  The Arts & Culture Alliance is thrilled to welcome Baltimore artist, Nether410, to Marshalltown to create the community's largest mural on the South side of the Tremont Building in Downtown. He was selected as the finalist from over 40 applications of muralists across the country. The mural will be located on the South wall of the Tremont building, adjacent to the newly renovated parking lot on the corner of West Church Street and South 1st Street. A unique feature of the mural is that it will also wrap around onto the East wall in the pedestrian alleyway connecting to Main Street. Nether410 is a globally traveling street artist with an extensive body of public works spanning across his native city of Baltimore, Maryland. His work is as a social and cultural documentarian of the struggles, history, aspirations, and dilemmas that our cities' face. Arts & Culture Alliance Executive Director, Amber Danielson, shared, “the Marshalltown Mural program was launched in 2019 and this mural was one of our first planned projects. It has been in progress for quite some time and has taken lots of work by many community partners to get here today. It is beyond exciting we are officially kicking this project off and we can’t wait to see Justin’s piece come to life in the newly renovated space in Downtown Marshalltown.” The mural objectives communicated to the artists were to create a piece that will be an energetic and inspirational backdrop for a new gathering space in our downtown and to create a must-see destination in Marshalltown. Danielson stated, “the design Justin is creating for this space has far exceeded our hopes for this project and he was the clear finalist amongst many talented artists who applied.” “Woven into this piece is a spiritual, natural sense of balance and design aimed at evoking understanding of our relationship to our surrounding environments. This piece uses patterns and shapes reflected in nature and its composition is centered on orbital movements,” shared artist, Nether410, about the Tremont mural design. Nether410's website: www.nether410.com Building owners, JP and Jennifer Howard, said, “we are thankful for the effort given by so many to recover from the past three years of challenges. The City of Marshalltown has a new benefit to share with visitors to its downtown; a wonderful, safe and smart place to park.” We invite the entire community to watch him create this piece over the coming weeks. In addition, we invite you to join us for the Downtown Celebration on Thursday, September 30th from 5-7pm in the parking lot to celebrate the progress and beautification in Downtown Marshalltown. Local musicians, Austin Chadderdon and Bon Jecci, will be performing with the new mural as their backdrop. Please bring a chair and spend your evening dining in Downtown Marshalltown! This project was made possible by the Alliance’s funding partners, the Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce Tourism, Martha-Ellen Tye Foundation, Marshalltown Development Foundation and the Community Foundation of Marshall County.
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Sunday, September 19 from 1 – 4 PM “Diversity is a Community Asset, Art is Universal, and Celebrating Culture with Respect is a Gift.  The Marshall County Arts & Culture Alliance invites the community to celebrate Mexican Independence Day at our Cultural Fiesta on Sunday, September 19 from 1 to 4 pm at West End Park in the beautifully quaint 13th Street District in Marshalltown. Add to your calendar here! Marshall County Arts & Culture Alliance Executive Director, Amber Danielson, said the event primarily is to provide an opportunity to celebrate as a community, but also to provide education and awareness. “We hope that the entire community comes to enjoy this celebration, regardless of their backgrounds,” Danielson said. “We see this as our community celebrating the rich cultures that are within our community and make up who Marshalltown is.” Community members are invited to bring their friends and family to experience an afternoon of live music, folkloric dance, food, pinatas and more! Attendees are asked to bring a lawn chair or blanket for their seating pleasure. The event is free and open to the public. “Diversity is an asset; Art is universal and celebrating culture with respect, is a gift. My hope is everyone accepts this wonderful gift and will join us in celebrating not only Mexican Independence Day, but a day to come together as a community to learn about each other and experience traditions, art and culture from another country without leaving their town,” states Wendy Soltero, Arts & Culture Alliance Experience Committee Member. Live music will be performed from 2 to 4 p.m. by Los De La Villa from Tama, Iowa sponsored by La Carreta Mexican Grill. Attendees will also experience folkloric dance from Nuestra Danza sin Fronteras of Des Moines, Iowa. Zamora Fresh Market will provide pinatas and special beverage sampling. Come hungry and enjoy delicious food from local food trucks, La Capital del Taco and Tacos La Cruz. From tacos to burritos and everything in between, attendees are sure to get their fill of tasty, authentic Mexican food. Samuel Ibarra will be the master of ceremonies and provide DJ services during band intermission. Per city ordinance, pets are not allowed at the event. For the health and wellbeing of everyone that attends, masks or facial coverings and social distancing are recommended.
