Monday, April 29, 2024

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The Culture Buzz

Greetings, Cultural Catalysts:

By John Busbee

7/26/2022

11:00 AM to 1:00 PM Central Time.
Broadcast regionally on KFMG 98.9 FM; Simultaneously streaming globally through www.kfmg.org

From Iowa’s cultural epicenter, MainFrame Studios Building at 900 Keosauqua Way in Des Moines, comes your Listener-supported Community Voice, the Award-Winning independent radio station KFMG-LP 98.9 FM, bringing you music, literature & cultural news. — John Busbee for The Culture Buzz

The Culture Buzz Podcast Library – https://archive.org/details/@the_culture_buzz
2014 Iowa Governor’s Award for Partnership & Collaboration in the Arts
2018 – voted Best Local Talk Radio Show
www.TheCultureBuzz.com 

Quote of the Week

“A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.” – Amelia Earhart (1897-1939), an American aviation pioneer and writer. Earhart was the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

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Curious about my primary source for reliable quotes, often with back stories included? Just visit Mardy Grothe’s exceptional, free source, Dr. Mardy’s Dictionary of Metaphorical Quotations – https://www.drmardy.com/dmdmq/

Newsletter content:

  1. Guests on this week’s show
  2. Performance Arts (Greater Des Moines/Iowa)
  3. Culinary Arts
  4. Visual Arts (Greater Des Moines/Iowa)
  5. Auditions and other Individual Enhancement Opportunities
  6. Planning ahead
  7. Author events (Greater Des Moines/Iowa)
  8. Best-sellers, life resource books, Greater Des Moines performing arts organizations, Central Iowa indie book stores, cultural exploration resources, health & welfare resources

Special Cultural Headline News:

Gravity on tour – Ballet Des Moines brings cultural excitement to Iowans
Ballet Des Moines will tour its stellar new work, Gravity, to several Iowa communities July 27-August 3. Waterloo, Clear Lake, Algona, Muscatine, Chariton, Des Moines. These performances are free to the public. Check out details at https://www.balletdesmoines.org/gravity-on-tour

Summertime performing arts learning opportunities for youth and adults abound

  1. Tallgrass Theatre Company – Seedlings Camps, in conjunction with West Des Moines Parks & Recreation (Jul 25-29; Aug 1-5; Aug 1-5). Details: https://tallgrasstheatre.org/seedlings/
  2. Des Moines Community Playhouse – Recognized as one of the country’s top community theatre education programs of its kind, visit the site for the full list of on-going programming for the youngest to adults. https://www.dmplayhouse.com/education/about/

