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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260416T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260416T200000
DTSTAMP:20260423T044311
CREATED:20260402T232218Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260402T232240Z
UID:17987-1776362400-1776369600@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:Third Thursday Patch to Quilt
DESCRIPTION:Enjoy demonstrations from area quilters\, from cutting fabric for patches to the finished quilt. You can try creating your own square as well!
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/third-thursday-patch-to-quilt/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://octagonarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Vintage-1.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260326T163000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260326T173000
DTSTAMP:20260423T044311
CREATED:20260402T232026Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260402T232026Z
UID:17985-1774542600-1774546200@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:The Annual High School Show Reception
DESCRIPTION:The Annual High School Senior & Junior Show\nGroup Exhibition by Various High School Artists\n\nExhibition Dates:\nMarch 26\, 2026 – Exhibition Opening Day\nMarch 26\, 2026 – Artists’ Reception from 4:30-5:30pm; Awards to be announced at 5:00pm\nApril 4\, 2026 – Exhibition Closes
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/the-annual-high-school-show-reception/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits
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ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org
GEO:42.0257584;-93.6123172
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260326T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260404T170000
DTSTAMP:20260423T044311
CREATED:20260113T210247Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260402T231604Z
UID:17223-1774519200-1775322000@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:The Annual High School Show
DESCRIPTION:The Annual High School Senior & Junior Show\nGroup Exhibition by Various High School Artists\n\nExhibition Dates:\nMarch 26\, 2026 – Exhibition Opening Day\nMarch 26\, 2026 – Artists’ Reception from 4:30-5:30pm; Awards to be announced at 5:00pm\nApril 4\, 2026 – Exhibition Closes
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/the-annual-student-show/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://octagonarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Student-Show-Gallery-Carousel.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org
GEO:42.0257584;-93.6123172
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260319T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260319T203000
DTSTAMP:20260423T044311
CREATED:20260121T222231Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260121T222231Z
UID:17855-1773941400-1773952200@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:Third Thursday Game Night
DESCRIPTION: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!
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/third-thursday-game-night/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://octagonarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Board-Games.webp
ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org
GEO:42.0257584;-93.6123172
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260219T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260219T200000
DTSTAMP:20260423T044311
CREATED:20260121T221310Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260121T221310Z
UID:17850-1771524000-1771531200@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:Third Thursday Mandalas and Music
DESCRIPTION: 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. \n 
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/third-thursday-mandalas-and-music/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://octagonarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Mandala.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org
GEO:42.0257584;-93.6123172
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260207T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260207T160000
DTSTAMP:20260423T044311
CREATED:20260130T001800Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260130T001907Z
UID:17865-1770472800-1770480000@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:Join the Resistance! Create your protest hat
DESCRIPTION: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: \nRed yarn (200 yards\, DK or Worsted); knitting needles (4\,6 or 8); your beverage of choice; attitude. \nTo crochet you will need: \nRed yarn (200 yards\, Worsted); Crochet hook (4.5 or 5.0 mm); your beverage of choice; attitude.
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/join-the-resistance-create-your-protest-hat/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events
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ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org
GEO:42.0257584;-93.6123172
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260201T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260216T173000
DTSTAMP:20260423T044311
CREATED:20260113T220509Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260113T220509Z
UID:17834-1769940000-1771263000@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:HeART of Ames
DESCRIPTION:Love is in the Air in the Heart of Ames! \nIndulge in all that Downtown Ames has to offer as our Downtown Businesses present a curated celebration of love and connection February 1-16!\nOur 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.\nJoin us to feel the heartbeat of Downtown Ames as you create unforgettable moments together in the heart of the Ames. \nEvent Specials:\nMore information to come
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/heart-of-ames/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Shop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://octagonarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/HeART-of-Ames-2026-Carousel.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org
GEO:42.0257584;-93.6123172
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260122T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260122T190000
DTSTAMP:20260423T044311
CREATED:20260113T205903Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260122T180751Z
UID:17808-1769103000-1769108400@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:Octagonal Artists' Reception
DESCRIPTION:Octagonal: The All Media Show \nGroup Exhibition by Various Artists \n  \nExhibition Dates: \nJanuary 19\, 2026 – Exhibition Opening DayJanuary 22\, 2026 – Exhibition Reception       Awards announced at 6:15pmMarch 14\, 2026 – Exhibition Closes \n  \nExhibiting Artist List: \n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				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 \n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				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 \n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				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
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/octagonal-artists-reception/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://octagonarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Octagonal-Reception-Carousel.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org
GEO:42.0257584;-93.6123172
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Octagon Center for the Arts 427 Douglas Avenue Ames IA 50010 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=427 Douglas Avenue:geo:-93.6123172,42.0257584
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260119T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260314T170000
DTSTAMP:20260423T044311
CREATED:20260113T203150Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260113T205205Z
UID:17226-1768816800-1773507600@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:Octagonal: The All Media Show
DESCRIPTION:Octagonal: The All Media Show \nGroup Exhibition by Various Artists \n  \nExhibition Dates: \nJanuary 19\, 2026 – Exhibition Opening DayJanuary 22\, 2026– Exhibition ReceptionMarch 14\, 2026 – Exhibition Closes \n  \nExhibiting Artist List: \n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				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 \n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				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 \n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				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
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/octagonal-the-all-media-show/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://octagonarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Octagonal-Carousel.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org
GEO:42.0257584;-93.6123172
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260115T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260115T200000
DTSTAMP:20260423T044311
CREATED:20260113T213730Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260113T213730Z
UID:17828-1768500000-1768507200@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:Third Thursdays: Snack\, Sip\, and Sparkle! Jewelry Night
DESCRIPTION:  \nSnack\, Sip\, and Sparkle! Jewelry Night\nThursday\, January 15th\, 6:00pm – 8:00pm \nJoin 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.\nWe will also have a free jewelry option for anyone who attends. Open to all ages with a variety of snacks and drinks.
