Contact:
Jeff Morgan, (515) 281-3858
Discover Victorian
Iowa opens in conjunction with Alice Cycle art
show
(DES MOINES) – The
State Historical Museum will bring tea parties, parlor games, paintings and more
to Des Moines October 1-November 27, 2005, in a new exhibit called Discover
Victorian Iowa.
The exhibit will feature
a Victorian parlor and a number of fun-filled family events, including chess tournaments,
parlor games, tea parties, special guest speakers and presentations, storytelling
and gallery walks led by Iowa artist Mary Kline-Misol, whose Lewis Carroll-inspired
paintings from her Alice Cycle also will be exhibited.
“For today’s
younger generation, gathering in the family room around the television for a favorite
show or playing video games with neighborhood kids are common evening and weekend
activities,” Department of Cultural Affairs Director Anita Walker said.
“But children living during the Victorian Era did not have family rooms
or video games. They had parlors and parlor games. This exhibit and the events
involved with it are terrific opportunities for children and their families to
learn how people had fun and enjoyed themselves during the Victorian era in Iowa.”
As part of the exhibit,
families can explore the literature, history and customs of the Victorian era
through an interactive interpretation of a 1880s Victorian parlor, which has been
constructed in the second floor gallery. Parlor games and tea parties, as well
as readings from Victorian children’s books and interactive presentations
on Victorian life, customs, and etiquette will be offered during Family Days in
October and November.
In addition, the museum
is pleased to present the paintings of Iowa artist Kline-Misol, whose work is
inspired by the lifetime and written works of Lewis Carroll. Nearly 40 of her
paintings will be on display, and she will be giving several gallery walks talking
about the extensive historical research she conducted on the life of Lewis Carroll
and Victorian history before painting the Alice Cycle.
Please contact Heather
King at 515-281-8754 or Heather.King@iowa.gov
for more information about Discover Victorian Iowa programming and activities.
Following is a list of
events that will be held during the run of the exhibit:
October 1, 2005
Exhibit
Opening/Family Day: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. unless otherwise noted
Visitors will
learn how to play Victorian games, hear storytellers, listen to special presentations
and have a lesson in chess playing. Chess tables created by Des Moines Public
Schools students through a summer workshop with Kline-Misol will be on display
in the atrium.
· Victorian Parlor
Games and Children’s Literature - different games from the Victorian period
can be played in the parlor area throughout the afternoon. Children will be able
to try on a hoop skirt and a vest, and learn to tie a bowtie; play games like
chess, checkers, nine pins, pick up sticks, Jacob’s ladder, graces and jacks.
Many children’s books popular in the late 19th century will also be available.
· Des Moines Public
School District Art Display – Painted chess tables created by Des Moines
Public Schools students during a summer workshop with artist Kline-Misol will
be on display in the atrium.
· 9:45 a.m: Lewis
Carroll Chess Demonstration. Kids from local chess leagues will compete. Seasoned
players will be available to teach the game to visitors, who will be encouraged
to spend some time learning and playing in the atrium.
· 11 a.m.: Mary
Bennett and Paul Juhl present Iowa Stereographs: Popular Parlor Pastime. Along
with games and reading, Victorian children and adults alike also enjoyed looking
at stereographic photographs. Hear the history of these unique images; learn how
they were created and experience 100-year-old images of Iowa come-to-life in stereovision!
Four different 15-minute presentations on the Grinnell Tornado, the State Capital
Building, Clear Lake, Iowa, and The Corn Palace in Sioux City will follow introductory
comments.
· 12:30 p.m.: Victorian
Yard Games Demonstration. Learn how to play popular Victorian yard games on the
Grand Terrace.
· 1 p.m.: Maureen
Korte presents Alice. Experience popular scenes from Alice’s Adventures
in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass in the parlor! Don’t just listen
to the stories, but watch them unfold before you, and participate in the action,
too!
· 2 p.m.: Gallery
Walk with Artist Mary Kline-Misol. Local Iowa Artist Mary Kline-Misol will give
a guided gallery walk for families. Learn how she researched the topics of her
images, from reading novels to visiting far away places! Gallery walk begins in
Classrooms A/B with a short slide lecture, followed by a tour of the gallery with
the artist. $5 per person. Reservations suggested but not required. Contact Heather
King at 515-281-8754 or heather.king@iowa.gov for more information.
October 8,
2005
History
Together: Victorian Visits: 9 a.m.-Noon & 1-4 p.m
An exciting
collaboration between Terrace Hill and the State Historical Society of Iowa offers
a new program called History Together: Victorian Visits. The public is invited
to explore the new exhibit, Discover Victorian Iowa, at the State Historical Society.
Participants will learn how to make a Victorian calling card and proper etiquette
while hearing stories and songs from local storyteller Nina Givan in the parlor.
As part of the same program, participants will visit Terrace Hill, the historic
Governor’s mansion, and enjoy a guided tour of the home and a special treat
in the carriage house. Transportation between events is provided via a special
bus tour of intriguing historic locations. Tickets are $35 per adult/child couples,
and $10 per additional child. Limit two children per adult. Reservations are required.
