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X-WR-CALNAME:Ames Community Arts Council
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://calendar.amesart.org
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Ames Community Arts Council
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TZID:America/Chicago
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TZNAME:CDT
DTSTART:20260308T080000
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DTSTART:20261101T070000
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260515T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260515T160000
DTSTAMP:20260429T202009
CREATED:20251103T024936Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251103T024936Z
UID:10001245-1778853600-1778860800@calendar.amesart.org
SUMMARY:Optimae Life Services at APL - Ames Public Library
DESCRIPTION:Staff from Optimae Life Services will be available in the Library to connect visitors with resources for mental health\, home health\, and community integration services. Lisa Fawcett Nilsson Study Room – 2nd floor \n515 Douglas Avenue\nAmes\, IA 50010\n(515) 239-5646 \nMon. – Thurs.: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.\nFri. & Sat.: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.\nSun: 1 – 5 p.m.
URL:https://calendar.amesart.org/event/optimae-life-services-at-apl-ames-public-library/2026-05-15/
LOCATION:Ames Public Library\, 515 Douglas Ave\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260515T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260515T213000
DTSTAMP:20260429T202009
CREATED:20260119T224145Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260119T224145Z
UID:10002925-1778873400-1778880600@calendar.amesart.org
SUMMARY:Across the Water - Ames Chamber Artists
DESCRIPTION:Traditional music from Ireland and its influence on American Folk Music. \nThurs.\, May 14 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church\, Marshalltown (freewill donation) \nFri.\, May 15 at 7:30 p.m. at Collegiate Presbyterian Church\, Ames (Tickets available online and at the door; livestreaming available.) \nTicket Pricing \n$15 online/at the door | $12 Seniors/Students | $20 Livestream ticket.  \nTickets available online about one month prior to the concert and at the door.
URL:https://calendar.amesart.org/event/across-the-water-ames-chamber-artists-2/
LOCATION:Collegiate Presbyterian Church\, 159 Sheldon Ave.\, Ames\, 50014\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/avif:https://calendar.amesart.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Across-the-Water-Ames-Chamber-Artists.avif
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260516T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260516T170000
DTSTAMP:20260429T202009
CREATED:20260124T195129Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260124T195129Z
UID:10003768-1778925600-1778950800@calendar.amesart.org
SUMMARY:Art From the Attic – Octagon Art Sale
DESCRIPTION:Art From the Attic\nArt Sale Event by Octagon Shop \nEvent Dates:\nWednesday\, May 13th\, 2025 – Member’s Only Pre-Sale\nThursday\, May 14th\, 2025 – Event Public Opening Day\nSaturday\, May 16th\, 2025 – Event Closes \nAbout This Event:\nArt from the Attic begins Thursday\, May 14! Purchase art from members of the Octagon who have graciously donated original artwork\, and pieces we have gathered from our building that need a new home. We believe that art is for everyone\, so you will find a variety of styles and prices that are affordable. Stop by the gallery between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. to browse through one-of-a-kind artworks that will fit perfectly in your space at incredibly low prices. The sale continues Friday and Saturday\, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. \n  \nDonating Artwork:\nIf you have quality art pieces that you no longer have room for or no longer fits with your décor\, we would love to have you consider donating it to our art sale. We provide incredible discounts on quality work to make it accessible to people from all walks of life. We are focused on original art and prints\, as opposed to items purchased from box stores or home décor businesses. All proceeds go to support classes and events at the Octagon.\n\nIf you choose to donate\, please make sure artwork is not damaged\, dirty or faded. If you have multiple or large pieces\, live in Ames\, and don’t have a way to transport them to the Octagon\, please contact office@octagonarts.org or admin@octagonarts.org and the Octagon staff will make arrangements for pick up. Also\, we are not able to accept jewelry for the sale. Once donated to the sale\, the Octagon has full ownership and discretion of any remaining\, unsold artwork.\n\nWe appreciate your commitment to the Octagon and our mission\, through your membership\, donations and attendance at events. If this is something you are interested in participating in\, you can bring your art pieces to the Octagon Monday through Thursday\, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.. If those times don’t work for you\, give us a call and we can set up a time to meet you.\n\nNOTE: Per IRS guidelines\, the Octagon is not able to provide a donation receipt for artwork since it’s a noncash charitable contribution\, and the Octagon is unable to establish a cash value for donated artwork.
URL:https://calendar.amesart.org/event/art-from-the-attic-octagon-art-sale-4/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://calendar.amesart.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Octagon-Art-Sale.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260516T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260516T150000
DTSTAMP:20260429T202009
CREATED:20260120T055304Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260120T055305Z
UID:10003514-1778940000-1778943600@calendar.amesart.org
SUMMARY:Conversation Circles: Japanese - Ames Public Library
DESCRIPTION:Gather (in person or online) for casual conversations in Japanese. Chat in your native language or get comfortable speaking in another language. \nTo join via Zoom\, click here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81706386269?pwd=h7HfoFApVWwea7yboGPUGsxXgRhD9w.1 \n 
URL:https://calendar.amesart.org/event/conversation-circles-french-ames-public-library-3-2/2026-05-16/
LOCATION:Ames Public Library\, 515 Douglas Ave\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://calendar.amesart.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/ConversationCircles-2022-01-INSTAGRAM-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260516T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260516T160000
DTSTAMP:20260429T202009
CREATED:20260120T043147Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260120T043147Z
UID:10003407-1778943600-1778947200@calendar.amesart.org
SUMMARY:Conversation Circles: Russian - Ames Public Library
DESCRIPTION:Gather (in person or online) for casual conversations in Russian. Chat in your native language or get comfortable speaking in another language. \nTo join via Zoom\, click here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81706386269?pwd=h7HfoFApVWwea7yboGPUGsxXgRhD9w.1
URL:https://calendar.amesart.org/event/conversation-circles-russian-ames-public-library-2/2026-05-16/
LOCATION:Ames Public Library\, 515 Douglas Ave\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://calendar.amesart.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/ConversationCircles-2022-01-INSTAGRAM-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260516T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260516T173000
DTSTAMP:20260429T202009
CREATED:20260120T044441Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260120T044441Z
UID:10003431-1778947200-1778952600@calendar.amesart.org
SUMMARY:Conversation Circles: French - Ames Public Library
DESCRIPTION:Gather (in person or online) for casual conversations in French. Chat in your native language or get comfortable speaking in another language. \nTo join via Zoom\, click here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81706386269?pwd=h7HfoFApVWwea7yboGPUGsxXgRhD9w.1
URL:https://calendar.amesart.org/event/conversation-circles-french-ames-public-library-2/2026-05-16/
LOCATION:Ames Public Library\, 515 Douglas Ave\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://calendar.amesart.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ConversationCircles-2022-01-INSTAGRAM.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260518T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260518T120000
DTSTAMP:20260429T202009
CREATED:20260418T190638Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260418T190850Z
UID:10005234-1779094800-1779105600@calendar.amesart.org
SUMMARY:Landscapes & Mindscapes: Reflections on the Worlds - Gallery in the Round