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/third-thursdays-snack-sip-and-sparkle-jewelry-night/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://octagonarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/TT-January-Banner-scaled.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org
GEO:42.0257584;-93.6123172
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260108T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260110T173000
DTSTAMP:20260423T044311
CREATED:20260113T214214Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260113T214248Z
UID:17830-1767866400-1768066200@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:Winter Sidewalk Sales
DESCRIPTION:Holiday Ornaments 20% Off & Select Artist’s Works 20-50% Off \nGet ready… Set… Shop local!\nWinter 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.\nDon’t forget – Parking is FREE in the Downtown district on Saturday\, January 10!
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/winter-sidewalk-sales/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Shop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://octagonarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Winter-Sidewalk-Sales-FB-header-1024x576-1.webp
ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org
GEO:42.0257584;-93.6123172
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251124T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251224T170000
DTSTAMP:20260423T044311
CREATED:20250130T184658Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251124T192944Z
UID:16792-1763978400-1766595600@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:3rd Annual Winter Market
DESCRIPTION:3rd Annual Winter Market\nEvent by Octagon Shop\n\nEvent Dates:\nNovember 24th\, 2025 – Event Opening Day\nDecember 24th\, 2025 – Event Closes \n \nAbout This Event:\nThe Octagon will hold the 3rd annual Winter Market\, featuring great finds on holiday-themed artworks from local artists and week-by-week special deals. \n11/24 – 11/30 : Cards & Ornaments\n12/1 – 12/7 : Fiber\n12/8 – 12/14 : Jewelry & Glass\n12/15 – 12/21 : Pottery
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/3rd-annual-winter-market/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Shop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://octagonarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Winter-Market-2025-Carousel-3.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org
GEO:42.0257584;-93.6123172
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251120T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251120T200000
DTSTAMP:20260423T044311
CREATED:20250821T231911Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251021T164750Z
UID:17219-1763661600-1763668800@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:Third Thursdays: Mandalas and Music!
DESCRIPTION:  \nMandalas and Music!\nThursday\, November 20th\, 6:00pm – 8:00pm \nLearn 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.
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/third-thursdays-mandalas-and-music/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://octagonarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Mandala.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org
GEO:42.0257584;-93.6123172
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Octagon Center for the Arts 427 Douglas Avenue Ames IA 50010 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=427 Douglas Avenue:geo:-93.6123172,42.0257584
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251113T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251113T193000
DTSTAMP:20260423T044311
CREATED:20250904T191934Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251007T170208Z
UID:17211-1763056800-1763062200@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:“Voices” Reception
DESCRIPTION:Voices\nGroup Exhibition by Cedar River Artisans\nExhibition Dates:\nOctober 9th\, 2025 – Exhibition Opening Day\nNovember 13th\, 2025 – Exhibition Public Reception from 6:00 – 7:30PM in the Community Gallery\nNovember 13th\, 2025 – Exhibition Closes \n  \nArtist Statement:\nVOICES 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. \nExhibiting Artists:\nRobert Fox\, Ellen Kleckner\, M.L Kline\, Julia Kottal\, Nancy Lindsay\, Marty Mitchell\, Elizabeth Rhoads Read\, and John Schwartzkopf. \nArtists’ Biographies:\nCedar 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. \nThe collective consists of eight members:\nRobert Fox\, Ellen Kleckner\, M.L Kline\, Julia Kottal\, Nancy Lindsay\, Marty Mitchell\, Elizabeth Rhoads Read\, and John Schwartzkopf. \n  \n**Work in Event Image (from top left to bottom right)\nJohn Schwartzkopf – Swing\nMarty Mitchell – Phlox at the Quarry\nBob Fox – Spotted Bee Balm\nM.L. Kline – Captured Moments\nNancy Lindsay – Untold Stories\nEllen Klenecker – Loop\nJulia Kottal – Colorfield Lilac\, Green & Orange\nElizabeth Rhoads Read – Super Imposition
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/voices-reception/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251023T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251023T190000
DTSTAMP:20260423T044311
CREATED:20251001T215307Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251001T215307Z
UID:17258-1761242400-1761246000@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:Featured Artist Talk: Carol Patrick
DESCRIPTION:Featured Artist Talk\nCreating With Carol \nOctober 23\, 2025 from 6:00 – 7:00pm in the Octagon Shop\nFree! Ages 16+ \nJoin 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. \nCarol sells her aprons in the Octagon Shop\, but will have additional aprons for sale that haven’t been available in the Shop!
