midwest art tour

• ASA History

Majeski Rolls to 35th ASAMT Victory at Slinger

Event Preview – Slinger Set to Kickoff 2024 Midwest Tour Season

Champions to Challenge the Famous High Banks This Sunday at Slinger

Upcoming Events

View the full schedule.

The STARS have aligned in 2024.

• Forms & Rules
• ASA STARS National Tour
• ASA Southern Super Series

Wisconsin Art Tours

Wisconsin art tours offer a variety of options from barn quilt and chimney tours to contemporary exhibits and scenic landscapes.

(22) Search Results for: Art Tours

Attributes Filters

Accessibility filters, related stories.

Drive down scenic back roads, wind through woods decked out in their finest fall colors, and discover art on the 24th annual Back Roads of Brown County Studio Tour.

While you’re here, you can follow links to this year’s participating artists, download a printable  tour map, and learn about our  sponsors .

Please check the Brown County Studio Tour  Facebook  page for updates.

14 Studios. 15 Artisans.

Come and see live artist studios in Brown County, Indiana.

Working artists will welcome visitors throughout the month of October. Juried artisans, a true representation of the arts in Brown County, will share a special glimpse into the lives of working artists and craftsmen.  Don’t miss the T.C. Steele State Historic Site while you’re here.

The Back Roads of Brown County Studio Tour is a free, self-guided event designed to showcase the arts and crafts created in the present-day “Art Colony of the Midwest.”

Watch artwork take shape before your eyes, with artists and craftsmen demonstrating daily. Talk with artists and explore the spaces that inspire them. At some studios, you might even be able to take part in the creation in prepared activities. Educational and designed to broaden public understanding of the arts, the tour is an art celebration for the whole family.

This is a unique opportunity to meet artists doing what they love and to purchase artwork directly from those who made it. Collectors will relish the selection of new work made available especially for this event.

All studios are open Wednesday – Saturday 11:00am – 5:00pm daily in October. Many studios are open Sunday 11:00 am – 5:00 pm. Check the artist listing here  for hours for each studio.

Most studios take credit card payments, but some do not, often because of limited internet service in backroads art studios.  So bring your checkbook or some extra cash along, just in case!

2024 Participating Artists

Sandy binder.

GrandView Alpaca Fiber Studio

Martha Bowman

Martha’s Art & Jewlrey

Cox Creek Mill

Demaris Glazier

Mud Horse Art 

Lesley Haflich

Copper Leaf Art Studio

Cindy Koehring

Dog Bowls By Cindy Koehring

Jason Nickel

Brown County Iron

Martha Sechler

Lightspinner Studio

Ann Shedlack

Ron & connie skyrme.

Midnight Sun

Tamara Smith

Felt From the Heart

Sherry Stiver

Wood Frog Farm

Scott & Jill Stowers

Lory winford.

Here’s Home Studio

Loretta Wray

Loretta Wray Pottery

• Destinations & Attractions
• Itineraries
• Supplier Profiles
• Exclusive emails
• Group Tour Magazine
• Other Publications
• Youth Travel Planner Back Issues
• Newsletters

Quintana Roo Destination of Choice for Travelers

Upcoming solar eclipse to draw travelers to states in path of totality, indiana convention center and hilton formalize agreement, new horizons, american bus association annual convention draws thousands.

Artful Expeditions: A Guide to Midwestern Public Art Tours

As a tour planner, you’re the architect of unforgettable adventures—meticulously weaving together threads of culture, camaraderie, and exploration. As you contemplate how to make your next tour one for the books, consider the transformative power of public art—a universal, well-loved language that transcends age, background, and borders.

If you want to step beyond the ordinary and into a realm where each stroke of a brush, every chiseled curve, and every intricately woven fiber invites your group to immerse themselves in the living tapestry of human expression, read on. From larger-than-life sculptures in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to art installations dotting the streets of Columbus, Indiana, your canvas is both vast and vibrant. With each work admired, each conversation sparked, and each moment of introspection encouraged, you shape more than a tour—you craft a journey where art and adventure converge.

If that journey happens to begin in Illinois, it’s perhaps unsurprising to hear the Chicago area teems with public art options for groups. Take advantage of photo ops with Cloud Gate (aka The Bean) at Millennium Park, marvel at Chicago Cultural Center’s stunning Tiffany dome and cultural exhibitions, embark on an elevated public art trail with The 606, enjoy contemporary art at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, and honor veterans’ experiences through installations at the National Veterans Art Museum.

If your attendees prefer to take a step back from the hustle and bustle of Illinois’ main hub, Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park at Governors State University in University Park proves to be the perfect place for exploring 30-plus large-scale sculptures in an open-air environment. Lovingly dubbed “theNate,” this museum-in-the-prairie offers programs and guided tours for all ages year-round. Attendees will also love the docent-led tours May through October at Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford, where Japanese garden landscapes, art, and sculpture installations unite.

We would be remiss to not mention the bistate Quad Cities region, comprised of can’t-miss communities in western Illinois and eastern Iowa. In Moline, outdoor market Mercado on Fifth’s newly renovated building features three colorful murals that celebrate Hispanic culture, while the QC Public Art Trail, a year-round route that includes temporary and permanent sculptures, murals, and galleries, aims to introduce groups to the area’s array of public art projects. Meander through Lindsay Park for Georges Seurat-inspired sculptures, trek to downtown Davenport’s Figge Art Museum to see Sol LeWitt’s Tower piece, or make way to what locals call Arts Alley, located in downtown Rock Island. There, Quad City Arts’ gallery showcases exhibitions by regional creatives every two months, plus fine art and crafts by over 85 artists in its gallery store. “The Quad Cities is filled with public art, and there is more being added all the time,” says Kevin Maynard, executive director of Quad City Arts. “The QC Public Art Trail helps celebrate the incredible works of art that can be found in our community and gives everyone a starting point to truly experiencing what the QC has to offer.”

Farther west in Indianapolis, Indiana, tour attendees will love the Indianapolis Cultural Trail that connects cultural districts with public art installations; the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields that features art collections and outdoor gardens; and the Eiteljorg Museum that focuses on Native American and Western art and culture.

But if small-town vibes with big-city offerings happen to be a better fit, take your group to Columbus, Indiana, where attendees can soak in the city’s unmatched architecture and well-known works, including Henry Moore’s Large Arch, Dale Chihuly’s sun-like glass chandeliers, and Veterans Memorial—a grid of 25 pillars of rock-cut Indiana limestone. “Columbus is known as an architectural destination, so art and design are part of our identity,” says Erin Hawkins, director of marketing at Columbus Area Visitors Center. “Every other year, the Landmark Columbus Foundation holds Exhibit Columbus, which brings about a dozen large-scale temporary public art installations downtown. The exhibit runs from the end of August through the end of November, so I like to tell people who are interested in public art that fall—during the Exhibit—is the best time to visit.

“I think visitors especially like the Sixth Street Arts Alley, a colorful street in our downtown where artists have painted murals on the ground and walls,” she continues. “The Columbus Area Arts Council organizes street parties with music and food trucks. It’s definitely one of the top selfie spots in Columbus!”

Meanwhile, Minnesota’s Minneapolis and capital city, St. Paul, buzz with unrivaled beauty. After touring contemporary art museum Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, groups can step outside to explore the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, which features widely recognized works like Spoonbridge and Cherry amongst manicured gardens and curated landscapes. “We are so excited to offer our free tours again on Free Thursday Nights and Saturday afternoons after COVID-19 took us offline and away from the public for a few years,” says Amanda Hunt, head of public engagement, learning, and impact (PELI) at Walker Art Center. “Our educators are dynamic, enthusiastic people who love to share all of the beauty we have to offer in our collection and special exhibitions.”

Minnesota’s rural offerings are as equally as abundant. Head an hour northeast to Franconia Sculpture Park for over 100 outdoor sculptures and art installations, or make way to Anderson Center at Tower View in Red Wing for another sculpture garden and guided tours. Topics, from history of the Center to modern art in its collections, can be customized to fit your group’s interests.

Across the Mississippi River, Wisconsin offers a blend of contemporary and traditional art forms. The first place to add to your group’s itinerary is Milwaukee Art Museum, a 341,000-square-foot museum on a 24-acre lakefront campus that includes the War Memorial Center, the Kahler Building, and the iconic Quadracci Pavilion. Highlights of the latter include the magnificent cathedral-like space of Windhover Hall, with a vaulted 90-foot glass ceiling; the Burke Brise Soleil, a moveable sun screen with a 217-foot wingspan that unfolds and folds twice daily; and the Reiman Bridge, a pedestrian suspension bridge that connects the museum to the city.

“Groups love seeing the Quadracci Pavilion with the backdrop of the city,” says Theresa Nemetz, founder and president of Great Lakes Shore Excursions. “They love discovering Robert Indiana’s The American LOVE sculpture on the lakefront property; they are delighted when given the chance to see the ‘wings’ of the Burke Brise Soleil open and close multiple times a day; and they are in awe of the [the museum’s] many masterpieces—including one of the largest collections of art by Georgia O’Keeffe in the world.” Customized docent- or self-guided tours, with themes that range collection highlights, feature exhibitions, and architectural tours of the museum’s three iconic buildings, are available to book for groups. (All adult tour participants also receive 10% off purchases at the museum store!)