DESCRIPTION:Landscapes & Mindscapes: Reflections on the Worlds \nThe Gallery in the Round at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames will present Landscapes & Mindscapes: Reflections on the Worlds We Inhabit\, a solo exhibition by visual artist and physicist Sebastián Sánchez-Falero\, on view from April 4 through June 30. A public reception will be held on Sat.\, May 2 from 5 to 7 p.m.\, featuring an artist talk and discussion open to the public. \nBringing together two complementary bodies of work\, Landscapes & Mindscapes reflects on the natural and technological environments that shape contemporary life. One series\, Endless Horizons: Colors of the Iowa Plains\, contemplates the quiet beauty of Iowa’s land\, sky\, and seasons through photography showcasing light\, atmosphere\, and human presence. The other\, Minds on a Digital Mirror: Exploring the Human Tapestry\, uses AI-assisted visual art to explore what it means to be human in an age increasingly shaped by intelligent machines. \nTogether\, the exhibition places Iowa’s physical landscape in dialogue with the conceptual and technological worlds we now inhabit. It draws attention to the quiet beauty of the land while opening space to reflect on the less visible terrains of contemporary existence: memory\, imagination\, data\, simulation\, and the digital systems that increasingly surround us and accelerate human experience. As Sánchez-Falero puts it\, the exhibition grows from the question\, “What does it mean to be human here and now?” Holding these realities in the same room\, Landscapes & Mindscapes invites viewers to consider both the outer landscapes we dwell in and the inner or constructed mindscapes through which we make meaning. \nAt the same time\, the exhibition engages the question of art in the age of AI. With these technologies now firmly part of contemporary life\, and the genie already out of the bottle\, Sánchez-Falero approaches artificial intelligence not simply as a tool\, but as a new mimetic medium: one that emerges from human design and human data\, and that can therefore function as a technological mirror of contemporary culture and consciousness and biases. \nThrough the exhibition and artist talk\, he offers an accessible introduction to AI and large language models while reflecting on mimesis across painting\, photography\, and AI-generated imagery\, helping audiences place these new tools in a broader historical and artistic perspective. Sánchez-Falero is a visual artist and physicist based in Ames\, Iowa. Across his practice\, he explores identity through portraiture of life\, spaces\, and moments\, often working at the intersection of photography\, language and technology. His work moves between natural and conceptual space\, asking how human beings dwell in the world\, how they represent it\, and how they continually reshape both their environments and themselves. \nThe exhibition is on view at Gallery in the Round\, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames\,\n1015 Hyland Ave.\, Ames\, IA. \nViewing hours are Monday and Tues.\, 9 a.m. to noon\, and Wed. and Thurs.\, 1 to 4 p.m.\, or by appointment by calling 515-292-5960. \nMedia Contact:\nSebastián Sánchez-Falero\n515-372-5661\nsfs@sebastiansanchez.net\nwww.SebastianSanchez.net
URL:https://calendar.amesart.org/event/landscapes-mindscapes-reflections-on-the-worlds-gallery-in-the-round/2026-05-18/
LOCATION:Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames – Gallery in the Round\, 1015 Hyland Ave\, Ames\, IA 50014\, Ames\, IA\, 50014\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://calendar.amesart.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Sebastian-Sanchez-Falero-IOWA-Plains-High-Treslte-Trail-Bridge-Web-version.jpeg
ORGANIZER;CN="Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames - Gallery in the Round":MAILTO:gallery@uufames.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260518T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260518T160000
DTSTAMP:20260429T202009
CREATED:20251229T172121Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251229T172121Z
UID:10002358-1779098400-1779120000@calendar.amesart.org
SUMMARY:Terra Cotta Conservation in the Art on Campus Collection
DESCRIPTION:University Museums presents “Terra Cotta Conservation in the Art on Campus Collection\,” an intimate exhibition in the Christian Petersen Art Museum showcasing the innovative technology and conservation science used to preserve Danish-American artist Christian Petersen’s iconic terra cotta sculptures across Iowa State University’s campus. \nThe exhibition\, which opens one week prior to classes beginning for the semester\, features materials samples\, 3D scanning documentation\, and behind-the-scenes insights from the ongoing conservation of the “History of Dairying” fountain—a National Register of Historic Places landmark created in 1934 as one of the nation’s earliest Public Works of Art Project (PWAP) installations. \nDemocratic Material Meets Iowa Weather\nWorking within Depression-era constraints\, Iowa State College President Raymond M. Hughes directed Petersen to work in terra cotta—”perhaps in tile or pottery”— because ISU’s Ceramic Engineering Department could produce it on campus within the tight PWAP budget and timeline. The material was affordable and expressive—Petersen could create detailed public art for Iowa State’s students at a fraction of the cost of bronze or marble\, perfectly aligned with the land-grant mission of serving everyone\, not elite institutions. The hand-modeling technique allowed him to capture intricate details in works like the “Fountain of the Four Seasons\,” 1941 and “Three Athletes\,” 1936. \nISU Innovation in Action\nThe exhibition highlights the partnership between University Museums and ISU’s Manufacturing & Teaching Labs\, where Sawyer Krotz conducted comprehensive 3D scans of the “History of Dairying” fountain to create precise digital models for replication. The same technology was used to replicate the terra cotta for the “Fountain of the Four Seasons\,” recently re-dedicated after multi-year conservation. Iowa State’s terra cotta sculptures face challenges from freeze-thaw cycles. The same material that once drained Iowa’s agricultural fields (as drain tiles) graces campus buildings and public spaces\, requiring specialized preservation approaches developed through ISU’s materials science and engineering expertise. \n“Prior to 3D scanning\, successive replications of sculptures would be smaller than their originals due to approximately 5% shrinkage when terra cotta is fired\,” said Sydney Marshall\, Curator at University Museums. “A direct mold of the original would ultimately produce a smaller result because of that shrinkage. With 3D scanning\, we can digitally scale up the models by 5% before creating the molds\, ensuring the final fired terra cotta matches Petersen’s original dimensions exactly.” \nAfter 3D scanning\, the digital models are scaled up and used to create forms that terra cotta specialists use for traditional slip-casting methods. The active “History of Dairying” conservation project—which includes foundation repairs\, mural preservation\, and tier replication—is currently underway\, with fundraising still in progress to complete this (National Register) landmark preservation effort. \nExhibition Details\n“Terra Cotta Conservation in the Art on Campus Collection ” offers visitors an insider’s look at how Iowa State preserves and conserves historic objects—from the actual 3D scan data that captured Christian Petersen’s 1934 fountain details to materials samples showing 90 years of Iowa freeze-thaw damage . \nThis exhibition is curated by University Museums and sponsored by the Department of Mechanical Engineering and The John and Nancy Hayes Chair in Mechanical Engineering. \nThe exhibition opens January 12 and runs through December 18\, 2026\nWeekdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.\nChristian Petersen Art Museum’s Neva M. Petersen Gallery\nMorrill Hall\, Ground Floor Hallway\nFree admission \nSpecial Event\nMarch 10\, 5:30–6:30 PM\nTech Meets Tradition: Preserving Campus Art with Materials Engineering\nChristian Petersen Art Museum\, 003 Morrill Hall \nIn conjunction with the exhibition Terra Cotta Conservation in the Art on Campus Collection\, materials engineer Sawyer Krotz will join curator Sydney Marshall for a dynamic exploration of how technology is shaping the future of the conservation of sculpture. Following a guided tour of the exhibition\, watch a live demonstration of object scanning and learn how these tools can support the preservation and restoration of public art. Especially great for anyone interested in materials engineering\, museum conservation\, or historic preservation—no technical background required.\nFree and open to the public.
