For Immediate Release
Contact: Amy Day
Tel: 515.271.0344 (o)
515.612.0775 (m)
aday@desmoinesartcenter.org

DES MOINES, IOWA (March 2026) – Art and imagination are leaping off the page at the Des Moines Art Center on Saturday, April 11 from 11 am – 2 pm during “Social Saturday: Plot Twist.”

Stories come to life during storytime with a special guest reader in Levitt Auditorium and CultureALL’s Open Book program, where a community member tells their personal story in a small group setting.

However, if reading aloud isn’t your cup of tea, settle into a book nook set up among the art in the galleries; a perfect place to get lost in a story of your choosing. While you explore the museum, find the Art Cart and spin the “zoetrope” – an animation device that creates the illusion of movement with still drawings.

Interested in putting pen to paper? Open drawing space is available in the Art School studios, so bring your imagination to do some sketching and doodling. You may also try zine-making (think mini comic books) and design a thaumatrope – an optical toy from the 19th century consisting of a spinning paper animation.

Join a tour at 1 pm, guided by a knowledgeable docent who will tell the tales behind the artwork on view.

Be awed by performer Simone Harris as she activates the Art Center as a stilt walker prior to a performance in Levitt Auditorium at 1:30 pm. Here, Harris embodies the persona of Lady Blake Ophelia Stratum in honor of Queen Nanny, a legendary leader of Jamaicans’ historic fight for freedom, which is the inspiration for Christine Rebet’s film “The Fall.” Christine Rebet is the 2026 Toni and Tim Urban Artist-in-Residence and has a solo exhibition of five films entitled Sound of Time on view April 11 through August 23, 2026. After the film, Associate Curator Ashton Cooper will moderate a discussion with Harris and Rebet about their work. Register online at desmoinesartcenter.org.

Take a look, it’s in a book! Browse a curated selection of art books for all ages and interests available in the Museum Shop – and grab a free Social Saturday bookmark while supplies last. Members receive 10% off every day in the Museum Shop and the Art Center Café, so take a break to fuel your appetite and quench your thirst with a delicious lunch or pastry by la mie.

Social Saturday is a free, all-ages event held on the second Saturday of every month with a different theme each month. Follow the Art Center’s social media channels or visit the website for upcoming themes and programming. A complete schedule of events and activities can be found at desmoinesartcenter.org.

Generous support is provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program.

For more information, contact Senior Director of Communications and Marketing Amy Day at 515.271.0344 or aday@desmoinesartcenter.org.

About the Des Moines Art Center
The Des Moines Art Center is a vibrant, AAM-accredited institution located in the capital city of Iowa that welcomes over 300,000 visitors annually from across the country and around the globe. Its historic campus consists of three buildings designed by major architects of the 20th century — Eliel Saarinen, I. M. Pei, and Richard Meier — incorporated into the natural landscape of Greenwood Park. The Art Center is home to one of the strongest collections of 20th and 21st century art in the region, and it hosts a series of ground-breaking exhibitions and lectures each year featuring artists known regionally, nationally, and internationally. The experimental spirit of the art for which the Art Center cares for is reflected in its creative offerings, including a celebrated education program that prioritizes access and collaboration, an art school with studio classes for all ages, and the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park, situated on 4.4 acres in downtown Des Moines. The Art Center is committed to the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion, which are incorporated into every facet of its mission and identity.

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