dsmWeekly - January 8, 2025

Layered marks and memories form "Ghost," left, and "Ella Venus" in Jeff Fleming's new series of drawings based on family photos. (Photos: Moberg Gallery)

ARTS & CULTURE

Hauntingly familiar: Jeff Fleming’s family portraits at Moberg

By Wren Fleming

Seeing pictures of your parents as children can be alarming. You used to look like that? You used to be an ornery little cuss with sideways-darting eyes? That’s not who I know.

What you may not know is that every rendering in “Ghosts,” an exhibition that opens Friday at Moberg Gallery, is based on a very real photograph, some of them no bigger than the palm of my hand. They’re a collection of chalkboard drawings, executed in painstaking detail by Jeff Fleming, the former director of the Des Moines Art Center. Also my dad.

Indeed, a lot of details reveal themselves when I discuss childhood with my parents. They each had different upbringings than the one they created for my sister and me, which we agree was an exceptionally fortunate and individual experience. We’re all quite close, and I’d like to think that we tell each other everything. But my dad and I are the same in this: We keep things to ourselves.

The people rendered in his drawings are people in our family, my bloodline. But they are ghosts to me as much as they are to you.

Dad’s brother Mike passed from this life before I was born. The only things I know about him are what other people have mentioned over the years, which may or may not add up to an authentic portrayal. So in Dad’s drawing of him, it seems fitting that he’s covered with a white bedsheet, like a ghost costume, his eyes cutting through like razors. It’s like he’s challenging us: I bet you can’t guess who I am.

Dad’s brother Steve lives in North Carolina. I see him once a year, if that. In his portrait, I’m both pleasantly surprised and enamored to see him not as a grown-up doctor but as a little boy playing with cowboys at Christmas, holding on for dear life to the family’s beloved dog Topper.

While the boys in the show are mostly cavorting with toys or flying kites, the women are more mysterious. They’re fashionable Southern ladies who could silence you with a single look. Both my grandmother and great-grandmother are posing in their portraits, not smiling but not really frowning either. They are still. Great-grandmother’s dress swishes to one side. What are they thinking? Are they happy to have their picture taken? Do they know that one day, they will be lovingly scratched in chalk and bathed in fluorescent lights for strangers to come up and look at them?

When I look at the women in these drawings I see lives they aren’t ready to reveal. That’s probably how it should be. When you look at these drawings, I hope you see the joy as well as the mystery. They’re all haunting images, some more than others, but I think they also convey the warmth of their original subjects.

Contributing writer Wren Fleming has published fiction in Earthwords, From Arthur’s Seat and Hillfire Anthology. She lives here in Des Moines.

Baby, it's still cold outside, but it's nice and warm under the dome at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. (Photo: Chelsea Kyaw Photo)

BEST BET

Get to the garden for some fresh air

Take a deep breath: It’ll be a while before things green up again outside. But if you don’t want to hibernate, venture out to the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden to breathe in all that lovely, humid oxygenated air.

During the Dome After Dark series (6-10 p.m. Fridays through March 28), colorful lights cast the conservatory in a twinkly glow. During the Botanical Blues concerts (1 p.m. Sundays through March 30), local and regional musicians heat up the tropics with some of the best blues in the Midwest. Bob Pace is up next Jan. 12.

The Week Ahead

V Spehar (6 p.m. tomorrow): When all the news seemed overwhelming a few years ago, V Spehar broke it down into bite-sized, 60-second stories for their “Under the Desk News” podcast on TikTok. With 3 million followers and counting, Spehar plans to take a turn in the Capital City Pride Speaker Series at the Temple Theater.

"Figments and Phantoms" opening (10 a.m. Friday): The portrait subjects are fragmented, distorted or conspicuously missing in this exhibition in the Des Moines Art Center’s John Brady Print Gallery. It continues through April 20.

Big Head Todd and The Monsters (7:30 p.m. Friday): The platinum-selling Colorado rockers led by Todd Park Mohr bring their 40th anniversary tour to town for a concert at Hoyt Sherman Place.

“The Negro Artist” (8 p.m. Friday): A documentary screening at xBk invites the audience into the world of Caleb Rainey, the spoken-word poet known professionally as The Negro Artist, and his journey as a Black man in the creative space. The show includes poetry readings by Rainey and others, live music and a Q&A with the filmmakers.

The Big Vintage Market (1-5 p.m. Sunday): Find more than 15 vintage clothing vendors at Big Grove Brewery, plus a $10 T-shirt bin.

Harlem Globetrotters (3 p.m. Sunday): The famous ballers show off their skills in a game against their rivals, the Washington Generals, as part of a new global tour, which makes a fast break at Wells Fargo Arena.