For art enthusiasts who want to appreciate cutting-edge sculpture in an outdoor urban setting, Sculpture Milwaukee is an annual exhibition that features a rotating selection of large-scale contemporary works along Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Milwaukee. To the north in Sheboygan, John Michael Kohler Arts Center is another excellent group tour option and presents indoor galleries, outdoor installations, and the Art Preserve, the world’s first museum to focus on work from complete and partial art environments by more than 30 vernacular, self-taught, and academically trained artists. Farther west in Wausau, Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art features exhibitions, workshops, and artist talks, while in La Crosse, a lively mural scene makes for another art-packed stop. Other Wisconsin favorites include Lynden Sculpture Garden (Milwaukee); Chazen Museum of Art and Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (Madison); Racine Art Museum (Racine); Eau Claire Sculpture Tour (Eau Claire); and Museum of Wisconsin Art (West Bend).

Written by Katelyn Bloomquist

Main Image: Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park; Credit: Guy Rhodes

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

Little Rock Welcomes Hundreds for Domestic Showcase 

A Local Perspective

Major Airlines Offer Increased Flights to Las Vegas for Super Bowl

Recent posts, itinerary: little falls, minnesota, all aboard, honor & valor, itinerary: lewis county, west virginia, iowa travel industry partners, trending now.

Idaho Falls is a destination without limitation

Rhode Island itinerary: Newport

New York itinerary: Lake George Area in the Adirondacks

Feed your brain at COSI

Sail back in time at the Titanic Museum Attraction

Georgia itinerary: Macon

GroupTourMagazine.com is the online home of Group Tour Magazine, the premiere resource for the professional group travel planner. Contact us: [email protected]

© Greenspring Media | All rights reserved

GREENSPRING MEDIA     SUBSCRIBE     CONTACT US     ADVERTISER INFO

• MidwestWeekends on Facebook
• Get trip ideas
• Event Calendar

MidwestWeekends.com (mobile)

Because life's too short to stay home …, autumn in the studios, on fall art tours, treasure hunters strike gold..

© Beth Gauper

In September and October, artists everywhere throw open their studio doors, inviting the public to see some fall colors along with fine art.

It's tempting because of the scenic landscapes in which so many artists live: the bluffs of northeast Iowa, the coulees of southwest Wisconsin, the towns around Lake Pepin, the lumpy terrain of the Ice Age Trail.

"This is such a pretty area in the fall, and we thought it would be nice to have a tour where people could travel through it," says potter Diana Johnston, who helped found southwest Wisconsin's Fall Art Tour, the region's oldest.

The tours are free, and many artists demonstrate their craft and provide music and treats. It's not like shopping at the mall, that's for sure.

"You can get a slice of someone's life and see just what they do out there," Johnston says. "You can go home with a piece of art and have a story to go with it."

Here are some of the best in 2023.

Trip Tips: Fall studio tours in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa

Sept. 22-24, Art Wander Studio Tour on the southwest fringe of Minneapolis. Visit 40 artists in 19 studios around Chanhassen, Chaska, Carver, Waconia, Watertown, Mayer and Cologne.

Sept. 22-24, Lake Superior 20/20 Studio Art Tour between Two Harbors and Duluth. Visit 34 artists in 13 host studios or farms along the 20 miles between these towns on Minnesota's North Shore of Lake Superior.

Sept. 22-Oct. 1, Art Along the Lake Fall Studio Tour on Lake Superior's North Shore, with 30 artists at studios in Tofte, Lutsen, Grand Marais and Hovland.

Sept. 29-Oct. 1, Meander, the Upper Minnesota River Art Crawl features 40 artists at more than 30 studios in and around Ortonville, Appleton, Madison, Milan, Dawson, Montevideo and Granite Falls in western Minnesota.

Sept. 29-Oct. 1, Northeast Iowa Artists' Studio Tour , features 38 artists at 28 sites around Decorah, Burr Oak, St. Lucas, Waukon, West Union, Cresco, New Albin, Lansing, Elgin and Clermont.

Sept. 30-Oct. 1, Falling Leaves Art Studio Tour in western Wisconsin, with 30 artists at studios in and around Augusta, Fairchild and Osseo, southeast of Eau Claire.

Oct. 6-8, Studio ArTour , with artists at 19 studios in and around Farmington, Northfield, Nerstrand and Faribault in south-central Minnesota.

Oct. 6-8, Hidden Studios Art Tour along the Ice Age Trail in central Wisconsin, with 18 artists in seven studios in Almond, Amherst Junction, Iola and Waupaca.

Oct. 6-8, Fall Fresh Art Tour , with artists at 21 studios along the Wisconsin side of Lake Pepin, from Bay City to Durand and Pepin.

Oct. 6-8, Northwoods Art Tour in northeast Wisconsin, with artists at studios in and around Manitowish Waters, Boulder Junction, Minocqua and Eagle River.

Oct. 7-8, Blue Coast Artists Studio Tours between South Haven and Saugatuck, Mich. Visit artists at 12 studios along Lake Michigan, with detours to farm markets, orchards and wineries.

Oct. 7-8, Artisans Road Trip in northwest Iowa, with artists in and around Storm Lake, Spirit Lake, Okoboji, Spencer and Estherville.

Oct. 13-15, Covered Bridge Studio Tour in eastern Wisconsin, with more than 60 artists in Cedarburg, Grafton, Port Washington, Mequon, Thiensville and Newburg.

Oct. 13-15, Twenty Dirty Hands Pottery Tour, with artists at studios and a wood kiln in and around the northwest Illinois towns of Galena and Elizabeth.

Oct. 20-22, Southwest Wisconsin Fall Art Tour , with artists at studios between Mineral Point, Spring Green, Dodgeville and Baraboo. This tour, started in 1994, is very popular; reserve lodgings early.

Oct. 21-22, Sturgeon Bay Art Crawl in Sturgeon Bay, Wis. Visit nearly 40 artists in and around the gateway to Door County.

Oct. 28-29, Earth, Wood & Fire Artist Tour east of Madison, with artists in and around Lake Mills, Cambridge and Fort Atkinson.

Nov. 10-12, Art Attack in Minneapolis. Visit more than 350 artists in their studios at the four-floor Northrup King Building in the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District.

• Plan A Trip
• Privacy Policy
• Events Policy
• Advertising

© Beth Gauper, 2007 - all rights reserved

Your browser does not support our events calendar page. Please consider an update.

Ten States. One River.

Art & icons of the midwest, a tour of the great museums and landmarks of iowa, illinois and missouri.

America’s famous cities on the East and West coasts get a lot of attention from travelers from around the world. But if you are seeking to really understand the heart of America, you need to travel to the center. The Art & Icons of the Midwest tour itinerary takes you to Iowa, Illinois and Missouri to see the Midwest’s greatest artwork and iconic structures.

Reoccurring themes in the Midwest include agriculture, industriousness and wide open spaces. But there’s another prevalent theme in the Midwest: a deep commitment to the arts and architecture. You will see some of America’s most famous sights and enjoy some of the top art collections in the world.

Day 1: Des Moines, Iowa

Des Moines, Credit: Iowa Devision of Tourism

Far from a sleepy rural town, the Des Moines area is a thriving community that over 500,000 people call home. Des Moines boasts a high quality of life and is often recognized for its excellent business environment. It’s also home to a number of fantastic venues for the arts, and we’re going to visit one of them.

Des Moines Art Center 4700 Grand Avenue Des Moines, Iowa 50312 (515)277-4405 Hours Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday, 11am–4pm Thursday, 11am–9pm Saturday, 10am–4pm Sunday, Noon–4pm Closed Monday

World-renowned architects Eli Saarinen, I. M. Pei and Richard Meier each designed one of the major buildings of this innovative art center. The Des Moines Art Center is a world-class museum which emphasizes contemporary art. See the works of 19th- and 20th-century artists. Highlights include Henri Matisse’s Woman in White, Jasper Johns’ Tennyson, Edward Hopper’s Automat, and Georgia O’Keeffe’s From the Lake No. 1.

We’ll take a driving tour of Des Moines most important architectural sights, including a tour of the golden-domed Iowa State Capitol Building.

Des Moines will put to rest any idea you might have of Iowa as being land of cornfields and farms. This hip community boasts a number of top-notch restaurants and a thriving nightlife. We’ll spend the evening enjoying dinner and some of Des Moines unique venues before retiring to our hotel.

Day 2: Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Today, we’ll explore Cedar Rapids. After Des Moines, Cedar Rapids is the second largest city in Iowa. Combined with Iowa City, it is part of a metropolitan area of over 350,000.

Amana Colonies Heritage Museum 4310 220th Trail Amana, Iowa (319) 622-3567

The history of the Amana Colonies dates to the mid-1800s when a religious group known as the Inspirationalists settled in this area and established a successful religious communal society that lasted until the 1930s. Learn about the history of this unique American community at the Amana Colonies Heritage Museum.

