October. Thanks to the flood of modern marketing that assaults our senses, Halloween is pushed with relentless, capitalistic fervor. But sweeping the candy and decoration pitches aside, Halloween is our seasonal excuse to become someone or something else for a day — even a superhero. There is also a notable, noble effort to make the […]
John Busbee
Posted inArts & Entertainment
The Jordan House Museum is home to art, opera, Shakespeare and Iowa history
As we celebrate the arts in this issue, it’s only appropriate to recognize a growing trend in this region. The power of unity can be used in the arts as it is in other facets of positive community growth. As creative community contributors, cultural organizations have a growing responsibility to work smarter to integrate their […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Contact Buzz: What’s in a name? In his, musician DK Imamu Akachi finds, and spreads, empowerment
DeAn Michael Kelly has a vision. A creative one. He’s manifesting it through creativity, healthy choices, music and inclusivity — and it truly is inspirational. His personal evolution is the catalyst for the many projects he develops, as well as the next-generation leaders he encourages. His muse leapt into action, and he adopted “DK” as […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Contact Buzz: The history of the Iowa State Fair’s old, inclusive art show
Shawn Palek doesn’t enter competitions any longer. Lately, he prefers to sponsor shows and competitions for emerging artists, mentoring many. He continues to paint new works, with many murals to his credit. But in the early 2000s, the contemporary visual artist and arts advocate decided to venture into the Iowa State Fair Fine Arts Competition. […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Contact Buzz: Girls Rock! Des Moines gives kids the instruments for confidence
“Music makes us want to live. You don’t know how many times people have told me that they’d been down … But then a special song caught their ear and that helped give them renewed strength. That’s the power music has.” –Mary J. Blige “Everyone looks to an artist for something more than just the […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment, Central Iowa, Central Iowa Arts & Entertainment
Contact Buzz: Who needs a gallery? Art Week Des Moines is back to bring art to the streets
A cultural movement flourishes in Central Iowa. Its symbiotic nature unites creatives, communities and cultures, and it continues to grow. Art Week Des Moines (AWDM) invites the region to engage, interact and otherwise make their shared neighborhoods shimmer with the vibrant proof of the creativity that thrives and drives its residents. This may be a […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Contact Buzz: Momentum Studio gives artists with disabilities space to create, relax and heal
Momentum. The impetus gained by a moving object. Kelsey Kleinow does not lead a static life — she lives the life of the art studio she runs: Momentum. Her life and her mission are on the move. She and the community she serves intersect in the creative epicenter of Mainframe Studios in downtown Des Moines. […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Des Moines’ Mary Kline-Misol offers a meditation on the Earth
“How is it possible that the most intellectual creature to ever walk the planet Earth is destroying its only home?” —Dame Jane Morris Goodall, primatologist and anthropologist The arts often provide songs of the soul, expressions of inner muses. Visceral responses become the first dominos in a reactionary chain triggered by the intersections of artist […]