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/featured-artist-talk-carol-patrick/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Shop
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251016T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251016T193000
DTSTAMP:20260423T044311
CREATED:20250821T231733Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251001T215455Z
UID:17217-1760635800-1760643000@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:Third Thursdays: Halloween Maker’s Table!
DESCRIPTION:  \nHalloween Maker’s Table!\nThursday\, October 16th\, 5:30pm – 7:30pm \nWe 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.
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/third-thursdays-halloween-makers-table/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://octagonarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/TT-Spooky-Makers-Table-Carousel-1.png
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251009T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251009T200000
DTSTAMP:20260423T044311
CREATED:20251001T220041Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251001T220041Z
UID:17552-1760032800-1760040000@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:Witches Walk!
DESCRIPTION:Come out for a scary good time on Thursday\, October 9! \nDowntown businesses will be open late and hosting snacks and sips between 6:00 – 8:00pm.\nVisit 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! \nThis 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!\nVisit the Downtown Ames event to get more info for deals and activities at other Ames businesses
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/witches-walk/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,General,Shop
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251009T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251113T170000
DTSTAMP:20260423T044311
CREATED:20250130T183635Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251007T170046Z
UID:16788-1759996800-1763053200@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:Group Art Exhibition: Cedar River Artisans “Voices”
DESCRIPTION:Voices\nGroup Exhibition by Cedar River Artisans\n\nExhibition Dates:\nOctober 9th\, 2025 – Exhibition Opening Day\nNovember 13th\, 2025 – Exhibition Public Reception from 6:00 – 7:30PM in the Community Gallery\nNovember 13th\, 2025 – Exhibition Closes \n \nArtist Statement:\nVOICES 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. \nExhibiting Artists:\nRobert Fox\, Ellen Kleckner\, M.L Kline\, Julia Kottal\, Nancy Lindsay\, Marty Mitchell\, Elizabeth Rhoads Read\, and John Schwartzkopf.\n \nArtists’ Biographies:\nCedar 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.\n\nThe collective consists of eight members: \nRobert Fox\, Ellen Kleckner\, M.L Kline\, Julia Kottal\, Nancy Lindsay\, Marty Mitchell\, Elizabeth Rhoads Read\, and John Schwartzkopf. \n  \n**Work in Event Image (from top left to bottom right)\nJohn Schwartzkopf – Swing\nMarty Mitchell – Phlox at the Quarry\nBob Fox – Spotted Bee Balm\nM.L. Kline – Captured Moments\nNancy Lindsay – Untold Stories\nEllen Klenecker – Loop\nJulia Kottal – Colorfield Lilac\, Green & Orange\nElizabeth Rhoads Read – Super Imposition
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/group-art-exhibition-cedar-river-artisans-voices/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250928T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250928T160000
DTSTAMP:20260423T044311
CREATED:20250818T152832Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250821T195924Z
UID:17159-1759053600-1759075200@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:54th Annual Octagon Art Festival
DESCRIPTION: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.
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/54th-annual-octagon-art-festival/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:General
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250918T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250918T200000
DTSTAMP:20260423T044311
CREATED:20250821T231529Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250908T202241Z
UID:17215-1758214800-1758225600@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:Third Thursdays: Downtown Ames Music Walk!
DESCRIPTION:  \nDowntown Ames Music Walk!\nThursday\, September 18th\, 5:00pm – 8:00pm \nParticipate in Music Walk\, from 5:00-8:00pm\, throughout downtown and stop by to see our featured band\, Foxpin!\nJoin us on the Octagon Patio in the alley on the west side of the building for good music and good company! \nOur Performer:\nFoxpin 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). \nCheck our their music and socials:\nMusic LinkTree\nFacebook\nInstagram
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/third-thursdays-downtown-ames-music-walk/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250912T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250912T190000
DTSTAMP:20260423T044311
CREATED:20250904T155550Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250904T155550Z
UID:17245-1757698200-1757703600@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:“Visions of Hildegard” Reception
DESCRIPTION:Visions of Hildegard\nSolo Exhibition by Christopher Hynes \n\nExhibition Dates:\nSeptember 12th\, 2025 – Exhibition Opening Day\nSeptember 12th\, 2025 – Exhibition Reception 5:30PM – 7PM in the Community Gallery with choir performance by the group “Good Company” at 6pm\nSeptember 28th\, 2025 – Exhibition Closes \n \nArtist Statement:\n“There is a little bit of something in everything and that is what I like to explore.” \nMy 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. \nHildegard 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. \nAt 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. \nArtist Biography:\nChristopher 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. \n  \nPerformers:\nGood 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.  \nWebsite: goodcompanysings.com
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/visions-of-hildegard-reception/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250912T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250928T170000
DTSTAMP:20260423T044311
CREATED:20250904T155651Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250904T155651Z
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SUMMARY:Solo Art Exhibition: Christopher Hynes “Visions of Hildegard”
DESCRIPTION:Visions of Hildegard\nSolo Exhibition by Christopher Hynes\n\nExhibition Dates:\nSeptember 12th\, 2025 – Exhibition Opening Day\nSeptember 12th\, 2025 – Exhibition Reception 5:30PM – 7PM in the Community Gallery with choir performance by the group “Good Company” at 6pm\nSeptember 28th\, 2025 – Exhibition Closes \n \nArtist Statement:\n“There is a little bit of something in everything and that is what I like to explore.” \nMy 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. \nHildegard 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. \nAt 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.  \nArtist Biography:\nChristopher 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.
