Engaging the Visual Arts with Community

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Salon des Indépendants!
 
Artist Salons began as a way to celebrate artistic expression and ideas, bringing artists and their community closer together. They foster the intimate gathering of creative minds contributing their ideas and diverse experiences, all sharing in the synergy of collaborative thought. In the spirit of this ideal, we would like to extend a warm welcome to anyone who is interested in a closely acquainted vis-à-vis with your fellow contemporaries in our artistic community.

 

May Day Project

Please, save the date! We are planning our next Art Salon for 2010 on:

Friday, March 5th, 7:00pm at 428.5 East Locust St. #2, at Eric's studio in the East Village. 

Please RSVP if you wish to attend by emailing us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Announcements will be sent out via our electronic mailing list. If you would like to be on our list, please send your email address and we will happily add you!

 

Walpurgisnacht!

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 Photo by David Castor

Walpurgis Night (Walpurgisnacht) is a traditional religious holiday of pre-Christian origin, celebrated today by Christian and non-Christian communities on April 30th and May 1st in large parts of Central and Northern Europe. With the current festival, in most countries that celebrate it, it is assumed by some Christian scholars that it was named after Saint Walpurga, born in Devon in around 710. Due to the coincidence of her holy day falling on the same day as the pagan holiday on which it was based, her name became associated with the celebrations. Some scholars believe that the word Walpurgis predates most known germanic dialects and cannot be defined by any other meaning except as the proper name for this ancient pagan holiday.

Historically Walpurgisnacht (April 30th) is derived from various pagan spring customs. Bonfires were built to keep away the dead and chaotic spirits that were then widely believed to walk among the living. This is followed by the return of light and the sun as celebrated during May Day. Some Christian historians reference a St. Walpurga who was a niece to St. Boniface and, according to legend, daughter of St. Richard, a saxon prince. She traveled with her brothers to Franconia, Germany and became a nun in the convent of Heidenheim, Bavaria, which was founded by her brother Willibald. Shortly after removing the mortal remains of her brother, St. Winibald Walpurga died of an illness on February 25th in 779. She is therefore listed in the Roman Martyrology under February 25th. So that she might be buried beside Willibald, her relics were transferred on May 1st and this date remains associated with her in the Finnish and Swedish Calendars.

In Germany, Walpurgisnacht, the night from April 30th to May 1st, is the night when alledgedly the witches hold a large celebration on the Brocken Mountain (the highest of the Harz Mountains in North Central Germany) and hold revels with their gods.....

 

 

Events!

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The Des Moines Art Center

Edward Hopper: "Images and Influence". December 18, 2009 - April 23, 2010.
Des Moines Art Center Print Gallery is featuring "News & Nightmares" from January 8, 2010 - June 13, 2010.

www.desmoinesartcenter.org

 

 

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EVAC Art Salon

Save the date! Friday, March 5th  for "Dinner with the Artists", our next potluck gathering for 2010,
as we reconvene with our collaborative efforts and ideas. Click link for updates, time and location.


 

Events!

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Olson-Larsen Galleries


"New Work". New work from Blair Benz, Gary Olson and more. February 19, 2010 - April 3, 2010.
Opening Reception and Gallery Night. Friday April 9, 2010 from 5 - 9pm. Featuring Sarah Grant and more.

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Moberg Gallery


New work by Frank Hansen. For more details and information, click link below.

 

www.moberggallery.com

Events!

The "52 Pick-up" Project


Support Arts in Education in Our Public Schools!

Please help EVAC assist in offsetting budget cuts in our public school art departments. For only $5.00 you can purchase a limited edition fine art deck of playing cards designed by professional and local high school artists. Please send your check or money order for $6.00 ($1.00 shipping) and your mailing address to EVAC, 428.5 East Locust St. #2, Des Moines, IA 50309. Thank you for your support!