‘Time for a Cure’
2008 Artful Dodger exhibit opens at Iowa CentralBy ANGELA BURCH, Messenger staff writer
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If you go
What: Artful Dodger 2008 exhibit
When: Now through Oct. 4
Where: Decker Auditorium, Iowa Central Community College
Local artists took the theme "Time for a Cure" literally for the Artful Dodger Project 2008 as they created and designed working clocks for this year's exhibit.
The artists were given raw pieces of wood carved in the shape of breast cancer ribbons, along with the mechanical pieces of a clock, to interpret and design in any manner they chose. The basic structures were cut out by inmates from the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility.
"Every year we have a theme and this year our theme is 'Time for a Cure,'" said Jean Borszich, board member of Young At Art. She said the clocks represent time.
This is the sixth year the group has sponsored the Artful Dodger project.
Rep. Helen Miller, D-Fort Dodge, the executive director of Young At Art, started Artful Dodger in 2002 as a way to exhibit public art. She designed the program to raise awareness of local artistic talent and to encourage people to view art as an asset in economic development.
The money raised through past auctions has been donated to various organizations, including the Blanden Memorial Art Museum, the city of Fort Dodge, Youth Shelter Care of North Central Iowa and art departments in local schools.
"This year, the one thing that we've added is that the source of where our money is going is also the subject matter of the art," Miller said. "The actual piece of art is actually tied to where we're giving the money to."
The funds raised will be donated to a cancer organization yet to be decided and the Iowa Central art department. Miller said this year's theme was chosen because almost everyone has been touched in some way by cancer.
In years past, forms have included tables, child figures, chairs and masks.
The artists were not limited to a specific medium as long as the artwork reflected the theme. The clocks are decorated with materials ranging from paints, woodcarving and decoupage to varnishes, stains and ceramics, said Rusty Farrington, an art professor at Iowa Central Community College.
Meg Beshey, art teacher at Duncombe and Feelhaver elementary schools, has participated in the past three events.
She said she changed her mind on her design about 20 times because she wanted to make sure it would be something someone would want as an art piece.
"I figured a bunch of them would be pink, so I wanted to make mine unique. By doing a unique design, I figured it would draw more attention to the situation ... make people think about what needs to be done to cure the disease of breast cancer," she said.
The clocks are on display at Decker Auditorium on the Iowa Central Community College campus until Oct. 4. As of Monday, 18 pieces were on exhibit.
Maureen Seamonds, another art professor at Iowa Central, said she expects that number to increase as more people, especially students, submit pieces.
The "Touched by Cancer" event will bring the exhibit to a close. During the event, which begins at 1 p.m. on Oct. 4, there will be children's activities, a speaker's forum and health information bazaar. The clocks will also be available for bidding through a silent auction, Miller said.
"These are functional and unique pieces of art. It's something very chic and can definitely be a conversation starter," Beshey said.
Contact Angela Burch at 573-2141 or aburch@messengernews.net