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/solo-art-exhibition-christopher-hynes-visions-of-hildegard/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250906T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250906T140000
DTSTAMP:20260423T044311
CREATED:20250821T220332Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250902T204007Z
UID:17202-1757152800-1757167200@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:Art Supply Treasure Hunt!
DESCRIPTION:Find your art supply treasures and bag them up for free!   \nFrom 10am – 2pm\nIn the Octagon 2nd Floor Dance Studio \nPrairie Rose Needleworks\, Knittery Nook and the Octagon have been gathering art and craft supplies from the community throughout August. And now we want to make them available to you – for free! Join us on the 2nd floor of the Octagon on September 6 and hunt for the art supplies you need. Or the art supplies that you wanted but didn’t know if you would use. Now is the time to find out! (We know there’s a big game that day – come before it starts or sneak away at halftime. There’s time!) \nFree and open to all ages; 12 & under must be accompanied by an adult 
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/art-supply-giveaway/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250905T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250905T193000
DTSTAMP:20260423T044311
CREATED:20250821T221402Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250821T221402Z
UID:17207-1757093400-1757100600@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:"Just Duet” Reception
DESCRIPTION:Just Duet\nGroup Exhibition by Alexandra Ackerman and Jeremy Ackerman\n\nExhibition Dates:\nAugust 18th\, 2025 – Exhibition Opening Day\nSeptember 5th\, 2025 – Exhibition Reception 5:30PM – 7:30PM in the Community Gallery\nSeptember 5th\, 2025 – Exhibition Closes\n\n \nArtists’ Statements:\n\nAlexandra Ackerman:\nFor as long as I can remember I have found comfort and joy in making things with my hands. Art has helped me process and respond to the beauty and complexity of the world through every phase of life. Now\, as an adult\, I can see that all my work is in honor of childhood and in dedication to my childhood self\, the girl who found pure freedom in creating her own worlds. My paintings are “internal landscapes”\, unique environments that reflect a deep love of color\, pattern\, nature\, and play. My visual language draws from my years of experience farming and gardening across the country. I have found infinite pleasure in the simple act of watching plants grow; my hands in the soil\, bearing witness to the life cycle from seed to fruit\, contemplating the mysteries of clouds\, bugs\, and steaming piles of compost. The transformative experience of pregnancy and motherhood have also shaped me as an artist\, giving new meaning to the concept of “creation”.\nFor the past twenty years I have constantly sought to balance my roles of mother and artist\, finding joy and tears in the process. During the pandemic I shifted my focus from watercolor to acrylic and mixed media. I began gluing fabric scraps onto wood panels\, and painting around and over them. Cutting and gluing was grounding and healing in a time of extreme uncertainty. My current work – a series of acrylic and fabric paintings on wood – explores a combination of contrasting themes: wild vs. cultivated landscape\, domestic vs. natural environment\, order vs. chaos. Each painting seeks harmony and balance in color and composition\, texture and pattern. I am especially inspired by folk art\, botanical art\, aboriginal art\, and patchwork quilts. I hope my paintings will stimulate curiosity and encourage the viewer to look at the world with fresh eyes. \nJeremy Ackerman:\nThe irreverent artist Ray Johnson produced a series of seemingly improvised performances during his career that he referred to as “Throw Away Gestures.” Usually consisting of a few unremarkable objects\, Johnson would break down social norms by interacting with these objects in playful yet unsettling ways. These performances were not slick but rather a series of untethered gestures that were meant to surprise those\nbearing witness. Simple\, uncomplicated\, yet full of possibilities. In my most recent series of mixed media cut paper collages\, I’ve adapted Johnson’s concept of the “Throw Away Gesture” for two dimensional work. Scribbles became loose forms that were drawn up very quickly; sometimes without even looking at the paper. As the number of my throw away gestures accumulated I would look for interesting relationships between them. The drawn gestures then went through a comically tedious process of being cut out with an x-acto blade. Ultimately\, I was left with a collection of forms that were chopped up\, reduced\, expanded\, connected\, colored\, layered and sometimes actually thrown away.