Amana Colonies Arts Guild Gallery PO Box 114 Amana, IA 52203 (319) 622-3678 Located one block north of Highway 220 in High Amana

The Amana Colonies are famed for superior craftsmanship. The gallery, located in High Amana, features arts and crafts made by local artisans, from metalwork and basketry to quilts and rugs.

Brucemore 2160 Linden Drive SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52403 (319) 362-7375

This mansion located on a 26-acre estate is a National Trust Historic Site. A visitor center features exhibits detailing the history of the estate as well as the prominent Iowa families that once called Brucemore home. The exhibits are a fascinating glimpse into the industrial growth of the Midwest in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Cedar Rapids Museum of Art 410 Third Avenue SE Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401 (319) 366-7503

Our next stop is the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art. Located in downtown Cedar Rapids, the museum has a permanent collection of more than 5600 works. On display is a selection of art spanning over 200 years of history. The museum is home to the largest collection of art by Iowa native son Grant Wood. After touring the museum, we’ll visit Grant Wood’s studio, located just a few blocks away at 5 Turner Avenue.

After dinner, we’ll head back to the hotel early in preparation for our journey to Chicago in the morning.

Day 3: Chicago, Illinois

We will leave early and travel eastward to Chicago, the cultural center of the Midwest. Skyscrapers, truly vibrant neighborhoods and an incredible cultural richness make Chicago one of the most exciting places on earth.

Museum of Contemporary Art 600 S. Michigan Ave Chicago, IL 60611 (312) 280-2660 Hours Monday Closed Tuesday 10am–8pm Wednesday through Sunday 10am–5pm Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day: Closed

Our afternoon will be spent at Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art. This unique museum presents one of the freshest and most provocative collections of art in the U.S. Sculpture, painting, video and photograph exhibits push visitors to examine the boundaries of art. One of the highlights of the museum is the café on the premises run by world-famous chef Wolfgang Puck.

Chicago is arguable the culinary center of the Midwest. After dinner, we’ll spend the night in one of the Chicago area’s many excellent hotels.

Day 4: Chicago, Illinois

Art Institute of Chicago 111 South Michigan Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60603-6404

Credit: City of Chicago

The Art Institute of Chicago is one of the most renowned art museums on earth. Some of the most famous works in the world are housed in the art institute. We’ll spend the morning touring the paintings, sculptural works, video, textiles and decorative arts exhibits.

Chicago’s architecture embodies the hardworking attitude and boldness of this great American city. We will travel to the top of Willis Tower in downtown Chicago and look out over this sprawling metropolis on the shores of Lake Michigan. Willis Tower is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. The view from the Skydeck is absolutely stunning.

We’ll grab a bite to eat and then and head back to the hotel early for our trip to St. Louis in the morning.

Day 5: St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis is known as the “Gateway to the West,” a name that reflects the city’s importance in the settling of the western states of the U.S. The greater St. Louis area is home to nearly 3 million people.

Saint Louis Art Museum One Fine Arts Drive Forest Park St. Louis, MO 63110 (314) 721-0072

More than 30,000 works of art are housed in the Saint Louis Art Museum, which offers free admission, in reflection of its moto of “Dedicated to Art and Free to All.” The museum is best known for its Oceanic art, pre-Columbian art, ancient Chinese bronzes and European and American art from the late 19th and 20th centuries. It’s collection of 20th-century German painting is one of the finest in the world.

St. Louis is known for great restaurants, and we’ll choose one of the city’s best for tonight’s dinner.

Day 6: St. Louis, Missouri

Jefferson National Expansion Memorial 11 N. 4th Street St. Louis, MO 63102 (314) 655-1700

St. Louis Arch

Our first stop of the day will be the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, site of the “Gateway Arch” and the Museum of Westward Expansion. A five minute tram ride will take us to the top of the Arch. It’s a fitting place to end our tour, as it is the place where the Midwest connects with the American West.

This itinerary provides a basic sampling of what Iowa, Illinois and Missouri offer motorcoach tours. The art and architecture of this region reflects the core values of the nation as a whole, and it’s the perfect place to discover what’s at the heart of America.

Related Articles

18 reasons to travel the great river road in 2018, learn all about the northern great river road, locks and dams of the upper mississippi river, take a trip along the northern great river road, haunts of the great river road, chasing fall color on the great river road, one interpretive center to see in each great river road state, spotlight tn: memphis barbecue, uniquely iowa great river road stops, great river road fun facts, four fabulous foods to try on the great river road, a virtual trip down the great river road, where to cool down along the great river road, spotlight minnesota: historic fort snelling, spring recreation along the great river road, 22 reasons to drive the great river road.

Stay in the loop!

Stay up to date on the latest Great River Road events, contests and deals.

• Name This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Bluff Country Studio Art Tour kicks off

Minnesota (KTTC) –This weekend, an opportunity to take in local artists’ work all across southeast Minnesota!

Friday kicks off the 23rd annual self-guided Bluff Country Studio Art Tour.

This year’s free event includes 21 locations through Winona, Rushford, Houston, Lanesboro, Spring Grove and more.

This tour is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council through a legislative appropriation from the arts & cultural heritage fund.

River Arts Alliance provided additional support to make this event happen.

You can experience it all between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

Click here to learn more about this art tour and get a glimpse of what you can expect.

Find stories like this and more, in our apps .

Copyright 2024 KTTC. All rights reserved.

RPD arrests burglar in NW Rochester

Firefighters say 6-year-old was protecting his 3-year-old brother when they died in house fire

Vikings trade up for a second time in the 2024 NFL Draft

Rochester nurses work to unionize, Mayo Clinic says direct relationships are more beneficial

Vikings trade up in 2024 nfl draft, latest news.

Chuck Sibley Enters Gold Circle

Rochester man admits to beating victim with tire pump

Mason City will break ground for Prairie Rock Trails on April 30

Scammer steals $2,000 after claiming to be law enforcement

Recapping the Vikings’ busy first round of 2024 NFL Draft

Plan Your Visit

Tuesday – Friday 10:00am – 4:00pm   

Saturday & Sunday 1:00pm – 4:00pm

The Museum will be closed each Thursday from 12:15-1:15 PM for our Noon Time Talk. No admittance to the museum by the public will be allowed until the talk has concluded.

Closed all Mondays and Holidays. Certain Galleries may be closed for the installation of special exhibits.

The Midwest Museum of American Art will be closed on these dates:

Tuesday, April 30, 2024

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Saturday, May 4, 2024

May 25-27, 2024

Thursday, July 4, 2024

August 31, 2024

September 1-2, 2024

September 15, 2024

$10. Adults $6. Ages 8-12 $8. Ages 13-18   $8. College Students (with ID)

Half Off Admission

During Noontime Talks every Thursday (noon to 1:00 PM)

Welcome to Midwest Fiber Arts Trails!

Midwest Fiber Arts Trails is a network of fiber artists and artisans, shops, quilt museums, historical places, farms and arts centers in the Midwest.  This is where you can discover resources and inspiration for your own creative expression. And , plan fun trips around the Midwest!

Fiber Arts Trails

Plan a self-guided tour along the Fiber Arts Trails. Be sure to call ahead for open studio times.

Liam Baby Blanket Pattern

by Jennifer Wilder | Jenny's Knitting

Liam Baby Blanket Pattern  By Jennifer Wilder Order the pattern from Ravelry here! Description: In bold stripes, seven colors form a gradient from steel blue to paprika. The stitch pattern visually forms...

Portrait of an Artist: Patty Lovegreen

by Jennifer Wilder | Felt Making , Maker Stories , Weaving

Hi, Fiber Enthusiasts, How is it that we come to love fiber and color? Some of us have very early memories of playing with fabric, sewing and experiencing that comforting feeling of spending time with a beloved family member. It is at a very young age, when our...

Monika Kinner-Whalen: my sweet prairie

by Jennifer Wilder | Maker Stories , Needle Arts , Stitching

It was when the land flattened out and the sky opened up that Monika knew she was home. More than a decade after her departure she returned wanting to capture all the memories of the prairie, her prairie, and never lose them again. Monika Kinner-Whalen began this...

The mission of Midwest Fiber Arts Trails is to honor the Midwest’s rich textile heritage and celebrate and promote the work of contemporary fiber artists.

Address : 229 Minnetonka Ave S #181 Wayzata, MN 55391 • Phone : 612.961.1601 • Email : [email protected]

Entertainment | Method behind the masterpiece: East Boulder…

Share this:.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)

Entertainment

• Food & Drink
• Theater & Art
• Health & Fitness
• Home & Garden

Things to do

Entertainment | method behind the masterpiece: east boulder county artists take the spotlight at spring studio tour.

With all of the fun activities to do when springtime rolls around in Boulder County — like hiking up in Nederland or going mountain biking at Hall Ranch — it’s easy to turn west and dive headfirst into activities at altitude when the warm weather hits.

We Front Rangers need to be reminded that there are plenty of reasons to hop in the car and head east. Especially this weekend.