Contact Heather King at 515-281-8754 or heather.king@iowa.gov for more information.
October 15, 2005
8
a.m.-4 p.m. unless otherwise noted
· Lewis Carroll
Society of North America Fall Meeting – The LCSNA is a non-profit organization
dedicated to furthering Lewis Carroll studies. Join them for the fall meeting,
which is free and open to the public. The group will present a film during the
morning and then adjourn for a short lunch. Afternoon activities consist of several
talks by national scholars. The featured speaker will be Frankie Morris, author
of Artists of Wonderland: The Life, Political Cartoons, and Illustrations of Tenniel.
For more information visit the LCSNA at www.lewiscarroll.org.
· Des Moines Public
School District Art Display: Painted chess tables created by Des Moines Public
School students during a summer workshop with artist Mary Kline-Misol will be
on display in the atrium.
· 11 a.m. and 1
p.m.: Nina Givan, Storyteller in the Parlor – Hear and watch popular fairytales
and nursery rhymes come to life in the parlor with two special performances by
Nina Givan, a local storyteller who will take on the persona of a Victorian Lady
to tell these great stories! Performances are free to the public.
· Victorian Parlor
Games and Children’s Literature – Different games from the Victorian
period can be played in the parlor area throughout the afternoon. Children will
be able to try on a hoop skirt, a vest, and learn to tie a bowtie; play games
like chess, checkers, nine pins, pick up sticks, Jacob’s ladder, graces
and jacks. Also available will be many of the children’s books that were
popular in the late 19th century.
November 12,
2005
Family
Day: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. unless otherwise noted
Family Day
activities will center on exploring Victorian Customs and Etiquette.
· Victorian Parlor
Games and Children’s Literature – Different games from the Victorian
period can be played in the parlor area throughout the afternoon. Children will
be able to try on a hoop skirt, a vest, and learn to tie a bowtie; play games
like chess, checkers, nine pins, pick up sticks, Jacob’s ladder, and jacks.
Also available will be many of the children’s books that were popular in
the late 19th century.
· Des Moines Public
School District Art Display – Painted chess tables created by DMPS kids
through a summer workshop with artist Mary Kline-Misol will be on display in the
atrium.
· 10 a.m.: Gallery
Walk with Artist Mary Kline-Misol – Local Iowa Artist Mary Kline-Misol will
be giving a guided gallery walk for families. Learn how Mary researched the topics
of her images, from reading novels to visiting far away places! Gallery walk begins
in classrooms A/B with a short slide lecture, followed by a tour of the gallery
with the artist. $5 per person. Reservations suggested but not required. Please
contact Heather King at 515-281-8754 or heather.king@iowa.gov for more information.
· 11 a.m.: Bonnie
and Donna from Historic Montauk present Victorian Etiquette and Customs –
Learn about Victorian life from two Victorian-costumed women! Proper salutations,
behaviors, and popular pastimes and customs will be explored during this interactive
presentation.
· Noon: Nina Givan,
Storyteller in the Parlor – Hear and watch popular fairytales and nursery
rhymes come to life in the parlor with a special performance by Nina Givan, a
local storyteller who will take on the persona of a Victorian Lady to tell these
great stories! Performance is free to the public.
· 1 p.m.: Hats,
Hats, Hats! – Create your very own Victorian hat and make sure to wear it
to the tea party! Workshop is limited to 30 kids and will cost $5 per person.
Local artist Mary Zirkelbach will be hosting the program. Contact Heather King
at 515-281-8754 or heather.king@iowa.gov for more information.
· 1:30 p.m.: Special
Vault Tour “Victorian Life” – This one and one-half hour-long
behind-the-scenes walking tour explores the museum’s “vault,”
and underground, climate-controlled storage facility that is home to more than
100,000 artifacts in the State Historical Society collection. This special tour
will focus primarily on the furniture, finery, pottery and china of the Victorian
age. These tours are limited to groups of 20; reservations are strongly encouraged.
Tickets are $12 for adults, $8 for children. Reservations can be made by calling
the Iowa Museum Store at (515) 283-1757.
· 2 p.m.: Tea Time
– “Imagine yourself in Alice’s adventure during an interactive
theatrical reenactment of the Mad Hatter Tea!”
November 19
Victorian
Lady’s Tea: 1 p.m.-3 p.m.
A Lady’s Tea presented
by Patricia Tice. Mothers, daughters, and grandmothers are invited to a Victorian
Lady’s Tea, where they can enjoy tea and scones while learning about the
history of tea and Victorian etiquette. This event is limited to 50 persons. Tickets
are $20 per person. RSVP is required by contacting Heather King at 515-281-8754
or heather.king@iowa.gov. Sponsored in part by the Tulip Tea Room of Pella.
The State Historical Museum
is located in the heart of Des Moines’ Historic East Village at 600 E. Locust
Street. The museum is open Monday-Saturday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday Noon
to 4:30 p.m. Admission is free, although there may be a fee for special programming.
Please call (515) 281-5111 or visit www.iowahistory.org for more information about
the State Historical Museum.
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