At the Marion Arts Festival, everyone is an artist.
Our Create & Explore spaces in Marion Square Park invite all attendees to work side-by-side with artists from the Iowa Ceramics Center and Glass Studio, 237 Collective, Iowa City Press Co-Op, and Darrin Crow on different interactive & communal projects. These projects are for everyone, kids are especially welcome to take part. Come get your hands dirty and find your favorite new organization to create & explore art with!
Create & Explore spaces will be running on a first come, first served basis during the festival from 9:00am-5:00pm in Marion Square Park.
Printmaking
Iowa City Press Co-op
Collaborate on a printing activity with one of Iowa City Press Co-op’s small presses and they will bring the relief stamping station for small children. They will either be printing small posters or postcards.
Wheel Demonstrations
Iowa Ceramics Center & Glass Studio Hands-on Demonstrations: Short 5–10 minute hands-on demos, helping kids and adults alike try their hand at centering and guiding them through a brief (but memorable!) wheel experience.
Community Sculpture Table
Iowa Ceramics Center & Glass Studio This evolving sculpture invites visitors of all ages to add their creative touch to a themed clay scene (past themes have included Forest or Underwater environments).
Shadow Puppet Storytelling!
Storyteller and shadow puppet artist Darrin Crow brings stories to vivid life with the magic of light and shadow. Every hour Darrin brings a new set of stories to the magic screen. And after the stories, you are invited to come in, create your own shadow puppets, and tell stories, too! See your creations come to life on the shadow screen, and take them home to keep telling your stories. This activity takes place inside the train depot!
Large Paint Activity
237 Collective
The collective will be providing an interactive art installation with three blank rectangular prisms varying in size. Festival attendees will be able to experiment with water-based spray paint and solid paint markers to create on a collective surface. Water-based spray paint is designed to be used indoors, and is non-toxic. 237 Collective staff will help facilitate use of spray paint. This installation is for all ages.
Are you a local arts organization looking to get involved with our Create & Explore spaces? Drop us a line!
