COMMUNITY PROGRAMS

The Des Moines Art Center organizes and participates in numerous community partnerships with metropolitan area school systems, social service, and community centers, corporate entities, and other cultural institutions.

Community engagement efforts are designed to build participation with the Art Center through programs that broaden and diversify our audience base or strengthen our existing relationships.

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Drawing with Scissors

Matisse as Muse for Art Education at the Hispanic Educational Resource Center

This fall, the museum education department produced a multipart workshop for the Hispanic Educational Resource Center that focused on the artist Henri Matisse and building literacy.

Matisse became famous for using bold colors and patterns in his paintings. As he aged, Matisse turned to making collages by using a technique he called “drawing with scissors” to achieve crisp and fresh forms that were arranged into whimsical works of art.

Art teacher Mari Slattery presented three hands-on lessons at the students’ school. The first two classes were designed to develop the skills and confidence of the children, functioning as building blocks for the third session. Using scissors as a drawing and cutting tool like Matisse, the students then created exuberant compositions that were displayed in the Adrienne and Charles Herbert Galleries at the Art Center from October 17 – November 10, 2006.

This program was supported by the Early Reading First grant program acquired by the Des Moines Public Schools which aims to prepare preschoolers for successful kindergarten transition. Approximately 30 students participated in this curriculum that emphasized building communication skills by identifying shapes and colors, verbalizing observations about art, and also worked to enhance fine-motor skills by working with stencils, cutting, and gluing.

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Discovery Through Art

Art Center Workshop with the Women’s Residential Correctional Facility

This past fall, the Des Moines Art Center invited the Fifth Judicial Department of Correctional Services to participate in “Discovery Through Art,” an educational and empowering program inspired by the exhibition Cecily Brown (on view from August 4 – October 1, 2006), and other works of art by and of women in the Art Center’s permanent collections.

The dramatic presence of Brown’s art coupled with the treasures of the museum suggested the idea of an innovative art program for incarcerated women under the supervision of the corrections system. Eight participants explored a range of issues related to identity, change, and self-expression. In addition to contributing to group discussions, the multipart workshop provided an opportunity for the participants to engage in self-expression and reflection through a portrait-drawing activity led by Visiting Artist Anthony Pontius. The self-portraits were on view in the Art Center’s Adrienne and Charles Herbert Galleries October 24 – November 10, 2006.

Participants:
Fritzie Bailey
Dawn Johnson
Jodie Martinez
Kasmira Payton-Sams
Amy Perez
Christina Stanley
Mandi Stone
MiAnne Walton

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Organic Bending

Artist Workshop with Shih-Chieh Huang

In conjunction with the exhibition Aisle 5, the Art Center invited Drake University’s art department to take part in an intensive workshop led by artist Shih-Chieh Huang, whose work is featured in Aisle 5 and is based around manipulating electronic devices to create kinetic environments. Nine motivated art students enrolled in the seven-day course.

The idea behind Organic Bending was to focus on the process of discovery and experimentation, find alternative functions for everyday materials, and turn the mundane into the extraordinary. While the students were also encouraged to explore electronics as an artistic medium and were challenged to incorporate at least one electronic component in their work, Shih-Chieh did not want them to be overly concerned with the end result, stating that the workshop was meant to “serve an introduction to the process of deconstructing and reinventing the objects that surround us, where the final product serves as the beginning of future possibilities.” The students’ sculptures and installations were on view in the Art Center’s Adrienne and Charles Herbert Galleries November 14 – 27, 2006.

Participants:
Joan Broek
Chuck Korson
Tara Lange
Ashley Machacek
Stephanie Philpott-Jones
Miranda Quanstrum
Rachel Shulruf
Angela Warren
Nicki Werner

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Artist Residency Projects

Throughout the year, the Art Center organizes opportunities for students to work with internationally recognized artists. Residencies can vary from brief workshops to weeks-long intensive seminars. Groups are selected by the Museum Education Department based upon the age-appropriateness and skill base needed for the project. Because of the demanding nature of the residencies, the Art Center has chosen to work with teachers who have demonstrated a consistent and committed relationship with the museum and its mission. The combined work of these teachers, their students, and the Art Center staff has resulted in many successful endeavors.