  The Marshalltown Performing Arts Center Foundation and the Marshalltown Community School District/High School, in partnership with the Arts & Culture Alliance, are excited to announce Stephen T. Johnson was chosen as the finalist for his work of art “Scherzo” to be permanently installed at the Marshalltown Performing Arts Center later this fall. The “Scherzo” sculpture will consist of colorful abstract forms based on musical notations such as the bass clef, the forte f and musical notes, plus three kinetic mouth-shaped forms at the top that celebrate the rhythms, sounds and ideas generated within this outstanding performing arts venue. The title “Scherzo” refers to a short orchestral piece of music, especially in the second or third movement of a symphony or sonata. Scherzos are vigorously composed and are typically light and playful in character with intensely interesting, fresh, and familiar themes. “It is with great eagerness and excitement that I begin the process of creating a lasting artwork for the Marshalltown Performing Arts Center. The dynamic twists and turns along with kinetic features is my most ambitious sculptural work to date. I must also acknowledge the care and attention that Executive Director Amber Danielson and community members have shown in our conversations regarding this commission and look forward to many more over the coming months as the work unfolds. I hope that my piece titled “Scherzo” will make the city proud, serve its function as a beacon of light and joy for the Center and will contribute in its way, to the rich tapestry of public artwork in Marshalltown,” states artist Stephen Johnson. Stephen Johnson’s rich body of work forges connections between words, objects, and ideas. His art spans a broad range of concepts and contexts and can be seen in site-specific public art commissions, gallery and museum exhibitions, and original award-winning children’s books such as Alphabet City, a Caldecott Honor, and a New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year. Among Johnson’s public art is a 70-foot mosaic mural at the DeKalb Avenue Subway Station in Brooklyn, New York, a 60-foot mosaic mural at the Universal City Metro Station in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, and 33 glass panels for the Dallas Love Field Airport in Dallas, Texas. His latest commission was three large glass mosaic murals for the Lenexa City Center Library in metropolitan Kansas City. “A special thank you to the selection committee members consisting of: Marshalltown community members; Marshalltown Community School District students, staff, and board members; Marshalltown Performing Arts Center Foundation; and the Marshalltown Public Art Committee. This project exemplifies a collaborative effort to support public art in places of social gatherings, creating a sense of community for all to enjoy,” states Marshall County Arts & Culture Alliance Executive Director Amber Danielson. The Marshalltown Performing Arts Center regularly includes performances by the Marshalltown High School Show Choir, Orchestra, Chorus, Band, Jazz Band, annual dance studios’ performances, and by Live on Stage, which hosts world-class performing artists from all over the world. The Marshalltown Performing Arts Center is a pride point for showcasing and amplifying the arts and culture in Marshalltown.   In honor of our 17th birthday last month, we partnered with Child Abuse and Prevention Services (CAPS) to raise funds for art supplies to support the utilization of the arts in their programming and services. With the help of our community, we are thrilled to share that over $800 was raised!