The East Boulder County Artists spring tour is back and invites the artistically inquisitive to tour 56 different artists at 27 different studio locations throughout Longmont, Lafayette, Louisville and Niwot. In a true choose-your-own-adventure fashion, the self-guided tour allows the public to visit local artists as they work in their creative sanctuaries, offering a rare glimpse into the artistic process and a peek into the stories behind each masterpiece. The free event will run 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

From textile artists morphing a scratchy piece of cloth into a glittering tapestry, or stained glass artists fusing sharp bits of glass into a dainty suncatcher, this year’s tour features some of the most talented sculptors, painters, printmakers, fiber artists, potters, wood carvers and metal smiths in East County.

With so many amazing artists and studios to choose from, we rounded up some of our favorite artists in East County to visit on this year’s spring tour. For the definitive list of participating artists and studio locations, visit the interactive map at ebcacolorado.org to make the most of your sunny springtime weekend creative excursion. Printed maps are also available at Longmont Public Library, Louisville Public Library and at each of the studio locations. Or snag your copy on pages 8-9 of Friday Magazine.

Through April, don’t miss the preview shows that are on display at Longmont Public Library, 409 4th Ave., Longmont, and Louisville Public Library, 951 Spruce St., Louisville.

Unique porcelain pieces

Inspired by her love for the outdoors,  Heather Kegel’s bowls, cups, vases and mugs are more than

just receptacles, but canvases for delicate botanical illustrations, such as cacti and wildflowers. Her pieces feature the classic blue-on-white motif that is reminiscent of historical Chinese porcelain works, but with a contemporary twist.

Studio-goers can catch a glimpse of Kegel as she transforms a lump of clay into one of these gorgeously functional pieces — and perhaps snag one to add to their own collection.

Kegel will be showing her works and demonstrating her form at Studio No. 12, 2125 9th Ave., Longmont, along with with artists Rebecca Martin, Allie Olender, Mariah Stotsky and Julia Zuniga.

Learn more about Kegel at heatherkegelstudios.com .

Minimalist at maximum vibrancy

Ryan Wiese is an apparel-designer-turned-glass-jeweler-turned-painter, all trades that helped shape his art today.

His acrylic works are inspired by the shapes created when different colors of glass are melted together. With clean lines and vibrant contrasting colors, his paintings are a playful, abstract and beautiful feast for the eyes.

“My vision is to create paintings that are simple, yet captivating,” Wiese said in his statement for ECBA.

Head to Wiese’s studio to learn more about his creative process, which begins as sketches with pencil and ink — then see how he morphs them into chromatic canvases.

This weekend, visit Weise and watch him in action at Studio No. 22, 7983 Grasmere Drive, Boulder. Learn more at ryanwiese.com .

Bejeweled silversmith

Working with sterling and fine silver, as well as natural stones and semi-precious gems,  Tammy Helart jewelry designs are understated, elegant and altogether stunning.

Helart places an emphasis on the beauty of the stones she works with — which include turquoise, jasper and the rare opalized fossil wood — using the silver as a mere framework in her pieces and letting the rocks speak for themselves.

Tammy will show her work at Studio No. 17, 825 Tempted Ways Drive, Longmont, along with local artists Malena Hirschfeld and Debra Stanger. Learn more at splendentstonesshop.com .

Dreamlike nature

From rolling landscapes capturing Colorado foothills to abstract depictions of California poppies,

Longmont native Jessica Marshall paints the natural world around her using crisp blues, aspen yellows and warm magentas. Marshall’s paintings are soft and dreamlike, evoking a sense of tranquility and introspection in each piece.

Take a peek into Marshall’s creative world at Studio No. 3, 6307 Laodicea Road, Longmont, along with fellow artist Lorena Fox. Learn more at libraryofmarshallarts.com .

​Malena Hirschfeld's art is inspired by the wildlife of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. See her work at Studio No. 3, 6307 Laodicea Road, Longmont, at this weekend's East Boulder County Artists spring tour. (Courtesy photo)

​Cyndy Hinkelman-Smith will show her acrylic works at this weekend's East Boulder County Artists spring tour at Studio No. 23, 10261 Arapahoe Road, Lafayette. (Courtesy photo)

​Christine Kuebler will display her works, created using a fusion of graphite and colored pencil, at Studio No. 11, 812 Sumner St., Longmont, at the East Boulder County Artists spring tour. (Courtesy photo)

​Cyndi Kennedy creates collage images, inspired by mythology, literature and Tarot cards, from old postage stamps. See her work at Studio No. 26, 108 E Cannon St., Lafayette, at this weekend's East Boulder County Artists spring tour. (Courtesy photo)

​Joseph Sikora has been a professional wood carver since 1979. See his intricate pieces at Studio No. 27, 245 Short Place, Louisville, at this weekend's East Boulder County Artists spring tour. (Courtesy photo)

More in Entertainment

SUBSCRIBER ONLY

‘dead boy detectives’ review: hardy boys for the supernatural realm.

Entertainment | The Spark puts ‘Wizard of Oz’ on stage while Boulder Performing Arts Company lines up the Munchkins

Things to do | Inside track: Masquerade costume party takes on Longmont while pint-sized faeries and elves take over Boulder

Things to do | Boulder-area events for Friday, April 26: Senior fish-off at Walden Ponds Wildlife Habitat

Are you and your feline friend on the lookout for a new place to call home in Boulder, Colorado? Look...

When the time comes to bid farewell to a loved one, the support of a compassionate and professional funeral service...

Longmont, Colorado, nestled at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, offers a blend of natural beauty, vibrant culture, and community...

In Loveland, Colorado, leather goods are not just accessories; they are a statement of style and durability. However, even the...

In the heart of the High Plains, where the soil breathes life into every seed planted, lies a trusted ally...

Your guide to EXPO Chicago, from must-see artists to after-hours parties

• Culture & The Arts

This is the first art fair since EXPO was acquired by the global brand Frieze. It’s a chance to see cutting-edge contemporary art from hundreds of galleries from around the world.

Art from around the globe, along with the who’s who of the art world, will descend on Chicago this week in the first EXPO Chicago since the prominent Midwest art fair was purchased by the mega-global brand Frieze.

The event running Thursday through Sunday at Navy Pier’s Festival Hall will bring to town nearly 200 galleries, thousands of artists and seemingly infinite opportunities to see art.

While attendees are unlikely to see obvious signs of the new ownership this year, there are some subtle influences afoot, like a slightly tweaked floor layout that moves up-and-coming artists more firmly into the center of the fair. Some notable blue-chip galleries will make their first EXPO appearance since the pandemic — a possible sign of what a Frieze backing means to dealers globally.

• RELATED STORY

Seven up-and-coming Chicago artists to collect now

“Of course, we’re used to having an international perspective and inviting galleries from across the world, but we’ve also been very focused on the Midwest, so having this very international company supporting us now feels like we just have a wider range,” EXPO’s Artistic Director Kate Sierzputowski said.

Throughout EXPO Art Week, there are exhibitions everywhere from galleries to museums, art talks across the city and new installations in public spaces. It may feel overwhelming to chart a plan that allows you to soak up as much of the creative whirlwind as possible, but we’ve got your back. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or a total art newbie wading into your first EXPO, here is our guide to what you need to know.

Getting there  | Navigating the fair  |  What not to miss  |  After parties  |  Other shows around town

Making a plan before the fair

When is this all happening?

EXPO Art Week kicks off Monday, with programming happening around town throughout the week. The first chance for the public to take a look inside Festival Hall is 6-9 p.m. on Thursday, April 11, but that requires a special ticket. Then, the fair opens for general admission ticket holders at 11 a.m. Friday. The fair will be open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday.

What does it cost to gape at the art?

Opening night tickets for Thursday cost $175 per person, and supply is going quick. A single-day ticket to the fair costs $40 and a weekend pass for three-day admission is $70.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by EXPO CHICAGO (@expochicago)

How do I get to EXPO Chicago?

If you plan to drive to the fair, know that there are a limited number of parking spots in Navy Pier’s East and West garages, which are first-come, first-served. A price breakdown for those spots can be found here . If you opt instead to grab an Uber or Lyft to EXPO, tell your driver you’re looking for “entrance 2.”

There are also five CTA bus routes that will bring you to Navy Pier: The 29, 65, 66, 124 and 2. (Note that the No. 2 bus is only available during weekday mornings and evenings.) More information on navigating to the Pier .

Navigating the fair and buying smart

What are tips for navigating the fair?

This year’s EXPO includes 170 galleries. Simply put: “You’re not going to make it through every single booth,” as gallery owner and EXPO veteran Monique Meloche put it. Instead of trying to see it all, Meloche recommends a hybrid approach of preparedness and whimsy: Check out the website ahead of time so you know what to expect, but then, “let your eyes roam.”

“If something catches your eye, wander in that direction. Don’t be so strict about it,” Meloche said.

The show is organized in multiple sections with international galleries anchoring the layout. Additional programming includes /Dialogues , a series of panels and talks on contemporary art issues; a curated group of large-scale works called IN/SITU; and the EXPOSURE section features galleries younger than 10 years old. Sierzputowski, with EXPO, said EXPOSURE is a manageable place to begin since the booths there display the work of just one or two artists. Elsewhere on the floor, some booths can have work from as many as 15 artists on view, which may feel intimidating at first.

