ISU Design on Main Holds Open House at Octagon Art Festival

The Iowa State University College of Design has moved down on main street and people can check out the satellite location 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the Octagon Art Festival Sunday.

Design on Main opened a satellite facility for classes, exhibitions and community outreach in 7,000 square feet of the former Antique Ames antiques mall at 203 and 205 Main Street, Iowa State University News Service reported.

The college will host an open house at Design on Main during the Octagon Art Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday allowing people to tour the location.

People will find a small gallery space to showcase artwork and projects on the main level and studio space for graduate students in the integrated visual arts (IVA) program on the upper level.

Mike Miller, College of Design director of operations told the news service:

“It also allows us to be more connected with the community,” he said. “Many of our classes work directly with Iowa communities. The first floor gives us a way to share what we do with a wider audience.”

During the open house, graduate visual arts students also will give public painting demonstrations.

C. Arthur Croyle, associate professor and program director, who leads a graduate critique seminar at the facility said:

“We’ll all be in the same place, surrounded by the city, which should foster some interesting collaborations and new opportunities to engage the community.”