Current
American Art Pottery Collection
Highlighted in the collection are Iowa State Pottery and pottery from other Iowa companies.
Muscatine Art Center
Visitors to the Muscatine Art Center encounter paintings made by artists recognized around the world, fascinating objects connected to Muscatine’s past, beautifully crafted decorative arts, charming period rooms, and a Japanese Garden installed nearly a century ago. Learners of all ages can pique their curiosity through changing exhibitions, classes, and events.
Hours
Tues – Fri: 10am – 5pm
Thurs: 10am - 7pm
Sat & Sun: 1pm – 5pm
Mon: Closed
1314 Mulberry Ave,
Muscatine, IA 52761
Exhibitions
Collections
Events & Classes
The Mansion circa 1910
Since 1965 ...
The Laura Musser Museum, later renamed the Muscatine Art Center, has been an important gathering place for the Muscatine community. Laura Musser McColm’s niece, Mary Musser Gilmore, and Laura’s stepdaughter, Mary Catherine Atkins McWhirter, jointly offered the home to the City of Muscatine and established a trust to aid in the maintenance of the house.
Over generations, Muscatine children have participated in school and youth group programs and studio classes, families have attended cultural events, adults have further developed their artistic skills and deepened their knowledge of local history and art related topics. Since 1976, the Stanley Gallery has displayed countless changing art and history exhibitions. Today, first time visitors and long time friends alike are captivated by the historic home, the collection, and the stories presented in exhibitions.
Collections
Current
Historic Toy Collection
Included in the Toy Collection are games, books, dolls and doll accessories and furniture, stuffed animals, wooden blocks and cars, and metal toys and ride-ons.
Current
Muscatine History Collection
A wide variety of artifacts, ephemera, photographs, and archives makes up the Muscatine History Collection.
Current
Costume Collection
The central pieces in the Costume Collection were owned by the Musser-McColm family.
Current
Mississippi River Collection
The Mississippi River Collection historically and aesthetically documents the cities, towns and communities along the mighty Mississippi from the headwaters to the Gulf of Mexico.
Current
Musser-McColm Family Collection
Furniture, photographs, dresses, paintings, glass, silver, diaries, music boxes, rugs and other decorative arts are among the items left by the Musser-McColm family.
Current
Mary Musser-Gilmore Collection
Mrs. Gilmore was an avid art collector, acquiring works by Edgar Degas, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Vincent van Gogh, Marc Chagall, Camille Pissarro, Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse.
Current
Iowa Regionalist Collection
The Iowa Regionalist collection features works by Grant Wood and his Iowa contemporaries.
Current
Early American Pattern Glass & Art Glass Collection
The glass collection consists of over 3,000 pieces of glass featuring a wide variety of patterns, colors, and forms, including American Art Glass and Early American Pattern Glass.
Events & Classes
May
11
For the Love of Art - A tea party celebrating women
Support the Friends of the Muscatine Art Center on Saturday, May 11, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 or $20 for Members of Friends. Reservations are required. Gather your best pals, mom, daughters, grandmothers, and others. This fundraiser for Friends of the Muscatine Art Center includes tea (or coffee) with both savory and sweet treats. Featured musicians are pianist Shelley Lawson, singer Josh Lary, and harpist Aleese Kenitzer. Reservations are made on a first-come, first served basis. Tables of two, four, six, and eight can be booked. Call 563-263-8282 to reserve your spot before seats sell out.
May
2
Japanese Garden Ribbon Cutting & Storyteller Kuniko Yamamoto
The rehabilitation of the Japanese Garden was multiple years in the making. Celebrate the completion of the project by joining us for a special ribbon cutting followed by a performance by Kuniko Yamamoto featuring Japanese folktales combined with traditional musical instruments, magical masks, origami, and mime to create a spellbinding story. The performance is part of the Quad City Arts Visiting Artist Series. Admission is free of charge. Reservations are not required. Light refreshments.
Jun
7
Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience - Two FREE Performances - June 7
Two-time Grammy-winner Terrance Simien creates a hypnotic blend of New Orleans funk-reggae-flavored-world-blues-American zydeco roots music that beckons you to your feet and into the groove. Leading his Zydeco Experience band, Simien has become one of the most respected and accomplished artists in American roots music. Kids and families are invited to participate in “Creole for Kidz” which features a little history on Zydeco, live performance, and opportunities to interact with Terrance and his bandmembers. The afternoon session at the Muscatine Art Center is partially funded by an ArtsDollars grant from Quad City Arts. Local sponsors have made it possible to also offer a full concert at the Old Barn free of charge. Call 563-263-8282 for any questions. No registration required.
May
16
Origami Mandalas with Miss Heather - May 16 - Ages 8+
Learn the fun art of origami while creating a multi-layered mandala using radial symmetry. Explore various folding techniques and experiment with how to combine folds and color combinations to create a colorful, layered artwork! No experience necessary. Register by May 15 by calling the Muscatine Art Center at 563-263-8282. FREE.
Jul
15
"The Vanishing of the Jolly Roger" Theatre Camp with Footlighters Traveling Playhouse- July 15-19, 2024
Footliters Traveling Playhouse is back this summer with another FREE musical camp for kids! This year the musical is "The Vanishing of the Jolly Roger". Camp is intended for kids ages 7-18 of any theatre experience. The weeklong camp and final performance will be held at the Black Box Theatre at Muscatine Community College. Contact Katy at the Muscatine Art Center at 563-263-8282 or kloos@muscatineiowa.gov to register today!