Both Meloche and Sierzputowski also recommend checking out programming on the talk stage for a chance to hear directly from an artist before seeing their work.

What advice do insiders have about buying art?

The fair is transactional — gallerists are there to sell work. Meloche says you should not be afraid to ask about prices. “No one has their prices out on the walls, but everybody is there to sell art,” she said.

In general, if you see a piece you like and are interested in, the best approach is to strike up a conversation with the dealers. Ask to hear a little more about the artist or about the materials used in the work. “Everybody’s willing to have that conversation with you,” Meloche said.

Plus, opening a dialogue may lead to seeing something that’s not even on the floor.

“That’s what the dealers in the galleries are there for. They’re there to help you through the buying process, not inhibit it,” Sierzputowski said.

What not to miss

International galleries

The Frieze acquisition has meant a boost in the lineup of international galleries. For example, Sierzputowski said there are more South Korean galleries ( Hakgojae Gallery and Gana Art ) showing this year than in the past several years — a result of Frieze’s relationships in that part of the world. Frieze also owns a fair in Seoul.

The international shine of Frieze may also attract large, blue-chip galleries back to the show who otherwise had not returned post-pandemic. One example of that is Perrotin , a gallery with a global footprint, which is back on the lineup for this year.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by LABOR (@l_a_b_o_r)

Other standouts: Several Paris galleries, including Galerie Poggi will be at this year’s fair. Labor , a Mexico City gallery, is participating in the fair for the first time. For African galleries, Sierzputowski says she’s excited about Southern Guild , a Cape Town gallery that recently expanded to Los Angeles.

Chicago galleries

Of course, Chicago’s galleries will be well-repped at the fair. Corbett vs. Dempsey , dubbed a “Chicago staple” by Sierzputowski, will have a display of works by historic Chicago artists. “I think it’d be a really good space to maybe get some history on artists that have been making work in Chicago in the past,” Sierzputowski said.

Sierzputowski also called out Mariane Ibrahim Gallery , which will have work from artist Lorraine O’Grady in its West Town gallery during the fair. And Sierzputowski said longtime Chicago gallerist Rhona Hoffman ’s booth should not be missed. And EXPO is a rare chance to see a group presentation from Meloche’s gallery . On her home turf, the Chicago gallerist — a champion of up-and-coming local talent — plans to go all out, she said.

Other highlights:

• Dedicated to younger galleries, the fair’s EXPOSURE section offers a chance to see work from upcoming artists that is priced at a more accessible level. This year’s section — which has a new location on the show’s floor — is being curated by Rosario Güiraldes, a curator of visual arts at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis.
• It includes Chicago’s own Anthony Gallery , owned by Isimeme “Easy” Otabor, a Chicago native who calls himself a “self-taught art collector turned gallery owner.” He’ll bring artist Michael C. Thorpe’s textile work to this section, which Sierzputowski says is a must see.
• This year’s IN/SITU section is being curated by Amara Antilla of the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati and includes projects from Chicago-based artist Michael Rakowitz . Sierzputowski said some of Rakowitz’s work will be found in each of the fair’s cafes as part of a collaboration with EXPO’s on-site chefs for the menus.
• Off the pier, Canadian artist Brendan Fernandes will do an activation with Black Cube Nomadic Art Museum at the General John Logan Monument in Grant Park on Friday, April 12. The work, entitled New Monuments | Chicago, will feature a sculptural installation of scaffolding surrounding the existing monument and will label the space as “in transition.” Audience members will be invited to weigh in on their ideas for new monuments.
• Highlights of this year’s lineup of talks and panels includes Chicago’s own Chance the Rapper on Thursday. Chance will appear on a panel with Asma Naeem from the Baltimore Museum of Art and Nate Freeman of Vanity Fair for a discussion on hip-hop’s contributions to contemporary art.
• In a Saturday panel, Chicago artist Amanda Williams , along with Alteronce Gumby , will dive into the symbolism of color. On Thursday, artists Candida Alvarez and Omar Velázquez will discuss the importance of Puerto Rican representation in local collections. There will also be a panel discussion about art existing outside traditional centers such as New York or Paris.

All the parties

While much of the action takes place on Navy Pier, there is plenty of opportunity to mingle with artists, visit galleries all week long and explore different parts of Chicago.

South Side Night

The week kicks off on Tuesday with South Side Night , when residents and out-of-town visitors in Chicago for EXPO are encouraged to visit the South Side’s many galleries, museums and exhibition spaces. Many of those institutions will have special openings and remain open late on Tuesday, April 9. Highlights include an artist talk with Paul Branton at the South Side Community Art Center and a toast to the South Side to kick off EXPO week at the Smart Museum of Art. Full lineup of programming .

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gertie (@gertie.chicago)

After After Hours

On Friday night, galleries across the city come alive with Art After Hours , being headed up this year by the new cultural organization Gertie. More than 45 galleries will stay open late from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, April 12, and welcome art newbies and seasoned collectors alike.

Art After Hours gives EXPO goers a chance to meet the city’s galleries on their home turf. For gallery owners like Monique Meloche, that’s crucial.

“It’s super important because everyone’s gallery space is their own unique space. It’s where they do their main programming, and it’s much different than the three walls that you’re renting for three days,” said Meloche, who will exhibit work from the artist Shinique Smith .

Meloche said the Friday evening event is also a chance to make galleries more inviting to casual art lovers. “There’s still that mystique about galleries that they have these openings, and they’re private and they’re not open to the public, and that couldn’t be further from the truth.”

Full list of participating galleries.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Poetry Foundation (@poetryfoundation)

Other shows around town

In total, Sierzputowski said the EXPO team tallied about 150 exhibitions happening across the city during EXPO Art Week. As she put it: “There’s kind of something — and not only something, but many, many things — for everyone.”

“There are so many pieces of work to see that I’m feeling intimidated right now,” Sierzputowski said.

Some standouts include Nicole Eisenman ’s exhibition at the Museum Of Contemporary Art, Sif Itona Westerberg at the Richard H. Driehaus Museum and Kara Walker at the Poetry Foundation.

Or, check out Barely Fair , which opens Friday, April 12, and runs through April 21 at Color Club in Irving Park. Hosted by the Julius Caesar artist collective, the fair is a chance to see global art on a miniature scale — displayed in 20 x 20 inch booths.

Courtney Kueppers is an arts and culture reporter at WBEZ.

• Level One Floor Plans
• Level Two Floor Plans
• Meet Our Team
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
• Green Initiatives
• Indiana Convention Center Expansion Project
• Upcoming Events
• Floor Plans

Virtual Tour

• ADA Accessibility
• Food and Beverage
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Protest, Solicitation & Panhandling Policy
• Book An Event
• Event Forms
• Ticketed Events
• Exclusive Contractors
• Pre-Qualified Vendors
• Union Policies and Procedures
• Facility Guide
• Booth Information
• Order Internet
• Order Electrical and Utilities
• Business Center
• Signs and Banners
• Maps and Directions

Dining Guide

• Transportation
• Local Attractions
• Visit Indiana

Midwest Arts XPO

September 16 - september 19, september 16 – 19, 2024.

Home | Upcoming Events | Midwest Arts XPO

Venue: Indiana Convention Center

Location: exhibit hall h, sagamore ballroom, doors open: check daily schedule, forecast attendance: 1,500, visit event website, maps & directions.

The Midwest Arts XPO (MAX) is an arts conference that brings together performing arts professionals to encourage innovation, create educational opportunities, strengthen artist touring relationships, and support arts advocacy throughout the central United States.

RECENT NEWS

Capital Improvement Board Announces Official Opening Of Lucas Oil Stadium Sensory Room

Monica Brase 2024-03-25T11:27:13-04:00 March 25th, 2024 |

Capital Improvement Board Showcases Local Vendors, Local Cuisine At The Indiana Convention Center During NBA All-Star 2024 Weekend

Monica Brase 2024-02-17T09:32:14-05:00 February 14th, 2024 |

Capital Improvement Board Adds New Venue For More Basketball Hype Around NBA All-Star 2024 Weekend

Monica Brase 2024-02-09T12:04:32-05:00 January 31st, 2024 |

• Google Calendar
• Outlook 365
• Outlook Live

Event Navigation

• National Eucharistic Congress
• Indiana School Boards Association/Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents 75th Annual Fall Conference

World Fest tours international musicians to Midwestern communities to foster an understanding of and appreciation for global uniqueness and differences.

Menomonie, WI

Music Video

About World Fest

World Fest is a performing arts residency program that tours world music ensembles to communities in the Midwest. For each World Fest season, we partner with one organization in each of the nine states we work in throughout the region, with a focus on rural communities.

Since World Fest’s inception in 2003, we have served more than 650,000 individuals, including 450,000 youth, through more than 280 public performances and 2,300+ educational events.

• Present high-caliber, accessible international artists to small- or mid-sized Midwest communities;
• Provide a multifaceted experience to community residents, particularly young people;
• Integrate the artists and their music into a broader social, cultural, political, and historical framework;
• Encourage young people to explore issues and understand concerns of diverse cultures; and
• Create a lasting musical and cultural impact on participants.