URL:https://calendar.amesart.org/event/terra-cotta-conservation-in-the-art-on-campus-collection/2026-05-18/
LOCATION:Christian Peterson Art Museum\, 1017 Morrill Hall\, 603 Morrill Rd\, Ames\, IA\, 50011\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://calendar.amesart.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Exhibition_Terra_Cotta_Email_Banner.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="University Museums":MAILTO:museums@iastate.edu
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260518T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260518T130000
DTSTAMP:20260429T202009
CREATED:20260120T003036Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260120T003036Z
UID:10003025-1779102000-1779109200@calendar.amesart.org
SUMMARY:Mary Greeley Medical Center at APL - Ames Public Library
DESCRIPTION:Staff from Mary Greeley Medical Center will be available in the Library to talk about inpatient and outpatient mental health services in the Ames community. \n\nMondays\, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. on the second floor
URL:https://calendar.amesart.org/event/mary-greeley-medical-center-at-apl-ames-public-library-2/2026-05-18/
LOCATION:Ames Public Library\, 515 Douglas Ave\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://calendar.amesart.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Ames-Public-Library.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260518T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260518T160000
DTSTAMP:20260429T202009
CREATED:20260202T195117Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260217T223918Z
UID:10004282-1779105600-1779120000@calendar.amesart.org
SUMMARY:America 250: Prairie\, Plows\, and the People's College - University Museums
DESCRIPTION:America 250: Prairie\, Plows\, and the People’s College\nFebruary – October 2026 \nAmerica 250: Prairie\, Plows\, and the People’s College honors key people\, moments\, objects\, and experiences centered within Farm House through more than 250 primary source objects. The exhibition presents six themes—Early Iowa State Agricultural College and Model Farm\, Early Iowa\, Immigration\, National Imagery\, Native Stories\, and Innovation and the Victorian Home—through decorative arts\, textiles\, furniture\, agricultural implements\, and documents that trace the land-grant university’s heritage and the nation’s evolution. \nVisitors will see George Washington Carver featured in the 1896 Bomb yearbook as the first Black man to enroll\, graduate\, and teach at Iowa State; a hand-painted Norwegian Rosemaling trunk from 1852 personalized with the name “Anna”; Mary Beaumont Welch’s 1884 cookbook from the first Department of Domestic Economy in the nation; the VEISHA bicycle from the 1890s; and early student yearbooks revealing timeless aspects of college life. \nReflective questions appear throughout the exhibition\, inviting visitors to consider how historical narratives continue to shape contemporary society. Topics range from the Morrill Act of 1862 and land-grant universities to immigration patterns in Iowa\, Indigenous history\, and Victorian-era technological innovation. \nOn July 4\, 2026\, the United States will commemorate the 250th anniversary of its founding. Farm House Museum\, built in 1860 as Iowa State’s first building\, has been central to the development of campus\, Iowa State heritage\, education\, innovation\, and national policy.
URL:https://calendar.amesart.org/event/america-250-prairie-plows-and-the-peoples-college-2/2026-05-18/
LOCATION:Farm House Museum\, 601 Farm House Lane\, Ames\, IA\, 50011\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://calendar.amesart.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/unnamed-1.png
ORGANIZER;CN="University Museums":MAILTO:museums@iastate.edu
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260518T123000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260518T133000
DTSTAMP:20260429T202009
CREATED:20260120T004540Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260120T004540Z
UID:10003112-1779107400-1779111000@calendar.amesart.org
SUMMARY:Conversation Circles: English - Ames Public Library
DESCRIPTION:Gather for casual conversations in English. The focus of this group is to help English Language Learners gain confidence and fluency in a comfortable and fun setting. Library staff will pair native and non-native speakers and provide themes\, questions\, and topics for conversation.
URL:https://calendar.amesart.org/event/conversation-circles-english-ames-public-library/2026-05-18/
LOCATION:Ames Public Library\, 515 Douglas Ave\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://calendar.amesart.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/ConversationCircles-2022-01-INSTAGRAM-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260518T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260518T180000
DTSTAMP:20260429T202009
CREATED:20260120T010608Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260120T010608Z
UID:10003140-1779123600-1779127200@calendar.amesart.org
SUMMARY:Conversation Circles: American Sign Language - Ames Public Library
DESCRIPTION:Gather (in person or online) for casual conversations in American Sign Language. Chat in your native language or get comfortable speaking in another language. \nTo join via Zoom\, click here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81706386269?pwd=h7HfoFApVWwea7yboGPUGsxXgRhD9w.1 \n 
URL:https://calendar.amesart.org/event/conversation-circles-american-sign-language-ames-public-library/2026-05-18/
LOCATION:Ames Public Library\, 515 Douglas Ave\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://calendar.amesart.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/ConversationCircles-2022-01-INSTAGRAM-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260519T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260519T120000
DTSTAMP:20260429T202009
CREATED:20260418T190638Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260418T190850Z
UID:10005235-1779181200-1779192000@calendar.amesart.org
SUMMARY:Landscapes & Mindscapes: Reflections on the Worlds - Gallery in the Round
DESCRIPTION:Landscapes & Mindscapes: Reflections on the Worlds \nThe Gallery in the Round at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames will present Landscapes & Mindscapes: Reflections on the Worlds We Inhabit\, a solo exhibition by visual artist and physicist Sebastián Sánchez-Falero\, on view from April 4 through June 30. A public reception will be held on Sat.\, May 2 from 5 to 7 p.m.\, featuring an artist talk and discussion open to the public. \nBringing together two complementary bodies of work\, Landscapes & Mindscapes reflects on the natural and technological environments that shape contemporary life. One series\, Endless Horizons: Colors of the Iowa Plains\, contemplates the quiet beauty of Iowa’s land\, sky\, and seasons through photography showcasing light\, atmosphere\, and human presence. The other\, Minds on a Digital Mirror: Exploring the Human Tapestry\, uses AI-assisted visual art to explore what it means to be human in an age increasingly shaped by intelligent machines. \nTogether\, the exhibition places Iowa’s physical landscape in dialogue with the conceptual and technological worlds we now inhabit. It draws attention to the quiet beauty of the land while opening space to reflect on the less visible terrains of contemporary existence: memory\, imagination\, data\, simulation\, and the digital systems that increasingly surround us and accelerate human experience. As Sánchez-Falero puts it\, the exhibition grows from the question\, “What does it mean to be human here and now?” Holding these realities in the same room\, Landscapes & Mindscapes invites viewers to consider both the outer landscapes we dwell in and the inner or constructed mindscapes through which we make meaning. \nAt the same time\, the exhibition engages the question of art in the age of AI. With these technologies now firmly part of contemporary life\, and the genie already out of the bottle\, Sánchez-Falero approaches artificial intelligence not simply as a tool\, but as a new mimetic medium: one that emerges from human design and human data\, and that can therefore function as a technological mirror of contemporary culture and consciousness and biases. \nThrough the exhibition and artist talk\, he offers an accessible introduction to AI and large language models while reflecting on mimesis across painting\, photography\, and AI-generated imagery\, helping audiences place these new tools in a broader historical and artistic perspective. Sánchez-Falero is a visual artist and physicist based in Ames\, Iowa. Across his practice\, he explores identity through portraiture of life\, spaces\, and moments\, often working at the intersection of photography\, language and technology. His work moves between natural and conceptual space\, asking how human beings dwell in the world\, how they represent it\, and how they continually reshape both their environments and themselves. \nThe exhibition is on view at Gallery in the Round\, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames\,\n1015 Hyland Ave.