The Electronic Crime Institute at DMACC is hosting this Cyber Crime Awareness Conference at the DMACC campus. Topics include children's online safety, cyber stalking & identity theft. There is no cost to attend. Please register in advance or at the conference. Lunch will be provided!

The Rebuilding Haiti Committee will be holding a 5K run/walk on March 27, 2010 at Gray's Lake Park in downtown Des Moines, IA to raise money that will be given to the non profit organization Mission to Haiti to further their efforts to help the Haitian people during this time of need. Rebuild Haiti 5K Run/Walk • 10:00 am start • $20 to run or walk (includes a Rebuild Haiti 5K Run/Walk shirt) • Please run or walk and watch as we come together to make a difference in the country of Haiti in this time of need. Register Here: http://web.me.com/rebuildhaiti5k/RunWalk/Register_to_Race.html www.missiontohaiti.org You may also sign up at the event!

'Maintenance for a Healthy Home' will provide information on how to improve your home's energy efficiency and create a healthier, more comfortable living environment by learning sustainable ways to accomplish home maintenance projects. Scheduling regular maintenance needs, addressing repairs, choosing products and prioritizing projects are just a few of the topics covered that can contribute to measurable improvements in a home's performance. Instructor: Jacob Kvinlaug, Kvinlaug Design & Construction. This COSC 'Re-Building a Sustainable Iowa ' program workshop is FREE with funding support provided by IDED and HUD.

Join us for a special train ride across our 156' tall Bass Point Creek High Bridge & through the Des Moines River Valley. Kids will receive a special treat from the Easter Bunny himself! Make reservations by visiting our website or calling the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad's reservation desk: 1-800-626-0319. Seating is limited. Order early to avoid disappointment! Boarding begins at noon, with the train departing at 12:30 p.m. sharp! Plan to arrive at the depot one hour early. This will allow you time to find a parking space & pick up your tickets. The train cannot be held for late arrivals. All sales are final - no refunds or exchanges. Train operates rain or shine.

March 27, 2 p.m. — I Remember the WAC, a talk on the Women’s Army Corps at Fort Des Moines and how the group affected the area.

All programs are hosted at the museum, 75 E. Army Post Road. For more information, call 282-8060 or go online to www.fortdesmoines.org.

Join Churchill (played by Andrew Edlin) as he reviews his uniquely eventful career, filled with history changing events and people, glorious speeches, pithy comments, funny stories, and all the wit and wisdom that made him grow beyond greatness into an imperishable legend.

Help Save Lives by donating Blood TODAY! Southridge Mall is hosting a blood drive with the Blood Center of Iowa today in the North parking lot from 8am until 12pm. We appreciate your time and hope to see you there. If you have any questions please call 515-309-4855.

Flea Market will be near JC Penneys. The Craft Show will be throughout the mall.

If you would like to participate in the craft show, please contact Jack Allen at (515) 280-1691.

Ready to improve your home's energy efficiency? 'Consumer Intro To Quality Heating & Cooling Installations' will teach you how to save money, maintain efficient HAVC systems, improve indoor air quality and make informed decisions when purchasing a new system.Presented by Silas Hoeppner, Cenergy. This COSC 'Re-Building a Sustainable Iowa' program workshop is free with funding support provided by IDED and HUD.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS to join Salsa Des Moines once again at the Des Moines Embassy Club on Saturday, MARCH 27th for another unforgetable evening of dancing to salsa, bachata, chacha, and merengue. This month features the music mixing wizardry of LATIN RHYTHMZ and DJ Sergio Correa. DJ Sergio has mixed for some of the largest and most popular salsa music and dance events in and around Des Moines for many years. Dance to DJ Sergio's vast collection of the newest and coolest contemporary as well as classic salsa/mambo hits, bachata, chacha, and merengue mixes. Don't miss out on this great and fun evening. We look forward to seeing you and sharing another great evening of dancing and music at one of the best venues in the Midwest. Luisito & Melanie Artistic Directors Salsa Des Moines EVENT INFORMATION GUIDE LOCATION: Des Moines Embassy Club (34th Floor) 666 Grand Ave (The Ruan Center Building) Entrance on 7th Street (between Grand Avenue and Locust Street) Des Moines, Iowa 50309 DATE: SATURDAY, March 27, 2010 TIME: 9 pm - Free salsa dance class by Salsa Des Moines 10 pm - Music mix by DJ SERGIO of LATIN RHYTHMZ DRESS CODE: Dress to IMPRESS and Look your BEST means NO jeans, NO t-shirts, NO sneakers SERVICES: Cash Bar (will require ID for alcoholic beverages)

