Muscatine Art Center Stanley Gallery
Marc Sijan’s lifelike representations of real people have been featured in dozens of one-man exhibitions. Sijan’s attention to the human body - tiny hairs, pores, freckles, wrinkles - has amazed many viewers. His gritty illustrations of real people explore the universal and eternal concerns of the human form. The 2023 exhibition is his third at the Muscatine Art Center. Marc Sijan’s ultra-realistic sculptures are “homages to humanity’s fascination with its own forms—a fascination which has compelled artists throughout the millennia to mirror life in virtually every medium.” Sijan’s figures are incredibly lifelike, sensuous, and graceful. His figures are so lifelike, they seem always on the verge of movement, a mere instant away from action. The pores in the skin, the Tiny hairs and veins, even the bald spots, the blemishes, and the individual shapes of the faces make human beings so similar, yet so unique. These details make Marc Sijan’s work especially arresting.
Bob Campagna served as the Director of the Low Rent Housing Commission when Muscatine established its first public housing project. Hired at the age of 23, Campagna screened and aided in selecting the first residents of the Clark House. After “move in day”, Campagna was instrumental in establishing a community among the residents and staff members. One of Bob’s special projects was to create a directory of residents, and he photographed each individual, couple, or family group. This exhibition examines the ups and downs of building the Clark House, the relocation of the historic Alexander Clark home, and the stories of the individuals working to improve living conditions in the 1970s.
Muscatine Art Center Studio
Introduce your children ages two to seven to the world of art with free art classes. Each class consists of a story and two art projects! Please call Katy at 563-263-8282 to make a reservation for class. Over and Under the Canyon takes young readers on a thrilling tour of a desert canyon ecosystem. Over the canyon, the sun scalds the air, baking desert mud to stone. But under the shade of the cliffs hides another world, where bighorn sheep bound from rock to rock on the hillside, roadrunners make their nests in sturdy cacti, and banded geckos tuck themselves into the shelter of the sand. Discover the wonders concealed in the curves of the canyon, the magic of a desert wildflower bloom, and all the unexpected creatures that bring the desert to life.
Muscatine Art Center, 1314 Mulberry Avenue
Several projects are currently underway to introduce the Alexander Clark story to new audiences, demonstrate his national significance, and broaden understanding of Clark's leadership in his own time. Join author Rachelle Chase and local historian Dan Clark, who serves on the Alexander Clark Foundation, for a discussion on efforts to reach school children, scholars, and the general public with the story of this African American Muscatine man who pushed for change starting in the mid 1800s. Rachelle Chase is currently completing the middle school book, The Time I Was Susan Clark. Dan Clark is nearly a year into his weekly Muscatine Journal column spotlighting Alexander Clark. In addition to discussing his own research and writing, he will share details on current efforts to obtain national significance for the Alexander Clark House and on connections with scholars who are researching Clark.
Muscatine Art Center, 1314 Mulberry Avenue.
City Council Chambers
Muscatine City Hall
Virtual Meeting Option Available