\, Ames\, IA. \nViewing hours are Monday and Tues.\, 9 a.m. to noon\, and Wed. and Thurs.\, 1 to 4 p.m.\, or by appointment by calling 515-292-5960. \nMedia Contact:\nSebastián Sánchez-Falero\n515-372-5661\nsfs@sebastiansanchez.net\nwww.SebastianSanchez.net
URL:https://calendar.amesart.org/event/landscapes-mindscapes-reflections-on-the-worlds-gallery-in-the-round/2026-05-19/
LOCATION:Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames – Gallery in the Round\, 1015 Hyland Ave\, Ames\, IA 50014\, Ames\, IA\, 50014\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://calendar.amesart.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Sebastian-Sanchez-Falero-IOWA-Plains-High-Treslte-Trail-Bridge-Web-version.jpeg
ORGANIZER;CN="Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames - Gallery in the Round":MAILTO:gallery@uufames.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260519T091500
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260519T100000
DTSTAMP:20260429T202009
CREATED:20260124T184504Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260124T184504Z
UID:10003676-1779182100-1779184800@calendar.amesart.org
SUMMARY:Exploring Art May\, 18 months - 3’s - Octagon Center for the Arts
DESCRIPTION:Exploring Art\, 18 months – 3’s with an adult partner\nTuesdays\, 9:15 – 10 a.m.\n$65 for 4 week sessions\nMay 5 – 26 \nChildren and their adult partner will explore art together in a relaxed environment. Toddlers will create their own works of art while learning new skills like arranging\, gluing\, coloring over texture\, painting with different objects\, moving through transitions and imitating art making processes. Activities will focus on age appropriate\, playful\, artistic and sensory materials. \nClass size limit: 6 child/adult pairs.\nInstructor: Beth Weninger\nHunziker Studio
URL:https://calendar.amesart.org/event/exploring-art-may-18-months-3s-octagon-center-for-the-arts/2026-05-19/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://calendar.amesart.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/art-cat.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260519T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260519T160000
DTSTAMP:20260429T202009
CREATED:20251229T172121Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251229T172121Z
UID:10002359-1779184800-1779206400@calendar.amesart.org
SUMMARY:Terra Cotta Conservation in the Art on Campus Collection
DESCRIPTION:University Museums presents “Terra Cotta Conservation in the Art on Campus Collection\,” an intimate exhibition in the Christian Petersen Art Museum showcasing the innovative technology and conservation science used to preserve Danish-American artist Christian Petersen’s iconic terra cotta sculptures across Iowa State University’s campus. \nThe exhibition\, which opens one week prior to classes beginning for the semester\, features materials samples\, 3D scanning documentation\, and behind-the-scenes insights from the ongoing conservation of the “History of Dairying” fountain—a National Register of Historic Places landmark created in 1934 as one of the nation’s earliest Public Works of Art Project (PWAP) installations. \nDemocratic Material Meets Iowa Weather\nWorking within Depression-era constraints\, Iowa State College President Raymond M. Hughes directed Petersen to work in terra cotta—”perhaps in tile or pottery”— because ISU’s Ceramic Engineering Department could produce it on campus within the tight PWAP budget and timeline. The material was affordable and expressive—Petersen could create detailed public art for Iowa State’s students at a fraction of the cost of bronze or marble\, perfectly aligned with the land-grant mission of serving everyone\, not elite institutions. The hand-modeling technique allowed him to capture intricate details in works like the “Fountain of the Four Seasons\,” 1941 and “Three Athletes\,” 1936. \nISU Innovation in Action\nThe exhibition highlights the partnership between University Museums and ISU’s Manufacturing & Teaching Labs\, where Sawyer Krotz conducted comprehensive 3D scans of the “History of Dairying” fountain to create precise digital models for replication. The same technology was used to replicate the terra cotta for the “Fountain of the Four Seasons\,” recently re-dedicated after multi-year conservation. Iowa State’s terra cotta sculptures face challenges from freeze-thaw cycles. The same material that once drained Iowa’s agricultural fields (as drain tiles) graces campus buildings and public spaces\, requiring specialized preservation approaches developed through ISU’s materials science and engineering expertise. \n“Prior to 3D scanning\, successive replications of sculptures would be smaller than their originals due to approximately 5% shrinkage when terra cotta is fired\,” said Sydney Marshall\, Curator at University Museums. “A direct mold of the original would ultimately produce a smaller result because of that shrinkage. With 3D scanning\, we can digitally scale up the models by 5% before creating the molds\, ensuring the final fired terra cotta matches Petersen’s original dimensions exactly.” \nAfter 3D scanning\, the digital models are scaled up and used to create forms that terra cotta specialists use for traditional slip-casting methods. The active “History of Dairying” conservation project—which includes foundation repairs\, mural preservation\, and tier replication—is currently underway\, with fundraising still in progress to complete this (National Register) landmark preservation effort. \nExhibition Details\n“Terra Cotta Conservation in the Art on Campus Collection ” offers visitors an insider’s look at how Iowa State preserves and conserves historic objects—from the actual 3D scan data that captured Christian Petersen’s 1934 fountain details to materials samples showing 90 years of Iowa freeze-thaw damage . \nThis exhibition is curated by University Museums and sponsored by the Department of Mechanical Engineering and The John and Nancy Hayes Chair in Mechanical Engineering. \nThe exhibition opens January 12 and runs through December 18\, 2026\nWeekdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.\nChristian Petersen Art Museum’s Neva M. Petersen Gallery\nMorrill Hall\, Ground Floor Hallway\nFree admission \nSpecial Event\nMarch 10\, 5:30–6:30 PM\nTech Meets Tradition: Preserving Campus Art with Materials Engineering\nChristian Petersen Art Museum\, 003 Morrill Hall \nIn conjunction with the exhibition Terra Cotta Conservation in the Art on Campus Collection\, materials engineer Sawyer Krotz will join curator Sydney Marshall for a dynamic exploration of how technology is shaping the future of the conservation of sculpture. Following a guided tour of the exhibition\, watch a live demonstration of object scanning and learn how these tools can support the preservation and restoration of public art. Especially great for anyone interested in materials engineering\, museum conservation\, or historic preservation—no technical background required.\nFree and open to the public.