How can you help the ballet & indulge your love of chocolate & shopping? Plan to spend the afternoon of Saturday, March 27, at West Glen Town Center for a day of fun you just can’t match. You & your friends can taste delectable chocolate desserts & drinks as you spend the afternoon shopping the unique stores. Be prepared, there will be more chocolate than you can eat. But that’s ok, because we’ll give you a “to-go box” for all your goodies! And with Easter & Mother’s Day just around the corner you’ll have prime motivation to shop! A Chocolate Affair is Ballet Des Moines’ social fundraising event of the year. For just $25 you’ll be able to taste more amazing chocolate than you thought you could stand, while you enjoy the beautiful shops at West Glen. Last year we had everything from chocolate cupcakes to make-your-own s’mores, from chocolate martinis to chocolate wine! Yum!

1st show since November!

Enjoy a champagne reception and bid during the silent auction, then enjoy a five-course dinner prepared by local chefs paired with wine. Afterwards, shake your groove thang to the Final Mix Band. Black tie or '70s disco attire is encouraged. Prizes will be awarded to the best costume and dancers.

Canstruction, a charity committed to ending hunger, is making a significant contribution to the fight against hunger across Iowa. Canstruction's 14th annual Central Iowa competition will be held at the Science Center of Iowa on March 27 and on display throug April 4. This event is hosted by the American Institute of Architects, Iowa Chapter. Eleven teams of local architects, design professionals, engineers and students from area schools will design a build sculptures using canned food as their primary building material. Awards will be given by a variety of local celebrities. The public is encouraged to visit the displays and bring a canned food donation. Receive $1 off the price of admission with a 3 can donation. All proceeds benefit the Food Bank of Iowa.

Calling All Kids - Join us for a FREE easter egg hunt in the Bass Pro Shop store in Altoona! Just check in at the table in the lobby & off you go on the hunt. Each egg has a special prize inside!

DAYS/TIMES:

Saturday, March 27: 2pm-3pm

Sunday, March 28: 2pm-3pm

Saturday, April 3:  2pm-3pm

Sunday, April 4: 2pm-3pm

While supplies last...limit of 5 eggs per child.

Bass Pro Shops, in partnership with Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa, wishes to invite you to a Summer Camp Fair! Camps from around Iowa will be present at the fair with information & registration materials to help you find a great summer program for your kids! Contact Jacci Rivard at Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa for more information at (515) 278-2881 or jrivard@gsiowa.org.

What’s the big deal about tiny science? Join SCI and museums across the country in exploring science, engineering and technology one-billionth of a meter small during Nano Days, March 27-April 4. We’ll gave special car demonstrations all around SCI to get hands-on with amazing nanoscale science!

The Drake University Malaysian Students Association will host this cultural event with food & entertainment. All proceeds will be contributed to UNICEF. For more information: email joshan.sharmugam@drake.edu or 515-661-1358.

Join us for Iowa’s Fifth Annual Natural Living Expo.We are the first Iowa expo to showcase natural, healthy and green living. We are enthusiastic about connecting the Community!

For further information:  www.naturallylivingexpo.org.

COSC's "Green Speaker Series" schedule:Maintenance for a Healthy Home

Saturday, March 27 at 11:00am

Green building expert Jacob Kvinlaug of Jacob Kvinlaug Design & Construction teaches sustainable approaches to home maintenance projects that can lead to a more affordable and healthier living environment.



Consumer Intro to Quality Heating & Cooling Installation

Saturday, March 27 at 1:00pm

Cenergy is the leading energy expert in the state and conducts this informative workshop on how to save money, maintain efficient heating, cooling and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, improve indoor air quality and make informed decisions when installing a new system.



How to Choose a Contractor

Saturday, March 27 at 3:00pm

Learn how to ask key questions, gauge expertise and find resources to help determine the right sustainable building contractor for your project. This session is led by green building expert Jacob Kvinlaug of Jacob Kvinlaug Design & Construction and Linda Schemmel, architect and member of COSC's Builder Advisory Council.