“The Alliance is continuing to seek ways to connect the community with arts and culture and we are thrilled for the opportunity to partner with an amazing local organization who makes an incredible impact on our youth through the services they provide in Marshall County,” said Executive Director of the Alliance, Amber Danielson. This effort began in 2020, first in partnership with YSS of Marshall County. During the last year, we have watched the power of the arts heal and transform the youth at YSS. We knew this would be an impactful effort but we couldn’t have anticipated the depth of healing and transformations we would witness. With such a huge success, it was important and critical to continue this effort and spread the impact by partnering with another youth focused organization in 2021, Child Abuse and Prevention Services. “The support from the community on this effort is amazing. Thank you for the opportunity to further strengthen families in our community. These funds will help spark their creativity and contribute to lifelong learning”, CAPS Associate Director, Nikki Hartwig, shared. Child Abuse and Prevention Services’ mission is to prevent child abuse in Marshall County and the surrounding area. They serve over 8,000 children and their families in Marshall, Hardin, and Tama Counties through our various programs. Child Abuse Prevention Services works with children and families to cultivate a home environment where children can grow and develop to their fullest potential. They want families to know that learning with their child can be fun. Making homemade toys and supplying arts and crafts activities that promote parent-child interaction are great ways to encourage children to be creative while gaining essential skills. For more information or questions, please us at: (641) 752-ARTS or director@artsandculturealliance.org Arts & Culture Alliance: www.artsandculturealliance.org Child Abuse and Prevention Services: www.capsonline.us  The Marshalltown Performing Arts Center Foundation and the Marshalltown Community School District/High School, in partnership with the Arts & Culture Alliance, is excited to share the three finalists for a work of art for permanent installation at the Marshalltown Performing Arts Center, formerly the Community/MHS Auditorium. Finalists include Harold Linke of Oregon, Stephen T. Johnson of Kansas and Cecilia Lueza of Florida (see their proposals below). Fundraising efforts for the project began in 2020 and the selection committee was formed in early 2021. Selection Committee members represent the Marshalltown Community School District staff and school board, Marshalltown Performing Arts Center foundation, Marshalltown Public Art Committee, students and community at large. On March 1st, the call to artist was released and a few weeks later the committee received almost 50 applications from all over the United States. “We were blown away by the quantity and quality of the applications we received from artists all over the country. This has been a passion project for everyone on the selection committee. It has been so exciting to witness the enthusiasm and talent from artists interested in having their work in Marshalltown,” said Amber Danielson, Alliance Executive Director. PROJECT GOALS
The Marshalltown Performing Arts Center is utilized by our students and entire community. Student performances regularly include the Marshalltown High School Show Choir, Orchestra, Chorus, Band, Jazz Band and more. It hosts many of our local dance studios’ annual performances and is a pride point for showcasing and amplifying the arts in Marshalltown. In addition, it is used by several community organizations such as, Live on Stage, which hosts world-class performing artists from all over the world. Bonnie Lowry, School Board Member and Foundation representative, shared, “this magnificent auditorium has provided endless opportunities to showcase student and international artists. The Community of Marshalltown has once again come together in a collaborative effort to support and visually celebrate the performing arts through placing a piece of public art outside the Marshalltown Performing Arts Center.” The next step in the process, which is very important, is community engagement. Over the next 2-weeks the committee will be attending events throughout Marshalltown seeking input and feedback from all community members. In addition to in-person events, the community is invited to provide input online. Upon receiving community input, the selection committee will make its final decision by Friday, July 9th and has hopes of the artwork being installed before the end of the year (weather dependent). FINALISTSHarold Harold Linke of Lake Oswego, OregonArtwork Name: ENER-JOY Artwork Size: figures 8’ tall Artwork Material: carbon fiber composite The three-part EnerJoy placed in the arrival circle of the Performing Arts Center depicts the flow of Energy from performer to audience and back again. The theme of Energy combines joy, passion, pride and excitement with a big visual footprint to draw attention to what fine art can be. The three figures stand alone yet move together as you move about. The sculptures represent the Opening Rush, the Performance Euphoria and the Closing Gratitude. Harold's Full Proposal  Stephen T. Johnson of Lawrence, KansasArtwork Name: Scherzo Artwork Size: 15’ tall x 18’ wide Artwork Material: painted/powder coated steel Colorful abstract forms based on musical notations such as the bass clef, the forte f and musical notes, plus three kinetic mouth-shaped forms at the top, celebrate the rhythms, sounds and ideas generated within this outstanding performing arts venue. The title Scherzo refers to a short orchestral piece of music, especially in the second or third movement of a symphony or sonata. Scherzos are vigorously composed and are typically light and playful in character with intensely interesting, fresh and familiar themes. Stephen's Full Proposal  Cecilia Lueza of St Petersburg, Florida Artwork Name: Rapture Artwork Size: 15’ tall x 4’ 4” wide Artwork Material: aircraft grade aluminum For Marshalltown’s Performing Arts Center we propose a signature, freestanding sculpture inspired by the sky, the flow of water and air and of the different elements of the human form. It symbolizes a state or experience of breathtakingly being carried away by an overwhelming emotion. The artwork evokes a feeling of movement and freedom like those expressed in the performing arts. Cecilia's Full Proposal  For questions, please contact:
