Bored? Volunteer for the Des Moines Arts Festival or immerse in an interactive art show.

Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register
Updated ·6 min read

Cowles Commons has become one of the leading places to find temporary art and events, whether it’s the thrill of Hoops & Hops as NCAA teams battle it our or the fun of “Sway’s Bloom,” an interactive art show with artists on poles swaying like flowers. Now those who love to discover the pianos across the city from City Sounds have a new instrument to play — seesaws.

On April 18, Des Moines Performing Arts and Operation Downtown, in partnership with the Greater Des Moines Partnership, introduce the city to “Impulse,” an interactive seesaw project.

The series of 15 seesaws of different sizes features lights and sounds when people play on them. Grab a friend, take the kids, or try it on your own. The art sticks around until May 19.

Find it: Cowles Commons, 300 Walnut St., Des Moines.

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See new art from David B. Dahlquist and Wendell Arneson during 'Full Circle II'

Friends David Dahlquist and Wendell Arneson showcase their newest works together at Moberg Gallery.
Friends David Dahlquist and Wendell Arneson showcase their newest works together at Moberg Gallery.

These longtime friends showcase their newest works together. David Dahlquist is a sculptor who recently started painting. You might recognize some of his works, such as “From Here to There: The High Trestle Trail Bridge” in collaboration with RDG Dahlquist Art Studio. Wendell Arneson's newest work focuses on abstract works that distill and expand natural elements. The two will be on hand at Moberg Gallery for an opening reception from 5 to 8 p.m. April 12. Expect music by Rob Lumbard and food provided by chef Lisa LaValle at this free event. Works from both artists will be on display through May 4.

Find it: Moberg Gallery, 2411 Grand Ave., Des Moines.

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See ‘Discover Symphonic Dance’

Dance and the Des Moines Symphony come together during "Discover Symphonic Dance" on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at the Des Moines Civic Center at 221 Walnut St., Des Moines. The orchestra performs Prokofiev’s beloved "Romeo & Juliet," Tchaikovsky’s "Sleeping Beauty" and Ravel’s "Mother Goose." The performance ends with Beethoven’s "Grosse Fuge," complete with original choreography by BRKFST Dance Co. from St. Paul, Minnesota.

Single tickets range from $15 to $70 and are available online through dmsymphony.org up until two hours before performances. Ticket prices increase $5 on the day of the concert.

Find it: Des Moines Symphony at the Des Moines Civic Center at 221 Walnut St., Des Moines.

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Historic Osage-orange trees head to Hoyt Sherman Place

The new stage and plaza is seen on Oct. 18, 2023, at Hoyt Sherman Place in Des Moines.
The new stage and plaza is seen on Oct. 18, 2023, at Hoyt Sherman Place in Des Moines.

The performance center and museum has been busy celebrating its 150th anniversary last year while renovating its lawn. Now Hoyt Sherman Place is ready to add a piece of history to its lawn.

On April 22, Hoyt Sherman Place Foundation plans to plant two small Osage-orange trees to celebrate Earth Day and remember the center’s namesake. The trees serve as living monuments to Major Hoyt Sherman and his oldest brother, Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman, who both served President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War.

The ceremony at noon includes a Gen. Ulysses S. Grant reenactor who will share some of his experiences from when he last visited Des Moines and met with Hoyt and William Tecumseh Sherman.

These Osage-orange trees have another bit of history to them. Both were grown from cuttings collected from a hedge row of Osage-orange trees planted in 1865 at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois. These trees witnessed the funeral procession of President Abraham Lincoln and are still growing at his gravesite.

The Brenton Arboretum in Dallas Center, Iowa, donated the trees.

As a little catchup, the plaza got a redesign last year using elements found in the original 1910 plan for lawn enhancement created by Charles Mulford Robinson. The Des Moines Women’s Club hired Robinson soon after they leased the property from the City of Des Moines as their clubhouse. Another plan created by Etta Bardwell, University of Iowa’s first female landscape architect, in 1926 added additional landscaping and was also commissioned by Des Moines Women’s Club when the theater addition was completed. Nearly 113 years later, those plans have been brought to life.

Find it: Hoyt Sherman Place, 1501 Woodland Ave., Des Moines.

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Volunteer for the Des Moines Arts Festival

Looking for a way to participate in the Des Moines Arts Festival? The event June 28-30 at the Pappajohn Sculpture Park needs more than 800 volunteers to do everything from greeting attendees and helping out artists, to selling merchandise and more. The festival needs volunteers June 24-30. The payment? A free T-shirt along with snacks, beverages, and a free drink coupon from Exile Brewing Co. to use after the festival.

Interested? Head to desmoinesartsfestival.org/volunteer to sign up.

Find it: Des Moines Arts Festival takes place June 28-30 at Western Gateway Park, 1205 Locust St., Des Moines.

Meet author and NPR Political Correspondent Sarah McCammon

Journalist Sarah McCammon grew up as an evangelical. Her new book, “The EXvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church,” combines her personal stories about leaving the church with a look at the power of the Christian right in America. The NPR political correspondent previously worked in Des Moines at Iowa Public Radio as the host of "Morning Edition."

She speaks at Beaverdale Books on Friday at 6:30 p.m., with state Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott moderating the talk.

Find it: Beaverdale Books, 2629 Beaver Ave., Des Moines.

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Poetry Palooza! takes over Des Moines

Meet the poets reading at Poetry Palooza! April 19-20.
Meet the poets reading at Poetry Palooza! April 19-20.

Grand View University hosts Poetry Palooza! April 19-20 with six renowned published poets from Iowa, Colorado and Kansas reading from their works that celebrate Poetry of Place (regional-topics) and Echoes of Earth (ecology-focused) themes.

The lineup includes:

  • Traci Brimhall, Kansas poet laureate and creative writing professor at Kansas State University;

  • Paul Brooke, Grand View University endowed chair of creative writing who teaches environmental literature, poetry and diverse voices;

  • Camille Dungy, African-American ecology poet and professor at Colorado State University;

  • Jennifer Knox, Iowa State University teacher whose works are featured in “Best American Poetry” and The New York Times and American Poetry Review;

  • Deb Marquart, Iowa poet laureate, Iowa State University professor, and author of seven books; and

  • Caleb “The Negro Artist” Rainey, nationally acclaimed, award-winning Iowa poet who has two books of his works published.

For a full schedule of events, visit here: poetryamp.org/poetry-palooza.

Find it: Grand View University, 1200 Grandview Ave., Des Moines.

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Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or drop her a line at sstapleton@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: The best arts events near me in Des Moines: Poetry, Earth Day and more