The Art Center offers free educational resources for families, individuals, and educators. Explore artist talks, gallery guides, hands-on activities, and more.
It is hard to believe it’s been ten years since the Art Center and the City of Des Moines opened the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park in the Western Gateway. Since its opening, we have...
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When Mary Ellen first heard about the My Museum Monday program, she was eager to participate and came up with a plethora of ideas. As an artist herself, she wanted to use this opportunity to bring her imagination to life, and that’s exactly what she did. Having always been drawn to the dark and lonely themes present in Edward Hopper’s work, she dressed up as the woman in Automat (1927), on display at the Art Center.
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David J. Getsy, Professor of Art History at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, discusses the ways in which some queer artists have addressed the problem of representation by pursuing abstraction.
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For Des Moines Art Center member Kristie Bell, cross stitching is “very soothing and serves as a way to quiet [her] mind.” Naturally, when asked how she would spend three hours alone in the museum, she wanted to cross stitch a replica of a famous work on display.
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Since its founding, the Des Moines Art Center has acquired artworks by many African-American artists to ensure an inclusive and diverse permanent collection. For example, the Art Center’s forerunner, the Des Moines Association of Fine...
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In her talk, Feldman will discuss the dramatic potential of wonder and empathy in today's turbulent world.
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Rondeau will share his insights on the Art Institute's efforts to becoming a more equitable museum, what it has accomplished thus far, and the immense challenges lie ahead.
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This lecture by Ezra Shales, author of the recent book The Shape of Craft, will offer compelling ideas that seek to expand thought around the commonly accepted definition of craft.
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Ferris' lecture poses complicated questions that both artists and the museum field are grappling with: What are art museums' responsibilities in this fraught moment in history?
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There is perhaps no better time to announce new commitments and resolutions than the beginning of a new year. Thus, I am thrilled to announce the Art Center’s new positioning statement — the why we do what...
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