Small Town, Big Art

CHARLES CITY, Iowa - Our September opening reception for "Toy (with) Animals" by artist Anna Segner was a super fun and successful evening. We had 50 people come see the work on opening night. We are so fortunate to have a solid community of art lovers who show up on these first Friday of the month parties. Thank you! You should know... many artists we exhibit have done exhibits all over the Midwest and often I hear how Charles City was one of their biggest as far as attenda

“Human Gaze” by artist Anna Segner is just one of the many works that will be on display throughout September at the Charles City Arts...

CHARLES CITY, Iowa - The Charles City Arts Center is excited to exhibit “Not My Grandma’s Quilt” by artist Erik Jon Olson. The month-long August art show features “quilts” made from recycled/repurposed plastic waste. The catalyst for this artistic expression came to Erik after retiring from the advertising industry in Minneapolis. While working with a friend on a venture, he was challenged to use his creative design background on the plastic waste being used in his friends p

JULY 2023 - We kicked off our July by participating in the 4th of July parade here in lovely Charles City. My daughter and I made a few...

CHARLES CITY, Iowa - It's true... we have been overrun by buffalo. And cowboys. Sort of.. they're just paintings. Tracy Ingham from Rockford is our featured June artist. Tracy focuses much of his recent work on the wild west and it's a really cool exhibit to take in. The opening reception sponsored by Tellurian Brewing took place on Friday June 2nd. We had a good crowd of art lovers show up, both regulars and a few new faces. Our receptions are from 5-7PM the first Friday of

CHARELS CITY, Iowa (May 6-2023) - The glaciers have receded and been replaced by flowers and budding trees. Its an exciting time. And its made better with a great May exhibit. “Between Lucid Dreams” by artist Alexis Beucler opened last night (Friday, May 5th) to a gallery full of smiling faces. The exhibit is a collection of works that Alexis describes as “my journey from compulsive heterosexuality to embracing queer love and identity.” Alexis said she is excited to be a p

CHARLES CITY, Iowa - We kicked off the month of April with the High School Art Exhibit. The opening reception took place Friday April 7th from 5-7PM. We counted 300 visitors! So great to see that many people here to support the young people and their art. Brian and Tia worked very hard getting things hung and ready. CCHS is lucky to have them on staff and helping the next generation of creative minds flex. Emily and I helped hang the show as well. Hanging that amount of art i

CHARLES CITY, Iowa (March 4, 2023) - The year of 2023 is off to a stellar beginning and we could not be happier here at your favorite arts center. This past week, Emily and I boxed up the February exhibit of Black Artists work on loan from Waterloo Center for the Arts . It was a massive undertaking and we are both happy its done, but sad that its gone. It was a really cool show. On Wednesday Chawne and Elizabeth came and picked up the art. They are both super kind people and

CHARLES CITY, Iowa - We missed you! We really, really did. We are now once again open and active in our pursuit to better our community through art and the lessons that the arts teach. Our hope is that 2023 will be an extraordinary year for all the art lovers in our community. And... the way we started this art season off was spectacular! If you were at the opening reception on Friday February 3rd for our current exhibit, then you know. What a great night! The current exhibit

CHARLES CITY, Iowa - MERRY CHRISTMAS and GREETINGS from the frozen tundra that is Northern Iowa this Holiday weekend. Yikes! Hope you are...

CHARLES CITY, Iowa - First, let me start by saying "THANK YOU" to all of you who have supported us over the years and continue to do so...

CHARLES CITY, Iowa (11-5-22) - First things first: THANK YOU for all who helped make Monster Bash last weekend a big success. It was great to see all of your faces and sometimes.. try to figure out faces behind all of the great costumes. I had a blast! And I hope you did as well. THANK YOU! With Monster Bash behind us we are all "eyes forward" to the holidays and our next fundraiser. Global Cafe comes back on the 19th of this month. We will have food from 16 countries made

CHARLES CITY, Iowa (October 2022) - A new show is up and another reception sponsored by First Security Bank and Trust is in the books. Thank you to all who came and made our artists - Genevra Daley and Dorian Dean - feel welcomed. If you missed the opening, have no fear! The show will be up all month. I THINK the idea behind the installation is to take common items and arrange them in a way that might make them uncommon. Give them a different meaning or to have them underst

CHARLES CITY, Iowa - It has been an exciting September so far here at your favorite local Arts Center. We are all super excited about our current exhibit titled "Roost" by artist Brenna Lacy. Its a unique show and a very impactful show. If you haven't stopped in to see it, I think you should. I really, really do. The back gallery is closed off with tarps and the only way to see the show is by blacklight. Yes! The concept of the show is based around trauma and in the back, al

CHARLES CITY, Iowa - We are excited to announce that on July 15th from 5-7pm we are hosting an opening reception for our new "Town of...

CHARLES CITY, Iowa - It seems like that chilly Spring is behind us and the road ahead is all flowers and BBQs... at least for a few...

Chloe Allgood Lou Watercolor on canvas The month is almost over but I wanted to give out a little something since it's been a while. This month we had a great show from Chloe Allgood. Chloe is a resident of Iowa City, and her show is titled "A Bevy of Peeps". All Thirty Five paintings are in watercolor, and feature some fine feathered friends as well as some portraits. Chloe Allgood Baxter Watercolor on canvas Chloe Allgood Ziggy Watercolor on canvas Chloe Allgood Domestic

M. J. Kitzman City Glory: Two 1970 Acrylic on sealed canvas/ panel We're back! After our regular January hiatus for maintenance. We had...

2020 was a strange and challenging year for many of us. Here at your Arts Center we have had to do some serious problem solving,...

Winter is coming... ...but the wildflowers are still blooming at the Arts Center. Our November exhibit is up and ready for you to take a walk among the flowers. The artist for this month is Lydia E. Curtis. In 1958 at the age of 72, Lydia began what would become over 250 plates of wildflowers and descriptions of the individual plants. This project would take over 15 years in total. Below is an introduction by the artist herself. "In presenting these sketches of spring wild