Artist Ana Mendieta came to Dubuque in 1961 at age 12 as a refugee from Cuba. She discovered her love of art there, navigating junior high school with limited other means of expression (her English was not yet good). But it was in Iowa City where her signature brand of bloody, violent and boldly feminist artwork was honed. She earned both a BA and an MA in painting as well as an MFA in intermedia at the University of Iowa, studying under Hans Breder, intermedia program founder who passed away last year.
Genevieve Trainor
Genevieve Trainor lives in Iowa City, Iowa. Passions include heavy music, hoppy beer, and hidden rooms.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Five questions with: Marta Renzi
The Iowa International ScreenDance Festival celebrates its third year this weekend, with 125 entries from 25 different countries screening at FilmScene on Saturday and Sunday, April 28 and 29. Part of the 12th annual Iowa Dance Festival (which runs May 11-12), ScreenDance films will also be shown in Mexico City this year, in August.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
‘Saving Brinton,’ ‘Amelia 2.0,’ ‘Morris’ bring top IMPA Awards home to Eastern Iowa
The Iowa Motion Picture Association (IMPA) held its 27th annual awards this weekend, and Eastern Iowa brought home the lion’s share of the state honors. Amelia 2.0, filmed in Cedar Rapids and based on Cedar Rapids playwright Rob Merritt’s The Summerland Project, garnered a directing Excellence award (the festival uses this terminology instead of the […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Rural Route Film Festival’s ‘Very Best Of’ tour rolls into Cedar Rapids
Elkader native Alan Webber is back in Iowa for two presentations of his Rural Route Film Festival — tonight, April 19 at CSPS Hall in Cedar Rapids (tickets are $10) and Sunday, April 22 at Luther College in Decorah, as part of the Oneota Film Festival.
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City of Iowa City Recycling presents screening of ‘The Age of Consequences’ in honor of Earth Day
On Thursday, April 19, City of Iowa City Recycling is taking over meeting rooms A, B and C at the Iowa City Public Library to offer a free screening of 2016 environmental documentary “The Age of Consequences.” Popcorn and treats will be provided, and attendees will be invited to take home a free kitchen compost container. The recycling department makes a point to show several environmental films each year to engage the public, Recycling Coordinator Jane Wilch said in an email.
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Iowa’s Maddie Poppe, performing in CR this summer, advances on ‘American Idol’
On last night’s show, after a duet with Cobie Calliat on that singer’s pop hit “Bubbly,” American Idol announced that Poppe was among the Top 14.
Posted inAlbum Reviews
Album Review: Dizzy Bridges — Speakerphobe on Speakerphone
Hearing a tune like “Variations on a Heartbeat” is a bit like visiting an old friend. It’s the kind of skillfully addictive pop tune that has you singing along by the second listen. But for Dizzy Bridges, the solo project of Iowa City musician SJ Gonzales, that isn’t enough.
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Mission Creek headliner Cakes da Killa pushes back against racism and homophobia on the streets of Iowa City
Brooklyn rapper Cakes da Killa, in town for the Mission Creek Festival, experienced verbal harrassment after his show Thursday night, Afropunk reported. Their story followed a video Cakes da Killa posted on his Instagram around 4 a.m. Friday, showing the artist chasing an unknown individual down Burlington Street.
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A multitude of moving parts: Algiers’ Franklin James Fisher on finding the center in the music
Algiers, the sonically undefinable band from Atlanta rolling into this year’s Mission Creek Festival for a show on Friday, April 6 at 9 p.m. at Gabe’s, tend to get a whole lot of press for their lyrics and their politics.
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Cities of Literature take over Thursday Nights at Hancher
Cities of Literature representatives from around the world arrived in town on April 3 and will be here through April 6. Although the majority of their event is private, the gathering will offer one event to the public.
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Five questions with: Cavan Hallman of Mirrorbox Theatre
The newest addition to the Eastern Iowa theater scene, Mirrorbox Theatre, opens its inaugural production this weekend. The play, Ike Holter’s “Exit Strategy,” runs Thursday, April 5 through Saturday, April 7 in the C Space at CSPS Hall in Cedar Rapids’ NewBo District.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
LitCity tour site launches today
Just in time for Iowa City’s hosting duties for this year’s Annual Meeting of UNESCO Cities of Literature, the Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature organization, in collaboration with the University of Iowa, is launching LitCity, a new website that provides literary tours of Iowa City.
