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 – 5pm
Thurs: 10am - 7pm
Sat & Sun: 1pm – 5pm
Mon: Closed
1314 Mulberry Ave,
Muscatine, IA 52761
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
Oct
2
Free Performance: Mad Creek Mudcats - October 2
Mad Creek Mudcats will perform at the E. Bradford Burns Performing Arts Park (next to the Muscatine Art Center) on Sunday, October 2nd, starting at 3:00 p.m. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets and spread out on the lawn.
Oct
20
Free Event: Ballet Folklorico, Los Cometas Mariachi - October 20
The Muscatine Art Center, LULAC Muscatine, and the Stanley Center for Peace and Security are collaborating to offer an evening of dancing, music, and more!
Oct
15
Free Performance: Soten Taiko Japanese Drumming - October 15
The Muscatine Art Center is excited to announce a free public performance of Japanese Taiko Drums by Japan America Society of Iowa’s Soten Taiko, central Iowa’s only taiko drumming group. The performance will be held Saturday, October 15 from 2:30-3:30 p.m. at the E. Bradford Burns Performing Arts Park, next to the Muscatine Art Center.
Oct
27
Free Performance: Quad City Arts Presents LADAMA - October 27
The Muscatine Art Center is excited to announce a free live performance from LADAMA on October 27 at 3:00 p.m. The performance is in partnership with Quad City Arts Visiting Artist Series.
Jul
1
July-August-September 2022 Quarterly Newsletter
Click below to download the Muscatine Art Center's quarterly newsletter for information on classes, events, workshops and more from July through September. Call us at 563-263-8282 for more information or if you wish to be added to the mailing list.
Sep
1
SEPTEMBER EVENTS
Check flyer below for at-a-glance information on what is happening at the Muscatine Art Center during the month of September. Call us at 563-263-8282 for more information on classes, programming, and to sign up.
Nov
13
Red Barn Studio with Vada Baker - Negative Space Watercolor Fall Trees - November 13
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 for more information. Fees required upon registration.
Oct
16
Red Barn Studio with Vada Baker - Pumpkin Button Mosaic - October 16
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 for more information. Fees required upon registration.
Dec
4
Red Barn Studio with Vada Baker - Pearl Button Christmas Tree Mosaic - December 4
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 for more information. Fees required upon registration.
Oct
1
OCTOBER EVENTS
Check flyer below for at-a-glance information on what is happening at the Muscatine Art Center during the month of October. Call us at 563-263-8282 for more information on classes, programming, and to sign up.
Oct
13
Living Proof Exhibit Creative Session - Suminagashi Ink - October 13
Creative Sessions are free and open to cancer survivors, patients, and their support team. Artist Emily Christenson will lead this session on Thursday, October 13 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Advance registration required through Living Proof Exhibit or by calling the Muscatine Art Center 563-263-8282.
Oct
29
Kids' Saturday Workshop - Dia de los Muertos - October 29
Join Miss Julie Saturday, October 29 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. to learn about the holiday Dia de los Muertos, and create a large paper skeleton. Please register by October 28. Call 563-263-8282 for more information and to sign up.
Nov
12
Kids' Saturday Workshop - Laura Musser Birthday Party - November 12
Join Miss Julie Saturday, November 12 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. to celebrate Laura Musser's birthday. Enjoy a tour of the historic Musser Mansion as well as refreshments and Edwardian crafts. Please register by November 11. Call 563-263-8282 for more information and to sign up.
Sep
24
Kids' Saturday Workshop - Illuminated Letters- September 24
Join Miss Julie Saturday, September 24 to learn more about this ancient art form and to create your own illuminated letter. This free class is open to kids ages 7 to 14 and their families. Please register by September 23. Call the Muscatine Art Center at 563-263-8282 for more information and to sign up.
Oct
6
Mini Masters Wednesday Mornings @ 9:30 a.m.
Mini Masters is a free class that meets Wednesday mornings at 9:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Reservations required. Call 563-263-8282 to register. These classes are free.
Oct
6
Mini Masters Thursday Afternoons @ 3:30 p.m.
Mini Masters is a free class that meets Thursday afternoons at 3:30 p.m. Reservations required. Call 563-263-8282 to register. These classes are free.
Oct
8
For Kids: Wet Felted Pumpkins at Silver Bell Hollow Alpaca Farm- October 8
Join us for a fun-filled afternoon at Silver Bell Hollow Alpaca Farm this October! In this kids workshop, participants will create fuzzy fall pumpkins using a wet felting technique and tour the farm to meet the alpacas! The $25 fee includes materials for one felted pumpkin and an alpaca cookie. Meet at the address bellow. ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED BY SEPTEMBER 30. Call the Muscatine Art Center to register. Fee paid directly to Silver Bell Hollow the day of class.
Oct
23
Book Signing: "What Follows is True: Crescent Hotel" by Sean Fitzgibbon - October 23
Sean Fitzgibbon's artwork for his graphic nonfiction book, "What Follows is True: Crescent Hotel", is on view in the Stanley Gallery now through October 23. Meet author/illustrator Sean Fitzgibbon during the public reception and book signing on Sunday, October 23 from 1:30-3:00 p.m. Following the book signing, view the historical short film, "Norman Baker: The Man in Purple". Visit seanfitzgibbonart.com to learn about Sean and his book.
