Salonniere DSM is a group for people who share a common interest in art, music and dining. Individuals interested in curated, small group artist studio visits, art exhibitions, gallery openings, live music, open mics , local comedy, poetry readings and more, paired with dining may submit a request to join at Salonniere DSM.
Crystal Stone’s poetry has been published in various international journals including Writers Resist, Poets Reading the News, Coldnoon, Southword Journal, and others. She is currently an MFA candidate at Iowa State University, where she gave a TEDx talk called, “The Transformative Power of Poetry” and edits poetry for Flyway: Journal of Environmental Writing. Her first collection of poetry, Knock-Off Monarch, was released by Dawn Valley Press in December 2018.
A native of Des Moines, Iowa, Lauren Hickman’s work– in writing, astrological interpretation and intuitive energy balance – has been called both “fierce” and “vulnerable”– the variety of her experience lending to the unique voice of an old soul– both troubled and transcendent. Having trained under astrologers and metaphysical teachers from an early age, she continues intensive study of traditional Reiki and Ageless Wisdom studies, serving the community with intuitive counsel and healing sessions in Des Moines. Lauren studied literature and writing at Central University and has written, acted, directed and produced the underground film flick.
Mia Farrell is a Des Moines lover and native. Mia uses her energy as teacher, healer, spirit, and for the last 4 years has accepted the responsibility that comes with the title “artist”. Often working in interactive performance Mia has created art at the Vaudeville Mews, Kitty City, Petal Palace, the Chapman House, the Barnum Factory, Art Terrarium, and the Des Moines Art Center in the form if artist lead participatory walks. Mia believes that art is gift giving, and she honors this role and strives to gift joy, foster empathy, empower connections, and respects her audience and community enough to challenge them to grow.
Annalibera refers to the musical projects as well as the stage name of vocalist, pianist and songwriter Anna Gebhardt. She plays with various Iowa musicians, including Caleb Swank-Ferrara, David Hurlin, Natalie Simon and Ryan Stier. Focusing on a mix of genres, such as alternative folk, pop, indie rock and experimental, Annalibera crafts wide-eyed, atmospheric indie songs that are equal parts pensive and heartbreakingly beautiful. The Nebraska ex-pat has been performing under the moniker of Annalibera since 2012, but she made her first indelible mark on the music world with 2015’s Nevermind I Love You—a dense, soaring eight-song collection of chiming, beautiful indie rock songs. Blending synth-rock, dream pop and the Laurel Canyon-style songwriting of Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez, Annalibera’s music creates a gorgeous, immersive atmosphere.
Her most recent album, 2018’s Opia strengthens Annalibera’s typically drama-filled and cinematic approach to pop music. Little Village Magazine succinctly described the album’s “exciting and engaging” sound, remarking that Gebhardt’s voice “pierces the fog like the headlights of an oncoming car: unexpected and illuminating.”
Dan Troxell is a photographer living in Des Moines, Iowa, specializing in digital-or-film street and event portraiture wherever there’s light, and sometimes where there’s not.
It’s all about the people, it’s all about the art.
Champagne Harrington is a Des Moines native, a mentor, and a spoken word artist. Known for spoken word performances that are raw, passionate and anthems of self-love. Champagne recently graced the stage of Teresa Zilk’s, “Stories to Tell My Daughter“, a storytelling event at Grandview College where wit, grit, and wisdom ruled the evening.
In the spring of 1989 Sarah Spain had almost completed a year scholarship at one of Japan’s universities. While there, studying the Japanese language, geography, history, and Butoh Dance, she obtained through limited English news sources what was happening with students demonstrating in China on Tiananmen square. Sarah shared with the audience her Art Action performed two weeks before the 1st year anniversary of Tiananmen Square.
A native of Des Moines, Don Brown performed on television for a well-known Iowa State Fair Talent Search, won a national writing award at 17 and attended Drake University majoring in Journalism. After Drake he moved to New York City and within a few years began a career on Wall Street that lasted over a decade.
Don’s love of writing was never forgotten, and he continued to write poetry, publishing as a feature writer for his local paper. In addition, he resumed an interest in acting, performing with community theater and landing some small television roles as an extra. Music and writing were always connected.
As a solo artist, Don performed in several groups throughout his 30 years on the East Coast. After a market meltdown, he left Wall Street and began working in the publishing industry. He returned to school, this time at St. John’s University, and began assisting individuals seeking to change their lives and gain relief from addiction and HIV/AIDS.
