dsmWeekly - December 25, 2024

See Yinka Shonibare's "Abstract Bronze," right, in a new light at the Des Moines Art Center. (Photo: DMAC)

ARTS & CULTURE

Art Center flips a new switch on reopened gallery
By dsm staff

In the darkest days of the year, some bright new lights are shining at the Des Moines Art Center.

On Friday, just in time for the winter solstice, the museum team announced the reopening of the I.M. Pei wing with a new state-of-the-art lighting system to showcase the collection. The new lights match Pei’s original 1968 designs for the gallery space – more than 8,500 square feet in all – but are more sophisticated, flexible and energy efficient. The new lights enhance the natural light that pours in from the big skylights and windows that overlook the rose garden.

For the reopening, curators Beth Gollnick and Laura Burkhalter “have reimagined both levels of this iconic building, featuring long-time favorites such as Roy Lichtenstein’s ‘The Great Pyramid’ and El Anatsui’s ‘Basin,’” according to a prepared statement. “Additionally, ‘Interlagos’ by Frank Stella, last seen in 2005, and ‘Untitled’ by David Novros, which has not been shown for more than 25 years, will be highlighted alongside recent accessions like Yinka Shonibare’s billowy sculpture ‘Abstract Bronze,’ which debuted in late 2024.”

The project was led by RDG Planning & Design with Estes Construction and Tri-City Electric, with funding from Bravo Greater Des Moines, a climate initiative of the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, and donors to the Art Center’s 75th anniversary capital campaign.

The reopening in the galleries named for Florence Cowles Kruidenier caps off a year of major renovations throughout the entire building, including improvements to the accessibility ramp in the Saarinen wing; new flooring and lighting in the A.H. Blank and Kyle and Sharon Krause galleries, also in the Saarinen wing; refinished flooring and stairs and new paint in the Meier wing; and new concrete at major entrances to the museum and art school.

Why not see it for yourself? The museum is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Admission to the galleries is always free, thanks to generous corporate and community support.

The Doo Wop Project sings tight harmonies with a full orchestra.

BEST BET

Before the ball drops, try Doo Wop Pops

Tick, tick, tick . . . the clock is running out on 2024 and time to get tickets for the New Year’s Eve Pops with the Des Moines Symphony.

The year’s concert at the Des Moines Civic Center features the five gifted gentlemen of the Doo Wop Project, who sing classics from the Drifters and the Four Seasons and “doo wopify” newer hits from everyone to Adele to Garth Brooks. From the looks of their PBS special, their polished dance moves match their golden pipes.

The concert starts at 8 p.m. and wraps up in time to toast the new year out on the town or back home in your jammies. You do you.

The Week Ahead

‘Babyratu’ double feature (all week, various times): Step aside, “Barbenheimer” and “Glicked.” Hollywood’s strangest new mashup involves Nicole Kidman’s new romantic thriller, “Babygirl,” and the new remake of the classic horror film “Nosferatu.” Both premiere today at the Varsity Cinema.

Voix de Ville (7 p.m. Friday): Some of the city’s best performers assemble at Noce for a classic cabaret with singers, dancers, actors, a 10-piece band and a gaggle of drag queens for good measure. The set list samples a whole century of hits, from Cole Porter right on up to Beyonce and Lizzo.

Iowa Wild vs. Rockford IceHogs (6 p.m. Saturday): Missing a white Christmas? You’re guaranteed to see some ice at Wells Fargo Arena. The first 1,000 folks who show up will receive a cubic zirconia, or maybe even a diamond, from Iowa Diamond.

Noon Year’s Eve, (9 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday): Well, it’s midnight somewhere, right? Ring in the year early with family-friendly activities at the Science Center of Iowa — and then get a good night’s sleep.

Pork Tornadoes (8:30 p.m. Tuesday): Rock out with one of Iowa’s favorite cover bands as it counts down to the new year at the Val Air Ballroom. While you’re there, pop downstairs to check out Work in Progress, the basement bar that opens for the first time at 3 p.m. Monday.