director@artsandculturealliance.org (641) 752-ARTS (2787)  The Arts & Culture Alliance is thrilled to partner with McGregor’s Mattress & Furniture to install a mural on their walkway and main entrance to their storefront in Downtown Marshalltown. As customers approach the front door, they will feel the excitement and energy in the bright colors of the mural. The mural will give customers a walk down memory lane at all the important moments in McGregors’ history. From the very beginning, to the expansion to multiple locations, all the way to today; the customers will feel the history and pride that McGregors has for their family-owned business. McGregor’s experienced extensive damaged as a result of the 2018 Marshalltown tornado and just recently moved back into their newly renovated building. This mural integrates McGregors’, Marshalltown and Iowa’s history, while celebrating and paying tribute to the revitalization and beauty of Downtown Marshalltown. Erin McGregor, owner of McGregor’s Mattress & Furniture shared, “we are proud to support the local art community. We are very fortunate to have Jordyn paint our front entrance to showcase our history and celebrate the arts in Marshalltown. Come see the finished product July 4th!” Minnesota artist, Jordyn Brennan, is a muralist, teacher, oil painter, and is currently pursuing her Masters in Fine Arts at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Jordyn said, “my biggest joy in the mural making process is seeing the community come together and get excited about the project. More than anything, I love getting to set my paint brush aside and talk with community members. Hearing their stories and personal connections to the town, inspires me every day and is why I continue to do what I do.” Follow Jordyn at @art_by_jordynbrennan on Instagram! Jordyn will begin the mural on Sunday, June 27th and will complete it in time for the Holiday weekend. We invite the community to stop by and watch her create. During the painting of the mural, McGregor’s customers are invited to enter the store by using the back entrance June 27th through July 1st. To see Jordyn’s progress and the completed mural, follow along on the Alliance’s Facebook and Instagram: Instagram: @arts_and_culture_alliance | Facebook: @ArtsandCultureAlliance Alliance Executive Director, Amber Danielson, said, “we couldn’t be more thrilled to continue muraling Marshalltown. We are so grateful for the support from our local businesses and building owners that share our vision and understand the critical role the arts play in economic development, tourism and community pride. This is one of many exciting mural projects we have in the works, stay tuned.” McGregor's Instagram / McGregor's Facebook mcgregorsfurniture.com
 The Arts & Culture Alliance is proud to partner with the Animal Rescue League of Marshalltown to create a mural by local artist, Julie Bousum of Quiet Cove Creations. The mural will be located in an internal space where visitors are invited to interact with adoptable pets. The mural will be used for taking pictures of adoptable pets to share with potential adopters. “When the Animal Rescue League reached out to us about a mural we were thrilled to partner with another impactful local non-profit organization. We were even more excited when we heard they wanted it to be a Marshall County Artist. The Alliance is dedicated to supporting, engaging & amplifying our local artist community while providing opportunities to collaborate, network, learn and grow. We are enthusiastic about creating a sense of community to help artists succeed”, said Alliance Executive Director, Amber Danielson. The Animal Rescue League of Marshalltown is a private animal shelter that opened its doors in 1948. Their facility takes in stray and unwanted animals in Marshall County and attempts to find as many as possible new, loving homes. Approximately, 150-200 domestic animals cross their threshold each month in need of shelter and care. Animal Rescue League Volunteer Coordinator, Jessica Volcoord shared, "our shelter is so excited to have a bright mural showcased in our shelter by local artistic talent. Our dog visitation room will be the perfect spot to take a picture with a new furry family member, a bright beginning for all." The mission of the Animal Rescue League of Marshalltown is to provide a safe haven for lost, homeless, and abused companion animals; to help reunite lost companion animals with their family; to find new homes for adoptable and abandoned animals; and to aid in strengthening the human to animal bond. “I enjoy taking my grandchildren to volunteer at the Animal Rescue League. The staff there is accommodating to human visitors and so caring for their animal charges. It is a privilege to be chosen as the mural artist for this project”, said Julie Bousum of Quiet Cove Creations. Follow Julie on her Facebook Page @Quiet Cove Creations. For inquiries about her work, she can be reached at jkbousum@aol.com. Follow along on the Alliance’s Facebook and Instagram to see Julie’s progress and the completed mural: Instagram: @arts_and_culture_alliance | Facebook: @ArtsandCultureAlliance PDF Press Release   Julie Bousum has begun working on the mural at the ARL  In honor of the Arts & Culture Alliance’s 17th birthday on June 24th, we are partnering with Child Abuse and Prevention Services during the month of June to raise funds for art supplies to support the utilization of the arts in their programming and services. This effort began in 2020, first in partnership with YSS of Marshall County, with the goal to raise $300 and we far exceeded the goal by raising almost $900.
