The Iowa Arts Council is conducting a long-range strategic planning process. We want to know what YOU think about what our priorities should be. Some of you have already received and responded to a targeted survey – but if you didn’t, please help us NOW by taking 10 minutes to complete this general survey.

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IAC Offers Arts Advocacy Tips

A new page on the Iowa Arts Council Web site, www.iowaartscouncil.org, provides some good starter tips for becoming an advocate for the arts in Iowa.

Here you’ll find Iowa’s current ranking in arts funding, easy tips for advocating for the arts in communities, a guide to elected officials and how you can get involved.

And remember, the next legislative session isn’t that far away – watch for a date announcement and plan to attend Cultural Advocacy Day at the State Capitol.

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Elementary Students Put Their Creative Touch on School

By Sally McKenzie, art educator

Schools can be wonderful places for displaying art – not just the recent art assignments completed by students, but also larger works that transform the whole school environment in more permanent ways. One Iowa school that is permeated with such artwork is Hanawalt Elementary in Des Moines. Art teacher Sally McKenzie writes here about how intentional – and meaningful – this has been.

Every visitor to Hanawalt Elementary School in Des Moines is greeted by a work of art reminding them that “Each Day is a New Beginning.” Immediately it is understood that Hanawalt is a child-centered school, with children at the heart of everything we do.

Creating art is natural for young children and the results are located throughout the building. Each piece has its own story to tell. I believe that a school is not a place where children “go,” it is a place where children live, learn and create. Their ownership of this special place is evident throughout our building. Our community has always valued the importance of the arts, and shown their support in the arts programs.

One of the first permanent works of art I had the opportunity to create with students was made possible through an Iowa Arts Council Artists in Schools and Communities Residency Grant. Working as a collaborative team with artist Concetta Morales, we created a three-piece mural in 1993, when our community was dealing with severe floods. The creative process was one of healing and strength. One might think that the final work of art is the goal, but that is not the case. With each piece the children create, process is primary. This ensures deep, lasting meaning long after the work is installed. This creative process happens over an extended period of time in the art studio with an art educator, which is extremely important.

“Hanawalt’s unique philosophy of nurturing the whole child directs the curriculum to include equal emphasis on core subjects and the fine arts,” said Helen Oliver, Hanawalt principal.

Not all art pieces are created through grants. Some works are created in the art studio, and others are made possible through gifts from parents and PTA support. Each year the departing fifth grade class leaves a piece of themselves in the form of a work of art. They work together to create a gift of art to Hanawalt. Each piece is site specific, with a message they leave behind.

Art transforms the environment. It is visually exciting and speaks to the value of the arts in learning.

We want our schools to be positive places. Student-created art transforms a building into a welcoming place where children want to go. It is “their” place with their mark. When former students return, they remember their journey and the day they touched a brush or their hand to the work of art that still remains.

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Visit Us At The Iowa State Fair!

Look for the Department of Cultural Affairs booth located in the air-conditioned Varied Industries Building during the Iowa State Fair, Aug. 9-19. Get free stuff and information on Iowa Arts Council programs, grants, events and more! Plus, if you mention this article you’ll receive a free buyiowaart.com T-shirt (while supplies last)!

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IAC Announces New ABCs Grant Recipients

The Iowa Arts Council is pleased to announce that Thomas Jefferson High School in Council Bluffs and Smouse Opportunity School in Des Moines are the recipients of the Arts Building Communities in Schools Grant for the 2007-08 academic year.

Arts Building Communities in Schools grant funds are intended to support partnerships between schools and their communities over a three-year period to improve student arts learning. The grant supports the time needed to establish communication and understanding between partners, to find ways to combine existing resources in creative ways and to develop new learning opportunities for students.

Thomas Jefferson High School Principal Judy O’Brien, Art Teacher Carrie Pope and Vocal and Music Theory Instructor Travis Walker will collaborate with Patricia LaBounty from the Union Pacific Railroad Museum and two local artists, Margaret LaBounty and Russ Nordman to focus on increasing student literacy through the arts.

The team from Smouse Opportunity School in Des Moines includes Principal Susie Guest, Pre-K/ Early Childhood Special Education teachers Matt Gunsaulus and Greg Miller, Headstart Pre-K teacher Sandra Bjerk and Music Educator Kathy Marean who will partner with Kathy Pingle at the Des Moines Playhouse and artist Mandy Julson. The team will produce Kinderdrama, stories via dramatic productions, puppet shows and other mediums to the students in hands-on theatre activities.

