dsmWeekly - December 11, 2024

A glass slide for a 19th century projector shows a woman praying over two children during the Civil War. (Photo: Anderson Gallery)

ARTS & CULTURE

Drake art exhibition illuminates Civil War history

By Emmett McMenamy

At Drake University’s Anderson Gallery, an old “magic” lantern projects images from the 19th century across a plain white wall. The images, as well as a collection of glass slides, offer a glimpse of life and death in the Civil War.

They’re all part of an exhibition called “Acts of Projection,” which showcases moments from one of the most significant chapters in U.S. history, using the technology of the time.

The framed slides, back-lit in small display cases at the front of the gallery, depict a range of emotions during the war. The artists’ renderings include a woman praying over two kids, a soldier returning home, and another soldier stabbing an enemy with a bayonet as an American flag flies in the background.

The artwork and artifacts are accompanied by historical information that explains the once-revolutionary technology. In the projector, a light source would shine through the precisely crafted slides and a lens, projecting images onto a screen. In a time before TV or even radio, projection shows brought war stories home and helped homefront audiences connect with the front lines.

In addition to the historical objects, a modern projector in a dimly lit section in the back of the gallery displays a new video by Johnny DiBlasi. The installation, called “Lumen,” mixes 19th century headlines, contemporary news and artificial intelligence-generated stories to create an original artwork in real time. In the context of the gallery, it looks back to the past and offers a peek into the future.

The show remains through Jan. 17, but take note: It’s closed during the university’s winter break, Dec. 21 through Jan. 6.

'Tis the season for the weekly Holiday Promenade in the East Village. (Photo: Greater Des Moines Partnership)

BEST BET

Walking in the Des Moines wonderland

No, the weather outside is not frightful. Not even close. Before winter really sets in, why not take a stroll through a festive neighborhood during the next few days?

Thursday: Jingle in the Junction. Historic Valley Junction stays up late tomorrow and Dec. 19 with extended hours (5-8 p.m.) at shops and galleries, live music, ice carving and more than 125,000 lights casting a glow over Fifth Street in West Des Moines.

Friday: Holiday Promenade. Head to the East Village from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday and Dec. 20. This week, visit Santa’s Workshop and a model train at the Heritage Center, music from Betrunken Messing at Salon Spa W, and a musical story with Mrs. Claus at Raygun.

Saturday: The Peppermint Trail. Catch a free trolley ride along the Avenues of Ingersoll and Grand or the Shops at Roosevelt to enjoy a gingerbread house decorating contest at Creme, ice carving at Palmer’s Deli, and roving gangs of carolers from the Roosevelt High School Choir.

The Week Ahead

“The Nutcracker” (7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday): Ballet Des Moines stages one of several local productions of the classic fairy tale about a young girl’s Christmas Eve dream about rodents and candied fruit, onstage at Hoyt Sherman Place.

Iowa Drag Awards (9 p.m. Thursday): All hail the queens and kings! Celebrate the art, talent and resilience of Iowa’s drag royalty during a sequin-spangled ceremony at Wooly’s.

“A Christmas Carol” (opening 7:30 p.m. Friday, with eight more shows through Dec. 22): Iowa Stage Theatre revives Dickens’ enduring ghost story for another staging at the Des Moines Civic Center’s Stoner Theater.

“The Polar Express” (5:30-9 p.m. Saturday): Capital City Pride hosts a family-friendly movie night for kids from 1 to 92 at the Science Center of Iowa. In addition to the 6 p.m. screening, guests will have access to the center’s first floor, including a Lego area and sock skating rink. Admission is free, but registration is encouraged.

Central Iowa Wind Ensemble (3 p.m. Sunday): This year’s holiday program runs the gamut, from meditative (Lauridsen’s "O Magnum Mysterium") to festive (Anderson’s "Sleigh Ride"), at the Staplin Performing Arts Center at Valley High School. Catch them earlier, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, at Iowa State’s Martha-Ellen Tye Recital Hall in Ames.

