The Art Center offers free educational resources for families, individuals, and educators. Explore artist talks, gallery guides, hands-on activities, and more.
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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As Director of Education at the Art Center, I’m delighted Director Jeff Fleming invited me to contribute the opening remarks for this newsletter. The message I’m sharing brings to mind this passage by the celebrated children’s author Philip Pullman, “We...
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Since beginning my service as director of the Art Center, I have taken on a major curatorial project about every other year. But this year is an unusual one for me. In 2018, I am organizing two...
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