This week’s guests on The Culture Buzz –

  • 11:00 AM – Iowa poet John D. Thompson reads “Railroad Expansion…” from his collection, Iowa Poems 175: 175 Poems to Celebrate Iowa’s 175th Birthday. (Iowa) poet John D. Thompson has a gift for wrapping the bounty of Iowa history and landscape into a harvest of verse in his collections. His recent homage celebrating his home state’s 174th birthday is another gem.” – The Culture Buzz https://www.amazon.com/Iowa-Poems-175-Observe-Birthday/dp/173286652X
  • 11:12 AM – Just released. Dragons in My Classroom: A Teacher’s Memoir is a marvelous reflection from its author, Barbara Kennard, a teacher who met personal and career challenges with conviction and determination. Barbara shares glimpses into her memoir, which will truly resonate with readers. “In this memoir, Barbara Kennard so expertly captures the array of experiences that teachers encounter—the high and the low, the heartwarming and the hilarious. During her year teaching in Oxford, she comes to learn a new way of approaching both her classroom and her life that makes for an incredibly engaging read. Teachers everywhere will love this book.” — Nadine Kenney Johnstone, writing coach and award-winning author of Of This Much I’m Sure: A Memoir https://www.barbarakennardauthor.com/
  • 11:29 AM – Just released. Ben McGrath delivers a powerful and richly researched understanding of a complex water traveler: Dick Conant. Riverman: An American Odyssey is a beautifully written “masterpiece of narrative nonfiction” (Booklist starred review), and Ben shares glimpses into this fascinating man’s life. “Exquisitely written and deeply reported, Riverman is a gem of a book. It contains everything: adventure, mystery, travelogue, and unforgettable characters. Most of all, it illuminates the wonderful curiosities of life.” – David Grann, bestselling author of Killers of the Flower Moon https://www.benmcgrath.com/
  • 11:43 AM – Just released. Kate White pens another irresistible thriller in her latest novel, The Second Husband. Kate shares engaging glimpses into the creation of this page-turner, a book for everyone who loves a delightfully unpredictable story, rich with characters and locations. “Immersive, spellbinding thriller about a woman questioning everything—including her husband. In Kate White’s perfectly plotted novel, it’s impossible to predict what will happen next.” — Samantha Downing, internationally bestselling author of My Lovely Wife https://www.katewhite.com/
  • 12:00 PM – Available now. Jeff Stein, noted historian and broadcast professional, penned a 3-part series for Iowa History Journal, “Making Waves: Centennial in Iowa Radio Stations.” He continues the conversation, sharing glimpses into the new issue with the final segment of this compelling, story-filled series about the fascinating century of radio broadcast history. http://iowahistoryjournal.com/
  • 12:15 PM – Just released. Maren Cooper has penned a wonderfully engaging novel with Finding Grace. She shares insights into some foundational threads woven during this lively conversation about her poignant story of mental illness, unconditional love, devotion, and hope. “Finding Grace is a novel that anyone who has raised a child can embrace—the chronicle of a parent’s search for what he’s afraid might be lost forever. It’s a gut-wrenching tale yet told with immense compassion and a true voice. Although it doles out its share of anguish, it is, in the end, a stunning portrait of courage. Maren Cooper offers readers a story for our time, with all its complexities and challenges, a journey that never waivers from the path toward hope and redemption.” —William Kent Krueger, New York Times best-selling author of This Tender Land https://marencooper.com/
  • 12:32 PM – JL Doucette’s newest novel, Unknown Assailant, brings Dr. Pepper Hunt and Detective Beau Antelope together again to investigate a tragic murder/suicide in a prominent ranch family in the small town of Farson, Wyoming. “Compelling and intense…a sensational murder mystery that engages the reader from the first page.” —Reader’s Favorite https://jldoucette.com/
  • 12:46 PM – Just released. Masterfully researched and compellingly written, Don Hollway delivers an historical narrative that reads like an action story as he breathes life into this era of world history. In At the Gates of Rome: The Fall of the Eternal City, 410 AD., Don combines ancient chroniclers’ accounts of Stilicho and Alaric into an unforgettable history of betrayal, politics, intrigue and war for the heart and soul of the Roman Empire. He provides tantalizing peeks into his book in this conversation. “A gifted storyteller, Hollway wraps his narrative around the lives of two men prominent within the maelstrom of intrigue and war: Flavius Stilicho, the supreme military commander of Rome, and Alaric, king of the Goths…. Whether describing battles or political plots, Hollway has a knack for breathing life into history. At the Gates of Rome is a solid work of scholarship as well as a good read.”  – HistoryNet https://www.donhollway.com/

Performance Arts

  1. Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre. Heathers – The Musical. Jul 22-31. https://www.dmyat.org/heathers
  2. Urbandale Community Theatre. Bye Bye Birdie! Jul 22-31. https://urbandaletheatre.com/
  3. Civic Music Association. Belin Quartet, Tuesdays at 5:30 PM thru July 26 at Salisbury House & Gardens (rain location, Temple for Performing Arts Grand Hall). Details on each program at https://civicmusic.org/belin-quartet-summer-2022/
  4. Raymond Theatre Company (at Staplin Performing Arts Center). This is a new company of West Des Moines Valley High School students presenting original productions. Watercolors, Jul 29, 30, 31.https://www.raymondtheatreco.com/index.html
  5. Des Moines Performing Arts. My Fair Lady. Aug 2-7. https://desmoinesperformingarts.org/events/my-fair-lady/
  6. Ankeny Community Theatre. Godspell. Aug 5-14. https://www.ankenycommunitytheatre.com/godspell.html
  7. Des Moines Performing Arts. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. Aug 23-28. https://desmoinesperformingarts.org/events/to-kill-a-mockingbird/
  8. 48 Hour Film Project. Filming begins Fri Jul 29, ends Sun Jul 31. Screenings Aug 8-10 (3 groups) at State Historical Society of Iowa. Aug 25 for Best of screenings. This is the 18th edition of this highly charged filmmaking event. www.facebook.com/desmoines48 or tickets at www.midwestix.com.

