CATALYST STATE

Eligibility

Entries shall be completed or conceptual projects of exemplary design in built environments, fashion, or graphic design by a citizen of Iowa. Projects need not be located in Iowa. An individual, student, or firm may submit an unlimited number of entries for which authorship can be supported. All entries will be considered and judged on merit. Entries in default of the above requirements will not be considered.

Entry Documentation Requirements

1. Entry Form
2. A complete project statement
3. PowerPoint – up to 15 slides, 2 images + caption per slide. (Sample Slide to be included in this document_)
4. Signed release form

REMOVE ALL PARTICIPANT IDENTIFICATION from all components of the submittal except the entry and release forms. Applicant anonymity on all materials except the entry form is essential.

Entries shall be submitted digitally or delivered by post (postmarked by October 4) to the Des Moines Art Center by 12 pm, Friday October 5, 2007. Entries received after this date cannot be assured a review by the jury.

Des Moines Art Center
Catalyst State
Attn: Paula Hutton McKinley (pmckinley@desmoinesartcenter.org
4700 Grand Ave
Des Moines, IA 50312

All entries submitted by post should be bound with three-ring binder along with entry form, fee, statement, and CD-ROM included. Materials submitted for jury will not be returned.

Entrants will be invited to exhibit and awards will be issued to entries that best embody the following general criteria:

• Impact of work on Iowans' daily lives (working, living, learning, playing) should be evidenced in project statement and in photos.
• Entrants are asked to innovate Iowans' lives through environmentally friendly and aesthetic mediums.
• Environmental impact of work that can be measured in terms of energy efficiency, innovative use of eco / bio-friendly materials, and utilization of natural environment.
• Clear measurement of environmental and social impact when realized.

Entry Fees

(check made payable to Des Moines Art Center, MC, VISA, AE, or Disc.)

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Student Entry Fee	$35
Art Center Member Entry Fee	$55
Art Center Non-Member Entry Fee	$75

Notification of Changes and Additional Announcements

All changes in event itinerary, locations and logistics will be posted on the Catalyst State website at www.catalyststate.com

Contacts:

General Inquires: Jason Patocka - patocka@gmail.com
Submission Inquires: Paula Hutton McKinley – pmckinley@desmoinesartcenter.org
Marketing and Media Requests: Emily Renaud – erenaud@desmoinesartcenter.org

Choose your preferred method of entry:

Apply Online
Uses a secure form to submit your information and PowerPoint Presentation.

Apply by Standard Mail
PDF entry form for submission. Complete and mail to:

Des Moines Art Center
Catalyst State
Attn: Paula Hutton McKinley (pmckinley@desmoinesartcenter.org
4700 Grand Ave
Des Moines, IA 50312

CATALYST STATE

What is Catalyst State?

Catalyst State is Des Moines' Design Weekend, and we're working to create an event where environment and aesthetic is at the forefront of the hearts and minds of Des Moines' citizens for the future. We realize that we live in a world that is rapidly changing. Scientists show satellite images of ice shelves the size of Jamaica threatening to drift into the open ocean. Our automobile-centered society is on a crash course with 21st century demand of 20th century resources. Increasingly we find our habits of consumption unsustainable. It's time that the American Dream was redefined, and we think it's time that Des Moines started thinking about addressing these issues. The real question is: can we solve these issues with style? We believe we can be global leaders in setting an example for change. We can be a Catalyst State.

As the ancient Chinese saying goes, 'May you live in interesting times.' If you look at our agrarian history you will find a pioneer spirit that manifests itself in values of community, environmental responsibility, and stewardship. With this event, we want to explore how these concepts translate to a unique visual identity and aesthetic and simultaneously change the way that we interface with the utility found in everyday life.

For Design Weekend, we want to specifically address how we can influence and change lifestyle through sustainable design. We want the innovation showcased at Catalyst State to find its way into the everyday lives of Iowans, and indeed to the rest of the world. If you think about it, Iowans are in a pretty great position for this dialogue. The stage is set. 'Interesting' is only limited by our will and imagination.

We encourage designers (in the fields of fashion, built environments, and graphic design) to submit an entry for this year's competition. The challenges of the 21st century are not simple. They are rooted deep in our contemporary American lifestyle. Our hope is to present a forum where we can inspire, collaborate, and showcase revolutionary ideas and a beautiful vision for our fair city in the years ahead.

Inspire mercilessly, magnetize minds, and kiss the beige goodbye.

Art Noir

Art Noir After Dark: Patricia Piccinini

January 17 Patricia Piccinini (peach-en-een-neee) lecture at the Des Moines Art Center in Levitt Auditorium at 6:30 pm. 

Although the lecture is free and open to the public, seats are limited. 

Art Noir hosts a private wine and hors d'oeuvre reception immediately following at the

Downtown DMAC with exhibition installation preview and tour with artist.

*Please be sure to make your reservations through IowaTIX www.iowatix.com beginning Tuesday, January 2 at 9:00am.

RSVP's for the private reception should come to artnoir@desmoinesartcenter.org.) - Reservations are required.

Des Moines Art Center                            

Art Noir's After Dark #3 

Friday, 18 May 2007
6:30 pm Black Maria Film Festival

Des Moines Art Center, Levitt Auditorium
4700 Grand Avenue, Des Moines
Free and open to the public; seats are first come-first serve.

8pm - Midnight Art Noir Private Post-Reception - DJ Solarz (Reception for Art Noir Members only- Not a Member? Join at the door!)

Black Maria Film and Video Festival

The Black Maria Film and Video Festival is an international traveling showcase of independent short films and videos, stopping nationwide at more than 50 host institutions. The festival strives to identify, showcase and reward compelling new independent media, reach audiences in a wide variety of venues and to advocate exceptional achievements by diverse artists who expand the expressive terrain of film and video.

Black Maria was named after the American birthplace of the motion picture—Thomas Edison's West Orange, NJ, laboratory—a revolving photographic studio called the Black Maria because it resembled a police paddy wagon. Over the last twenty-six years, founding director John Columbus has overseen this alternative festival, which embraces the diversity and passion of the cinematic short form. It provides many directors with their earliest exhibition opportunities and discovers avant-garde and idiosyncratic talents. Through the years the festival has championed cinema that resides on the margins of popular culture and in the center of artists' imaginations.

Join Art Noir and DJ Solarz for the Black Maria Film Festival, for drinks and hors d'oeuvres following the films at the Teachout Building Private Suite (6th Floor) - 500 E Locust 8pm - midnight.  Meet Art Noir Board Members and learn how you can get involved in Catalyst State ~ Iowa Design Weekend. 

www.desmoinesartcenter.org                  www.blackmariafilmfestival.org

 Art Noir *Members Only Event*

Thursday October 26, 2006, 5:30 pm

Season Preview will begin at 5:45 pm

Tour will begin at 6:00 pm

Enjoy live music, refreshments and cash bar

Exhibition will open to the public at 6:30 pm

Because you are a very special member of the Des Moines Art Center's
newest affiliate group, Art Noir, Director Jeff Fleming invites you to a special VIP 2007 Season Preview and tour of the Aisle 5 exhibition with the artists.

Using readily available, commercially produced materials to create their art, the participating artists in Aisle 5 find value in common place objects. The artists excavate the artifacts of our time to create often laborious and obsessive, yet beautiful works of art. Tara Donovan, Tony Feher, Tom Friedman, Shih-Chieh Huang, and Dan Steinhilber participate in the exhibition through new, site-specific installations as well as existing work.

Not a member of Art Noir?
Please join @ the door!
Memberships start at $35 dollars per person or $50 per household