Artist, Bounnak Thammavong, Comes Full Circle at the 2015 Des Moines Arts Festival ®
Ten years ago, Bounnak Thammavong was selected as an Emerging Iowa Artist at the 2005 Des Moines Arts Festival®. Fast-forward to 2015, Mr. Thammavong will be back at the Festival in June representing the Metro Arts Public Art Project.
The Des Moines Arts Festival, in partnership with Metro Arts Alliance and the Des Moines International Airport, is pleased to announce that Mr. Thammavong was selected to execute the Metro Arts Public Art Project. This special project commemorates the 40th anniversary of Metro Arts Alliance. The public will be invited to contribute to the work by creating their own unique pieces of art at the Des Moines Arts Festival, June 26-28th in Des Moines' Western Gateway Park.
This past Saturday at the Dining for the Arts event, the Birds of a Feather concept was unveiled. Birds of a Feather is an abstract depiction of a goldfinch in flight, trailed by a cluster of smaller birds. Festival guests will be able to freely and collaboratively work on an abstract, expressionist artwork by painting the goldfinch in a Jackson Pollock-like manner. Festival guests will also participate by constructing "kites" or bird silhouettes, which will form the trailing cluster of birds behind the goldfinch. The type of visual style painted on each kite will be entirely dependent on the individual's creation.
"We are thrilled to welcome Mr. Thammavong back at the Festival. Our core values are to educate, inspire and engage our audience toward a heightened appreciation of visual and other forms of art. We look forward to our guests engaging in this amazing public art project that will be on display for thousands to view at the Des Moines International Airport." — Stephen King, Executive Director, Des Moines Arts Festival.
All media inquiries should be directed to Liz Adelman at (515) 802-0603 or ladelman@desmoinesartsfestival.org.
Des Moines Arts Festival
The Gold Grand Pinnacle Award-winning Des Moines Arts Festival® is a three-day, annual arts and culture Festival the last weekend in June. The free-to-attend Festival invites you to 'go where it takes you...' by engaging with 195 invited professional visual artists, emerging Iowa artists, the cutting-edge Interrobang Film Festival, live music, performing arts, interactive arts activities, award-winning community outreach programs, live artist demonstrations, artisan food, and beverages for every taste. For more information please visit us online at desmoinesartsfestival.org or socialize with us on Facebook at facebook.com/DesMoinesArtsFestival, twitter at @DMArtsFestival and Instagram at desmoinesartsfestival. #GoWhereItTakesYou #DMAF2015
About Metro Arts Alliance
Metro Arts Alliance (MAA) is a regional leader in bringing the arts to all areas of greater Des Moines. Since 1975, MAA has been providing high quality arts events and educational programming that enriches the quality of life in Central Iowa. Its signature events like Jazz in July, Dining for the Arts and Metro Arts Education create opportunities that provide lifelong access and engagement in the arts for all.
About Des Moines International Airport
The Des Moines International Airport serves the State of Iowa with 18 nonstop destinations across the United States. The Airport is served by four mainline passenger airlines, one low cost carrier airline, and two ultra-low cost carrier airlines, which together provide 49 daily nonstop departures. In 2014, 2.3 million passengers passed through Des Moines International Airport's passenger terminal.