\nMy lifelong fascination with music played a major role in the aesthetic of these works. Rhythm and color push against each other as the cut out gestures dive\, slam\, twerk\, bounce and pogo; avatars for all the things floating around in my head. In these artworks the viewer might see glimmers of my lived experience of punk rock\, doo-wop\, death obsession\, new age philosophy\, hamburgers\, boom boxes\, spirits in the material world\, guilt\, divine comedies\, garbage collection\, aboriginal dreamtime conduits\, cosmic jazz and other such additions to a life time laundry list. In the end\, these sets of throw away gestures and random rules ushered in a new era of psychedelic storytelling that was in hot pursuit of self actualization. \n \nArtists’ Biographies:\n \nAlexandra Ackerman:\nAlexandra Ackerman is a mixed media artist who uses color\, pattern\, and form (both organic and geometric) to create playful and dynamic abstract landscapes. Her artwork has been influenced by her years of experience working on farms and in gardens across the U.S. She is also inspired by folk art\, patchwork quilts\, abstract expressionism\, and the Midwest landscape. Originally from Ann Arbor\, Michigan\, Ackerman grew up a keen observer of the natural world\, knowing from a young age that she would be an artist. She earned her BFA at Massachusetts College of Art\, where she explored a variety of media\, often incorporating fabric\, collage\, and found objects into her work. Ackerman has continued her exploration for three decades\, maintaining a childlike freedom in her painting while balancing her roles as artist and mother. She has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions nationally and her work has found a home in many public and private collections. Recent exhibitions include the Iowa State Capitol\, Memorial Union Gallery at ISU\, and the Dubuque Museum of Art biennial. Her work can be found at Liz Lidgett Gallery and Prairie Lights Bookstore. Alexandra shares a studio with her husband\, Jeremy\, in downtown Iowa City. \nJeremy Ackerman:\nIn the 1990’s\, visual artist Jeremy Ackerman attended Massachusetts College of Art in Boston. There he studied unconventional painting and installation with Afro Cuban artist Magadlena Compos-Pons. Heavily influenced by Compos-Pons’ polymathic approach to art making\, Jeremy began to explore a multitude of media including drawing\, sculpture\, film and performance. After moving back to his hometown of Minneapolis at the end of the century\, Jeremy continued to create art work while also founding the critically acclaimed eclectic pop group\, Walker Kong. During this creative era of music making\, Jeremy also began to experiment with cut paper collage. As his cut paper practice developed\, so did his vision for what could be expressed with the medium. Jeremy has spent the last two decades creating a body of cut paper work that distills hyperactive movement into eye popping psychedelic dreamscapes.\nDuring the pandemic Jeremy created his most ambitious work to date “Run Run Run (We Could Have Died)!” The first public viewing will be at Octagon Center for the Arts. In addition to growing his visual art\, Jeremy recently started a recording studio/ DIY music label\, Mouse Traxx Sounds. He is a current member of the music group\, Oranj Ruffs\, whose debut album was released in June 2024. He lives in Iowa City with his partner Alexandra\, and their two children.
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/just-duet-reception/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250821T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250821T200000
DTSTAMP:20260423T044311
CREATED:20250804T205645Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250806T170702Z
UID:17134-1755797400-1755806400@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:Third Thursdays: Poetry SLAM!
DESCRIPTION:  \nPoetry SLAM!\nThursday\, August 21st\, 5:30pm – 8pm \nThe Octagon is holding its first ever poetry slam! Come hear original work from local poets of all ages and styles. The event will begin at 5:30 and poets will take the stage at 6:00. This is a free event\, for attendees and poets alike. We prefer that poets sign up in advance at this link: Poet Registration.  However\, we will allow same-day sign up at the event. We hope you’ll join us and support the poets who are participating!