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Art Educators of Iowa/Des Moines Art Center Art Camp

This week-long camp is for high school students interested in pursuing the visual arts in college and those preparing portfolios for Art Educators of Iowa All-State Art Competition. They study with the visiting artist, meet various artists, learn about the Art Center’s permanent collections, discuss the function of art in society, and learn how to prepare an outstanding All-State Art Competition portfolio.

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Callanan/Goodrell and Merrill Artists

This after school studio/museum program serves students from the neighboring middle schools. An Art Center course, 9 — 11 weeks in length is set up for each school. The middle school art teacher promotes the program to interested students from the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades.

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Creativity Day with Des Moines Public Schools Gifted/Talented Education Program

Each spring, first and second grade students from Des Moines Public Schools Talented and Gifted Educational Program participate in an arts enrichment workshop at the Art Center. Revolving around a central theme, students rotate through a variety of fun activities. Lessons include learning about artworks in the permanent collections, creating individual projects in a hands-on activity, and participating in an energetic creative movement session.

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Fourth Grade Tours with Des Moines Public Schools

Each year, fourth grade students from the Des Moines, West Des Moines, and Waukee Public School Districts participate in guided tours of the Art Center’s world-class art and architecture. This fruitful tradition has continued with Des Moines for more than twelve years and is in the second year for both West Des Moines and Waukee. Over 4,000 students and chaperones visit the museum as a part of this effort. Led by museum trained volunteers called docents, tours aim to:

introduce students to art museums
help students make sense of art through engaged discussion
create inspiring connections between art and life
teach visual analysis
foster and promote creativity
encourage on-going participation with the Art Center

To ensure the richest possible educational experience, the Museum Education Department sends teachers pre-visit preparation materials that include images of artworks they will see on their tours, information and thought-provoking questions about the artwork, articles and reviews of artists and exhibitions, and suggested follow-up exercises.

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High School Days

Offered throughout the academic year in conjunction with the Art Center’s special exhibitions, High School Days aim to produce in-depth learning experiences and promote continued interest in art appreciation and museums. Students in this program participate in a guided tour of an exhibition as well as two other activities, such as an artist’s lecture, informative video, musical performance, art or writing workshop. This program is open to schools in the greater Des Moines area and transportation stipends are available for schools in need.

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Lectures To Go

Lectures To Go are designed to share information with your organizations about their neighborhood art museum. Ideal for breakfast club, P.E.O., and Rotary meetings, an Art Center employee will deliver a lively PowerPoint presentation to your group free of charge! Presentations include a brief history of the Art Center, an overview of our unique museum complex, highlights from the permanent collections, a look at our various programming efforts, and suggestions about how you can get involved.

For more information or to schedule a Lecture To Go, please call 515.271.0328 or email jcooley@desmoinesartcenter.org. Please schedule at least three weeks in advance. Presentations last approximately 45 minutes and are based on staff availability. While presentations are free of charge, donations are gladly accepted.

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Pre School Programs

Pre-School Programs are offered at the main and Downtown branches of the Art Center. Programs include a theme-based 30-minute tour of the galleries and a related 45-minute art activity. Connecting the gallery lesson and the hands-on experience is a very effective strategy in early childhood development, and we are happy to develop programs that support your classroom curriculum. Programs are $4 per participant or $48 minimum fee. Programs are subject to studio availability.

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St. Augustin School

Students attending 7th and 8th grades at a neighboring parochial school take their weekly art classes at the Art Center where they study studio, art appreciation, art criticism, and art history.

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Visiting Artist Projects

Visiting artist Anthony Pontius completed a mural for Hiatt Middle School during the spring term 2006. The mural celebrates the diversity of the student body at this east side school. He worked with members of the student council to develop the idea and to apply under painting before he completed the details.

In addition he worked with youth at Youth Emergency Shelter and Services and conducted weekly art classes for five sessions during the past summer. A mural is in progress at Oakridge Neighborhood and is expected to be dedicated in the fall. The teens worked on the concept which is a celebration of the history of Oakridge.

If you would like to find out how your group or class can participate in any of these programs, please contact the studio programs director at 515.271.0321 or pleonardo@desmoinesartcenter.org or the museum education director at 515.271.0317 at jpihlaja@desmoinesartcenter.org, unless otherwise noted.