Weekend Pick: A Cultural Weekend

Many people have been inquiring about the Valley Junction Spring Art Market, a juried art fair. This year’s event will be held on Sunday, May 18, 2008, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Valley Junction association’s news release states there will be around 100 booths with artists and craftsmen from 8 states. Alas, I cannot review the art before the event but past experience suggests there will be a mix of styles and most of the artists will readily answer your questions. With DART’s Sunday service, you can ride the #1 bus directly to and from West Des Moines and save gas money.

The big event for Saturday is on Des Moines’ east side. The annual Celebrasian will be held on May 17th on the east side of the Capitol complex (approximately East 13th Street between Grand and Walnut). Hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Depending on how late you stay, you can take the #1, #4, #5, or #7 bus to and from the event. Twelve Asian cultures will be represented in a village-style layout. Various cuisines will be available for purchase. In addition, there will be fine arts, dancing, music, and other educational entertainment. I’m still trying to figure out the connection between Asia and the volleyball tournament that’s to be included in the event.

If the idea of sitting down rather than walking around appeals to you, consider the Des Moines Playhouse’s production of Holes. There are matinees on Saturday and Sunday, with an evening performance on Friday.

Free-to-view outdoor movies are also being offered this weekend. On Friday, Parks and Recreation will offer a showing of Hoot at about 8:30 p.m. at the Western Gateway park (approximately 15th between Locust and Grand). At 8:00 p.m. a Polk County naturalist will give a presentation on how owls adapted to life in the wild. The department’s website offers a list of several other fun activities that are upcoming, including using a canoe on Gray’s Lake. On Saturday, in the Beaverdale neighborhood, there will be a showing of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory at Ashby Park (38th and Davison) at dusk, say approximately 8:30.

The Polk County Heritage Art Gallery at 2nd and Walnut is wrapping up one of its annual juried shows. I missed the opening for this because the volunteer who had been doing the website is no longer able to maintain the site (hint). The gallery’s openings are held on Sundays but otherwise the gallery is open only from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. weekdays. Over at the Hentschel Art Gallery in the Shops at Roosevelt is an exhibit of Nancy Purington’s paintings based on the flow of the Mississippi River at her native Davenport. She also was inspired by fellow Iowan Bix Beiderbecke, a 1920’s jazz musician. The Hentschel gallery is open on Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. I have not yet had the time to see the exhibit but what I’ve seen from the wndow is very inticing.

M.R. Field encourages organizations and performers to send news about their upcoming events to events@AroundDesMoines.com.