By partnering with one organization in each of our nine states, Arts Midwest will bring international music ensembles to the following cities during our current cycle beginning in 2022:

• Oskaloosa, IA –  George Daily Auditorium
• Freeport, IL –  Freeport Art Museum
• Sullivan, IN –  City of Sullivan, Indiana
• Albion, MI –  Bohm Theatre
• Minot, ND –  Minot Area Council of the Arts
• Portsmouth, OH –  The Vern Riffe Center for the Arts
• Custer, SD & Hot Springs, SD –  Custer Area Arts Council  &  Chautauqua Craftsmen & Artisans of the Black Hills
• Marinette, WI –  Rusty Wolfe Studio
• Fairmont, MN – Fairmont Opera House

A program of Arts Midwest, the 2024–2025 World Fest artist tours are generously supported by the National Endowment for the Arts.  

Arts Midwest is also generously supported by the Illinois Arts Council Agency, Indiana Arts Commission, Iowa Arts Council, Michigan Arts and Culture Council, Minnesota State Arts Board, North Dakota Council on the Arts, Ohio Arts Council, South Dakota Arts Council, Wisconsin Arts Board, 3M, and individual donors and partners.  

2024-25 World Fest Artists

LADAMA is an ensemble of women musicians from across the Americas who strive to engage youth in their respective communities.

A Moving Sound

Fusing traditional influences with a global sensibility, award winning ensemble A Moving Sound (Sheng Don聲動) from Taiwan, built a worldwide following through their joyous mix of original music and dance.

Farah Siraj

Farah Siraj balances a career that spans the United States, Europe, and the Middle East, having performed on some of the world’s most prestigious stages.

Past World Fest Artists

For nearly two decades, World Fest has brought internationally recognized musicians to the Midwest. These artists hail from Japan, Mexico, Israel, China, Somalia, Canada, Egypt, Pakistan, Indonesia, Brazil, South Africa, Turkey, Norway, and many places in between.

Explore Past Artists

World Fest Stories and Updates

Small Town, Global Stage: Farah Siraj Offers Up Artistic Exchange in Iowa

March 25 2024

How Jordan’s “Musical Ambassadress” teamed up with Oskaloosa’s local choir for a week of cultural exchange and learning.

Meet World Fest Artists Farah Siraj, LADAMA, and A Moving Sound

December 19 2023

Arts Midwest is thrilled to welcome three incredible artists to the Midwest as part of World Fest this year.

Catch World Fest Artists In the Midwest This Fall

October 3 2023

World Fest artists Pamyua, Okaidja Afroso, and Paulo Padilha will visit nine smaller Midwestern communities in Fall 2023.

Have questions about World Fest?

Want to learn more, or see your community get involved in the next World Fest season? We’re just an email or phone call away.

Jazz Combo Concert at Madame ZuZu's - April 27

Choral Concert at Ravinia's Bennett Gordon Hall - April 28, 2024

Jazz Concert at Ravinia's Bennett Gordon Hall - April 28, 2024

Spring Sessions for Mr. Mark's Music & Movement Class Now Open!

Midwest young artists conservatory.

Building a home with the power of music to enrich the lives of our students and their community.

For over 30 years, MYAC has been creating an engaging environment through orchestral, jazz, choral & chamber music ensembles of the highest quality for nearly 1,000 young musicians throughout Chicagoland & beyond.

Students thrive in a challenging, nurturing, supportive & fun community that emphasizes individual musical and personal growth, with lessons of hard work, teamwork, leadership, & respect. 

6 orchestras

4 choral ensembles

4 jazz bands, 4 combos

chamber music

60+ chamber groups

MYAC Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement

At MYAC, we understand that cultivating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture is essential to MYAC’s vision of our home where there are no barriers to every child experiencing music education as a core part of overall education.

We value diversity and celebrate the contributions of people of all backgrounds, across age, ethnicity, race, color, ability, learning style, religion, faith, socioeconomic status, culture, marital status, spoken languages, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity as well as differences in ideas, thoughts, values, and beliefs.

Recognizing that individuals from certain groups have historically experienced barriers to music education, we will do everything we can to eliminate the societal and music barriers which may include access to private lessons, ensemble experiences, performance venues and financial aid.

MYAC is building a home with the power of music. Enrich students’ lives by supporting MYAC today.

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Reincarnating a Treasured Design Store in Minneapolis

The Walker Art Center looks to the past to bring back its long-admired flair for modern design and contemporary art.

By Alex V. Cipolle

Reporting from Minneapolis

This article is part of our Museums special section about how institutions are striving to offer their visitors more to see, do and feel.

At the Walker Art Center here, Felice Clark sits on a sofa that looks like it crawled off the set of the 1988 Tim Burton film “Beetlejuice.”

The “Lawless Sofa,” created by the Detroit-based designer Evan Fay, features a snaking white cushion wrapped around a steel-pipe frame.

Across from Clark, the Walker’s director of business development, is Asli Altay, the Walker’s director of design programming. She leans against a faux fireplace enveloped in orange carpet, framed by an ice-cast bronze fireplace screen designed by the Chicago-based Steven Haulenbeek. It looks like a hundred roses melted together in a molten flash.

“It’s a shop disguised as an exhibition, or an exhibition disguised as a shop,” Clark said.

“We kind of built a house, and we blew the roof off,” Altay added.

This is Idea House 3 , a new iteration of the Walker museum gift shop, which closed during the pandemic. Idea House 3 was inspired by the museum’s Idea House concept of the 1940s, which displayed modern design and contemporary art.

In the vacated space of the old store is the new gallery of design collectibles. It opened in November, a year after Altay and Clark pitched the idea. They wanted Idea House 3 to resolidify the Walker as a hub for design in the Midwest.

Altay, a former creative director for Apple, left her home in Istanbul to come to the Walker because of its historical design reputation, beginning with its original director, the architect Daniel S. Defenbacher.

“My mission was: Let’s not just have one exhibition, and tour it for years, dedicated to design, but let’s have it be present at all times,” Altay said. “We can contribute to the discourse of design, which is still very young in comparison to architecture or art.”

The Zak Group out of London helped the Walker design the space to feel like a home with an open floor plan. It is entirely covered in the orange carpet — “Home Depot” orange, Altay explained, a “tongue-in-cheek” reference to home improvement.

Throughout are playful and avant-garde vignettes of domestic life that include classics such as Frank Gehry’s Wiggle Side Chair and glossy Panton chairs. But they are outnumbered by creations from emerging Midwest designers such as the Ghost Garden table from Ayako Aratani (of Detroit) and the octopuslike home objects of Daniel Shapiro (of St. Louis).

Entry to the shop, unlike the museum, is free, and visitors are encouraged to try the items, many commissioned by the Walker.

“Part of our mission was also to demonstrate to people how to live with these types of objects,” Clark said. “You might see a sofa like this and not necessarily understand at first blush how that’s going to actually live in a space.”

When Clark and Altay did market research for Idea House 3, they couldn’t find anything like it in the museum field in the Midwest, or really anywhere. The Detroit designer Aleiya Olu said the closest might be the MoMA Design Store at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Olu is one of about 30 designers featured in “Midwest Design Here & Now,” a “guest room” in Idea House 3 curated by “guest” Wava Carpenter, the curatorial director for Design Miami. Altay says these special collections by guest curators will rotate out twice a year, with the next planned for late summer.

Olu’s contributions to “Midwest Design Here & Now” include her Lyndon Table , a Walker commission. It is a disc of black-tea-stained cherry wood atop a gray velvet base shaped like a Hershey’s Kiss. The tabletop features floral cutouts, a nod to memories of Olu’s grandmother as well as to the Arts and Crafts movement.

“It flirts with practicality,” Olu said.

Olu, who until recently was a contemporary art publicist, said she jumped at the chance to participate in Idea House 3, which reminded her of the Japanese Exhibition House at MoMA from the 1950s . She said it offered her the prestige of having designs appear in a museum as well as exposure to other Midwest designers.

“Understanding what design coming out of Chicago looks like, what design coming out of other places in the Midwest looks like, is really cool,” Olu said. “I feel like Walker has always been a place for innovation and, in the Midwest, you don’t always get that.”

Mary Ceruti, director of the Walker, said because the museum was set up as an art center — with performing art spaces, a cinema and its own design department — it’s more flexible to incorporate porous spaces like Idea House 3.

“It’s about experimentation and visual culture and material realities,” Ceruti said. “It also connects the Walker as a thought leader in the design space, which it has historically been one.”

Altay found inspiration for Idea House 3 in the museum’s history. A year after its opening in 1940, the Walker, under Defenbacher’s direction, built Idea House I, a single-story home next door.

“They built an actual house to show modern design in use, to kind of educate the public about the virtues of choosing good material, Modernism, etc.,” Altay said.

In 1946, the Walker started the “Everyday Art Quarterly” and the Everyday Art Gallery, another showcase of home design. Then Idea House II went up in 1947 with an open floor plan and design objects such as an Isamu Noguchi coffee table, Eames furniture and Eva Zeisel’s dinnerware from the nearby Red Wing Stoneware and Pottery.