Existing Home Assessment: Prioritizing Rehab Projects

Sunday, March 28 at 1:00pm

Taught by Dave and Julia Fish of FISHAUS Craftsman Builders, this workshop provides insightful information on evaluating a home as an integrated system. Discover your home's green potential and establish priorities.



Sustainability at Iowa Campuses and Beyond

Sunday, March 28 at 2:00pm

Students and directors who are making a difference on campuses across the state join COSC's Executive Director Lynnae Hentzen to discuss visions for a sustainable Iowa and how Iowa can support ambitions beyond the academic experience.

There are some ladies we love in our fair city, and there are some places we love, too. Snuggle up in the black box theatre (and the adjacent bar!) of Des Moines’ hottest spot for a cabaret show where the men shine alongside jazz artist Amber Duimstra, sweet soprano Emily Chafa, and musical theatre diva, Gina Gedler. Gilbert & Sullivan, Stephen Sondheim, and Rodgers & Hammerstein mix with Carole King and Shakespeare (yes!) in a tasty blend served up by the DMGMC.

Wildlife Conservation Series: Blank Park Zoo is excited to announce two conservation events in 2010! The evening events will feature guest speakers from the International Elephant Foundation and the African Predator Conservation Research Organization. We will learn how these organizations are working to save amazing creatures, and, as all proceeds go directly to each organization, do our part to ensure the future of their work. An Evening for Elephants - March 27, 2010 An Evening for African Predators - September 11, 2010 5:30 - 6:30 PM Social Hour and Discovery Center Viewing 6:30 PM Dinner Presentation and auction following dinner Location: Blank Park Zoo Discovery Center Space is limited and reservations are required. To reserve your seat at these events, please call 515-974-2588 or register online by clicking here. Reserve your seat today for both evenings and receive a discount! Tickets: $30-single event or $50-both events $180-table of 8 for single event or $300-table of 8 for both events Student discount: (with valid student ID) $20-single event or $30-both events

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) continues to be the premiere local music showcase for Iowa bands. 

This year's line up includes:

JEL Stage

6:15 – So Much Fun

7:15 – Hanwell

8:00 – Dustin Smith

8:45 – Druids

9:30 – Ely Falls

10:15 – Why Make Clocks



Toyota/Scion Stage

6:00 – The Seed of Something

7:00 – Christopher the Conquered

7:45 – Canby

8:30 – Superchief

9:15 – Classic in the Making

10:00 – Cashes Rivers

11:00 – Maxilla Blue

11:45 – Flatform 

 The GDP is moving to a new location this year to All Play (615 3rd Street) featuring two stages and 10-15 bands in the rock, indie, hip-hop, punk, pop, and electronic genres.

Tickets will be available soon through www.Midwestix.com.

The Friends of the Des Moines Botanical Center have rounded up some of the area's most highly regarded plant & growing experts for this year's Learn on Saturdays Garden Talks. The program continues through March 27. Each week a visiting expert will tackle a different topic. Most sessions feature two topics, each by a different presenter. The sessions are free with the center's regular entry fee of $5 for adults & $4 for seniors. Center members, volunteers & badge-wearing master gardeners do not have to pay. For more information go to www.botanicalcenter.com or call (515) 323-6290. 

Hybridizing Lilies by Sue Williams, 10 a.m., March 27; 11 a.m. Simplify Your Garden by Marcia Leeper.

Did you know that 50% of the pollution in our lakes and rivers is washed in by storm water? One way to slow down storm water runoff is to install a rain barrel. A short discussion about ways to collect and use runoff water will be held before participants construct their own rain barrel. All materials and tools will be provided. Make sure you are able to transport your 55-gallon barrel back to your home after the workshop. Pre-registration required; deadline is March 19. Fee: $45.

Coming off the most successful year in the franchise’s illustrious history, the iconic Harlem Globetrotters are primed to showcase their eye-popping 2010 “Magical Memories” World Tour in Des Moines with the wholesome family entertainment known worldwide for thrilling fans young and old and making cherished family memories.



Now in their 84th consecutive season of touring the world, the Globetrotters’ high-flying show features some of the most extraordinary athletes and entertainers on the planet – including Big Easy Lofton and Flight Time Lang, who recently starred in the Emmy Award-winning CBS reality hit, “The Amazing Race;” the always hilarious Special K Daley; dribbling magician Scooter Christensen; and ball handling wizards Handles Franklin and Ant Atkinson.