URL:https://calendar.amesart.org/event/terra-cotta-conservation-in-the-art-on-campus-collection/2026-05-19/
LOCATION:Christian Peterson Art Museum\, 1017 Morrill Hall\, 603 Morrill Rd\, Ames\, IA\, 50011\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://calendar.amesart.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Exhibition_Terra_Cotta_Email_Banner.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="University Museums":MAILTO:museums@iastate.edu
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260519T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260519T160000
DTSTAMP:20260429T202009
CREATED:20260202T195117Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260217T223918Z
UID:10004283-1779192000-1779206400@calendar.amesart.org
SUMMARY:America 250: Prairie\, Plows\, and the People's College - University Museums
DESCRIPTION:America 250: Prairie\, Plows\, and the People’s College\nFebruary – October 2026 \nAmerica 250: Prairie\, Plows\, and the People’s College honors key people\, moments\, objects\, and experiences centered within Farm House through more than 250 primary source objects. The exhibition presents six themes—Early Iowa State Agricultural College and Model Farm\, Early Iowa\, Immigration\, National Imagery\, Native Stories\, and Innovation and the Victorian Home—through decorative arts\, textiles\, furniture\, agricultural implements\, and documents that trace the land-grant university’s heritage and the nation’s evolution. \nVisitors will see George Washington Carver featured in the 1896 Bomb yearbook as the first Black man to enroll\, graduate\, and teach at Iowa State; a hand-painted Norwegian Rosemaling trunk from 1852 personalized with the name “Anna”; Mary Beaumont Welch’s 1884 cookbook from the first Department of Domestic Economy in the nation; the VEISHA bicycle from the 1890s; and early student yearbooks revealing timeless aspects of college life. \nReflective questions appear throughout the exhibition\, inviting visitors to consider how historical narratives continue to shape contemporary society. Topics range from the Morrill Act of 1862 and land-grant universities to immigration patterns in Iowa\, Indigenous history\, and Victorian-era technological innovation. \nOn July 4\, 2026\, the United States will commemorate the 250th anniversary of its founding. Farm House Museum\, built in 1860 as Iowa State’s first building\, has been central to the development of campus\, Iowa State heritage\, education\, innovation\, and national policy.
URL:https://calendar.amesart.org/event/america-250-prairie-plows-and-the-peoples-college-2/2026-05-19/
LOCATION:Farm House Museum\, 601 Farm House Lane\, Ames\, IA\, 50011\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://calendar.amesart.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/unnamed-1.png
ORGANIZER;CN="University Museums":MAILTO:museums@iastate.edu
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260519T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260519T180000
DTSTAMP:20260429T202009
CREATED:20260120T021613Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260120T021613Z
UID:10003241-1779210000-1779213600@calendar.amesart.org
SUMMARY:International Community Meetup - Ames Public Library
DESCRIPTION:Join fellow international residents on the third Tuesday of each month for fun activities and culture-sharing. \nPresented in partnership with Ames Public Library and Iowa State University International Students and Scholars Office.
URL:https://calendar.amesart.org/event/international-community-meetup-ames-public-library/2026-05-19/
LOCATION:Ames Public Library\, 515 Douglas Ave\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://calendar.amesart.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/InternationalCommunityMeetup-NewGraphic-2025-07-FB-INSTAGRAM-02_0.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260519T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260519T190000
DTSTAMP:20260429T202009
CREATED:20260120T022505Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260120T022529Z
UID:10003249-1779211800-1779217200@calendar.amesart.org
SUMMARY:Dog-Eared Books Thrills & Chills Book Club - Ames Public Library
DESCRIPTION:Thrills & Chills is the book club you’ll want to join if you love a bit of spookiness while reading. It’s led by Jordan\, a fan of all types of mystery and thriller novels. Explore the mystery/thriller genre with each read in this chilling but super chill book club. PEO Room \n2026 \n\nJanuary 20 – Never Saw Me Coming by Vera Kurian\nFebruary 17 – So Happy Together by Olivia Worley\nMarch 17 – Missing Sam by Thrity Umrigar\nApril 21 – The Frozen People by Elly Griffiths\nMay 19 – Seven Reasons to Murder Your Dinner Guests by KJ Whittle\nJune 16 – The Midnight Taxi by Yosha Gunasekera\n\nPresented in partnership with Ames Public Library and Dog-Eared Books.
