Des Moines’ radar for genius

Beethoven is still box office magic 200 years after he penned his 7th symphony, which plays the Civic Center this month.

Two of the art world’s hottest commodities this autumn have Des Moines stints on their schedules. Both are testimony to a radar for genius at two local institutions — Hoyt Sherman Place and Des Moines Art Center (DMAC). 

Samara Joy appeared at Hoyt Sherman this summer. She seemed genuinely impressed by the audience’s enthusiasm noting that “growing up in the Bronx and living in Harlem, I never imagined there were people in Des Moines, Iowa, who listened to my music.” She hung out for an hour after the concert talking, signing autographs and taking selfies with everyone who wanted one. Harry Connick, Jr. and Winton Marsalis are the only other artists this old writer ever noticed giving back to Iowa fans like that. Joy is suddenly the hottest voice in jazz. Her new album “Portrait” has garnered rave reviews from New York Times, JazzVoice and Forbes. 

When Cowboy Junkies played Hoyt Sherman in October, band leader Margo Timmins told the audience, “This auditorium is a jewel.” It’s also booking jewels. One local artist that Joy met here was Jean-Marie Salem, a damned good jazz voice in her own right. Salem’s LP “Feed the Soul” became available on all major streaming services in October. 

I first saw works of Mickalene Thomas in Des Moines Art Center’s eye-popping 2011 exhibition “Surface Value.” Now she is one of the most celebrated artists of the season. CBS, Forbes, New York Times and Philadelphia Enquirer all say so. Mickalene Thomas: All About Love, her first international tour, is at the venerable Barnes Foundation through Jan. 12 on its way to Hayward Gallery, London and Les Abattoirs, Musée–Frac Occitanie Toulouse.

That 2011 exhibition was put together by Laura Burkhalter. She is now senior curator at DMAC and was key in bringing many other glittering gems to town — “Alchemy: Transformations in Gold” and “El Anatsui” come to mind. She also coordinated Moberg Gallery’s public talk with Teo Nguyen, another artist who is blowing up internationally. 

November touts

Speaking about Teo Nguyen’s “Politics of Worthiness,” Moberg Gallery’s Ryan Mullin explained, “We didn’t know why we were doing it; we just knew we had to do it.” Now Moberg is following up its stunning war art exhibitions by Scott Charles Ross and Teo with non-war art exhibitions by each. Ross’ will begin Nov. 8 with Teo’s following in December. (See more on Teo in the “Lunch with…” interview in this issue.) 

On Nov. 13, Des Moines Symphony (DMSO) partners with Varsity Theater for a one-time showing of “The Fall,” which features Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony (B7). The cult classic, which was filmed over four years on all continents, has been restored for rerelease this fall. 

On the weekend before Thanksgiving, DMSO will feature B7, along with pianist Jon Kimura Parker playing Gershwin’s “Concerto in F” and Des Moines composer Linda Robbins Coleman’s “The Celebration: A Symphonic Jubilee.” 

On Nov. 9, Des Moines Metro Opera Guild hosts its 12th annual Champagne Brunch at Indianola Country Club. Food, auctions, bingo and entertainment —  all for $38.  

Road trips

The grand reopening of Omaha’s Joslyn Art Museum is a smashing success. The museum had been closed for two years for a large expansion project that increased gallery space by 40%. Home town superstar Ed Ruscha christens the museum’s new gallery dedicated completely to paper art with his always delightful Americana. Through Feb. 23. 

“Hokusai: Waves of Inspiration” plays Kansas City’s Nelson Atkins Museum through the end of the year. Katsushika Hokusai’s paintings of giant waves are so iconic that many people think his name is Japanese for tidal wave. Many T-shirts suggest so, too. The 18th-century painter shows 100 works here, including many precursors of Surrealism.