“A man’s house is his art,” Defenbacher said at the time. The original Idea Houses have since been demolished, and Everyday Art has ceased, but their legacy now lives at Idea House 3.

“We got our cues from those two really legendary projects,” Altay said.

An earlier version of this article misspelled the surname of the Walker Art Center’s director of design programming. She is Asli Altay, not Aslay.

How we handle corrections

It's located right in the heart of "Gower Gulch," near the corner of Gower Street and Sunset Boulevard) - hence the new name.

In 1972, Columbia left its Hollywood studios at Sunset & Gower (to save money) and moved over the hill to the San Fernando Valley, where they shared "Burbank Studios" with Warner Bros .

In 1978, Columbia Pictures made the Guinness Book of World Records by paying the highest price ever paid ($9,500,000.) for the rights to the Broadway stage hit " Annie " (which, as it turned out, wasn't the wisest investment in the studio's illustrious history.)

But eventually, Columbia was bought by Sony Entertainment of Japan, and they finally settled into the historic M-G-M Studios lot in Culver City, where they remain today, along with Sony's other label, TriStar Pictures.

Now that Columbia has moved on, the old studio lot they deserted isn't just sitting idly by. The re-named " Sunset-Gower Studios " no longer has a permanent film production company to call its own (hence the geographical name), but it keeps busy renting out its ample sound stages for assorted television and indie movie productions. The studio employees between 2,500 and 3,000 people, depending upon the time of year.

As of 2013, the three major TV productions on the lot are Showtime's hit serial killer, " Dexter " and ABC's " Private Practice " & " Scandal ".

But they also shoot " Let's Make a Deal " at Sunset-Gower, as well as a host of TV courtroom shows (i.e. " Judge Judy ", " Divorce Court ", etc.)

The public is invited to the live tapings of these sitcoms when they take place. To find out whether anything is taping there right now, call " Audiences Unlimited " (see separate page), and ask them if there are any free tickets to shows taped at Sunset-Gower. Then you can go inside to watch the TV taping, and walk into the studio which gave us " Gandhi ," " A Man For All Seasons " and " Ghostbusters ."

Update : In late 2008, Sunset-Gower studio was merged with KTLA studios (next door), to create the new Capital Studios . The lot will still be known as "Sunset Gower", while KTLA will be known as "Sunset-Bronson". Together, the new dual studio will cover 28 acres, with 23 sound stages and 700,000 square feet of office production space.

[You can access the studio's official website at www.sunsetgower.com .]

[ The new Capital Studios website is at www.shootatcapital.com ]

Looking for something in particular? Search the Seeing-Stars website!

‘This is beautiful': Umbrella Sky public art installation returns to suburban Elmhurst

By vi nguyen • published april 25, 2024 • updated on april 25, 2024 at 6:08 pm.

A new public art installation in the western suburbs is drawing a lot of attention from people all over the Midwest. The umbrella installation has gone viral in other countries and now returns to Elmhurst for its second year.

Tucked in an alley in downtown Elmhurst is where you’ll find a canopy of bright colored umbrellas suspended into the air. More than 300 capturing the attention of people walking by.

Watch NBC Chicago local news and weather for free 24/7

“We turn down here and it was just whoosh,” said Jenny Riddle from Elmhurst. “It’s this really beautiful surprise of you know of colors and art and how wonderful to have that on your little city street in Elmhurst.

“They renovated all of downtown Elmhurst and I haven’t been here in 30 years so its all new to me,” said Tim Schultheis from Elmhurst.

Feeling out of the loop? We'll catch you up on the Chicago news you need to know. Sign up for the weekly Chicago Catch-Up newsletter here.

Others traveled to visit what’s being called Umbrella Sky.

“This is beautiful,” said Eileen Amrah visiting from the United Kingdom. “I’ve seen this in Barcelona so my sister said there’s one here so let’s come here and take some photos.”

The vibrant display near York Street and Schiller Court went up last week. It first originated in Portugal. A woman from Elmhurst saw the display while on vacation and brought the idea back to her hometown.

2 suburban Chicago malls close their doors permanently within weeks of each other

Rockford named nation's top housing market by Wall Street Journal

“It has been our wildest dreams a hit!” said Christy Sopko, coordinator director of Elmhurst City Centre. “Social media is exploding, we get calls consistently not only from people from Elmhurst but within the region and we also get calls from people looking for directions from a ot of other midwestern states.”

Sopko told NBC 5 the centre partnered with the city’s Public Arts Commission to make this a reality. The location on Schiller Court is just one of three in Elmhurst.

“We are getting attention from folks that never used to pay too much attention to Elmhurst,” said Sopko.

The art installation is the first of its kind in the state. Sopko said they have seen an increase in visitors since launching with more people shopping and dining and taking pictures to share on social media.

“People are excited by it people are coming for special occasions we have seen prom and weddings and first communion and people dressing in costumes to match the umbrellas and that sort of thing,” she said.

Sopko said the plan is to swap out the colors just in time for summer to drive even more tourism to the shopping district. The colorful display will be up until October.

“We hope that people come they see all three spots by discovering something new when they walk around downtown Elmhurst,” she said. Elmhurst is hosting a launch party on Schiller Court on Saturday, April 27 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The other two displays are located at 110 S. Cottage Hill and 254 N. York Street.

This article tagged under:

Attend an Event

We can't wait to see you at our art events.

Pacific Fine Arts Festivals' fairs and festivals feature hand-crafted works of art in media such as painting, photography, sculpture, ceramics, leather, and wearable art such as clothing and jewelry.

PFAF produces two and three-day art events in towns and cities both large and small, primarily in the San Francisco Bay area but also in tourist destinations such as Lake Tahoe and Mammoth Lakes. At some festivals, the artists' displays are set up along the sidewalks or in parks, while at others thoroughfares are closed and displays are set up along the street. Most importantly, our art events are fun for all!

help Vistor FAQ

View Our Events

Rotary Club of Saratoga Fine Arts Show

California Strawberry Festival

Tahoe City Art by the Lake

Los Altos Arts & Wine Festival

Mammoth Lakes Open Air Arts & Crafts Fair

Palo Alto Festival of the Arts

San Carlos Art & Wine Faire

Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival

Belmont Handcrafted Originals Art Fair

Montclair Village Art Walk

Visitor faq, do the exhibitors make their living doing this or is it just a hobby.

Most of our festival participants work at their art or craft full-time and do make their living that way.

I saw an artist at one of your shows last year and want to buy something from her but didn't get a card and don't remember their name. Is there any way I can find out who they were and when they will be participating in a festival in my area?

If you can describe an artist’s work, the artist him/herself, at what festival you saw the work, and even where at the festival the artist’s booth was located, PFAF can probably provide you with a name and at what PFAF festival in your area that artist will be appearing next. Address your queries to  [email protected] , 209/267-4394 or come to the Information Booth next time you are at a PFAF event.

This show is really great. Why don't you do this every weekend?

Most of the artists you see at a festival are showing their work every weekend, just in different places. This gives them exposure to a much larger audience than they would get if they only displayed their work in one location.

These festivals always cause such a parking problem because the exhibitors vehicles take up all of the parking spaces. Why don't they park somewhere else?

All participants in PFAF events are required to park their vehicles well off-site in designated parking areas once they have unloaded their displays and work. PFAF enforces these parking requirements so that parking spaces and lots adjacent to the festival are left available for visitors.

How do I go about displaying my work at a Pacific Fine Arts Festival?

You need a body of work and a way to display it. Once you have these items visit our event pages to read about the events and to access the event application. Applications may be downloaded to complete by hand or opened to be completed through Adobe Acrobat. Return it to us with the completed check list by email or USPS. The quality of the images you send is very important as they will be the manner in which your work is selected. Many event applications are also available on ZAPPLICATION. 

Before selling your work in CA, you will need a California Seller’s Permit. This can be obtained from the State Board of Equalization – Phone: 800/400-7115 or CLICK HERE   to find the application on their website. 

More Questions?

Do you have a question about PFAF that we can include on this page? Send it to  [email protected]

• Privacy Overview
• Strictly Necessary Cookies

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

No longer the kid, Ty Majeski is as good a teacher as a young short-track racer could want

SLINGER – “Old” is relative.

In some ways, it does seem as though Ty Majeski has been around the Wisconsin, Midwest and national super late model scene for quite a while. He just started his 12 th season with the same group from the La Crosse area.

The kid from Seymour will turn 30 this August.

“I don’t feel like I’m the old guy, but I am,” Majeski said. “Probably the veteran. When you’re racing guys half your age, I think that classifies you.”

The veteran put a hurting on competition young and old Sunday, winning the 100-lap ASA Midwest Tour season-opening Jerry “Bear” Priesgen Memorial at Slinger Speedway by more than six seconds.

Ty Fredrickson, the impressive 15-year-old Midwest Tour rookie to whom Majeski alluded, didn’t challenge a week after scoring an impressive victory at Dells Raceway Park, getting into several tangles and falling out early in 21 st .