In 2001 Don’s life and many others changed on September 11. That afternoon, Don and his wife of over 40 years, decided to move back to Iowa with their two children. Don continues to perform throughout central Iowa, pursuing his interests in both music and acting.
Founded in 2007, the After-School Arts Program (ASAP) connects underserved 1st–8th graders in the heart of the city, with challenging, enriching arts experiences and provides quality instruction from professional teaching artists who lead studios ranging from ceramics and painting to drumming and dance.
Robert Moore, Visual Artist and CEO of Morezarte was Riverview Artist Salon 17’s Guest Emcee. Robert brought his enthusiasm and passion for the arts to the Riverview Artist Salon stage for an evening enjoyed by all.
River City Art and Music’s Event Photographer, Dan Troxell will unveil his collaborative performance project, “What is Art?” through a pop-up exhibition at Mainframe Studios on Friday, September 6th. His exhibition will have a large collection of instant-film, poster-sized “What Is Art?” collaborations covering nearly 75 feet of wall space in the 4th floor common area of Mainframe.
EXPERIENCE IOWA ART – SUPPORT IOWA ART AND MUSIC
Support Iowa Creatives – Confirm Your Attendance HERE
River City Art and Music promotes Iowa Creatives through Facebook, Instagram, rivercityartandmusic.com and provides support through a regularly scheduled, two hour programmed event called Riverview Artist Salon.
Riverview Artist Salon provides an opportunity for creatives to share their words, sounds, passions and works with the community, family, friends and fellow creatives through a relaxed evening event.
Program segments included Poetry Intermezzo, Art Advocacy, Community Outreach, Creative Showcase and either a month long or pop-up art show/exhibition.
Photographs by Dan Troxell
Opening the night was writer, actor, show runner, improv artist, emcee, and poet, Jon E. Duh-Moyne. Jon is slam master of the Des Moines Poetry Slam with Kevin Marken behind the scenes. Jon co-hosts the recurring monthly poetry slam at 7:00 p.m., every third Tuesday at Java Joes CoffeeHouse, 214 Fourth Street., in beautiful Downtown Des Moines, Iowa. Sign-up starts at 6:30 p.m., and slams often wrap up at around 9:30 p.m.
COMMUNITY OUTREACHThe Iowa Arts Council serves as Iowa’s state arts agency and works to empower Iowa to build and sustain culturally vibrant communities by cultivating creativity, learning and participation in the arts. Their discussion highlighted the Arts Council’s resources and opportunities for individual artists and arts nonprofits, and included an overview of the agency’s initiatives to activate the arts in rural communities
Entrepreneur, artist, educator, community leader, environmental and sustainability advocate Chaden Halfhill is owner and chief visionary of Silent Rivers Design+Build. Always motivated by opportunity to make things better creatively, Chaden is first a fine artist and sculptor.
Chaden looked at Art Advocacy through two lenses; 1) As an artist looking to generate the community he would like to thrive in, and 2) As a business looking to foster relationships with those that want a creative dynamic community and reaching those that support and desire creative spaces.
The Red Door Press is a print + design studio run by a husband and wife team (Tammy and Adam Winn) located in Mainframe Studios in Des Moines, Iowa that specializes in creating posters, broadsides, social stationery, cards, and other ephemera using the traditional letterpress printing process. Officially started in 2012 with a single press and a small handful of type, the studio got its name from a particular red door which they visit each year. Founded on the idea of remembering their past, today they have grown to over twenty presses and an ever-growing collection of type — and they’re not slowing down.
Alyssa Leicht is a music and portrait photographer based in Des Moines, Iowa. She tours with bands, documenting the lives of musicians behind-the-scenes and offstage to provide their fans a picture of life as an artist on the road, sharing intimate moments music consumers wouldn’t ordinarily see. She also photographs numerous concerts and festivals spanning many genres throughout the year. Her work has been featured in various publications, both national and local, as well as displayed in group and solo exhibitions in the Des Moines area.
Robert Moore is an emerging Iowa artist, and art entrepreneur, who specializes in using rich texture and color with his mixed-medium abstract and expressionism art. Many of his pieces are in private collections in IA, WA and CA.
Robert is also the CEO + Founder of MOREZARTE™ which was birthed in early 2019 in his home office. Robert, a seasoned corporate executive built MOREZARTE™ with the buyer and artist in mind before any business benefits or functions. Robert, an art buyer himself, related to challenges buyers and artists faced in the industry and wants to fill the gap in the art buying model.