagon!

Exploring Art, ages: 18 months – younger 3’s (Session 3: NOV)
2019-10-29 09:15 - 2019-11-19 10:00
EXPLORING ART: SESSION 3 (NOV)
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 REGISTRATION IS FOR SESSION 3 (NOV) ONLY. Check the class listing for additional sessions. Register for just one or all four; a separate registration is required for each session.
Description. Children and their adult partner will explore art together in a relaxed environment. Toddlers will create their own works of art while learning new skills like tearing paper, gluing, cutting, coloring over texture, painting with different objects, moving through transitions and imitating art making processes. Activities will focus on age appropriate, playful, artistic and sensory materials.
Limit: 6 adult/child pairs.
Instructor: Beth Weninger
Location: Hunziker Studio
Registration closes when the class fills or on at 6am on 10/25/19. Students cannot be added after the registration closes.

To register:

scroll down to the “Tickets” section near the bottom of this page
enter the number of “tickets” you want (one ticket per student)
click “add to cart”
complete the contact information form that appears after you add a ticket
complete the payment information
check your email for your receipt

Please note:

Students cannot be added after the registration closes.
Octagon members receive class discounts. Please login before registering for classes and your discount will be applied automatically.
If you are not a member, but would like to join, click here. Purchase your membership first. Then login and proceed as noted above to receive your discount. Your discount will not be applied unless you are logged in.

Please contact us with any registration questions or concerns. Click here to send a message. Thanks for supporting arts education at the Octagon!

Wheelthrowing: Ceramic Mugs & Vases, ages 16+ (OCT/NOV)
2019-10-28 18:00 - 21:00
Wheelthrowing: Ceramic Mugs & Vases
Ages: 16 years old and up
Time/Day: Mondays, 6 – 9 pm
Dates: (3 weeks) October 28 – November 11
Cost: $95 includes 12.5 lbs. of clay, all glazes and firing.
Description: Students at all skill levels will learn, review and hone wheel throwing techniques.
Instructor: Jackie Comito
Location: Ceramics Studio
Class Limit: 7
Registration closes when the class fills or on at 10am on 10/28/19. Students cannot be added after the registration closes.

To register:

scroll down to the “Tickets” section near the bottom of this page
enter the number of “tickets” you want (one ticket per student)
click “add to cart”
complete the contact information form that appears after you add a ticket
complete the payment information
check your email for your receipt

Please note:

Students cannot be added after the registration closes.
Octagon members receive class discounts. Please login before registering for classes and your discount will be applied automatically.
If you are not a member, but would like to join, click here. Purchase your membership first. Then login and proceed as noted above to receive your discount. Your discount will not be applied unless you are logged in.

Please contact us with any registration questions or concerns. Click here to send a message. Thanks for supporting arts education at the Octagon!