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/third-thursdays-poetry-slam/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250818T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250905T170000
DTSTAMP:20260423T044311
CREATED:20250130T170916Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250731T183446Z
UID:16782-1755511200-1757091600@octagonarts.org
SUMMARY:Group Art Exhibition: Alexandra and Jeremy Ackerman "Just Duet”
DESCRIPTION:Just Duet\nGroup Exhibition by Alexandra Ackerman and Jeremy Ackerman\n\nExhibition Dates:\nAugust 18th\, 2025 – Exhibition Opening Day\nSeptember 5th\, 2025 – Exhibition Reception 5:30PM – 7:30PM in the Community Gallery\nSeptember 5th\, 2025 – Exhibition Closes\n\n \nArtists’ Statements:\n\nAlexandra Ackerman:\nFor as long as I can remember I have found comfort and joy in making things with my hands. Art has helped me process and respond to the beauty and complexity of the world through every phase of life. Now\, as an adult\, I can see that all my work is in honor of childhood and in dedication to my childhood self\, the girl who found pure freedom in creating her own worlds. My paintings are “internal landscapes”\, unique environments that reflect a deep love of color\, pattern\, nature\, and play. My visual language draws from my years of experience farming and gardening across the country. I have found infinite pleasure in the simple act of watching plants grow; my hands in the soil\, bearing witness to the life cycle from seed to fruit\, contemplating the mysteries of clouds\, bugs\, and steaming piles of compost. The transformative experience of pregnancy and motherhood have also shaped me as an artist\, giving new meaning to the concept of “creation”.\nFor the past twenty years I have constantly sought to balance my roles of mother and artist\, finding joy and tears in the process. During the pandemic I shifted my focus from watercolor to acrylic and mixed media. I began gluing fabric scraps onto wood panels\, and painting around and over them. Cutting and gluing was grounding and healing in a time of extreme uncertainty. My current work – a series of acrylic and fabric paintings on wood – explores a combination of contrasting themes: wild vs. cultivated landscape\, domestic vs. natural environment\, order vs. chaos. Each painting seeks harmony and balance in color and composition\, texture and pattern. I am especially inspired by folk art\, botanical art\, aboriginal art\, and patchwork quilts. I hope my paintings will stimulate curiosity and encourage the viewer to look at the world with fresh eyes. \nJeremy Ackerman:\nThe irreverent artist Ray Johnson produced a series of seemingly improvised performances during his career that he referred to as “Throw Away Gestures.” Usually consisting of a few unremarkable objects\, Johnson would break down social norms by interacting with these objects in playful yet unsettling ways. These performances were not slick but rather a series of untethered gestures that were meant to surprise those\nbearing witness. Simple\, uncomplicated\, yet full of possibilities. In my most recent series of mixed media cut paper collages\, I’ve adapted Johnson’s concept of the “Throw Away Gesture” for two dimensional work. Scribbles became loose forms that were drawn up very quickly; sometimes without even looking at the paper. As the number of my throw away gestures accumulated I would look for interesting relationships between them. The drawn gestures then went through a comically tedious process of being cut out with an x-acto blade. Ultimately\, I was left with a collection of forms that were chopped up\, reduced\, expanded\, connected\, colored\, layered and sometimes actually thrown away.\nMy lifelong fascination with music played a major role in the aesthetic of these works. Rhythm and color push against each other as the cut out gestures dive\, slam\, twerk\, bounce and pogo; avatars for all the things floating around in my head. In these artworks the viewer might see glimmers of my lived experience of punk rock\, doo-wop\, death obsession\, new age philosophy\, hamburgers\, boom boxes\, spirits in the material world\, guilt\, divine comedies\, garbage collection\, aboriginal dreamtime conduits\, cosmic jazz and other such additions to a life time laundry list. In the end\, these sets of throw away gestures and random rules ushered in a new era of psychedelic storytelling that was in hot pursuit of self actualization. \n \nArtists’ Biographies:\n \nAlexandra Ackerman:\nAlexandra Ackerman is a mixed media artist who uses color\, pattern\, and form (both organic and geometric) to create playful and dynamic abstract landscapes. Her artwork has been influenced by her years of experience working on farms and in gardens across the U.S. She is also inspired by folk art\, patchwork quilts\, abstract expressionism\, and the Midwest landscape. Originally from Ann Arbor\, Michigan\, Ackerman grew up a keen observer of the natural world\, knowing from a young age that she would be an artist. She earned her BFA at Massachusetts College of Art\, where she explored a variety of media\, often incorporating fabric\, collage\, and found objects into her work. Ackerman has continued her exploration for three decades\, maintaining a childlike freedom in her painting while balancing her roles as artist and mother. She has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions nationally and her work has found a home in many public and private collections. Recent exhibitions include the Iowa State Capitol\, Memorial Union Gallery at ISU\, and the Dubuque Museum of Art biennial. Her work can be found at Liz Lidgett Gallery and Prairie Lights Bookstore. Alexandra shares a studio with her husband\, Jeremy\, in downtown Iowa City. \nJeremy Ackerman:\nIn the 1990’s\, visual artist Jeremy Ackerman attended Massachusetts College of Art in Boston. There he studied unconventional painting and installation with Afro Cuban artist Magadlena Compos-Pons. Heavily influenced by Compos-Pons’ polymathic approach to art making\, Jeremy began to explore a multitude of media including drawing\, sculpture\, film and performance. After moving back to his hometown of Minneapolis at the end of the century\, Jeremy continued to create art work while also founding the critically acclaimed eclectic pop group\, Walker Kong. During this creative era of music making\, Jeremy also began to experiment with cut paper collage. As his cut paper practice developed\, so did his vision for what could be expressed with the medium. Jeremy has spent the last two decades creating a body of cut paper work that distills hyperactive movement into eye popping psychedelic dreamscapes.\nDuring the pandemic Jeremy created his most ambitious work to date “Run Run Run (We Could Have Died)!” The first public viewing will be at Octagon Center for the Arts. In addition to growing his visual art\, Jeremy recently started a recording studio/ DIY music label\, Mouse Traxx Sounds. He is a current member of the music group\, Oranj Ruffs\, whose debut album was released in June 2024. He lives in Iowa City with his partner Alexandra\, and their two children.
