VIsiting Artist

Since 1948, the Art Center has invited artists to work and teach in the studio programs department. The current program seeks out an artist to teach for a minimum of two years. The visiting artist is responsible for teaching drawing and painting classes to adults and teens in our studios. In addition to the teaching responsibilities in the studio area, the visiting artist is expected to lead projects in the community. The current visiting artist, Tracy Duran, is teaching art to teens in the District Wide Programs/CFI Classroom, Youth Emergency Shelter and Services, students from Merrill, Callanan, and Goodrell middle schools, and students from Des Moines University.

Tracy M. Duran is the visiting artist in drawing and painting for 2007 – 2011. She completed her Master of Fine Arts in painting from California State University, Fullerton. Her Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting was awarded from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She was the recipient of a Graduate Equity Fellowship, California State University, Fullerton, 2006 – 2007. She has exhibited her art work in California, Nevada, and Iowa.

View work by Tracy Duran at Tracy Duran Fine Art.

The visiting artist organizes and teaches the highest possible quality educational activities for the Art Center throughout the 13-week fall and winter/spring terms and a six-week summer term. This includes a maximum of five beginning and advanced courses and series courses for adults and teenagers. The visiting artist also teaches workshops for Art Center students, high school students entering college level art programs, and art educators.
 
In addition, the visiting artist must complete up to 150 hours of work per year with various community partners as an artist/teacher. Additional expectations include presenting PowerPoint lectures to the Art Center community and public. This individual participates as part of a team to plan and implement innovative programs that are appropriate, appealing, interesting, and understandable to people with diverse cultural backgrounds.
 
The visiting artist strengthens ongoing relationships with internal and external audiences in the community to bridge cultural and class divisions. This person plays a role in outreach efforts designed to involve minorities and those challenged by Art Center programming. When the opportunity arises, the visiting artist acts as a liaison between the Art Center and colleges and universities.

Visiting Artist Projects

District Wide Programs/ CFI Classroom
Eighteen youths from District Wide Programs/CFI Classroom, formerly Bridges on Hull/CFI (Children and Families of Iowa) spend two hours each week during the school year at the Art Center. Visiting Artist Tracy Duran teaches studio art as it relates to academic subjects they are studying. In addition, they make regular visits to the museum to discuss works of art with Peggy Leonardo, studio programs director. The program is a collaboration between the
Des Moines Public Schools and the Polk County Juvenile Court system. This program serves students in grades nine through 12 who need short term intensive behavioral and academic support through an integrated community service approach. 

Youth Emergency Shelter and Services
During the year, Duran works with youth and teens at Youth Emergency Shelter and Services (YESS) on a variety of art activities. YESS provides emergency shelter, respite, crisis care, and counseling for children from birth through age 17.

Callanan/Goodrell and Merrill Artists
This after school studio/museum program serves students from the neighboring middle schools. An Art Center course, eight 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.

Des Moines University
In an effort to enhance the medical students’ observational skills, second-year students may elect to take up figure drawing instruction with Duran. This 13-week class meets at the
Art Center during the spring term.   

Women's Correctional Facility
During 2010, participants from the Women’s Correctional Facility, near Broadlawns Hospital, created a mural for the facility with Duran. It celebrates the 12 step program the women follow to overcome substance addictions.

Art Educators of Iowa/Des Moines Art Center Art Camp
This week-long camp, held in early June, 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 collection, discuss the function of art in society, and learn how to prepare an outstanding All-State Art Competition portfolio.