Apr
21
Beginning Crochet with Bonnie Buelt - April 21, May 19, June 23
Join us for a fun, informational workshops with Island Floral owner Bonnie Buelt. Bring your own yarn and hooks if you have them. Fee is $5 per session. Please register by the Friday before each workshop by calling 563-263-8282.
Apr
1
APRIL EVENTS
Check flyer below for at-a-glance information on what is happening at the Muscatine Art Center during the month of April! Call us at 563-263-8282 for more information on classes, programming, and to sign up.
Apr
18
Adult Studio: Clay Slab Mugs with Heather Seibel - April 18 & May 9
Pleasant Valley School District art educator Heather Seibel will lead this workshop where participants will create clay mugs. Call 563-263-8282 to sign up. Note: this is a two session class. FREE.
Jun
30
Friends of the Muscatine Art Center Annual Ice Cream Social - June 30
Enjoy live music, games, crafts, ice cream...and SO much more! See below for details of the afternoon.
Jun
16
Red Barn Studio - The Storm - June 16
Artist Vada Baker is back with fresh new projects to get you excited for spring. Vada guides participants in a step-by-step process to complete each painting. All supplies included. No experience necessary. Advanced registration required by calling the Muscatine Art Center at 563-263-8282.
May
23
Bracelet Making at Creations by Oz - May 23
Join us downtown Muscatine to enjoy a bracelet-making workshop, with food and wine. Melissa at Creations by Oz, will lend her jewelry-making expertise and lead participants in creating unique and stunning beaded bracelets. Enjoy warm spinach and artichoke dip and a glass of wine for $39 per person. Additional wine and beer offered for sale. Contact Melissa at 319-930-9189 or at Creations by Oz, 110 E. 2nd Street, Muscatine, to register by May 22.
May
5
Red Barn Studio - Cardinal on a Branch - May 5
Artist Vada Baker is back with fresh new projects to get you excited for spring. Vada guides participants in a step-by-step process to complete each painting. All supplies included. No experience necessary. Advanced registration required by calling the Muscatine Art Center at 563-263-8282.
Jun
22
Artist Workshops for Kids with Miss Julie - Fairy Furniture - June 22
Let’s add some flair to our potted plants and fairy gardens with fairy furniture! We’ll get whimsical while using our imagination to create tiny pieces of furniture and accessories for the little magical fairies that call our gardens home! This free class is open to kids ages 7 to 14 and their families. Please register by June 21 by calling the Muscatine Art Center at 563-263-8282.
May
18
Artist Workshops for Kids with Miss Julie - Ellsworth Kelly - May 18
Ellsworth Kelly was an American painter, sculptor, and printmaker who used bright colors and was associated with hard-edged and color field painting, and minimalism. Join Miss Julie to celebrate his works by creating an acrylic square painting in his style. This free class is open to kids ages 7 to 14 and their families. Please register by May 17 by calling the Muscatine Art Center at 563-263-8282.
Apr
20
Artist Workshops for Kids with Miss Julie - Cherry Blossoms - April 20
In 1912, more than 3,000 cherry blossom trees were gifted to the United States from Japan, and arrived in Washington, D.C. What began as a gesture of friendship between two nations has expanded to become one of the biggest celebrations of spring in the world! Join Miss Julie to celebrate spring by making your own cherry blossoms in a paper vase. This free class is open to kids ages 7 to 14 and their families. Please register by April 19 by calling the Muscatine Art Center at 563-263-8282.
May
7
Projects to Go - "Take & Makes"
Stop by the Muscatine Art Center during open hours and grab a craft bag, each one containing some supplies to make a few projects. These bags are free to pick up while supplies last.
Apr
16
Mini Masters Wednesday Mornings @ 9:30 a.m.
Mini Masters is a free class that meets Wednesday mornings at 9:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Reservations required. Call 563-263-8282 to register. These classes are free. See below for updated calendar.
Apr
16
Mini Masters Thursday Afternoons @ 3:30 p.m.
Mini Masters is a free class that meets Thursday afternoons at 3:30 - 4:15 p.m. Reservations required. Call 563-263-8282 to register. These classes are free. See below for updated calendar.
Jun
8
Live Insects with Muscatine County Conservation - June 8
In partnership with Muscatine County Conservation, join us in the Muscatine Art Center studio to learn about some insects with naturalist Michelle Berns! Kids will get to see live insects and hear about their habitats and habits. Then, make a insect-inspired craft to take home! There is no registration for this free event.
Apr
18
Author Talk: Betty Brandt Passick - April 18
Join us in the Music Room Thursday, April 18 at 5:30 to welcome Iowa native author, Betty Brandt Passick as she gives a sixty-minute talk on her book "Gangster in Our Midst". Winner of the 2019 Notable Indie Book Award from "Shelf Unbound" book review magazine.
Apr
20
Live Raptors with Muscatine County Conservation - April 20
In partnership with Muscatine County Conservation, join us in the Muscatine Art Center studio to learn about different types of raptors with naturalist Michelle Berns! Kids will get to see live animals and hear about their habitats and habits. Then, make a craft inspired by raptors to take home! There is no registration for this free event.
