Iowa City Gallery Walk is fun!

This Friday (March 6), the streets of Iowa City become walkways to art.

Visitors can view art in galleries, businesses and nonprofit organizations’ public spaces. It’s free, it’s fun and it’s a great way to view numerous art works by a variety of artists.

Eighteen locations will celebrate the work of artists.

Local artist, Astrid Bennett is organizer of the event.

Exhibits include:

AKAR, 257 E. Iowa Ave.;
Arts Iowa City, 103 E. College St.;
Bella Joli, 125 S. Dubuque St.;
Chait Galleries, 218 E. Washington St.;
The Englert Theatre, 221 E. Washington St.;
Glassando, 201 S. Clinton St.;
Home Ec Workshop, 207 N. Linn St.;
Iowa Artisans Gallery, 207 E. Washington St.;
Iowa City Senior Center, 28 S. Linn St.;
Lasansky Gallery, 703 S. Clinton St.;
MC Ginsberg, 110 Washington St.;
MidWestOne Bank, 102 S. Clinton St.;
Modela, 323 E. Market St.;
RSVP, 140 N. Linn St.;
The Soap Opera, 119 E. College St.;
United Action for Youth, 355 Iowa Ave.;
US Bank, 204 E. Washington St.; and
West Bank, Dubuque and Burlington St.

Cedar Rapids Museum of Art Reopens with Flood Photography Exhibit

I had the opportunity to go to the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art this week, just a week after it’s reopening from the flood.  Aptly, the museum’s first exhibit is The Year of the River: Flood Photography from The Gazette.  The moments captured are breathtaking.  The emotion they rekindle surprising.  We are months removed from the Flood of 2008, and although the people of the corridor have moved on to recovery, it’s important to look back and remember just how extraordinary the event truly was.

I was lucky enough to explore this exhibit with people not from Cedar Rapids, many whom aren’t even from the Midwest.  I’d seen many of the pictures before, I’d witnessed the flooding in person, and these photographs still took my breath away.  To see their reaction was truly a privilege.  They had all heard of the flood, and had sent their thoughts and prayers in our time of need.  But as they walked the halls of the museum they were in awe of what we had experienced.  They also had toured some of our flood-savaged areas and expressed amazement at far we have come, and how quickly we reached where we are.

I was bursting with pride for my community, as I nodded in agreement as they spoke of our spirit and our determination to rebuild. 

I highly recommend visiting the museum and seeing this amazing exhibit. And if you have friends or family visiting from afar, take them and show them.  It will give you everyone who sees it a new appreciation, and a new perspective on just how reselient we are.

On a similar note, a colleague recently shared an emotional and information video on the flood produced by Metro Studios – if you have a moment, check it out.

posted by: heatherjoy77