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/justduet/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250809T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250809T170000
DTSTAMP:20260423T044311
CREATED:20250821T220718Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250821T220718Z
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SUMMARY:“Elusive Balance” Reception
DESCRIPTION:Elusive Balance\nGroup Exhibition by Iowa Artist/Mother Group\n\nExhibition Dates:\nJuly 21st\, 2025 – Exhibition Opening Day\nAugust 9th\, 2025 – Exhibition Reception 2:00PM – 5:00PM in the Community Gallery\nAugust 9th\, 2025 – Exhibition Closes \n \nArtist Statement:\nWorks in this exhibition will include fiber art\, painting\, printmaking\, mixed media\, performance\, sculpture\, photography\, and video with a variety of processes and methods. With our intention to showcase the voices of Iowa artist mothers who represent a range of diverse backgrounds\, ages\, motherhood stages\, and mediums\, the exhibition will convey a collection of experiences and perspectives that the work of one singular artist’s body of work would prove challenging to convey. The Iowa Artist/Mother group presents an exhibition entitled “Elusive Balance.” The theme of this exhibition explores the challenges of finding balance within artist and mother/caregiver identities. Since there is no one way to embody motherhood\, this theme is open to broad interpretation\, encompassing ideas of rest and productivity\, contentment and overwhelm\, stability and transition\, responsibility and absurdity/play\, and societal expectations vs. personal intuition. We are interested in how one finds personal balance or simply lets go of this elusive state\, embracing or celebrating imbalance within life and art. This exhibition showcases the voices of Iowa artist mothers who represent a range of diverse backgrounds\, ages\, motherhood stages\, and mediums. Each artist has one piece on exhibit. Many of the artists are affiliated with the Iowa Artist/Mother group\, an egalitarian group started in 2021 that meets regularly to build community\, share resources\, and support artists who are also caregivers. \n \nArtist Biography:\nThe Iowa Artist/Mother group presents an exhibition entitled “Elusive Balance.” The theme of this exhibition explores the challenges of finding balance within artist and mother/caregiver identities. Since there is no one way to embody motherhood\, this theme is open to broad interpretation\, encompassing ideas of rest and productivity\, contentment and overwhelm\, stability and transition\, responsibility and absurdity/play\, and societal expectations vs. personal intuition. We are interested in how one finds personal balance or simply lets go of this elusive state\, embracing or celebrating imbalance within life and art. \nThis exhibition showcases the voices of Iowa artist mothers who represent a range of diverse backgrounds\, ages\, motherhood stages\, and mediums. Each artist has one piece on exhibit. \nMany of the artists are affiliated with the Iowa Artist/Mother group\, an egalitarian group started in 2021 that meets regularly to build community\, share resources\, and support artists who are also caregivers. \nYou can learn more about this travelling exhibition HERE \nParticipating Artists:\nAlicia Wilkinson\, Akwi Nji\, Alexandra Ackerman\, Allison Rowe\, Amenda Tate\, Astrid Hilger Bennett\, Catherine Reinhart\, Bailey Fry-Schnormeier\, Emily Newman\, Emily Jalinsky\, Genevra Daley\, Hope Spragg\, Jamie Elizabeth Hudrlik\, Jill Wells\, Julia Franklin\, Kelly Devitt\, Kay Ireland\, Kristin M. Roach\, Larassa Kabel\, Lauren A. Ross\, Mirzam Perez\, Ramona Muse Lambert\, Sheena Daugherty\, Stephanie Brunia\nNote: These artists have extend invitations to a selection of other female-identifying Iowa artists/caregivers for inclusion in the exhibition.
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/elusive-balance-reception/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250801T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250831T173000
DTSTAMP:20260423T044311
CREATED:20250804T215755Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250805T164740Z
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SUMMARY:Art Supply Drive!
DESCRIPTION: Calling for all spare art supplies!  \nWe are partnering with area art stores and community members to provide a free art supply day for artists of all ages in September!\nPrairie Rose Needleworks\, The Knittery Nook\, and The Octagon Center for the Arts are committed to making creativity inclusive so we’ve teamed up to for a special art & craft supply drive. Bring your new and/or gently used art & craft supplies to one of our locations during the month of August. The Octagon will then host a special free art supply day for the community in September. \nDonation Rules: \n\nWe accept items that can be used for art/craft activities for any age\, from fingerpaints and fat paintbrushes to oil paint and embroidery thread.\n Any liquids (paint\, glue\, etc.) should be at least half full and able to flow through the lid.\nYarn\, thread and other fibers should be wound or neatly presented. Please do not send a nest that needs to be untangled.\nFiber (yarn\, roving\, etc.) donations should be packaged in a Ziploc bag or airtight container\nItems should be in clean containers. A little paint on the bottle is fine but please don’t send dusty or musty items.\nItems should not be overly faded or smell bad.\nAll items should be unbroken and able to be used without requiring repair.\nStorage space is limited so please bring in a reasonable amount of donations.\nOnly drop off donations during open hours and bring them inside the location. Do not leave items in front of locations during closed hours.