RHAPSODY & FIREBIRD-Masterworks 5 RHAPSODY & FIREBIRD MUSIC that...SOARS Joseph Giunta, conducting Christopher O'Riley, piano BERNSTEIN Overture to Candide GERSHWIN Concerto in F GERSHWIN Rhapsody in Blue STRAVINSKY The Firebird

Follow the amazing & brave journeys of three of Eric Carle’s most beloved stories retold on stage. Watch THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR’S metamorphosis into a beautiful butterfly, the fanciful account of LITTLE CLOUD’S travels through the sky & THE MIXED-UP CHAMELEON’S discovery of his own unique nature. Stories come to life using black-light & larger-than-life puppets. From Nova Scotia, Canada, Mermaid Theatre's unique adaptations of children's literature have delighted more than four million young audience members. For further information: www.civiccenter.org.

Contact Info: Mike Trier (515) 201-5526.

Enjoy a three-course dinner under a Moroccan-style tent featuring a Moroccan Date and Orange Salad, Couscous Royale with chicken and a variety of vegetables seasoned to your taste with Harissa Paste, and an array of delicate Moroccan desserts. Each course will be paired with select Tassel Ridge wines. Last year’s event was a huge hit! Call the Winery at 641.672.9463 to make advance reservations, required by Wednesday, March 24.

Independent Films for Independent Minds. Each day features 10 unique short films. All films were selected with an adult audience in mind. For a list of cities/films plus further information, please go to www.blackmariafilmfestival.org.

A world with less cancer is a world with more birthdays. That’s the theme of the American Cancer Society’s 2010 Relay for Life. Relay is a 12-hour walk to raise cancer awareness. It will be held in the Fieldhouse from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. A team for Relay consists of eight - 15 people & registration is quick & simple. To register a team, go to relayforlife.org/drakeuniversity. Registration is open up until the event and the fee is $150 per team.

The Prairie Tractor Pulling Association is hosting their 6th annual Spring Shoot out bringing in pullers from 10 different states. Some classes available are stock garden tractors, motorcycle, snowmobile & 4 cylinder car engine minirods. Shirts, caps & videos will be for sale both days. Contact Info: Ken Long at (319) 454-6397 or nightmarepulling@hotmail.com.

 

Please join us for a memorable musical puppet production by an award winning puppet troupe. This troupe has 50+ members ranging in age from 12 - 50+.

The book sale, run by nearly 600 volunteers, is known to be one of the largest charity book sales in the nation. Held semi-annually in the 4-H Building on the Iowa State Fairgrounds, the sale attracts thousands of book lovers/bargain hunters from around the state, across the U.S. & even around the world. For further information:  www.ppheartland.org.

Basil Prosperi Restaurant in the skywalk at 801 Grand will provide the setting for 8 different Italian cooking classes conducted by Alessandra Meschini, a native of Italy who now lives in the metro area. The classes are: March 25: Ravioli April 8: Pasta sauces (carbonara, primavera & three-cheese) April 15: Calzoni April 22: Eggplant Parmigiana April 29: Green lasagna May 6: Three sweet tiramisus May 13: Fettuccini with a rib ragu May 20: Antipasti All classes begin at 6:30pm & are limited to 20 participants. Class cost $30 per person. For more information: 401-7005 or www.cookingwithalessandra.com.

Dance competition hosted by a friendly & professional staff - no one goes home empty-handed, regardless of age or ability.

For more information:  www.talentonparade.com.

Performing at The House of Bricks: Thurs. Mar. 25: KYSER (CD Release Event), GUERILLA HUSTLE, RJ COLLIER, HOOD FAM ENT - 7pm - Ages 21+ - $5 - Hip Hop/Rap Fri. Mar. 26: THE CHATTY CATHYS, THE SEED OF SOMETHING, LESBIAN POETRY, TBA - 5pm- All Ages - $5 - Rock Fri. Mar. 26: KYSER, REXX, GUERILLA HUSTLE - 9:30pm - $5 - Rock Sat. Mar. 27: INDEX CASE, MINDRITE, SILENCE IS BROKEN - 5pm - All Ages - $10 - Rock; Advance tickets at www.iowatix.com Sat. Mar. 27: DEAD LARRY, CIRRUS MINOR, ELF LETTUCE - 9:30pm - Jam/Rock Sun. Mar. 28: JOAN RED, ECHOVALVE, THE KNOBS, STILLCHYLD - 5pm - All Ages - $7 - Rock

Join Blue Moon Dueling Piano Bar and Restaurant for drinks, excitement and musical entertainment by Wiz, Brad Heron and Jeremie Malotke. These performers will keep you captivated and on your feet all night long! Enjoy $5 martinis, $5 glasses of wine, $5 Crown drinks, $3 Captain drinks and NO COVER!

