Greetings, Cultural Catalysts:
9/10/2019
Quote of the week:
“Children need art and stories and poems and music as much as they need love and food and fresh air and play.” – Phillip Pullman, from his presentation for the tenth anniversary of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award in 2012
Are you curious about where I find these quotes? My primary source is Dr. Mardy Grothe, considered the foremost authority on quotations, who also offers a weekly newsletter (free, quick read, always great content). I use his online “Dr. Mardy’s Dictionary of Metaphorical Quotations” to search for topic-referenced quotes. The Culture Buzz will be interviewing Mardy soon about his forthcoming book, “Deconstructing Trump.” http://www.drmardy.com/dmdmq/
Featured Cultural Offering
Join the Iowa Jewish Historical Society for Two Exciting and Memorable Free Events Featuring Auschwitz Survivor Michael Bornstein and his daughter Debbie Bornstein Holinstat.
Sun Sep 15 – 2 p.m. Staplin Performing Arts Center, Valley High School
Mon Sep 16 – 7 p.m. – Ames Middle School, 3915 Mortenson Road, Ames, IA 50014
FREE ADMISSION First come, First Seated. Book Signings will follow both events
https://www.jewishdesmoines.org/news-events/special-events/
|
Greater Des Moines Music Tip:
This weekly tip is brought to you by Steve Vasquez of the Central Iowa Blues Society – www.cibs.org, for full calendar of live music in our region.
Honey Island Swamp Band!! Sep 16, 7:00 PM. At Flying Mango. Get your tickets now at http://www.midwestix.com/organizations/flying-mango
Worth the drive:
War and Human Experience Event –
Harold Kasimow: Memories of a Child Holocaust Survivor
Thu Sep 19, 2019, DMACC Carroll Campus, Main Building. 1:00-2:00 PM
Harold Kasimow’s earliest memories are of living in total darkness and silence, with no room to move and very little to eat. Kasimow, his parents, and his two sisters spent 19 months and 5 days hiding from the Nazis in a hole dug in the floor of a cattle barn, covered over with boards and straw. He was 4 years old when they went into hiding in the hole, in a small village near Vilnius, then part of Poland. In this powerful presentation, he’ll reflect on that experience, and its lasting influence on his life as a scholar and interfaith pioneer. https://dmacc.edu/veterans/Pages/series.aspx
Make plans to visit the new exhibit at the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library’s “Medieval to Metal: The Evolution of the Guitar” opening Oct 5 in Cedar Rapids. This touring exhibition organized by the National GUITAR Museum celebrates the artistic development of the guitar. As the guitar’s ancestors evolved over centuries from the earliest ouds and lutes, guitar makers experimented with shapes, materials, and accessories, seeking the perfect blend of beauty and sound. The show features 40 iconic stringed instruments, ranging from an intricately inlaid Moorish oud, a six-foot long Renaissance theorbo, to guitars displaying the modern Italian design of the Eko and one with a stunning transparent acrylic body from California’s BC Rich guitars. Spanning centuries of design and craftsmanship, the exhibition takes visitors through the history of an object that is one of the most recognizable items on the planet. https://www.ncsml.org/exhibit/medieval-to-metal/
Dining, lodging, attraction tips to make a mini-retreat weekend: https://www.tourismcedarrapids.com/
Greater Des Moines Independent Book Store Happenings:
The Culture Buzz shares many authors and their books with its audiences. We encourage you to visit your local independent book store regularly. The folks at these destination locations know books, and welcome the chance to help anyone connect with titles and subjects they seek. Check these sites, as their calendars are always filled with enticing activities and news.
- Beaverdale Books, Des Moines. http://www.beaverdalebooks.com/
- Pageturners Bookstore, Indianola. http://www.pageturnersbookstore.com/
- Artisan Gallery 218, 218-5th Street, Historic Valley Junction, West Des Moines (select author events), http://www.artisangallery218.com/
Life Resource News:
This is a new, occasional offering to inform you about noteworthy events, books, resources to enhance your life.
- “Health Literacy: The Secret to Being a Power Patient!” Sep 17. A 3-hour seminar hosted by the Mary Greeley Medical Center Foundation, Ames IA, on the fundamentals of being an empowered patient. Learn how to access the information you need to make medical decisions, from choosing a doctor to designing a treatment plan.
For details and to register: “Prime Time Alive” at www.MGMC.org
Cultural Exploration Resources:
The Culture Buzz will begin including carefully vetted but comprehensive listings where you can do some advance online exploration before scheduling destinations in the region. These are two great websites to know about:
- Center Stage – John Busbee writes this Cityview monthly column. See what is happening on Central Iowa’s stages. Distributed throughout the region and available online. Current column: https://www.dmcityview.com/center-stage
- Cityview – Central Iowa’s monthly printed and continually updated online resource to all things happening in your community, from arts & culture, to music, to civic and political discourse, to fascinating columnists and stories. Cityview is the reliable source for keeping you informed and engaged in the Greater Des Moines community and beyond. https://www.dmcityview.com/
- Art Beacon Des Moines is Central Iowa’s home for promoting the visual arts. Our calendar of events highlights exhibitions, art talks and calls for art. Subscribe to the Art Beacon Weekly, our online newsletter filled with links to the latest art happenings. Find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. http://artbeacondesmoines.com/
- A Gentle Guide to Des Moines Theatre is Central Iowa’s source for knowing what productions by which companies are available when. In short, you can know what’s playing before it happens rather than after the fact. Timothy Rose created this site with its comprehensive theatre calendar for you, the cultural consumer. He includes articles and more, making this a worthy destination when curious about what’s happening in Central Iowa’s theatre scene. http://www.gentleguidedsm.com/
As always, I appreciate news and information from you out there in the cultural trenches and am ready and willing to pursue a story or interview to share with my audiences. ♦