Tea time: Terrace Hill has announced the lineup for its next Tea & Talk series. The events begin at 2 p.m. each Saturday in February, followed by refreshments and time to explore the mansion's first and second stories. Tickets are on sale now, and proceeds benefit the Terrace Hill gardens.

Feb. 1: "Storytelling with Objects: The Conversations We Have with Material Culture," with Terrace Hill Administrator Molly Thompson
Feb. 8: "Headlines from History: Seven Stories from Iowa's Past," with dsm editor Michael Morain
Feb. 15: "The Development of the American A Cappella Chorla Tradition," with Des Moines Vocal Arts Ensemble Artistic Director Tim McMillin
Feb. 22: "Connecting Plants, People and the Natural World," with Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden President and CEO Kim Perez.

Going green: Early registration is open for the 2025 Dig Into Gardening Symposium March 1 at the FFA Enrichment Center on the DMACC campus in Ankeny. The DIG Symposium will feature keynotes, breakout sessions and an exhibitor hall all centered on the theme of “Gardening for Change.” A range of experts including local Master Gardener volunteers, Iowa State University specialists and educators, and other local professionals will be on hand to offer horticulture research, tips and techniques.

Scavenger hunt: A stealthy team from the Rook Room, the local gaming business, has placed 200 rook chess pieces at local restaurants, shops, parks and other spots around town. The Great Rook Hunt is a free, public event Jan. 8-13, designed to build buzz for the city's first-of-its-kind Rook Room Game Lounge & Cafe.

“We’re so excited about our new location that it’s taking everything we have not to just spill all the details. But, true to our Rook Room mission, we had no choice but to gamify our big reveal," Rook Room co-owner Tony Tandeski said in a prepared announcement.

Anyone is welcome to participate by hunting down one of the 200 rooks scattered throughout Des Moines and its suburbs. Upon discovery, participants will turn the rook over to reveal a QR code pointing to a web-based game that, once solved, will reveal the address for the new Rook Room Game Lounge & Cafe.

Offstage opera star: Michael Egel, Des Moines Metro Opera's Linda Koehn General and Artistic Director, has been recognized as one of Musical America's Top 30 Professionals of the Year. The national award honors individuals who demonstrate "extraordinary leadership and strive for innovation and excellence" in the performing arts.

"Michael's passion and dedication have enriched the cultural fabric of our local community and solidified DMMO's place on the international opera stage,” DMMO board president Darren Jirsa said in a prepared statement. "Under his guidance, Des Moines Metro Opera has experienced remarkable growth, resulting in sold-out seasons, record-breaking philanthropic support and international acclaim from critics and audiences alike."

Egel started with the company more than 30 years ago as an administrative intern and became the general and artistic director in 2013. During his tenure, the company has expanded its repertoire and outreach programs and raised significant funds, including a $20 million endowment campaign for the company's 50th anniversary in 2022 and a $4 million campaign to renovate the company's headquarters into the Lauridsen Opera Center, which opened in 2019.

PEOPLE & COMMUNITY

News Changemakers: Cultural Stories of the Year
As we settle into the new year and look ahead to 2025, we’d like to take a moment to reflect on the past year and the news stories that shaped Central Iowa.

Together with our colleagues at the Business Record, another Business Publications Corp. publication, we are proud to announce the top headlines of 2024 from the second annual News Changemakers Awards. Suggestions were accepted from readers of both publications, and the winners were selected by BPC leadership.

Below is our list of the Cultural Stories of the Year, which recognize notable stories of a nonprofit, cultural organization or cultural leader’s achievements that have made a significant positive contribution to the community.

Read the full list of 2024 Changemakers online.

Athene North Shore Recreation Area creates space for all abilities at Easter Lake Park
On May 5, Polk County Conservation opened the Athene North Shore Recreation Area at Easter Lake Park after two years and a $23.1 million renovation. County officials said the new park is the most universally accessible — which means every person can use the amenities, regardless of any disability — in the country. Gov. Kim Reynolds attended a dedication ceremony held at the park on May 2, along with the conservation team, donors, state officials and members of the public. The park updates include wide concrete pathways designed with a gentle slope, beach mats so wheelchairs roll right up to the water, a wheelchair-accessible pontoon and a quiet de-escalation room for people who are sensitive to sensory input. Signage with instructions in multiple languages, Braille and icons is posted at eye level for visibility to people who are seated, which means someone using a wheelchair can more easily see important information. Ric Jurgens and Bob Myers, former CEOs of Hy-Vee and Casey’s, respectively, served as co-chairs of the project’s leadership team.