URL:https://calendar.amesart.org/event/dog-eared-books-thrills-chills-book-club/2026-05-19/
LOCATION:IA
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://calendar.amesart.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Essential-Books.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260519T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260519T190000
DTSTAMP:20260429T202009
CREATED:20251108T011046Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251108T011350Z
UID:10001657-1779213600-1779217200@calendar.amesart.org
SUMMARY:Floral Design Workshops - Reiman Gardens
DESCRIPTION:Learn to create beautiful floral arrangements to take home – a different style each month!\nThird Tuesday of each month\, 6 – 7 p.m. \nJoin cherished instructor and State Fair Master Floral Judge Sandy Gossman for a different monthly hands-on floral arrangement workshop. Designs range from contemporary vase arrangements to structured forms using tropical leaves\, dried materials\, event florals\, and more! Materials include a mixture of market flowers and seasonal flowers cut fresh from Reiman Gardens. \n\n2025 Dates & Topics\n\nNovember 18: Woody & Wild\nDecember 16: Solstice Centerpieces (oasis)\n\n2026 Dates & Topics\n\nJanuary 20: Grocer’s Roses\nFebruary 17: Floral Flurries\nMarch 17: Green Goodness\nApril 21: Fairy Garden Tea Cups (2 tea cups)\nMay 19: Tropic Like It’s Hot\nJune 16: Herbal Centerpieces (oasis)\nJuly 21:Miniature Masterpieces (vases or oasis)\nAugust 18: Big Bloom Bunches\nSeptember 15: Colorful Crescents\nOctober 20: Succulent Pumpkins (pumpkin)\nNovember 17: Grassy Swags (wire frame)\nDecember 15: Winter Ikebana (oasis or frogs)\n\nCOPY LINK \n\nPrices\n\n\n$62\nGeneral Public Any age\n\n\n$50\nMembers Must Present Membership Card at Check-In\n\n\n$43\nISU Students Valid with Student ID
URL:https://calendar.amesart.org/event/floral-design-workshops-reiman-gardens/2026-05-19/
LOCATION:Reiman Gardens\, 1407 University Blvd\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://calendar.amesart.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Floral.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Reiman Gardens":MAILTO:reimangardens@iastate.edu
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260519T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260519T200000
DTSTAMP:20260429T202009
CREATED:20260124T161611Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260124T161611Z
UID:10003571-1779213600-1779220800@calendar.amesart.org
SUMMARY:Portrait Painting Ages\, 18+ - Octagon Center for the Arts
DESCRIPTION:Art of the Portrait\,  Ages 18+\nTuesdays\, 6 – 8 p.m.\nFebruary 10 – 24 (3 weeks)\n$85 \nStudents will explore the art of painting portraits.  Students have the choice to paint from a photo\, or paint a self-portrait by using a mirror. Students will learn to explore color\, likeness\, and the many ways of depicting a person on canvas.\nOil paint focused\, but other media are also welcome. All skill levels are welcome! \nInstructor: Zack Bukovich\nClass Size Limit: 10\nStudio Location: TBA \nStudent supply list:\nChoose preferred type of Paint: Gouache\, Acrylic or Oil Paint \n\n4-6 canvases\, panels or paper\, between 9 x12” and 16 x 20”\n\nGouache or Acrylic Supplies: \n\nGouache or Acrylic paints: A simple color palette of basic colors (red\, blue\, yellow\, black\, white and brown).\nBrushes*\n\nOil Painting Supplies: \n\nOil Paints:  Ivory Black\, Yellow Ochre\, Titanium white\, warm yellow and cool yellow (usually cadmium yellow and lemon yellow)\, warm red and cool red (usually cadmium red and alizarin crimson) and ultramarine blue; other colors of your choice (bring what you have).\nMixed sized brushes (can be bristle or synthetic)*\nPalette Knife\nPalette surface (sheets are fine)\nOdorless Turpentine or Gamsol\nPaint mixing tray\n*The Octagon will provide  paper towels\, pencils\, gently used paintbrushes of varying type and size.
URL:https://calendar.amesart.org/event/portrait-painting-ages-18-octagon-center-for-the-arts-2/2026-05-19/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://calendar.amesart.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Self_Portrait_Class_brlmev.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260519T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260519T203000
DTSTAMP:20260429T202009
CREATED:20260120T023043Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260120T023043Z
UID:10003272-1779217200-1779222600@calendar.amesart.org
SUMMARY:Conversation Circles: Spanish - Ames Public Library
DESCRIPTION:Gather (in person or online) for casual conversations in Spanish. Chat in your native language or get comfortable speaking in another language. Dale H. Ross Board Room \nTo join via Zoom\, click here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81706386269?pwd=h7HfoFApVWwea7yboGPUGsxXgRhD9w.1 \n 
URL:https://calendar.amesart.org/event/conversation-circles-spanish-ames-public-library-2/2026-05-19/
LOCATION:Ames Public Library\, 515 Douglas Ave\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://calendar.amesart.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/ConversationCircles-2022-01-INSTAGRAM-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260519T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260519T210000
DTSTAMP:20260429T202009
CREATED:20260119T233333Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260119T233333Z
UID:10002935-1779217200-1779224400@calendar.amesart.org
SUMMARY:Ames' Athletes Who Made it to the Big Time - Ames History Museum
DESCRIPTION:Ames’ Athletes Who Made it to the Big Time \nTues.\, May 19\, 7 p.m. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAttend in person: Ames Public Library\, 515 Douglas Ave. \nAttend virtually: Register for the Zoom link \nSpeaker: Tom Kroeschell\, former Iowa State Athletics Communications Director \nAmes has been an outsized source of athletic talent that rose far above their Story County roots. Kroeschell talks about the achievement of Ames natives beyond the exploits of Fred Hoiberg and Harrison Barnes. This includes pioneering women’s competitors from Karen Koellner to Erica Lynn-Douglas who put Ames on the map in high school and collegiate competition.
URL:https://calendar.amesart.org/event/ames-athletes-who-made-it-to-the-big-time-ames-history-museum/
LOCATION:Ames Public Library\, 515 Douglas Ave\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://calendar.amesart.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AmesHistoryMuseumLOGO.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Ames History Museum":MAILTO:info@ameshistory.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260520T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260520T110000
DTSTAMP:20260429T202009
CREATED:20260124T184831Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260124T184831Z
UID:10003680-1779271200-1779274800@calendar.amesart.org
SUMMARY:Creative Explorations May\, Ages 3 - 5 - Octagon Center for the Arts
DESCRIPTION:Creative Explorations\, 3 – 5 years with an adult partner*\nWednesdays\, 10 – 11 a.m.\n$65 for each 4 week session\nMay 6 – 27 \nEnjoy creative learning through the art making process using a variety of sensory materials\, traditional and nontraditional supplies. New skills will be practiced\, while the “process of making” will be the fundamental goal for the child. Materials like paint\, charcoal\, fabric\, plastic\, sculpture media\, glue\, cardboard\, paper\, etc. will be used. The use of scissors and proper handling of materials and color mixing will also be explored. Guardians are encouraged to participate in class activities. \n*Children who are 5 years old may be more developmentally willing/able to work alone on their projects. If so\, guardians are encouraged to stay on site either in the studio or in the adjacent lounge area during class.\nClass limit: 6 children/adult pairs\nInstructor: Beth Weninger\nHunziker Studio
URL:https://calendar.amesart.org/event/creative-explorations-may-ages-3-5-octagon-center-for-the-arts/2026-05-20/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://calendar.amesart.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/creative-kids-art.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260520T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260520T120000
DTSTAMP:20260429T202009
CREATED:20260120T030308Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260120T030308Z
UID:10003278-1779271200-1779278400@calendar.amesart.org
SUMMARY:Genealogy Plus: Topic TBA - Ames Public Library
DESCRIPTION:Topic —  \nSpeaker —  \nDescription coming to the Ames Public Library website soon! \nPARTICIPATE IN PERSON OR ONLINE.\nA Zoom link will be posted on the Ames Public Library page before the event. \nPresented in partnership with Ames Public Library and Story County Genealogical Society.