Thousands of used books, home school material, DVDs, CDs, Videos, Craft/Cooking magazines/games and puzzles and much much more! Recession friendly prices.

The Easter Bunny will be at Merle Hay Mall to visit with boys & girls.

Come visit the Easter Bunny and get your photo's taken at Southridge Mall.

Challenge your intellect...
Challenge your friends...
Expand your mind! It's all about the team!
With $5 pitchers and mixed drink specials all night! For further information: www.desmoinessocialclub.org.

Get your geek on at Blue Moon during Pub Trivia! Gather your friends & enjoy 7 rounds of trivia, great prizes & awesome drink specials from 8 -10 p.m. every Tuesday through April 27th! Can DJ Cubbie & the geeks at Select Entertainment stump you? All night enjoy $2.50 draws, $3 bottles, $4 bombs and $3 Captains - but please, save some brain cells for the trivia! And if you work up an appetite, we're offering hot gooey, 12-inch pizzas for only 6 bucks!

The Easter Bunny will be in Center Court to visit with boys & girls. Ride the Bunnyland Express train for only $1! Bunny’s hours are Monday-Saturday 10am - 8pm & Sunday 11am - 6pm. Valley West Mall will be closed Easter Sunday.

Cheer on Iowa's Best Singers! Vocal Hero is a $10,000 singing competition with a $5,000 grand prize. Tuesdays through April 20, Finish Line Show Lounge @ Prairie Meadows. All contestants must have previously qualified to participate. For more information: www.prairiemeadows.com.

Featuring a variety of works created by 15 students in Drake's Art and Design Department, the exhibit will run through Sunday, March 28. This year, 79 works were submitted for consideration. Jill Featherstone, museum education director of the Des Moines Art Center, selected 23 for the exhibition. Matt Selsor, exhibit curator and director of the Anderson Gallery, and the Art and Design Department faculty selected a final work for inclusion as the winner of the Provost's Purchase Prize. "I looked for works that demonstrated a competency in execution while retaining an emotional impact," Featherstone said. "I also wanted to recognize works in every program represented by Drake's Department of Art and Design." The exhibit will showcase art by the following students: •Hannah Boom, a senior graphic design, magazines and art history major from Manchester, Iowa •John Cannon, a senior graphic design major from Eldridge, Iowa •Jennifer Cerna, a sophomore psychology major from Milford, Kan. •Andrew De Broux, a senior graphic design major from Windsor Heights, Iowa •Amanda Rae Bruns, a senior drawing major from Newton, Iowa •Alexandra Doffing, a senior advertising and graphic design major from Hastings, Minn. •Meredith Gallivan, a senior graphic design major from Byfield, Mass. •Hannah Hoffman, a junior graphic design and international business major from Whitefish Bay, Wis. •Tatiana Klusak, a junior advertising and graphic design major from Tiverton, R.I. •Olivia Lansing, a senior graphic design major from Delwood, Minn. •Trisha Lightfoot, a senior advertising and graphic design major from Shenandoah, Iowa •Ashley Machacek, a senior painting major from Arvada, Colo. •Ashley Pettit, a senior drawing and graphic design major from Fort Benton, Mont. •Haley Tatom, a sophomore painting and psychology major from Anchorage, Ala. •Sandra Tomer, a senior graphic design major from Ames, Iowa The Anderson Gallery is open from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. For more information about the exhibit, contact Matt Selsor at 515-271-1994 or matt.selsor@drake.edu. Search Archive Title and ContentTitleContent Go Go to ArchiveLatest News 03/09/2010 Education dinner to honor five outstanding educators 03/04/2010 Drake series to feature leterpress demonstration 03/03/2010 Drake signs exclusive agreement with Licensing Resource Group 03/03/2010 Greater Des Moines recognized as Track Central USA 03/02/2010 Drake pharmacy professor presented with leadership award 03/02/2010 Grad students help launch literacy program at Polk County Jail 03/02/2010 Student-athletes named to the Pioneer Football League Academic Honor Roll 03/02/2010 Professor LouAnn Simpson named university marshal 03/01/2010 Drake Students in Free Enterprise to host 'Brand Yourself' workshop 03/01/2010 Human-rights advocate to give Drake lecture on Survivorship Stories of War

