Exhibition space and Museum Shop branch
of the Des Moines Art Center

The Des Moines Art Center Downtown is the centerpiece of Wells Fargo Financial’s longtime commitment to the arts in Central Iowa. The Art Center Downtown, a branch of the highly regarded Des Moines Art Center, opened in 2003 when Wells Fargo Financial completed construction of its SkyView building.

In addition to providing the 5,500 square foot gallery space without charge to the Art Center, Wells Fargo Financial provides services and covers some of the museum’s operating costs. Wells Fargo Financial also opens its facilities to groups using the Art Center, including numerous tours by school children who often eat their lunches in the company’s break room.

Besides supporting the gallery, Wells Fargo Financial commissioned a two-story installation, Wall Drawing #601 by American artist Sol Lewitt as a permanent feature of the first floor lobby of SkyView. Wells Fargo Financial secured the right to create a version of the work, originally created in 1989, through an arrangement with the Art Center and Lewitt, who died in 2006.

The work, which has the full title of Wall Drawing #601, Forms Derived from the Cube (25 Variations), portrays 25 shapes in five rows of five on a wall 23 feet by 23 feet. Lewitt created the shapes by taking apart the elements of a cube and re-assembling them in images ranging from stair steps to triangles and trapezoids. Each shape is rendered in primary colors.

Wells Fargo Financial’s commitment to the arts, including the Des Moines Art Center, was a key factor in the selection of Wells Fargo & Company as one of the top 10 U.S. companies honored for support of the arts in 2005. Wells Fargo was named to the BCA TEN: Best Companies Supporting the Arts in America, an award sponsored by the Business Committee for the Arts, Inc. (BCA) and FORBES Magazine.

In addition to exhibitions, the gallery space of 5,500 square feet allows the Art Center to present an extension of the popular Art Center Museum Shop and an array of educational programs and activities.

Current exhibition: Private Universe August 29, 2008 – January 25, 2009

Address
800 Walnut Street, corner of 9th & Walnut Streets
Street level in the Wells Fargo Financial Building
Accessible by the Wells Fargo skywalk

Downtown Information
Patricia Hickson
Gallery Manager/Curator
Tel 515.557.6109
Fax 515.557.6110
phickson@desmoinesartcenter.org

Parking
Parking is available on the street and in the ramp at 9th & Locust Streets.

Rentals
The Art Center on Grand is available for rentals, however the Art Center Downtown is not at this time.

Des Moines Art Center Downtown is a partnership between the Art Center and Wells Fargo Financial, along with private sector contributions which include in-kind services from The Weitz Company.

---