URL:https://calendar.amesart.org/event/genealogy-plus-topic-tba-ames-public-library/
LOCATION:Ames Public Library\, 515 Douglas Ave\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://calendar.amesart.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/GenealogyPlus-Generic-2022-FB-INSTAGRAM-02.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260520T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260520T160000
DTSTAMP:20260429T202009
CREATED:20251229T172121Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251229T172121Z
UID:10002360-1779271200-1779292800@calendar.amesart.org
SUMMARY:Terra Cotta Conservation in the Art on Campus Collection
DESCRIPTION:University Museums presents “Terra Cotta Conservation in the Art on Campus Collection\,” an intimate exhibition in the Christian Petersen Art Museum showcasing the innovative technology and conservation science used to preserve Danish-American artist Christian Petersen’s iconic terra cotta sculptures across Iowa State University’s campus. \nThe exhibition\, which opens one week prior to classes beginning for the semester\, features materials samples\, 3D scanning documentation\, and behind-the-scenes insights from the ongoing conservation of the “History of Dairying” fountain—a National Register of Historic Places landmark created in 1934 as one of the nation’s earliest Public Works of Art Project (PWAP) installations. \nDemocratic Material Meets Iowa Weather\nWorking within Depression-era constraints\, Iowa State College President Raymond M. Hughes directed Petersen to work in terra cotta—”perhaps in tile or pottery”— because ISU’s Ceramic Engineering Department could produce it on campus within the tight PWAP budget and timeline. The material was affordable and expressive—Petersen could create detailed public art for Iowa State’s students at a fraction of the cost of bronze or marble\, perfectly aligned with the land-grant mission of serving everyone\, not elite institutions. The hand-modeling technique allowed him to capture intricate details in works like the “Fountain of the Four Seasons\,” 1941 and “Three Athletes\,” 1936. \nISU Innovation in Action\nThe exhibition highlights the partnership between University Museums and ISU’s Manufacturing & Teaching Labs\, where Sawyer Krotz conducted comprehensive 3D scans of the “History of Dairying” fountain to create precise digital models for replication. The same technology was used to replicate the terra cotta for the “Fountain of the Four Seasons\,” recently re-dedicated after multi-year conservation. Iowa State’s terra cotta sculptures face challenges from freeze-thaw cycles. The same material that once drained Iowa’s agricultural fields (as drain tiles) graces campus buildings and public spaces\, requiring specialized preservation approaches developed through ISU’s materials science and engineering expertise. \n“Prior to 3D scanning\, successive replications of sculptures would be smaller than their originals due to approximately 5% shrinkage when terra cotta is fired\,” said Sydney Marshall\, Curator at University Museums. “A direct mold of the original would ultimately produce a smaller result because of that shrinkage. With 3D scanning\, we can digitally scale up the models by 5% before creating the molds\, ensuring the final fired terra cotta matches Petersen’s original dimensions exactly.” \nAfter 3D scanning\, the digital models are scaled up and used to create forms that terra cotta specialists use for traditional slip-casting methods. The active “History of Dairying” conservation project—which includes foundation repairs\, mural preservation\, and tier replication—is currently underway\, with fundraising still in progress to complete this (National Register) landmark preservation effort. \nExhibition Details\n“Terra Cotta Conservation in the Art on Campus Collection ” offers visitors an insider’s look at how Iowa State preserves and conserves historic objects—from the actual 3D scan data that captured Christian Petersen’s 1934 fountain details to materials samples showing 90 years of Iowa freeze-thaw damage . \nThis exhibition is curated by University Museums and sponsored by the Department of Mechanical Engineering and The John and Nancy Hayes Chair in Mechanical Engineering. \nThe exhibition opens January 12 and runs through December 18\, 2026\nWeekdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.\nChristian Petersen Art Museum’s Neva M. Petersen Gallery\nMorrill Hall\, Ground Floor Hallway\nFree admission \nSpecial Event\nMarch 10\, 5:30–6:30 PM\nTech Meets Tradition: Preserving Campus Art with Materials Engineering\nChristian Petersen Art Museum\, 003 Morrill Hall \nIn conjunction with the exhibition Terra Cotta Conservation in the Art on Campus Collection\, materials engineer Sawyer Krotz will join curator Sydney Marshall for a dynamic exploration of how technology is shaping the future of the conservation of sculpture. Following a guided tour of the exhibition\, watch a live demonstration of object scanning and learn how these tools can support the preservation and restoration of public art. Especially great for anyone interested in materials engineering\, museum conservation\, or historic preservation—no technical background required.\nFree and open to the public.
URL:https://calendar.amesart.org/event/terra-cotta-conservation-in-the-art-on-campus-collection/2026-05-20/
LOCATION:Christian Peterson Art Museum\, 1017 Morrill Hall\, 603 Morrill Rd\, Ames\, IA\, 50011\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://calendar.amesart.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Exhibition_Terra_Cotta_Email_Banner.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="University Museums":MAILTO:museums@iastate.edu
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260520T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260520T160000
DTSTAMP:20260429T202009
CREATED:20260202T195117Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260217T223918Z
UID:10004284-1779278400-1779292800@calendar.amesart.org
SUMMARY:America 250: Prairie\, Plows\, and the People's College - University Museums
DESCRIPTION:America 250: Prairie\, Plows\, and the People’s College\nFebruary – October 2026 \nAmerica 250: Prairie\, Plows\, and the People’s College honors key people\, moments\, objects\, and experiences centered within Farm House through more than 250 primary source objects. The exhibition presents six themes—Early Iowa State Agricultural College and Model Farm\, Early Iowa\, Immigration\, National Imagery\, Native Stories\, and Innovation and the Victorian Home—through decorative arts\, textiles\, furniture\, agricultural implements\, and documents that trace the land-grant university’s heritage and the nation’s evolution. \nVisitors will see George Washington Carver featured in the 1896 Bomb yearbook as the first Black man to enroll\, graduate\, and teach at Iowa State; a hand-painted Norwegian Rosemaling trunk from 1852 personalized with the name “Anna”; Mary Beaumont Welch’s 1884 cookbook from the first Department of Domestic Economy in the nation; the VEISHA bicycle from the 1890s; and early student yearbooks revealing timeless aspects of college life. \nReflective questions appear throughout the exhibition\, inviting visitors to consider how historical narratives continue to shape contemporary society. Topics range from the Morrill Act of 1862 and land-grant universities to immigration patterns in Iowa\, Indigenous history\, and Victorian-era technological innovation. \nOn July 4\, 2026\, the United States will commemorate the 250th anniversary of its founding. Farm House Museum\, built in 1860 as Iowa State’s first building\, has been central to the development of campus\, Iowa State heritage\, education\, innovation\, and national policy.