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Zwick-Tapley Tackles Tough Topics in “Mud”

To say that Iowa State University Lecturer Sarah Zwick-Tapley has a passion for multi-cultural theatre is a bit of an understatement. Her own background, which follows her love for acting, directing and even comedy, would require a lot of pushpins on a map of the world: from Massachusetts to Russia, North Dakota to Poland, Zwick-Tapley has used her experiences to inspire students beyond traditional theatre roles.

Milwaukee Repertory Theatre production of “Mud”

And now, she follows her own example as she works to produce and direct Cuban-American playwright Maria Irene Fornes’ “Mud.” The play received an Iowa Arts Council mini grant in July and will be performed Aug. 29-30 at The Maintenance Shop in Ames.

The play explores the cycle of poverty and violence in rural America. In addition to exploring the destructive cycles inherent in poverty, actors experiment with the play’s unusual vaudevillian qualities as personified in the character of Henry, a clown-like figure.

“Distancing the audience from the emotional lives of the characters highlights the contrast between the gritty realities of rural poverty and domestic violence and the often absurd situations those social problems create,” Zwick-Tapley said. “The project’s aim is to serve as a catalyst for change in the community by offering audience members the opportunity to see a societal problem from a new theatrical perspective.”

Starring in the play are recent or soon-to-be college graduates Genya Coffey, Michael Rubke and Brendan Dunphy. All are working toward professional careers in the theatre.

“Though Iowa State produces many high-quality actors, there are few opportunities in Ames for them to perform once they have graduated,” Zwick-Tapley said. “‘Mud’ is an excellent opportunity to showcase a number of these emerging and talented Iowa artists.”

Performances will be held Aug. 29 and 30 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for “Mud” are $9 for adults, $7 for students and $5 for seniors/children (this play contains adult situations). Tickets may be purchased at the Iowa State University Memorial Union. For more information, call (515) 451-2340.

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IAC Helps State Hire Artists for Public Projects

Two significant pieces of public art on the State Capitol grounds have been made possible with the help of the Iowa Arts Council.

The first is the yet-to-be-constructed Iowa Workers’ Monument. Artist Michael Stutz of Fallbrook, Calif., was selected to create the piece. It will be an 11 foot tall by 11 foot wide balanced square form of four interlocking arms and hands dedicated to the energy and integrity of the workers of Iowa.

“Each arm supports the other, in the same way a diverse blend of people, from many backgrounds, come together to work and create the cultural and business base of Iowa,” Stutz says in his artist statement.

The state of Iowa recently contributed $200,000 toward the project’s total cost of $520,000. The site of the monument will be prepared this fall, with the unveiling scheduled for April 28, 2008.

The second significant new public artwork is the “Hand and Land Fingerprint” installation by David Dahlquist at the newly renovated Department of Public Safety Building. Governor Chet Culver and Lt. Governor Patty Judge dedicated the work earlier this summer.

Dahlquist was commissioned through the State of Iowa Art in State Buildings Program.

“The Iowa Department of Public Safety ‘reaches out’ to touch the lives of people across the 99 counties of Iowa,” Dahlquist says. “Dedicated professionals extend a ‘hand’ of friendship and experience to protect and serve. Their presence is a lasting imprint that is as unique as the landscape of Iowa itself.”

IAC staffmember Bruce Williams helped facilitate the selection and hiring of artists for both projects.

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New IAC Board Members

Iowa Governor Chet Culver recently appointed three new members to the Iowa Arts Council Board of Directors.

James Hayes, an attorney from Iowa City, is a partner in the firm Hayes Lorenzen Lawyers, PLC. He is on the Advisory Board for the University of Iowa Museum of Art and is a current member and past president of the Members Council for the Museum. He supports and advocates for all the arts, as well as being an art collector and patron. He was appointed to a three-year term ending in 2010.

Colleen Armstrong is a senior account manager for Phibro Animal Health Inc. She is an active volunteer on boards advocating for women, education and health care issues. She is a member of the West Des Moines Public Art Task Force, and holds memberships in the Des Moines Art Center and the Des Moines Civic Center. She was appointed to a three-year term ending in 2010.

Clark Marshall is executive director of continuing education/economic development at Iowa Lakes Community College in Estherville, where he has been employed for more than 25 years. Marshall will serve a one-year term ending in June, 2008. He is a musician who has performed at numerous venues in Iowa. He is on the boards of the Clay County Historical Society, the Parker Museum, and Spencer Community Theatre, and is a past board member and president of the Iowa Rock and Roll Music Association and Museum. His particular arts interests are focused on the needs of many non-profit arts organizations to improve their internal operations and efficiencies by implementing strategic and business planning and more effective operational procedures.