The Gallery Show of Timothy Florer will be on display during the month of March at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 1115 Grand Avenue in West Des Moines, Room 113 in the east lobby, as part of its Fine Arts Program. The display is open to the public during office hours and during worship services, Saturdays, 5:30-6:30 p.m. and Sundays, 8:30 a.m. – noon. His medium is black and white photography; on display will be works from his first two books: Rural Iowa Ruins and Against The Current. Tim began a serious endeavor into fine art black-and-white photography in 2000. Since 1974, Tim sold life insurance and annuities in rural Iowa and in his travels, he witnessed the decline of rural structures and small towns. He felt the need to capture images of these structures before they became extinct. This mission evolved in 2002 into Tim’s first book, Rural Iowa Ruins. Using the same format, Tim’s second book, Against the Current, was published in 2003; a photographic study of the Upper Mississippi Valley. Tim has had solo shows on the west coast and Midwest, and his works are on display at major corporations and museums. He has been the featured photographer in The Iowa magazine 2005 calendar. He is also the co-founder and director of the 4-H Camera Corps.

The Great Frame Up is hosting a special fundraising exhibit for HOPE International thru March 31st to help rebuild Haiti after the devastating earthquake. Talented local artists have joined with The Great Frame Up to create a special art exhibit to benefit Haiti. Proceeds from the sale of the originals in the collection will go directly to HOPE International for Haiti and a local charity. This is a wonderful art exhibit with proceeds benefiting Haiti. Local artists featured who have donated their artwork for the event include Jill Wells of Indianola, Bill Gordon of Clive, Jane Robinette of Urbandale and many others.

Robyn O'Neil: The World Has Won. A Final Bow Was Taken is a survey exhibition devoted to the Omaha-born, Houston-based artist's work.

First Steps Dance classes are designed to introduce children to the fundamental skills of dance at a cost and time commitment that is minimal to parents. All classes are led by Jennifer McCullough, an instructor who has taught dance for over 12 years. Let your child learn basic dance movements in a non-threatening, recreational environment! Beginning Tap Class NEW! Bring in the Noise!!! Students are introduced to the fundamentals of tap and the foundation of rhythm. The focus is on basic technique and terminology. Students develop body awareness and the ability to express themselves through movement. The program fee covers all 6 weeks of instruction and a long-sleeve t-shirt. Basic children’s tap shoes are available for purchase at The Theatrical Shop in Valley Junction, Mark’s Dancewear in Johnston, or on-line through many retailers. Date(s): Mondays, February 22-April 5 (no class on March 15) Time(s): 6-6:30pm Program #: 10761 Time(s): 6:45-7:15pm Program #: 10762 Location: Raccoon River Park Nature Lodge Ages: 4-6 Fee: $30 PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED!

Olson-Larsen Galleries will host an opening reception for a group show of artwork by Blair Benz, Karen Chesterman, Mary Koenen Clausen, Peter Feldstein, and Jeanine Coupe Ryding. This event is free and open to the public. The exhibition will be on display through April 3. Butterflies, moths and flowers populate the intricate charcoals of Blair Benz. Benz achieves impossible depth and richness in his small still lifes, which sometimes include landscape elements. His work has been shown in the Gallery of Art in Eugene, Oregon, the Iowa Artists Exhibit at the Des Moines Art Center, and the Midlands Invitational 2000 at the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha. Karen Chesterman’s recent oil paintings feature hints of unreadable script, Asian symbols and geometric elements. These components both contrast with and complement their backgrounds—the rich, vibrant color fields Karen creates using layers of thin oil paint. Karen’s works hang in Midwestern galleries, private collections, and institutional collections in banks, hospitals, and corporate offices, including those of American Republic Insurance and Kirke Financial Services in Des Moines. Mary Koenen Clausen’s collages are complex and contemplative. Figures composed of mismatched heads and bodies float among animals, icons, musical notes, and foreign texts on backgrounds of thickly layered paint. She was part of the Iowa Artists show at the Des Moines Art Center in 1991 and has been in group shows in Kansas City, Boston, and New York as well as at the Davenport Art Museum and Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill. The most recent series of Peter Feldstein’s inkjet prints feature layers of abstract shapes that appear to be moving and morphing into new configurations. Peter writes that his images “provide an anchor for reflection upon, and hopefully understanding of, my place in my macro community.” Peter’s work has been exhibited at The Center for Creative Photography in Tuscon, the Walker Art Center and the Rhode Island School of Design. In Jeanine Coupe Ryding’s woodcuts, layers of colors, patterns, and shapes are arranged into rhythmic compositions. Her most recent series emphasizes natural imagery such as vines, flower blossoms and leaves. Her prints are in the collections of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Des Moines Art Center, New York Public Library, Amoco Corporation, Marshall Fields Company, and Hallmark, Inc. All exhibition works can be viewed at www.olsonlarsen.com on the EXHIBITS page.