Athene Pedestrian Bridge provides new link in regional trail system
A new $9.3 million pedestrian bridge in West Des Moines that opened in the fall not only connects Raccoon River Park and Walnut Woods State Park but makes a vital connection for Central Iowa’s trail network. The project includes about 4,700 feet of paved trail that starts near Raccoon River Park’s entrance at 2500 Grand Ave., spans the river and ends near Hidden Valley Soccer Complex along Walnut Woods Drive. The bridge itself is 620 feet long — about 1 3/4 football-field lengths — and rests on five vertical support structures that were hammered into bedrock deep below the river bottom. The project’s design team was led by Shive-Hattery Inc. West Des Moines Parks and Recreation Director Ryan Penning said in a November news release, “This critical connection will not only link these two major parks but also enable the expansion of West Des Moines’ trail system south of the river, including a future link to the regional Great Western Trail.”

Ballet Des Moines gets permanent home in downtown Des Moines
The nonprofit resident ballet company Ballet Des Moines cut the ribbon in September on its new downtown campus at 655 Walnut St. The Ballet Des Moines Lauridsen Campus for Arts and Education gives the ballet a permanent home for its professional company and space for outreach and education programs. The nearly 9,000-square-foot space once included a Burger King restaurant, which vacated the space in 2019. Des Moines philanthropists Nix and Virginia Lauridsen donated $3 million to the $4.8 million capital campaign led by Connie Wimer, owner and chair of BPC, and Kirk Besh, senior vice president at West Bank.

Historic Val Air Ballroom sees $15M restoration
The Val Air Ballroom, a national historic landmark in West Des Moines that has operated for 85 years, held its first show in February after a nearly $15 million renovation and restoration project. Owner Sam Summers acquired the Val Air in January 2022, paying $1.9 million for the 8.5-acre parcel at 301 Ashworth Road. He closed the venue in late 2022 to complete the renovations. The venue’s foundation was constructed around 1921 and originally was intended to be the floor of a multilevel factory building, according to an application to the National Register of Historic Places that was approved in 2022. The covered portion of the facility included a hardwood maple dance floor, a stage, a coat checkroom, bars and restrooms. The open-air portion of the original ballroom had a polished concrete dance floor. The building was in dire need of repairs, particularly the roof, which originally was tin, Summers said. Other improvements include upgrades to the heating and cooling systems and sound system. A new 4-foot, 6-inch stage was added on the west side of the venue. The roof over the original stage was removed and a box-like structure was installed above the stage, providing more room to hang speakers, lights and other equipment. Also, the ballroom’s original 72-foot by 140-foot maple dance floor was refurbished. Summers told the Business Record he hopes to host at least 100 events per year at the Val Air, which holds up to 2,500 guests.

Prime & Providence steakhouse opens in West Des Moines
Chef Dominic Iannarelli opened the doors in May to what he called the “fancy but not formal” Prime & Providence restaurant in West Des Moines. He told the Business Record the new concept is “not your grandfather’s steakhouse.” The upscale restaurant is located in the five-story 595 Tower building at 595 S. 60th St., developed by DRA Properties, which will house several other businesses, with condominiums on the upper floors. Iannarelli, 44, is an Iowa State University alumnus with a degree in hotel restaurant management. The majority of his career was spent as executive chef at the downtown seafood restaurant Splash. He later started the Jethro’s franchise with Bruce Gerleman. The concept of Prime & Providence was developed post-COVID, and when he learned of the Tower development, Iannarelli said he knew the time was right to move forward. Iannarelli said he is the only certified importer of Kobe beef in Iowa and that Prime & Providence is the only restaurant in the state that serves the rich-tasting brand of beef. “It’s a very ambitious project and there are very few restaurateurs out there who do something like this,” Iannarelli said. “The wood-fired part separates us from our other steakhouse competitors, along with the full oyster bar and shellfish program. Nobody does anything quite like this.” Appetizers and side dishes also get special attention, said Iannarelli, who sources his produce from local partners.

ChildServe raises over $10M for expanded Des Moines location
The specialty pediatric health care nonprofit ChildServe exceeded its $10 million capital campaign goal in October to relocate its Des Moines facility from Woodland Avenue to a new site near the corner of 48th Street and Franklin Avenue. The upgrade will more than double the square footage of ChildServe’s current space. In 2022, a vacant medical building on the site was razed after it was acquired by Neighborhood Development Corp. ChildServe will build a new facility on the site. ChildServe CEO Dr. Teri Wahlig said the organization had simply outgrown its current facility. “Our current waitlists for our signature programs continue to grow, so we know now is the right time to invest in the future for Iowa children and families,” Wahlig said in a prepared statement in February. The 20,000-square-foot facility will also include an added neurobehavioral clinic. Capacity for current services, including medical child care, its autism day program and rehabilitation therapy services, will increase tenfold at the new location.