“The Alliance is continuing to seek ways to connect the community with arts and culture and we are thrilled for this opportunity to partner with an amazing local organization who makes an incredible impact on our youth through the services they provide in Marshall County,” said Executive Director of the Alliance, Amber Danielson. During the last year, we have watched the power of the arts heal and transform the youth at YSS. We knew this would be an impactful effort but we couldn’t have anticipated the depth of healing and transformations we would witness. With such a huge success, we knew the importance and criticalness of continuing this effort and spreading the impact by partnering with a new youth focused organization in 2021, Child Abuse and Prevention Services. “For the youth that we have had the opportunity to give art supplies as a way for them to express their feelings, abuse, dreams, fear, etc.; we have had a more accurate picture into how we can help them. We have given out many, many canvases and paint and what we have seen in return is a youth that is more open and able to discuss issues that are relevant. We have learned about family dynamics, goals for the future that can be used to stay focused, and those things that cause fear but cannot be so easily described in words,” shared Ryan Keller, lead Therapist at Youth and Shelter Services. *See video recap from YSS Child Abuse and Prevention Services’ mission is to prevent child abuse in Marshall County and the surrounding area. They serve over 8,000 children and their families in Marshall, Hardin, and Tama Counties through our various programs. Child Abuse Prevention Services works with children and families to cultivate a home environment where children can grow and develop to their fullest potential. They want families to know that learning with their child can be fun. Making homemade toys and supplying arts and crafts activities that promote parent-child interaction are great ways to encourage children to be creative while gaining essential skills. With the community behind us, we are aiming to exceed our goal from last year and raise $1,000 by the end of the month. Donations are being accepted via mail and online to the Marshall County Arts & Culture Alliance. CAPS’ Executive Director, Linda Havelka, said, “by supporting the Arts and Cultural Alliance’s Art Supply Fundraiser you will be providing families with materials that will help build nurturing relationships and lead to a lifetime of learning for the children of our community. We are so appreciative of your generosity.” TO MAKE A DONATION: Please make checks out to Marshall County Arts & Culture Alliance | PO BOX 386, Marshalltown, IA Online Donations Accepted *select CAPS Art Supply Fundraiser For more information or questions, please us at: (641) 752-ARTS or director@artsandculturealliance.org Arts & Culture Alliance: www.artsandculturealliance.org Child Abuse and Prevention Services: www.capsonline.us  Artist, Rebecca Wagner The Arts & Culture Alliance’s Mural program seeks to strengthen the relationship between the people and places we share through investments in creativity. The program creates an opportunity for an increased focus on quality of life, community pride, beautification and creative placemaking. In 2020, our first mural projects launched at La Salud in Downtown Marshalltown and at several Marshalltown Schools for the sidewalk safety project. The added vibrancy has just begun and Marshalltown should be on the lookout for murals to continue popping up around town in 2021. We are thrilled to share another mural is going up this week at the Edwards Jones Building on South 1st Ave in Downtown, East of the Court House. The mural will be located on the back east wall and is being painted this weekend by Des Moines artist, Rebecca Wagner. The mural is sponsored by a new business, The Studio Wahl, located on the top floor of the Edward Jones Building. The Studio Wahl, owned and operated by Anne Wahl, is the premier place to gather with friends in Marshalltown creating one of a kind trend setting pieces of art and decor. The Studio Wahl's Facebook Building owners, Tom and Anne Wahl along with Zach Wahl, share "we are very excited to work with Rebecca and watch her attractive design come to life. We are committed to our community here in Marshalltown. A mural has the ability to create a visual impact across our region and drive