Shakespeare, Marimba, Anniversaries & More for June & July IAS

June and July are overflowing with arts events and anniversary celebrations. This month’s Iowa Arts Showcase features:

·         Salisbury House Executive Director, Kit Curran, and Curator/Historian, Megan Stout Sibbel, detailing upcoming performances of Shakespeare’s King Lear and an art show exhibiting works by 14 local artists

·         The Charles H. MacNider Art Museum’s Associate Curator & Registrar, Mara Linskey-Deegan, and Board of Directors member, Barb MacGregor, outlining the happenings in celebration of the MacNider’s 50^th anniversary

·         The Heartland Marimba Festival’s Artistic Director and Performing Artist, Dr. Matthew Coley, presenting exciting details about the festival’s 2016 summer events

·         Kent Shankle, Executive Director of the Waterloo Center for the Arts and Chawne Paige, Curator, revealing the rundown on the WCA’s 50th anniversary and an exhibit in celebration of the 125th birthday observance of world-famous Iowa artist Grant Wood

·         Directors of the Waterloo and Cedar Falls Municipal Bands, Bill Shepherd and Dennis Downs, diving into the bands’ 90^th and 125^th-year commemorations

The Salisbury House in Des Moines is presenting performances of Shakespeare’s King Lear with the Repertory Theatre of Iowa June 16-19. Executive Director, Kit Curran, and Curator/Historian, Megan Stout Sibbel, share details about the outdoor performances. They also give insight into their art show opening in The Garage on June 23^rd. The exhibit will showcase works by 14 local artists.

The Charles H. MacNider Art Museum in Mason City is holding its “Fifty Years Eye to Eye” festival in celebration of its 50^th anniversary June 21-24. Mara Linskey-Deegan, Associate Curator & Registrar, and Barb MacGregor, member of the MacNider Board of Directors, outline the events. The week includes a showing of the film Tim’s Vermeer with entrepreneur and former Iowan, Tim Jenison, as the festival’s special anniversary guest.

Dr. Matthew Coley, Artistic Director and Performing Artist of the Heartland Marimba Festival, presents exciting details about the festival’s 2016 summer happenings. The group, including artists Matthew Coley, Christine Augspurger, Kyle Flens, Sean Kleve and Andrew Veit, tours Iowa June 26-July 21. The Heartland Marimba Festival also holds their “Academy Out West” June 4-13 in Cedar City, Utah.

Kent Shankle, Waterloo Center for the Arts Executive Director and Chawne Paige, Curator, reveal the rundown on the Center’s 50^th anniversary. An exhibit in honor of world-famous Iowa artist Grant Wood’s 125^th birthday entitled “Lithographs & the History of Penmanship” kicks off the celebration. And Manager of Collections and Exhibitions at the Figge Art Museum, Andrew Wallace reflects on Wood’s legacy.

Bill Shepherd and Dennis Downs, directors of the Waterloo and Cedar Falls Municipal bands, dive into the rich histories of their ensembles. The Waterloo Municipal Band celebrates its 90^th Anniversary Season this year, and the Cedar Falls Municipal Band celebrates its 125^th consecutive season. Bill and Dennis also mention other municipal and community bands that are performing across Iowa.