Events and Classes Calendar
Kid Classes
Adult Classes
Events
Mini Masters Thursday Afternoons @ 3:30 p.m.
Mini Masters is a free class that meets Thursday afternoons at 3:30 - 4:15 p.m. Reservations required. Call 563-263-8282 to register. These classes are free. See below for updated calendar.
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!
Footliters Traveling Playhouse Final Performance at Muscatine High School Auditorium - July 18 DOORS OPEN AT 6 PM!
The Muscatine community is invited to a free performance of The School for Spies, an original musical featuring local talent. From July 14 through July 18, area kids ages 7 to 18, auditioned, rehearsed, and will perform the musical alongside three professional teaching artists. The School for Spies is a brand-new production with a script from Katie Colletta and original music by Jason Sifford. The theater camp was organized by the Footliters Traveling Playhouse, part of the Coralville Center for Performing Arts. The camp was offered at no cost, thanks to the support of Quad City Arts, through the Arts Dollars re-granting program, supported by the Illinois Arts Council Agency, a state agency, The Hubbel-Waterman Foundation, and the Quad Cities Community Foundation - Isabel Bloom Art Education Endowment.
Bilingual Mini Masters Fourth Tuesdays July 22 at 10:30 a.m.
The new Bilingual Mini Masters is a free class in partnership with the Diversity Service Center of Iowa to provide Spanish language translations. The classes will be offered the fourth Tuesday of the month at 10:30 a.m. These sessions mirror the original Mini Masters classes with a storybook reading and art projects, but will provide the story and all instructions in both English and Spanish. These classes are free, but reservations required by calling 563-263-8282.
Talking About Art: Learning to Look - Saturdays, July 26, August 30, and September 27
Join artist Carol J. Anthony for this salon-inspired gathering. Through guided discussion, explore original works of art and strengthen your abilities to analyze and decipher art and the intent of the maker. This workshop will offer peer support to learn to look and discuss components of the artistic process. Beginning and established artists interested in developing constructive critique skills, as well as general art lovers, are invited to participate. No prior experience is necessary. Each session will begin by spotlighting a few works in the Muscatine Art Center’s permanent collection. Artists are encouraged to bring in a completed work of art or a work in progress for discussion of the critique elements that could be applied to their own works of art. Please register by the Thursday prior to the Saturday session by calling (563) 263-8282. Fees are $15 or $10 for Friends Members.
Red Barn Studio - Loose Brush Technique - July 27
Learn to paint beautiful watercolors using various techniques and learned skills. Follow along as artist Vada Baker guides participants through each step of the painting process, adding your own flair as you go. All supplies included. No experience necessary. Advanced registration required by calling the Muscatine Art Center at 563-263-8282. *FEES MUST BE PAID AT THE TIME OF REGISTRATION*
Dried Flower Creations with Bonnie Buelt - July 31
Join flower expert and floral artist Bonnie Buelt of Island Floral to learn how to cut, dry, arrange, and preserve flowers from your garden. Participants will see a variety of techniques and finished design options for wreathmaking, wedding bouquets, and floral décor, and will make their own small dried arrangement to take home with them. Register by July 29 by calling (563) 263-8282. Fees are $15 or $13.50 for Friends Members.
Mini Masters Watermelon Day - August 2
Enjoy the last bit of summer by celebrating the Mini Masters in your life! Meet our teachers, make some crafts, get some "cool" snacks, and more. There is no registration for this free event. All ages are encouraged to come join the fun!
Collage Workshop with Annette Hovland - August 14th
Join artist and arts educator Annette Hovland to explore the art of collage. Participants will enjoy experimenting with handmade papers and glue, cutting and pasting colors and textures to create their own masterpiece of collage! Come join the fun! Register by August 12th by calling (563) 263-8282. Fees are $15 or $13.50 for Friends Members.
Artist Workshops for Kids with Miss Julie - Thomas Bewick's "Nature Illustration" - August 16
Thomas Bewick was an English wood-engraver and natural history author of the late 1th and early 19th century. A foremost authority on British birds, he engaged the imagination of many admirers, including Emily Bronte who most notably included a reference to Bewick in her novel Jane Eyre. Students will try their hand at creating their own nature illustration.
Live Animals with Muscatine County Conservation - August 23
Our friends from Muscatine County Conservation will visit the Muscatine Art Center so we can learn about, and interact with , live animals, including your favorite reptiles and amphibians. Stay for a fun craft celebrating our new "Friends!" There is no registration for this free event.