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News From Buyiowaart.com

Getting crafty…Buyiowaart.com now features a selection of crafts created by Iowa artists. Crafts are a rich part of the arts tradition in Iowa, and the special collection you’ll find here are spectacular in both form and function. In many ways, crafts are a way to build on traditional forms of art. They can be fun, inventive, useful or just for show, but they are never boring! View the selection at www.buyiowaart.com.

Pictured are Lynn Walding, administrator, Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division; Cyndi Pederson, director, Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs; and Sarah Ekstrand, Iowa Arts Council.

BIA truck ready to roll…The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs and the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division (ABD) July 30 formally unveiled a semi-trailer that promotes Buyiowaart.com. The Iowa ABD provided advertising space on exterior panels of a 45-foot delivery trailer in support of the Web site. Bill Nellans photographed existing art and Annabel Wimer created the design for the semi-trailer from those photographs. Artists who have work represented in the trailer’s design are Marcia Joffe Bouska, Sara Jayne Cole, Pam Dennis, Jan Gipple, Janet Heinicke, Peggy Johnston, Mark Rushton (CD cover) and WORLD PORT (CD cover).

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Hometown Perry Receives NEA “Big Read” Grant

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced that Hometown Perry, Iowa is one of 117 organizations that will receive grants to support Big Read programs between September and December 2007.

The Big Read, launched nationally in 2006 by the NEA, in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and Arts Midwest, encourages literary reading by asking communities to come together to read and discuss a single book. The organizations selected to participate in the Big Read will receive grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 to promote and carry out community-based programs. The Big Read in Perry, Take it to Heart!, will take place during the month of October, 2007, with Carson McCuller’s The Heart is a Lonely Hunter.

To encourage community-wide participation in the project, each Big Read lead organization will collaborate with public and private partners within its community to develop a program of activities related to the selected novel. Big Read events in Perry will include a major kick-off on Oct. 2, a film showing at the Grand Theatre the week of Oct.11, a keynote session on Oct. 18 and many other activities. The program will include participation by the Perry Public Library, Perry High School, Perry Chamber of Commerce, and the City of Perry.

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Are You Ready To Sell More Art?

The Spencer Alliance for a Creative Economy (SPACE) is hosting “I’d Rather Be in the Studio, But I Have to Eat,” a “no excuses” workshop for artists led by Alyson B. Stanfield, a nationally recognized arts marketing consultant from Colorado. The workshops will be held Saturday, Oct. 27 from 9:30-4 p.m. in the Spencer Community Schools Central Administration Building. Registration will begin at 9 a.m. The following day, Oct. 28, Stanfield will offer private hour-long consultations for a limited number of artists and arts organizations.

Topics include:

· How to introduce yourself as an artist so people really listen

· Why you must nail your artists statement and how to do it

· Why your mailing list is your #1 asset

· How to build relationships and cultivate collectors

· What makes marketing materials k.o. the competition

· How to become a media magnet

Stanfield has many years of experience in the art world and in helping artists advance their careers. Artists can subscribe to her free weekly Art Marketing Action newsletter from ArtBizCoach.com.

Workshop cost is $80 per person or only $65 if registered by Oct. 1. For more information, e-mail Judy Hempill at hemphill@longlines.com or call (712) 260-1373.

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Upcoming Conferences of Interest

Midwest Arts Conference, September 5-8, Columbus, Ohio

For performing artists, artist managers/agents, performing arts presenters, and service organization representatives to strengthen business contacts and enhance their professional knowledge. Highlights include keynote speaker Rebecca Ryan of Next Generation Consulting; spotlight showcases featuring 24 panel-selected artists; seminars addressing issues such as evaluation, e-marketing, development and leadership; and free professional development session like workshops and roundtable discussions. For information: www.artsmidwest.org.

Arts in Criminal Justice National Conference October 3-6, Philadelphia, Pa.

Learn how art can be used as a vehicle to further the goals of criminal and restorative justice. For information: www.artsincriminaljustice.org.

Technology in the Arts Conference, October 12-13, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Sponsored by the Center for Arts Management & Technology. Examines ways to adopt and integrate technology into the arts world. For information: www.technologyinthearts.org.

2007 National Arts Marketing Project Conference, Nov. 2-5, Miami, Fla.

Flourishing in the New Frontier: New Media, New Audiences, New Opportunities. Sponsored by Americans for the Arts. For information: http://www.americansforthearts.org/events/2007/abc/namc/default.asp.

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