Des Moines Vocal Arts Ensemble (4 p.m. Sunday): The choir and a string orchestra perform classics by Venetian composers, notably Vivaldi and Monteverdi, as well as a few popular carols, at Westminster Presbyterian Church.

dsm Home Design Awards: We’re proud to announce the decor finalists for the 2025 dsm Home Design Awards.

Primary Bedroom: Amanda Reynal Interiors, Homemakers Furniture, The Elements Interiors

Dining Room: Jeid Studio, Morris Lare, South of Grand Studio

Modern Living Room: Dwell Home Furnishings and Interior Design, Meghan Blum Interiors, Serenity Homes

Traditional Living Room: Caliber Homes, Kimberley Development Corp., Meghan Blum Interiors

Basement: AIM Kitchen & Bath, ALT Design Studio, Meghan Blum Interiors

Utility: Dynasty Homes, Serenity Homes, The Elements Interiors

Wine or Bar: Amanda Reynal Interiors, Jeid Studio, Serenity Homes

Library, Office, Den: Amanda Reynal Interiors, Morris Lare, South of Grand Studio

Check out photos of the finalist projects. We'll unveil the winners at an awards ceremony on Feb. 25, so stay tuned for registration details.

Bravo grants: The regional arts council known as Bravo Greater Des Moines this week announced more than $5 million in public art grants and operating grants for 89 nonprofit arts, culture and heritage organizations throughout Central Iowa. This is the largest amount Bravo has ever invested in a single grant cycle and includes six new recipient organizations. Since 2006, Bravo has invested $65 million in arts, culture and heritage in the region, primarily funded by a portion of hotel/motel taxes.

Rotary grants: The Rotary Club of Des Moines has awarded its annual community service grant to Ellipsis. The $50,000 grant will be used to fund a new kitchen and lounge area of the women’s residential care facility.

Puzzles for all: The Rook Room, the local gaming events company, recently teamed up with the Iowa City-based gaming events pop-up Diversions to expand the popular Puzzlepalooza competitions into Iowa City, Cedar Valley and the Quad Cities. Diversions will host the first event of the series Dec. 17 at Backpocket Brewing in Coralville.

Fun is par for the course at downtown's new mini-golf venue. (Photo: The Fat Putter)

PEOPLE & COMMUNITY

At former Younkers store, tea time is now tee time
By Hailey Evans

Fat Putter, a new mini-golf spot right out of the colorful world of the Mario Brothers, opens this Friday on the ground floor of the Wilkins apartment building and Tea Room event space.

The indoor venue will cater to a 21-and-up crowd after 6 p.m., but all ages can enjoy the themed courses during the day. It will feature 27 light-up, graffitied, gamified putting holes, plus an arcade, a full bar and a kitchen serving up Fong’s Pizza. The Omaha-based company Let’s Go Putt operates several similar mini-golf venues around Nebraska and Missouri. This will be its first outpost in Iowa.

Here are a few more golf entertainment venues to take (or briefly escape) out-of-town visitors during the holidays:

Putts & Pins, West Des Moines
Here, the funky mini-golf and bowling concept features neon-lit putting greens with crazy courses, glowing bowling lanes, and a restaurant and bar.

Range Restaurant + Cocktail Bar, Urbandale
This upscale golf experience features six private bays of PGA-endorsed indoor golf simulators, plus access to the full restaurant and bar menus through convenient order kiosks.

Topgolf, West Des Moines
This high-tech driving range uses proprietary Toptracer technology to track your shots and keep score for over a dozen different games, each with a different objective. Test your pitching and chipping with TopChip, improve your accuracy with TopPressure, or play classic Topgolf and aim for any target. The venue will include three floors of hitting bays and a full restaurant with multiple bars.

For options in eastern Iowa, check out our latest ia magazine story.