URL:https://calendar.amesart.org/event/america-250-prairie-plows-and-the-peoples-college-2/2026-05-20/
LOCATION:Farm House Museum\, 601 Farm House Lane\, Ames\, IA\, 50011\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://calendar.amesart.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/unnamed-1.png
ORGANIZER;CN="University Museums":MAILTO:museums@iastate.edu
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260520T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260520T160000
DTSTAMP:20260429T202009
CREATED:20260418T193819Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260418T193821Z
UID:10005337-1779282000-1779292800@calendar.amesart.org
SUMMARY:Landscapes & Mindscapes: Reflections on the Worlds - Gallery in the Round
DESCRIPTION:Landscapes & Mindscapes: Reflections on the Worlds \nThe Gallery in the Round at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames will present Landscapes & Mindscapes: Reflections on the Worlds We Inhabit\, a solo exhibition by visual artist and physicist Sebastián Sánchez-Falero\, on view from April 4 through June 30. A public reception will be held on Sat.\, May 2 from 5 to 7 p.m.\, featuring an artist talk and discussion open to the public. \nBringing together two complementary bodies of work\, Landscapes & Mindscapes reflects on the natural and technological environments that shape contemporary life. One series\, Endless Horizons: Colors of the Iowa Plains\, contemplates the quiet beauty of Iowa’s land\, sky\, and seasons through photography showcasing light\, atmosphere\, and human presence. The other\, Minds on a Digital Mirror: Exploring the Human Tapestry\, uses AI-assisted visual art to explore what it means to be human in an age increasingly shaped by intelligent machines. \nTogether\, the exhibition places Iowa’s physical landscape in dialogue with the conceptual and technological worlds we now inhabit. It draws attention to the quiet beauty of the land while opening space to reflect on the less visible terrains of contemporary existence: memory\, imagination\, data\, simulation\, and the digital systems that increasingly surround us and accelerate human experience. As Sánchez-Falero puts it\, the exhibition grows from the question\, “What does it mean to be human here and now?” Holding these realities in the same room\, Landscapes & Mindscapes invites viewers to consider both the outer landscapes we dwell in and the inner or constructed mindscapes through which we make meaning. \nAt the same time\, the exhibition engages the question of art in the age of AI. With these technologies now firmly part of contemporary life\, and the genie already out of the bottle\, Sánchez-Falero approaches artificial intelligence not simply as a tool\, but as a new mimetic medium: one that emerges from human design and human data\, and that can therefore function as a technological mirror of contemporary culture and consciousness and biases. \nThrough the exhibition and artist talk\, he offers an accessible introduction to AI and large language models while reflecting on mimesis across painting\, photography\, and AI-generated imagery\, helping audiences place these new tools in a broader historical and artistic perspective. Sánchez-Falero is a visual artist and physicist based in Ames\, Iowa. Across his practice\, he explores identity through portraiture of life\, spaces\, and moments\, often working at the intersection of photography\, language and technology. His work moves between natural and conceptual space\, asking how human beings dwell in the world\, how they represent it\, and how they continually reshape both their environments and themselves. \nThe exhibition is on view at Gallery in the Round\, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames\,\n1015 Hyland Ave.\, Ames\, IA. \nViewing hours are Monday and Tues.\, 9 a.m. to noon\, and Wed. and Thurs.\, 1 to 4 p.m.\, or by appointment by calling 515-292-5960. \nMedia Contact:\nSebastián Sánchez-Falero\n515-372-5661\nsfs@sebastiansanchez.net\nwww.SebastianSanchez.net
URL:https://calendar.amesart.org/event/landscapes-mindscapes-reflections-on-the-worlds-gallery-in-the-round-2-2/2026-05-20/
LOCATION:Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames – Gallery in the Round\, 1015 Hyland Ave\, Ames\, IA 50014\, Ames\, IA\, 50014\, United States
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ORGANIZER;CN="Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames - Gallery in the Round":MAILTO:gallery@uufames.org
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260520T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260520T180000
DTSTAMP:20260429T202009
CREATED:20260120T031909Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260120T031909Z
UID:10003302-1779292800-1779300000@calendar.amesart.org
SUMMARY:Community & Family Resources at APL
DESCRIPTION:Staff from Community and Family Resources will be available in the Library to provide information about addiction\, substance abuse treatment\, problem gambling treatment\, and mental health therapy. \nThey can also provide assistance in getting started in any of these services including filling out some of the pre-appointment forms. \n\nFirst Wednesday of Each Month\, 10am-12pm on the second floor\nThird Wednesday of Each Month\, 4-6pm on the second floor\n\nLisa Fawcett Nilsson Study Room – 2nd Floor
URL:https://calendar.amesart.org/event/community-family-resources-at-apl/2026-05-20/
LOCATION:Ames Public Library\, 515 Douglas Ave\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260520T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260520T190000
DTSTAMP:20260429T202009
CREATED:20260124T192239Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260124T192239Z
UID:10003755-1779300000-1779303600@calendar.amesart.org
SUMMARY:Beginner Belly Dance\, Ages 12+ - Octagon Center for the Arts
DESCRIPTION: Beginner Belly Dance\, Ages 12+\nWednesdays\, 6 – 7 pm\nApril 8 – May 20 (7 weeks) $60 \nActivate and strengthen your core by exploring a full-body dance flow with transcultural fusion belly dancer and instructor Sara\, of Mirage Middle Eastern Dance Troupe.  Get yourself moving as you learn and practice central elements at the heart of belly dance such as balance\, strength\, and musicality. Get familiar with different muscles and have fun with short dance combos\, with opportunities to layer moves or add complexity as you see fit. The perfect class for bodies of all forms and abilities. \nInstructor: Sara Merritt\nClass Size Limit: 12\nStudio Location: Dance Studio\, 2nd Floor
URL:https://calendar.amesart.org/event/beginner-belly-dance-ages-12-octagon-center-for-the-arts/2026-05-20/
LOCATION:Octagon Center for the Arts\, 427 Douglas Avenue\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://calendar.amesart.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Belly_Dancing.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Octagon Center for the Arts":MAILTO:info@octagonarts.org
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260520T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260520T203000
DTSTAMP:20260429T202009
CREATED:20251103T062528Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251103T063143Z
UID:10001458-1779301800-1779309000@calendar.amesart.org
SUMMARY:Bored? Games! - Ames Public Library
DESCRIPTION:Will you punch your Ticket to Ride or will your Splendor attract noble patrons? Join us for adult game night every month to find out! Tabletop games will be available to play\, or bring a favorite to share. All gaming experience levels are welcome. Snacks will be provided. Everyone 18 or older is welcome. \nSupported by the Ames Public Library Friends Foundation. \n\n515 Douglas Avenue\nAmes\, IA 50010\n(515) 239-5646 \n\nMon. – Thurs.: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.\nFri. & Sat.: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.\nSun: 1 – 5 p.m.
URL:https://calendar.amesart.org/event/bored-games-ames-public-library/2026-05-20/
LOCATION:Ames Public Library\, 515 Douglas Ave\, Ames\, IA\, 50010\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://calendar.amesart.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/BoredGames-2025-06-18-FB-INSTAGRAM-02.png
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END:VCALENDAR