Current
American Art Pottery Collection
Highlighted in the collection are Iowa State Pottery and pottery from other Iowa companies.
Muscatine Art Center
Visitors to the Muscatine Art Center encounter paintings made by artists recognized around the world, fascinating objects connected to Muscatine’s past, beautifully crafted decorative arts, charming period rooms, and a Japanese Garden installed nearly a century ago. Learners of all ages can pique their curiosity through changing exhibitions, classes, and events.
Hours
Tues – Fri: 10am – 4pm
Thurs: 10am - 7pm
Sat & Sun: 1pm – 4pm
Mon: Closed
1314 Mulberry Ave,
Muscatine, IA 52761
Get Directions
Exhibitions
Collections
Events & Classes
The Mansion circa 1910
Since 1965 ...
The Laura Musser Museum, later renamed the Muscatine Art Center, has been an important gathering place for the Muscatine community. Laura Musser McColm’s niece, Mary Musser Gilmore, and Laura’s stepdaughter, Mary Catherine Atkins McWhirter, jointly offered the home to the City of Muscatine and established a trust to aid in the maintenance of the house.
Over generations, Muscatine children have participated in school and youth group programs and studio classes, families have attended cultural events, adults have further developed their artistic skills and deepened their knowledge of local history and art related topics. Since 1976, the Stanley Gallery has displayed countless changing art and history exhibitions. Today, first time visitors and long time friends alike are captivated by the historic home, the collection, and the stories presented in exhibitions.
Collections
Current
Historic Toy Collection
Included in the Toy Collection are games, books, dolls and doll accessories and furniture, stuffed animals, wooden blocks and cars, and metal toys and ride-ons.
Current
Muscatine History Collection
A wide variety of artifacts, ephemera, photographs, and archives makes up the Muscatine History Collection.
Current
Costume Collection
The central pieces in the Costume Collection were owned by the Musser-McColm family.
Current
Mississippi River Collection
The Mississippi River Collection historically and aesthetically documents the cities, towns and communities along the mighty Mississippi from the headwaters to the Gulf of Mexico.
Current
Musser-McColm Family Collection
Furniture, photographs, dresses, paintings, glass, silver, diaries, music boxes, rugs and other decorative arts are among the items left by the Musser-McColm family.
Current
Mary Musser-Gilmore Collection
Mrs. Gilmore was an avid art collector, acquiring works by Edgar Degas, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Vincent van Gogh, Marc Chagall, Camille Pissarro, Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse.
Current
Iowa Regionalist Collection
The Iowa Regionalist collection features works by Grant Wood and his Iowa contemporaries.
Current
Early American Pattern Glass & Art Glass Collection
The glass collection consists of over 3,000 pieces of glass featuring a wide variety of patterns, colors, and forms, including American Art Glass and Early American Pattern Glass.
Events & Classes
Jul
14
Visiting Artist Summer Workshops for Kids- Camping Themed Workshop, July 14-16
Local art teachers, Nancy Foxen and Mary Alice Sessler, join together to lead FREE three-day summer workshops. This fun and imaginative workshop is all about summer camping! Listen to camping stories and imagine you’re in the woods. Make a fun 3D paper campfire complete with s’mores and learn about contrast while making a nighttime flashlight scene. The workshops are intended for kids in grades K-6th. To register call the Muscatine Art Center at 563-263-8282 or email kloos@muscatineiowa.gov.
Aug
1
AUGUST EVENTS
Check flyer below for at-a-glance information on what is happening at the Muscatine Art Center during the month of August. Call us at 563-263-8282 for more information on classes, programming, and to sign up.
Jul
25
Red Barn Studio with Vada Baker - Translucent Watercolor Flowers, July 25
Join us for a fun studio class where you become the artist! Fees are $15 or $13.50 for Friends members, and all supplies are included. Advance registration required. Classes are limited to 15 people. Call 563-263-8282 to reserve your spot.
Jul
28
Visiting Artist Summer Workshops for Kids- Claude Monet Themed Workshop, July 28-30
Local art teachers, Nancy Foxen and Mary Alice Sessler, join together to lead FREE three-day summer workshops. This fun and imaginative workshop is all about Impressionist artist Claude Monet. Create a 3D bridge over a pond like the one in Giverny, France, and a colorful lily pad with flowers and a clay frog. The workshops are intended for kids in grades K-6th. To register call the Muscatine Art Center at 563-263-8282 or email kloos@muscatineiowa.gov.
Aug
9
Visiting Artist Summer Workshop for Kids- Clay Workshop, August 9-11
Join artist and teacher Heather Seibel for a free clay workshop for kids! Heather is an artist and educator for the Pleasant Valley School District. The workshops are intended for kids in grades K through 6th (see class breakdown below). Supplies will be provided. To register call the Muscatine Art Center at 563-263-8282 or email kloos@muscatineiowa.gov.
Aug
29
Red Barn Studio with Vada Baker - Watercolor Clouds with Sky, Birds, and Trees, August 29
Join us for a fun studio class where you become the artist! Fees are $15 or $13.50 for Friends members, and all supplies are included. Advance registration required. Classes are limited to 15 people. Call 563-263-8282 to reserve your spot.
Sep
26
Red Barn Studio with Vada Baker - Watercolor Pencil Sunflowers, September 26
Join us for a fun studio class where you become the artist! Fees are $15 or $13.50 for Friends members, and all supplies are included. Advance registration required. Classes are limited to 15 people. Call 563-263-8282 to reserve your spot.