Visual Arts

  1. Polk County Heritage Gallery. The Sea Beneath Our Feet: Photographs by Amee Ellis, a project commissioned by the Des Moines Metro Opera. Opening reception Wed Jun 29, 6:30-8:00 PM. The Sea Beneath Our Feet is a photographic interpretation of the Des Moines Metro Opera’s 2022 world-premiere opera A Thousand Acres, based on Jane Smiley’s novel. http://www.polkcountyheritagegallery.org/
  2. Artisan Gallery 218. Fields and Flowers. An exhibition by Gallery artists. Jul 5 thru Sept 30. Artist Reception July 29th 5-8pm. https://www.artisangallery218.com/
  3. Des Moines Art Center. 2 Re-connect with old favorites on exhibit from their permanent collection. Explore the constantly changing exhibits, from staff-curated to international, always ready to stimulate the imagination and senses. Always open (except holidays), always free. https://desmoinesartcenter.org/ 
  4. Brunnier Art Museum. Ames. 2 This is the flagship for the University Museums, a treasure trove of visual arts immersion on the Iowa State University campus, which includes the Christian Petersen Art Museum, The Farm House Museum, the Anderson Sculpture Garden and the Art on Campus Collection. https://www.museums.iastate.edu/visit/brunnier-art-museum
  5. The Grinnell College Museum of Art. Grinnell. 2 https://www.grinnell.edu/campus-life/arts-culture/museum
  6. 2AU. West Des Moines. 1,2 http://www.2aulimited.com/
  7. Artisan Gallery 218. West Des Moines. 1,2 https://www.artisangallery218.com/
  8. 13.  Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. Des Moines 2 I added this destination for its unique value as a “living gallery,” where the constantly changing floral exhibitions entice and delight. https://www.dmbotanicalgarden.com/
  9. Hoyt Sherman Place Art Gallery. Des Moines. https://hoytsherman.org/gallery/
  10. Kavanaugh Art Gallery. West Des Moines. 1,2 https://kavanaughgallery.com/
  11. Kunzler Studios. West Des Moines. 1,2 kunzlerstudios.com
  12. Liz Lidgett Gallery + Design. Des Moines. https://www.lizlidgett.com/
  13. Moberg Gallery. Des Moines. 2 https://moberggallery.com/
  14. Olson-Larsen Galleries. West Des Moines.1,2 https://olsonlarsen.com/
  15. Polk County Heritage Gallery. Des Moines 2 http://www.polkcountyheritagegallery.org/

1Check these galleries open during semi-annual Historic Valley Junction Gallery Nights.
2Check website for current exhibitions.

Culinary Arts – This new addition will feature regional culinary events and celebrations.

  1.  Area Farmers Markets. Take advantage of the bounty of fresh produce and more at any of the areas farmers markets, beginning with one of America’s best, the Downtown Farmers’ Market (Saturdays). Also, Waukee (Wednesdays), West Des Moines (Thursdays), Norwalk (Fridays), Global Greens Farmers Market (Saturdays, 3200 University, behind Lutheran Social Services), Ankeny (Saturdays).

Auditions, Volunteer, and other Individual Enhancement Opportunities

  1. Polk County Heritage Gallery. Open submissions end Tue Jul 26 for Iowa Exhibited XXXVII.  http://www.polkcountyheritagegallery.org/#intro-1
  2. Des Moines Community Playhouse. Harriet the Spy. Auditions Mon Aug 29. https://www.dmplayhouse.com/auditions/harriet-the-spy/
  3. Ankeny Community Theatre. https://www.ankenycommunitytheatre.com/audition.html
  4. Class Act Productions (CAP). http://www.captheatre.org/main/expect/
  5. Des Moines Community Playhouse. https://www.dmplayhouse.com/audition-2/
  6. Des Moines Performing Arts. https://desmoinesperformingarts.org/
  7. Des Moines Young Artists Theatre. https://www.dmyat.org/
  8. Iowa Shakespeare Experience. https://www.iowashakespeare.org/
  9. Iowa Stage Theatre Company. https://www.iowastage.org/audition
  10. Pyramid Theatre Company. http://pyramidtheatre.org/
  11. Tallgrass Theatre Company. https://tallgrasstheatre.org/audition/
  12. Urbandale Community Theatre. https://urbandaletheatre.com/get-involved/

