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Please touch the art: Iowa artist explores disability rights in her multi-sensory work

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Talk of Iowa, hosted by Charity Nebbe

If you’ve spent much time in Des Moines or Iowa City, you're probably familiar with some of the work of artist Jill Wells.

She is the artist behind stunning and moving murals in both cities including "Future" on the walls of the Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families in Des Moines and "The Oracles of Iowa City" on the Capitol Street Parking Ramp in Iowa City. She creates smaller works as well and has an exhibition called "Feel" on display at Plymouth Art Gallery at Plymouth Congregational Church in Des Moines through July 3. Wells joined Charity Nebbe on Talk of Iowa to discuss her works, a series of multimedia-sensory artworks exhibited in Belfast, Ireland as a 2022 Harkin Institute Artist Fellow, and her advocacy and mentorship through the Artist X Advocacy program.

Later in this episode, Charity talks with 2022 Artist X Advocacy mentees Sabah Koko and Jack Marren.

Guests:

  • Jill Wells, artistmentor, 2022 Harkin Institute Artist Fellow (Inaugural Artist Fellow) exhibiting a series of multimedia-multisensory artworks in Belfast, Ireland at the 2022 Harkin Summit. Funded by BRAVO Greater Des Moines.
  • Sabah Koko, Artist X Advocacy mentee 2022
  • Jack Marren, Artist X Advocacy mentee 2022
Charity Nebbe is IPR's 'Talk of Iowa' host. She also hosts IPR's podcasts 'Garden Variety' and 'Unsettled'. Since 2010, Nebbe has interviewed, conversed with, and shared ideas from guests of all backgrounds and locations, and has helped listeners better understand, appreciate, and explore their state and the world around them. Nebbe has a bachelors degree from Iowa State University.
Matthew Alvarez
Matthew was a producer for IPR's River to River and Talk of Iowa
Samantha McIntosh is a talk show producer for Iowa Public Radio. She holds a bachelor's degree from St. Cloud State University. Since 2022, McIntosh has worked with IPR's talk team to bring news and features to IPR's listening audience.