Aug
22
Ice Cream Social - August 22
The Ice Cream Social is back! Live music, games, crafts, ice cream...and SO much more!
Sep
9
Sculpture Dedication, Step Afrika!, and Business After Hours - September 9
In partnership with the University of Iowa’s Hancher Auditorium, Step Afrika! will perform live at the Muscatine Art Center to celebrate the dedication of the bronze sculpture, Expressive Spirit, in memory of Mary Jo Stanley. Step Afrika! blends percussive dance styles practiced by historically African American fraternities and sororities; traditional African dances; and an array of contemporary dance and art forms into a cohesive, compelling artistic experience. The short performance, which Mary Jo as a lover of dance would have enjoyed, begins after a 4:15 p.m. ribbon cutting. Guests are welcome to bring a blanket or lawn chairs and meet sculptor David Zahn following the performance.
Sep
30
Save the Date: Two Opportunities to Meet "Alterations" Artist, Nancy Judd
Look for details in the next newsletter, here on our website, and on our Facebook page. Tickets will go on sale on August 30, 2021. Ticket sales benefit Friends of the Muscatine Art Center and its mission to bolster educational programs and activities for young learners at the Muscatine Art Center.
Aug
12
Partner Event: LULAC Muscatine: Celebrating Latinx Arts and Culture, August 12
View the "Frida Kahlo: Through the Lens of Nickolas Muray" exhibition, create a craft project inspired by Frida Kahlo and her Mexican heritage, listen to music presented by (DJ) Tiny Tunes, and have dinner from a local taco truck. Free Admission. Details will be posted on LULAC Muscatine’s Facebook page.
Aug
12
Living Proof Exhibit Creative Sessions: Art Journaling with Latoya D Lewis, August 12
Creative Sessions are free and open to cancer survivors, patients, and their support team. Artist Latoya D Lewis will teach this session to be held Thursday, August 12, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Advance registration required through Living Proof Exhibit at https://www.livingproofexhibit.org/creative-sessions.
Sep
9
Living Proof Exhibit Creative Sessions: Scratchboard with Megan Bishop, September 9
Creative Sessions are free and open to cancer survivors, patients, and their support team. Artist Megan Bishop will teach this session to be held Thursday, September 9, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Advance registration required through Living Proof Exhibit at https://www.livingproofexhibit.org/creative-sessions.
Jul
24
Kids' Saturday Workshop - Upcycled Paper Beads, July 24
Join Miss Julie Saturday, July 24 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. to make your own upcycled magazine paper beads you can turn into a necklace or keychain. Bring your own old magazines, or use some of ours! Call 563-263-8282 for more information and to sign up.
Aug
28
Kids' Saturday Workshop - Leaf Pounding, August 28
Join Miss Julie Saturday, August 28 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. to learn about this unique art form and to make a botanical print of your own. Call 563-263-8282 for more information and to sign up.
Sep
18
Kids' Saturday Workshop - Wayne Thiebaud Donuts, September 18
Join Miss Julie Saturday, September 18 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. to celebrate National Cream Filled Donut Day by painting your own colorful donut in the style of Wayne Thiebaud, and enjoy a cream-filled donut while you do! Call 563-263-8282 for more information and to sign up.
Jul
27
Projects to Go - "Take & Makes"
Stop by the Muscatine Art Center during open hours and grab a “Take & Make” kit. Each bag contains a few projects that you can complete at home with just a few additional supplies. These crafts make excellent gifts, and the bags are free to pick up! Available select dates (see below). While supplies last.
Aug
19
Thursday Night Makerspace - Upcycled T-shirt Crafts, August 19
This workshop is all about upcycling old t-shirts. We'll explore a few different ways you can be creative with your old, worn out t-shirts. Advance registration required. Call 563-263-8282 to reserve your spot.
Sep
2
Thursday Night Makerspace - Wooden Welcome Sign, September 2
In this class, participants can design their own "Welcome" sign for their garden or outdoor area. Write a message or paint a picture- whatever is welcoming to you! Some stencils will be available for use or you can bring your own. Advance registration required. Call 563-263-8282 to reserve your spot.
Jul
31
Mini Masters Wednesday Mornings @ 9:30 a.m.
Mini Masters has returned to in-person class on Wednesday mornings at 9:30 a.m. Reservations required. Call 563-263-8282 to register. Go to the Muscatine Art Center Mini Masters Facebook page to watch the weekly videos, and view other content related to tots. Check back with us for updates and other cancellations. These classes are free.
Jul
31
Mini Masters Thursday Afternoons @ 3:30 p.m.
Mini Masters has returned to in-person class on Thursday afternoons at 3:30 p.m. Reservations required. Call 563-263-8282 to register. Go to the Muscatine Art Center Mini Masters Facebook page to watch the weekly videos, and view other content related to tots. Check back with us for updates and other cancellations. These classes are free.
Aug
14
Acrylic Workshop with Kay Flanders, August 14
Saturday, August 14, 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. join local artist Kay Flanders for a workshop using acrylic paints, stencils, and decoupage. Advance registration required. Call 563-263-8282 to sign up.
Sep
16
Booked on Art Kids' Edition Featuring Claudia McGehee, September 16
Booked on Art Kids' Edition will meet Thursday, September 16 from 4:30 to 5:45 in the Muscatine Art Center's Stanley Gallery. Registration required. Call 563-263-8282 or email kloos@muscatineiowa.gov to sign up.