Planning ahead

  1.  Uniting Through History – Celebrating Buxton. Aug 28, 12:00-4:00 PM at the Nelson Pioneer Farm, 2211 Nelson Lane, Oskaloosa IA. Fundraiser to help preserve Buxton history. https://nelsonpioneer.org/np_events/celebrating_buxton/
  2. The Okoboji Writers’ Retreat – Sep 19-21, 2022. This has become the must-attend event for writers to learn and network. https://beaverdalebooks.com/event/the-okoboji-writers-retreat/
  3. Now available, Susan Werner is offering her full catalog of albums, plus bonus tracks (demos and unreleased songs), and live concert video footage. A perfect gift for yourself, for Susan Werner fans, and anyone who simply savors the magic of one of America’s musical gems. https://susanwerner.com/music/

Between the covers — author events worth noting:

  1. Beaverdale Books – Aug 7, 2:30-4:00 PM. Mary Gordon & Candace Calming Hello Iowa
  2. Beaverdale Books – Aug 13, 1:00-3:00 PM. Meet the Authors, Local Author Fair
  3. Beaverdale Books – Aug 17, 6:30-8:00 PM. Angela Tedesco, Finding Turtle Farm: My Twenty-Acre Adventure in Community-Supported Agriculture
  4. Beaverdale Books – Aug 20, 1:00-3:00 PM. Meet the Authors – Bookstore Romance Day, Mary Lee Ashford, Tracey Garvis Graves, Julie Stone, Maggie Martin, Denise Williams
  5. Artisan Gallery 218 – Aug 22, 6:30 PM. Panel Discussion, moderated by Pat Boddy. “The Land Beneath Us,” with agricultural lawyer Neil Hamilton (The Land Remains: A Midwestern Perspective on Our Past and Future), photographer Amee Ellis (The Sea Beneath Our Feet), and farmer Beth Hoffman (Bet the Farm).
  6. Beaverdale Books – Aug 25, 6:30-8:00 PM. Dennis Maulsby, Heart Songs

Beaverdale Books provides their Top Ten sellers list, updated each month. Updated hours: Mon-Fri 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM; Sat 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM; Sun 12:00 Noon to 4:00 PM. 515-279-5400.

Top Ten sellers in our store last month — see what everyone’s reading!

  1. The Winning Ticket: Uncovering America’s Biggest Lottery Scam, Rob Sand* and Reid Forgrave
  2. Happy-Go-Lucky, David Sedaris
  3. The Body Is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love, Sonya Renee Taylor
  4. Hello Iowa, Mary Gordon,* Illustrated by Candace Camling**
  5. Where the Crawdads Sing, Delia Owens
  6. Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience, Brene Brown
  7. The Paris Apartment, Lucy Foley
  8. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Taylor Jenkins Reid
  9. Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, Neil deGrasse Tyson
  10. The Overstory, Richard Powers*Iowa Author!

* Iowa author
Highlighted author names’ indicate interviews are in The Culture Buzz Podcast Library.
Please visit: https://archive.org/details/@the_culture_buzz 

Life Resource books worth your consideration:

  1. Don’t Feed the Elephant! Overcoming the Art of Avoidance to Build Powerful Relationships is a fully digestible and sage guide in how to eat that elephant – one bite at a time. By Sarah Noll Wilson of SNoW Co. https://sarahnollwilson.com/elephants/
  2. Becoming the Instrument: Lessons on Self Mastery from Music to Life is the masterful follow-up to Kenny Werner’s seminal Effortless Mastery: Liberating the Master Musician Within. The wisdom packed between the covers of this gem will enlighten each and every time you delve into it. https://kennywerner.com/
  3. The Exceptional Professional: What You Need to Know to Grow Your Career is an info-packed gem from Callista Gould. https://cultureandmanners.com/ 

Check out The Culture Buzz’s insightful interviews for these and other authors’ interviews at https://archive.org/details/@the_culture_buzz

Performing Arts Organizations:
Please check in advance regarding any scheduled performances, exhibitions, museum visits, etc.

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.

  1. Beaverdale Books, Des Moines. http://www.beaverdalebooks.com/
  2. Pageturners Bookstore, Indianola. http://www.pageturnersbookstore.com/
  3. Dog-eared Books, Ames. https://dogearedbooksames.com/
  4. Artisan Gallery 218, 218-5th Street, Historic Valley Junction, West Des Moines (select author events), http://www.artisangallery218.com/
  5. Read a Book Nook, Marshalltown. https://read-a-book-nook.business.site/
  6. Book Vault, Oskaloosa. https://bookvault.indielite.org/
  7. Pella Books, Pella. https://pellabooks.com/
  8. Prairie Lights Books & Cafe, Iowa City. https://www.prairielights.com/
  9. Storyhouse Bookpub, Des Moines Historic East Village. https://storyhousebookpub.com/