Still, youth was well represented with Max Kahler, 21, finishing second and Luke Fenhaus, 20, in third. Both have talked about watching Majeski race while they were growing up.

“I used to be those 15-year-olds,” said Kahler, a finalist in the Kulwicki Driver Development Program, nine years after Majeski won the first.

“I’m not an old guy, but I’m one of the older young guys for sure. It’s kind of hard to believe Ty is that old. … But hopefully we’ll be winning as many races when I’m 30.”

Majeski’s super late model victory total includes three Slinger Nationals, 35 on the Midwest Tour plus five championships, and all the major races of that type around the country. The biggest, the Snowball Derby, he’s won twice. Majeski also has three NASCAR truck victories.

“You always learn from people, even if they’re not (directly) helping you, just racing against other guys, the veterans – I’ve been able to travel all across the country, race different people, experience different racetracks and be in a lot of different scenarios,” Majeski said. “And you learn from those different scenarios you’re in.

“In every race I run, I learn something, good or bad. All the years of racing really good racers, whether it be in the South or in the Midwest, you always take something and remember it and be better next time.”

Which brings us back to Sunday.

Kahler started on the pole after the 12 fastest qualifiers were inverted and led the first 21 laps. Majeski got past on a restart, and from there Kahler just tried to glean what he could on the tricky quarter-mile track.

“After that final restart in that race, he got clear of me, I got down and followed him for 10-15 laps and then he just set sail,” Kahler said. “Then toward the end, everyone was the same pace, and he just seemed to have something left. I’d like to think he saved something. But he just figured something out and was able to drive a lot better than the rest of us.

“Whether that be my driving or the car, either one, both combined will have to be better than (Majeski) hopefully at the end of the day.”

Majeski, who started fourth, is known for being strong on restarts, so Kahler had a good teacher, just like the veterans from whom the winner learned.

If wisdom comes with age, then Majeski is wise enough to know that his learning on the racetrack will continue for as long he straps in a car. Like Kahler, Majeski and crew chief Toby Nuttleman added to their base of knowledge Sunday, too.

“Anytime you win a race like this, everybody else is going to be getting better next week,” Majeski said. “It’s always evolving, and it’s hard to continually win races. It just is. Just thinking of how far our cars and me and Toby have come and our entire team in the last 11 years is just crazy how far we’ve all come on all facets of our program. You have to keep evolving with the sport.

“Racing evolves very, very quickly and it’s very humbling very quickly at times. Always got to keep your nose down, try to get better. I feel like we could get maybe a little better today. I know it maybe doesn’t look like that, but you have to keep getting better, right? When you get content, that’s when you’re going to get beat.”

 ASA Midwest Tour Jerry “Bear” Priesgen Memorial at Slinger Speedway

Feature results

1. Ty Majeski

2. Max Kahler

3. Luke Fenhaus

4. Alex Prunty

5. Derek Kraus

6. John DeAngelis

7. Steve Apel

8. Brad Keith

9. Gabe Sommers

10. Levon VanDerGeest

11. Jonathan Shafer

12. Justin Mondeik

13. Dennis Prunty

14.  Jesse Bernhagen

15. Riley Stenjem

16. Joe Valento

17. RJ Braun

18. Braden Berge

19. Grant Griesbach

20. Brad Mueller

21. Ty Fredrickson

22. Nick Egan

23. Ryan DeStefano

24. Rich Loch

Figure$ Money $ign Lands Big Midwest Artists J.P and 414BigFrank On Debut Single “Throw It Back”

In the ever-evolving landscape of hip-hop, collaboration is key, and few partnerships were as anticipated as the one between  Figure$ Money $ign , J.P, and  414BigFrank . Together, these Midwest titans have joined forces to deliver a debut track for Figure$ Money $ign that has garnered the attention of many, leaving a lasting impression on listeners everywhere.

“Throw It Back” feels like a statement of intent from three of the most dynamic artists in the Midwest music industry today. Born from  Figure$ Money $ign ‘s relentless pursuit of his musical vision that culminated over a few years, the track is a testament to his unwavering dedication to his craft. From its infectious beats to its razor-sharp lyrics, “Throw It Back” showcases the collective talent and creative synergy of its creators.

For J.P and 414BigFrank, collaborating with  Figure$ Money $ign  on “Throw It Back” was a no-brainer. As two of the hottest names in Midwest hip-hop, they bring their own unique flair to the track, elevating it to new heights with their distinctive styles and magnetic energy. “Throw It Back” is a celebration of the vibrant music scene of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As Figure$ Money $ign, J.P, and 414BigFrank have unleashed their latest masterpiece upon the world, they stand as shining examples of the talent and creativity that thrives within the heart of the Midwest.

With “Throw It Back” now on all streaming platforms, the anticipation will continue to build for what is to come from Figure$ Money $ign. Fans are eager for the opportunity to experience the magic that Figure$ Money $ign, J.P, and 414BigFrank have created. With its infectious energy and undeniable charm, “Throw It Back” is poised to become a timeless classic and you can listen to it below!

• Music Videos
• International Music
• Latest Trends
• Sports News
• Source Latino
• From the Issue
• Shop Merchandise
• Advertise With The Source
• Privacy Policy

• Grand Rapids/Muskegon
• Saginaw/Bay City
• All Michigan

How to get tickets to see ‘tortured poet’ Taylor Swift when ‘Eras’ tour makes U.S. return

• Updated: Apr. 24, 2024, 9:32 a.m. |
• Published: Apr. 24, 2024, 9:32 a.m.

Taylor Swift performs at Ford Field in Detroit on Friday, June 9, 2023. Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com

• Anneice Coady | [email protected]

Riding the wave of her new album, Taylor Swift is set to resume her megapopular North American tour in October 2024 including stops around the Midwest.

Stubhub and Vivid Seats have hard-to-find tickets for the 2024 North American tour stops in Miami, New Orleans and Indianapolis.

If you can’t wait until the fall, Stubhub and Vivid Seats also have seats for overseas tour stops that start next month in France and continue in Sweden, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom.

Swift’s newest album “The Tortured Poets Department,” has smashed previous records last Friday becoming the first album in Spotify’s history to have more than 300 million streams in a single day.

Swift also became the most-streamed artist within a single day ever on Spotify. The album’s first track, “Fortnight,” which also features Post Malone, became Spotify’s most-streamed song in a single day with nearly 40 million streams.

Here’s how you can get hard-to-find tickets for 2024 shows in Miami, New Orleans, and Indianapolis at Stubhub and Vivid Seats.

Miami Gardens - Fri Oct. 18, 2024, 7:00pm Hard Rock Stadium Miami Gardens, FL

Vivid Seats

Miami Gardens - Sat Oct. 19, 2024, 7:00pm, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL

Miami Gardens - Sun Oct. 20, 2024, 7:00pm, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL

New Orleans - Fri. Oct 25, 2024, 7:00pm, with Gracie Abrams, Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA

New Orleans - Sat. Oct. 26, 2024, 7:00pm, Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA

New Orleans Sun. Oct. 27, 2024, 7:00pm, Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA

Indianapolis - Fri Nov. 1, 2024, 7:00pm, Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis - Sat Nov. 2, 2024, 7:00pm, Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis - Sun Nov. 3, 2024, 7:00pm, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Hi, what are you looking for?

Metal Injection

• New Albums Out This Week
• Top Tracks Of The Week
• Top Stories Of The Week
• Upcoming Releases
• Funny Stories
• Photo Gallery
• Latest Videos Listing

Music Videos

• Metal Injection Exclusives

Live Footage

• Funny Videos
• Slay At Home
• ASK THE ARTIST
• Kids In Metal
• Mashups & Covers
• Rockumentary
• View All Channels
• Apple Playlists
• Spotify Playlists
• Los Angeles

Tour Roundup

Tomb mold & horrendous announce north american tour.

Kicking off this July.

Want More Metal? Subscribe To Our Daily Newsletter

Enter your information below to get a daily update with all of our headlines and receive The Orchard Metal newsletter.

Sponsored Links from Around the Internet

You may also like.

All The North American Tour Dates Announced This Week 4/26

Till Lindemann, Opeth, Kittie, Megadeth, Veil Of Maya, Evanescence, and more!

Latest News

Brann dailor explains how he started singing in mastodon.

It all started with "Oblivion".

MÖTLEY CRÜE's New Single "Dogs Of War" Sure Is A New MÖTLEY CRÜE Single

Weekly Injection

The weekly injection: new releases from darkthrone, deicide & more out today 4/26.

Plus releases from Full Of Hell, Glassing, Harvestman, Inter Arma, Ou, and Glassing.

SLIPKNOT Debuts New Masks & New Drummer Live

KITTIE Announces Exclusive North American Shows

11 Reunion Albums That Absolutely Rule

No, AMY LEE Is Not LINKIN PARK's New Singer

Summer Slaughter 2024 Returns: VEIL OF MAYA, BRAND OF SACRIFICE, GIDEON & More Booked

Watch SLIPKNOT's Entire Californian Club Show From The Front Row

Music and Art Interviews by Dan Roth

Occasional Interviews from the world of Rock.

Thursday, February 18, 2016

A conversation with tim hockenberry.