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/art-supply-drive/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250721T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250809T170000
DTSTAMP:20260423T044311
CREATED:20250130T165240Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250714T190532Z
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SUMMARY:Group Art Exhibition: Iowa Artist/Mother Group “Elusive Balance”
DESCRIPTION:Elusive Balance\nGroup Exhibition by Iowa Artist/Mother Group\n\nExhibition Dates:\nJuly 21st\, 2025 – Exhibition Opening Day\nAugust 9th\, 2025 – Exhibition Reception 2:00PM – 5:00PM in the Community Gallery\nAugust 9th\, 2025 – Exhibition Closes \n \nArtist Statement:\nWorks in this exhibition will include fiber art\, painting\, printmaking\, mixed media\, performance\, sculpture\, photography\, and video with a variety of processes and methods. With our intention to showcase the voices of Iowa artist mothers who represent a range of diverse backgrounds\, ages\, motherhood stages\, and mediums\, the exhibition will convey a collection of experiences and perspectives that the work of one singular artist’s body of work would prove challenging to convey. The Iowa Artist/Mother group presents an exhibition entitled “Elusive Balance.” The theme of this exhibition explores the challenges of finding balance within artist and mother/caregiver identities. Since there is no one way to embody motherhood\, this theme is open to broad interpretation\, encompassing ideas of rest and productivity\, contentment and overwhelm\, stability and transition\, responsibility and absurdity/play\, and societal expectations vs. personal intuition. We are interested in how one finds personal balance or simply lets go of this elusive state\, embracing or celebrating imbalance within life and art. This exhibition showcases the voices of Iowa artist mothers who represent a range of diverse backgrounds\, ages\, motherhood stages\, and mediums. Each artist has one piece on exhibit. Many of the artists are affiliated with the Iowa Artist/Mother group\, an egalitarian group started in 2021 that meets regularly to build community\, share resources\, and support artists who are also caregivers. \n \nArtist Biography:\nThe Iowa Artist/Mother group presents an exhibition entitled “Elusive Balance.” The theme of this exhibition explores the challenges of finding balance within artist and mother/caregiver identities. Since there is no one way to embody motherhood\, this theme is open to broad interpretation\, encompassing ideas of rest and productivity\, contentment and overwhelm\, stability and transition\, responsibility and absurdity/play\, and societal expectations vs. personal intuition. We are interested in how one finds personal balance or simply lets go of this elusive state\, embracing or celebrating imbalance within life and art. \nThis exhibition showcases the voices of Iowa artist mothers who represent a range of diverse backgrounds\, ages\, motherhood stages\, and mediums. Each artist has one piece on exhibit. \nMany of the artists are affiliated with the Iowa Artist/Mother group\, an egalitarian group started in 2021 that meets regularly to build community\, share resources\, and support artists who are also caregivers. \nYou can learn more about this travelling exhibition HERE \nParticipating Artists:\nAlicia Wilkinson\, Akwi Nji\, Alexandra Ackerman\, Allison Rowe\, Amenda Tate\, Astrid Hilger Bennett\, Catherine Reinhart\, Bailey Fry-Schnormeier\, Emily Newman\, Emily Jalinsky\, Genevra Daley\, Hope Spragg\, Jamie Elizabeth Hudrlik\, Jill Wells\, Julia Franklin\, Kelly Devitt\, Kay Ireland\, Kristin M. Roach\, Larassa Kabel\, Lauren A. Ross\, Mirzam Perez\, Ramona Muse Lambert\, Sheena Daugherty\, Stephanie Brunia\nNote: These artists have extend invitations to a selection of other female-identifying Iowa artists/caregivers for inclusion in the exhibition.
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/elusivebalance/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events,Exhibits
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250717T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250717T200000
DTSTAMP:20260423T044311
CREATED:20250616T205350Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250616T205429Z
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SUMMARY:Third Thursdays: Musical Guests on the Patio Featuring The Bone People!
DESCRIPTION:  \n\nMusical Guests on the Patio Featuring The Bone People!\nThursday\, July 17 5pm – 8pm \nThe Bone People are back! This longtime Iowa-based band is back in the studio and ready to spend an evening singing for you. Join us on the patio\, on the west side of the Octagon\, from 5-8 PM on Thursday\, July 17 for an evening of great music. This is a free event for all ages! Drinks will be available for a donation.
URL:https://octagonarts.org/event/third-thursdays/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
CATEGORIES:Events
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END:VCALENDAR