Center’s Dome will be filled with brightly colored bulbs, including tulips, daffodils, alliums, hyacinths and a variety of unusual bulbs, February 15-March 31. The garden design is inspired by There was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe and will include a giant shoe, porch swing and children’s toys. Easter lilies will be incorporated for the holiday and children can visit with the Easter Bunny and live animals including bunnies, chicks and ducklings on March 20. Visitors to the Des Moines Botanical & Environmental Center in 2010 will be welcomed with a new horticultural and educational experience as the gardens transform throughout the year, all inspired by popular children’s stories, including Dr. Seuss, Charlie Brown and Eric Carle books. “Story Time in the Gardens” includes seven plant bed changes in the Dome – many bringing the stories alive with life-size props – educational activities, theme-related gift shop items, Riverwalk Café menu choices and special events, all inspired by children’s books. The theme continues into the Show House, with four unique, seasonal designs, and outside to the Herb Garden which is open May through September. Please visit the Des Moines Botanical & Environmental Center throughout the year to see each new garden. The Des Moines Botanical & Environmental Center is a family-friendly environment with plenty of free parking and wheel chair accessible. The Des Moines Botanical & Environmental Center is open daily, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Des Moines Botanical & Environmental Center is one of the most popular cultural attractions in Iowa, providing educational, recreational, and community resources to thousands. More than 150,000 visitors visit the Des Moines Botanical & Environmental Center to see over 200 different kinds of tropical and household plants in the Dome. The Des Moines Botanical & Environmental Center is operated by Des Moines Water Works.

Schedule too busy for a 13 week course? Come try our new and exciting mini courses. A wide variety of materials are used in each course to create one complete work of art. The possibilities are endless! Each course meets for TWO Saturday sessions. Ages 6-8 and 9-12 African Masks - February 13 and 20 Gnome Homes and Fairy Houses - February 27 and March 6 Papier Mache Animals - March 27 and April 3 Impressionistic Landscapes - April 10 and 17 Puppet-Making - April 24 and May 1

“The Dolls of Japan: Shapes of Prayer, Embodiments of Love is sponsored by The Japan Foundation. Japanese dolls reflect the customs of Japan and the aspirations of its people, possess distinctive regional attributes, and over the centuries have developed in many diverse forms. Dolls also provide a showcase for traditional Japanese craft products, such as textiles. In “The Dolls of Japan,” dolls are grouped according to particular events in the Japanese calendar, their method of manufacture, their design and regional characteristics. Included are Japan’s representative dolls, including Hina ningyo (Girls’ Festival dolls) and Gogatsu ningyo (Boys’ Day dolls), which have their origins in ancient customs; dolls connected to traditional performing arts like noh, bunraku and kabuki; regional dolls from throughout the country; and “creative dolls” produced by contemporary craftspeople.

The exhibit traces the history of ACT, Inc. – originally known as American College Testing Program – to a meeting of co-founders E.F. Lindquist, a University of Iowa professor and national expert in educational measurement; Ted McCarrel, UI Director of Admissions and Registrar; and 16 state representatives who met in Iowa’s Old Capitol on the University of Iowa campus on Aug. 21, 1959. That event founded the American College Testing Program, now known as ACT, Inc. The display includes a timeline of major events in ACT history and artifacts from ACT’s past including test documents and components from early test scoring machines. Visitors can also view an audio-video display with recordings from early leaders describing how the organization evolved.