Red Barn Studio - Bokeh Blending Technique - August 24
Learn to paint beautiful watercolors using various techniques and learned skills. Follow along as artist Vada Baker guides participants through each step of the painting process, adding your own flair as you go. All supplies included. No experience necessary. Advanced registration required by calling the Muscatine Art Center at 563-263-8282. *FEES MUST BE PAID AT THE TIME OF REGISTRATION*
Gelli Printmaking for Kids with Miss Heather - August 28 - Ages 9+
Gelli printmaking is a fascinating and fun form of monoprint using a gelatin printing plate and acrylic paint. Test your creativity imprinting textures like bubble wrap, fabric, stamps, stencils, cutouts, plants, and more to create colorful, unique prints. Its easy, fun, and ADDICTIVE! Please register by August 26.
Talking About Art: Learning to Look - Saturdays, August 30 and September 27
Join artist Carol J. Anthony for this salon-inspired gathering. Through guided discussion, explore original works of art and strengthen your abilities to analyze and decipher art and the intent of the maker. This workshop will offer peer support to learn to look and discuss components of the artistic process. Beginning and established artists interested in developing constructive critique skills, as well as general art lovers, are invited to participate. No prior experience is necessary. Each session will begin by spotlighting a few works in the Muscatine Art Center’s permanent collection. Artists are encouraged to bring in a completed work of art or a work in progress for discussion of the critique elements that could be applied to their own works of art. Please register by the Thursday prior to the Saturday session by calling (563) 263-8282. Fees are $15 or $10 for Friends Members.
Labor Day Closings
Muscatine Art Center will be closed Sunday, August 31 through Monday, September 1 in observation of the Labor Day holiday. Thank you and enjoy your holiday!
Adult Studio: "Choose Your Theme" Acrylic Painting with Kay Flanders - September 6
Spend a Saturday afternoon with artist Kay Flanders while exploring your creative side. Participants will be tasked with choosing a theme for their individual painting that fits their taste, such as a landscape or still life, and Flanders will give examples and share techniques to start. No prior painting experience necessary. Fee is $25. Call 563-263-8282 to sign up. REGISTER BY JUNE 6.
Collage Workshop for Kids with Miss Annette - September 11 - Ages 13+
Collage, from the French verb coller, meaning "to glue," is the process of gluing and assembling various materials to a flat surface. Youth participants will use handmade papers and ephemera to create their own landscapes and images using classic collage techniques.
Adult Workshop: Drum Leaf Bookbinding with Heather Seibel - September 14
Learn the art of drum leaf binding, a book structure built without any sewing or stitching. This workshop covers the techniques to create a beautifully bound book with options unique additions, combining traditional craftsmanship with your own creative expression. Please register by September 12.
60th Anniversary Celebration - September 18
Gather with your fellow Muscatine Art Center friends and supporters to celebrate the first 60 years of this local treasure! Take in the new exhibition, "Midwest Icons: Grant Wood, John Steuart Curry, and Thomas Hart Benton," and meet artist Kimble Bromley who will unveil his painting of the Japanese Garden, created for the anniversary celebration. The unveiling and brief remarks are scheduled for 5:45 p.m. This event is free and registration is not required. All are welcome!
Artist Workshops for Kids with Miss Julie - "Ben Shahn" - September 20
Ben Shahn was a Lithuanian-born American artist trained as a printmaker. He was inspired by social issues, American consumer culture, and the lives of everyday people, including shopping carts which will be the focus of this engaging drawing exercise. Please register by September 18.
Marvin Cone and Grant Wood: Their Life, Artworks, and Friendship - September 25
In celebration of the new "Midwest Icons" exhibit, art scholar Carol Ehlers, a noter lecturer who volunteers at the Figge Art Museum and the Art Institute of Chicago, will discuss two Iowa artists, Grant Wood and Marvin Cone. The presentation will explore the friendship of these master artists and offer insights into their life stories through their extraordinary bodies of work. This event is free, and no registration is required.
Talking About Art: Learning to Look - September 27
Join artist Carol J. Anthony for this salon-inspired gathering. Through guided discussion, explore original works of art and strengthen your abilities to analyze and decipher art and the intent of the maker. This workshop will offer peer support to learn to look and discuss components of the artistic process. Beginning and established artists interested in developing constructive critique skills, as well as general art lovers, are invited to participate. No prior experience is necessary. Each session will begin by spotlighting a few works in the Muscatine Art Center’s permanent collection. Artists are encouraged to bring in a completed work of art or a work in progress for discussion of the critique elements that could be applied to their own works of art. Please register by the Thursday prior to the Saturday session by calling (563) 263-8282. Fees are $15 or $10 for Friends Members.
Red Barn Studio - Vibrant Color - September 28
Learn to paint beautiful watercolors using various techniques and learned skills. Follow along as artist Vada Baker guides participants through each step of the painting process, adding your own flair as you go. All supplies included. No experience necessary. Advanced registration required by calling the Muscatine Art Center at 563-263-8282. *FEES MUST BE PAID AT THE TIME OF REGISTRATION*
