The value of an object is often set by price, disregarding the personal narrative objects hold. When gathering historical information about the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District in Sioux City, Iowa, the notion of monetary value is challenged given the history preserved is priceless. The Sioux City Railroad Museum, encompassed…

For DJ Savarese, communicating through poetry has been a transformative experience and way of expressing his most authentic self. Savarese, a 2022 Iowa Artist Fellowship recipient, is a familiar presence on the literary scene and as a public presenter. The Iowa City-based and nationally-recognized writer, producer and teacher also identifies…

Architecture has often been seen as the embodiment of the nation, culture and landscape. The Woodbury County Courthouse is no exception. Nestled in the quaint community of Sioux City, Iowa, the courthouse is a surreal vision of grandeur. Known as a “Jewel of the Prairie” and a “Place of Magic,”…

“What does it mean to juxtapose a popular image of a Black girl making a weird face — a meme we’ve seen a hundred times — with my sixth-grade portrait from elementary school?” Iowa Artist Fellow T.J. Dedeaux-Norris asked. From Dedeaux-Norris, whose artworks offer an intriguing mix of popular culture…

It’s worth noting that when the Iowa City writer Jennifer Colville was asked for an interview, she suggested conducting it via email instead. “I’m more articulate on paper,” she wrote in a quick note, “but either way is OK.” That’s a humble understatement. During the recent interview, over the phone…

The Iowa Arts Council appreciates media coverage of artists, arts organizations and creative activity across the state. From time to time, we share timely stories on social media as well as this blog. The following excerpt comes from an article Jason Selby wrote for The (Mason City) Globe Gazette, originally…

You’d be wise to stick with the Grinnell artist Joe Tuggle Lacina if you ever stumble off the grid. He is as comfortable at its high-tech center as its primitive edges, as handy with a 3D printer as with a hammer and nails. The tech assistant for Grinnell College’s art…

In a stained-glass studio in Dubuque, the artist Tim Olson is assembling a new body of work — arms, legs, mustache and all. The puzzle pieces form a glowing Gothic portrait of Dan Gable, Iowa’s patron saint of wrestling. The idea came from a fan’s suggestion that Olson initially brushed…

Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg joined the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs in Winterset on Friday, Sept. 30, to unveil a historical plaque marking the boyhood home of George Stout and to declare October as Arts & Humanities Month in Iowa. Stout was born 125 years ago on Oct. 5. He…