First Day Hikes (various times, Jan. 1): Start the new year with an invigorating hike through one of Iowa’s state parks or forests. Find more than 40 guided hikes, offered by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

dsm Home Design Awards: We’re proud to announce the finalists in the 2025 dsm Home Design Awards kitchen and bath categories.

Bath: Dynasty Homes, Kimberley Development Corp., Wild Rose Interiors

Modern Large Kitchen: Alair Homes, Kimberley Development Corp., MainBuilt Custom Homes

Traditional Large Kitchen: Caliber Homes, Morris Lare, Silent Rivers Design + Build

Modern Small Kitchen: Design2Build, Kimberley Development Corp., South of Grand Studio

Traditional Small Kitchen: Caliber Homes, Dynasty Homes, Serenity Homes

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

Sounds of the season: Trilix, the local advertising and PR firm, has recently ramped up production in its new recording studio. The teams from Trilix Studio and the “In the Round” podcast recently recorded a fun behind-the-scenes video that features a few local musicians: Abbie Sawyer, Andrew Hoyt, B2Wins, Diana Weishaar and Royce Johns.

Moving day (and night): A home in the Drake neighborhood moved late Sunday night into early Monday morning. The home, located at 2718 University Ave., was built in 1900. It moved 0.2 miles away, just around the corner, to its new location at 1132 26th St. This is the second time the home has been moved. "If anybody's grown up here for the last 50 years, they would remember there's an oval window on the west side of the house," Chaden Halfhill, president of Silent Rivers, told KCCI.

Art-toy maker Kyle Kirwan’s collection of bunny figures from Kidrobot. (Photo: Duane Tinkey)

PEOPLE & COMMUNITY

A toy story from Mainframe Studios
By Brianne Sanchez

Spending an evening with the creative members of the No Coast Trouble Club is like peeking into the workshop of rogue elves. When this group of independent art toy designers meets at Mainframe Studios, they bring along imaginative pieces at various stages of completion: The start of a hand-carved monster emerging from resin. Spiky smiling vinyl objects ready for paint. A palm-sized shimmering octopus about to go up for sale online. Working in a variety of mediums, each designer develops their own signature shapes and styles.

“Fun is a built-in part of this,” club founder Kyle Kirwan said. “Nobody takes it too seriously, even when they’re taking it seriously.”

With their latest creations in hand, Trouble Club members gather to geek out over an emerging sculptural art form. Designer art toys are limited-edition collectibles that spawned from pop culture, graphic design, anime and other urban influences in the 1990s. Each finished product is packed with personality, and most have an affordable price tag.

Kirwan said that what separates a designer toy from a mass-market piece is the artist’s name as a selling point. A few, like Takashi Murakami, are globally famous in the gallery world. Other popular creators, like Tristan Eaton, Ron English and Tara McPherson, enjoy more niche notoriety. Big names sometimes fetch upward of $2,500 for a single toy, but most entry-level pieces range from $5 to $50.

“People who want to build a collection and support artists can be part of this,” Kirwan said. “You don’t have to be a millionaire.”

Community is part of the appeal of creating small-batch collectibles. Creators get together to learn from each other’s techniques, critique the latest designs and prepare for group shows and conventions, like CollectedCon this past August in Chicago.

“Without that community to amplify the scene to me, I probably would have only collected a few pieces,” graphic designer Kyle Thye said while priming several of his wooden Blockhedz. “I think there are a lot of collectors in this area, but we’re all in these little pockets. Becoming aware of each other is a cool thing.”

Being part of a collective gives No Coast Trouble Club members a bigger presence and helps generate hype in the marketplace. Many artists release new designs in “drops,” similar to streetwear brands. Some also sell “blind boxes” of toys with secret designs that offer elements of surprise and delight. For Beau Scott, a photographer and gallerist who designs toys under the name “baykiddead,” the care and creativity he puts into personalized packaging is part of the fun. It creates a relationship that’s more rewarding than simply buying a toy off the shelf.

Meet the Trouble Club members.