real business. Our hope is to increase traffic, strengthen our community and showcase the beauty that is here.” Rebecca is a graphic illustrator and digital designer based in Iowa. She is currently studying graphic design at the Kansas City Art Institute. Rebecca has been the recipient of several prestigious awards at her college and here in Iowa. She received first place as an adult artist at the Iowa State Fair Fine Arts exhibit 2020 in the drawing category for her depiction of Hassaleh and the sons of Hypnos. She was also the recipient of the 2021 Armin Hofmann Award for outstanding rigor diligent process and commitment to design. Her floral mural design will be filled with vibrant colors, providing an uplifting and cheerful energy to the area. The mural will be just steps away from the Gallery Garden off of 2nd Ave. Rebecca's Instagram “We believe a vibrant arts and culture environment is critical to enhancing the quality of life and driving economic development while nurturing a positive view of the community among residents and visitors alike. The Arts & Culture Alliance is committed to cultivating a community of arts and culture and we believe a community enriched in arts and culture will attract, retain and engage residents and visitors,” stated Alliance Executive Director, Amber Danielson. The Alliance is actively working on several mural projects at locations in the Downtown and 13th Street District. Including McGregor’s Furniture & Mattress, Tremont and Thompson True Value. The Arts & Culture Alliance, a non-profit organization, was created in 2004 to cultivate a community of arts and culture by supporting, promoting and enriching existing opportunities and by seeking new possibilities. Our mission allows us to focus on enhancing the quality of life in Marshalltown by making it a place in which arts and culture thrive and our community flourishes. For more information or questions, please contact us at (641) 752-ARTS (2787) or director@artsandculturealliance.org Learn more at www.artsandculturealliance.org/marshalltown-murals
 The Arts & Culture Alliance is thrilled to offer the community a restorative and recovery centered morning in the newly renovated West End Park in the 13th Street District. (RE) TRACING is both a three-part dance film series and a live event offered to the public which centers around the ideas of isolation, coming together, and recovery amidst a pandemic/post-pandemic world. The 3-part film series will be released late Summer and the live event will take place on Saturday, May 22nd at West End Park. The event will feature restorative yoga, a performance of the material developed in the films as well as recovery-centered movement/dance classes for anyone who wants to participate. This special project and event was created by Toree Benson and Nicholas Cooper. DATE & TIME: Saturday, May 22nd from 8:30am to 12:30pm LOCATION: 13th Street District West End Park, on the lawn in front of the new shelter by the futsal courts SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Nicholas shared, "we are very excited to be partnering once again with the Alliance! This past year has been extremely difficult; with this project, we felt the need to address both the effects of isolation as well as the hope we have for the future. (RE) TRACING was created for the purpose of illuminating our communal experience of the pandemic and we hope you are able to take something away from it.” MORE DETAILS
“We are excited to gather together for the first time in the newly renovated West End Park. This event is focused on coming together and to provide restoration and recovery as we navigate the current times. It is our pleasure to partner again with the talented Nicholas Cooper and Toree Benson to offer the community this unique experience through movement, dance and live performances,” said Alliance Executive Director, Amber Danielson. Established in 2004, the Alliance connects our community to arts and culture by supporting, promoting, and enriching existing opportunities, and by seeking new possibilities. The Alliance is focused on enhancing the quality of life in Marshalltown by making it a place in which arts and culture thrive and our community flourishes. For more information or questions, please contact us at: Marshall County Arts & Culture Alliance director@artsandculturealliance.org or 641-752-ARTS (2787) www.artsandculturealliance.org   |
