Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Lt. Governor Patty Judge To Host First "Iowa Artists Showcase"
Event to highlight works by Iowa Artists and Performers
DES MOINES –Lt. Governor Patty Judge will hold the first Iowa Artists Showcase on Monday, February 25th at the Iowa State Capitol. The event, which will be held every four months at the Capitol, will feature unique works from different artists around the state.
“The arts are vital to Iowa’s future,” said Lt. Governor Judge. “They attract new businesses and people, bring in tourists from across the country, and foster a greater sense of identity to the place in which we live. As Lt. Governor, I am committed to bringing new attention and greater awareness to the arts in Iowa, and this program is one way to do just that.”
Lt. Governor Judge has made promotion of the arts one of her top priorities during her term in office.
The Iowa Artists Showcase will be held once every four months in the Lt. Governor’s Formal Office in the State Capitol, and will feature works of art submitted by Iowa artists. Selected by the Lt. Governor, the art will be on display throughout the Governor’s Office until the next Iowa Artists Showcase.
The inaugural event will highlight the works of Central Iowa Artists Brent Houzenga and Noemi Oyarzabal, and will be on display until June.
Brent Houzenga is a Des Moines artist who currently works as Assistant Director of the Ankeny Art Center. He uses antique photos and discarded materials to create his pieces of art. His work is shown throughout central Iowa, and was recently featured in DSM Magazine.
Noemi Oyarzabal is a painter from Clive who moved to Iowa from her native country, Argentina. She works at Bankers Trust, and is an active member of HER (Hispanic Educational Resource), Unidos, and serves on the Latino Festival board. Her work has been exhibited throughout Des Moines and Storm Lake.
“The Iowa State Capitol is a work of art in and of itself,” said the Lt. Governor. “Each year, countless individuals visit this building to see the beauty of Iowa’s past. Now, they will have a chance to glimpse into the art of Iowa’s present and future. I encourage Iowans to take a moment and come to the Capitol to see for themselves the rich artistic talent that exists here in Iowa.”
The event will also feature performances by the Gateway Dance Troupe, a Des Moines-based organization dedicated to promoting diversity through movement, and Highway Sigadi, a senior vocal performance major from Simpson College who was born and raised in South Africa.
The Iowa Artists Showcase is free and open to the public.