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:

  1. The Culture Buzz – John Busbee and associates encourage cultural adventures with a comprehensive overview of what The Culture Buzz delivers. An archive library of favorite interviews is on the website, and all recent interviews can be found at https://archive.org/details/@the_culture_buzz. http://www.TheCultureBuzz.com/
  2. Gentle Guide to Theater – Timothy Rose renews his insights and information about the Central Iowa theatre scene with his new website. This site is anchored by the most navigable, informative calendar of upcoming things theatrical in this region. www.gentleguidetheatre.com
  3. Center Stage – This Cityview monthly column covers feature stories about Central Iowa’s theatre scene. Distributed throughout the region and available online. Current column: https://www.dmcityview.com/center-stage
  4. 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/
  5. Art Week Des Moines – this annual, community/neighborhood celebration of the arts happens in several Greater Des Moines communities during the week leading up to the Des Moines Arts Festival. Planning, engagement and more happen throughout the year, and a diversity of input is welcomed and embraced by this initiative. https://artweekdesmoines.com/
  6. dsm Magazine – Central Iowa’s gateway to arts, culture and more in a stunning, visual format. https://dsmmagazine.com/ dsm’s CultureCast podcast features interviews with cultural leaders, artists and musicians. https://dsmmagazine.com/culturecast/
  7. ia Magazine – Built upon the success of its Central Iowa counterpart, this annual gem brings enticing cultural news from across the state. https://iapublication.com/
  8. Contact Buzz – This new column covers crossroads between creativity and culture, and is offered in the new Des Moines edition of Little Village magazine. https://littlevillagemag.com/desmoines/
  9. Little Village magazine. This Des Moines edition of the iconic Iowa City monthly brings a progressive voice to Central Iowa readers. https://littlevillagemag.com/desmoines/
  10. 900Views Podcast. An exploration of arts and community with Host Pat Boddy. Based out of Mainframe Studios in downtown Des Moines, 900Views provides a platform for glimpsing the creative work and lives of the Midwest’s cultural producers and influencers. https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/900views-pat-boddy-RCELj1xc7Wh/
  11. Greater Des Moines Community Jazz Center is this region’s source for a decades-established advocacy group for jazz, and established jazz professionals guiding and nurturing next generations of jazz musicians and fans. http://dmcommunityjazzcenter.org/
  12. Central Iowa Blues Society is the area’s connecting point for performance, presentations and education in the world of blues. www.cibs.org
  13. Bryan Farland, for many years, single handedly puts together the most comprehensive list of live and streaming music in Iowa. Bryan reaches out two ways, https://www.facebook.com/TheListDSM and farlanbr@dsmlivemusic.com

Resources to help, support and guide during any challenges you or someone you care about may be experiencing:

  • COVID Iowa Recovery: 800-775-9276 https://covidrecoveryiowa.org/
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or info@nami.org
  • United Way 211: Dial 211, text ZIP code to 898211 or visit 211iowa.org
  • CICIL: #CICILServes COVID-19 Hotline: (866) 44-CICIL
  • Trans Lifeline: (877) 565-8860
  • LGBT National Youth Talkline: (800) 246-7743
  • LGBT National Talkline: (888) 843-4564
  • Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center: dmpcc.org
  • Broadlawns 24/7 Crisis Team: (515) 282-5752
  • Your Life Iowa Help Line: (855) 581-8111
  • Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
  • Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 to be connected to crisis counseling
  • Online Mental Health Crisis Chat: iowacrisischat.org
  • MercyOne Des Moines Behavioral Health Clinic: 515-643-9030.
  • Prelude Behavioral Services (substance treatment): 515-262-0349
  • Instead of 911 – Des Moines area
    * Domestic Violence: 515.286.3600
       Polk County Crisis & Advocacy
    * Poison Control: 800.222.1222
    * Mental Health Crisis: 515.282.5752
       Broadlawns Crisis Team
    * LGBTQ+ Abuse: 866.488.7386
    * Sexual Assault: 515.243.7386
       Children & Families of Iowa
    * Veteran Crisis: 800.273.8255 press1
       Veterans & Their Families Health Crisis Line
    * Child Abuse/Neglect: 800.422.4453
       National US Child Abuse Hotline
    * Animal Abuse/Neglect: 515.284.6905
       Des Moines Animal Control
    *open 24/7
     
    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. ♦

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