Mainframe Studios

04/24/2025

We are pleased to recognize the participating artists in The Environment Exhibition curated by Diane Kunzler!

The Environment Exhibition explores humankind’s relationship with, and impact on the natural world. From the vastness of nature to altered landscapes shaped by human activity, works will engage with the environment, through observed, imagined, or idealized views.

🎨 Join us for First Friday on May 2nd from 5–8 PM!
Enjoy the art, meet the artists, wander open studios, and treat yourself to great food and live entertainment.

🖼️ The Environment Exhibition will be able to view throughout our Atrium, 2nd, and 4th floor galleries until May 28th.



Participating Artists:
Kenji Sazawa Bachmann
Lainey Beck
Katerra Beery
Faith Berven
Lisa Blumhagen
Zachary Brown
Sara Burrier
Teri Templeton Cadman
Larry Campbell
Mickey A Carlson
Camila Cebollero
James Coats
Matthew Corones
John Crockett-Person
Mary Cummings
Christine Curry
Natalie Deam
Johnny DiBlasi
Lexie Doerr
Pamela Douglas
Maggie Douglas
Elyse Dromeshauser
Meredith Drummond
Judith Eastburn
Amee Ellis
Rachel Goebel
Autumn Rozario Hall
Lindsey Harrison
Judith Heggen
Kay Hertz
Emma Hester
Cody Hickok
Evan Hoyt
Summer Hoyt
Nicole James
Katie Jensen
David Johnson
Igor Khalandovskiy
Alyssa Killin
Tyler Kirkholm
Sandra Kirpalani
Mary Kline-Misol
Jeff Klisares
Sammy Kobberdahl
Trish Kubicek
Linda Lewis
Kenzie Lindsey
Stephanie Majeran
Alexandra McGinnis
Mindy Meinders
Daniel Jaquez Ochoa
Patricia Prijatel
Nancy Prizant
John Ravet
Patricia Reeves
Kristin Roach
Cameron Sadeghpour
Rebecca Schmidt
Anna Shreves
Layne Slater
Andrew Smith
Cameron Solen
Sarah Spain
Molly Spain
Lynn Sprafka
Audrey Stirling
Cassandra Tant
Laura Todd
Paula Tomlinson
Mark True
Alyss Vernon
Richard Wright
Mark Yontz

04/23/2025

Happy Earth Day from Mainframe Studios! For the month of May, we are celebrating how our planet inspires us all to live more creatively!

Here is a sneak peak of pieces that are included in our May First Friday exhibition; The Environment! This exhibition was curated by Diane Blair Kunzler, and explores human's impact, and appreciation to the natural world.

Please join us in today in taking time to consider our own relationship with the environment, and join us on May 2nd for First Friday!

Pieces included in this post:

"Dreaming of the Beach" lindalewisart
"The Belly of the Whale" Maggie Douglas
"Hello and Good Bison" Daniel Jaquez Ochoa
"Gesture 6" Alyss Vernon
"Bronze Maple", Richard Wright
"Habitat" Cameron Sadeghpour

04/19/2025

There is still time to check out our current exhibitions!

FACE of Mahaska County 's Exhibition is on our third floor, until April 22nd. Come enjoy pieces from these magnificent artists!!

🎨 FACE of Mahaska County is a non-profit organization dedicated to building a more inclusive community through the power of art. As part of the Oskaloosa Art Center and Studios, FACE is proud to bring creativity and connection to Mahaska County.

We've loved hosting this exhibition and are so thankful for everyone who’s stopped by to support it! ❤️

✨ You can still catch Diverse by Design through April 22nd, featured across our 1st, 2nd, and 4th floor galleries.

📍 Mainframe Hours:
🕗 Mon–Fri: 8:00 AM – 6:30 PM
🕙 Sat & Sun: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

🖌️ Art featured in this post:

"Dream Lake" - Matt Kargol
"Your Faith in Me Brings Me to Tears" - Caitlin Crile
"Collide" - Emily Van Donslear
"Untitled" - Diana Victoria Petrikey
"Untitled" - Harrisen Kargol

04/10/2025

🌟 Join us for First Friday at Mainframe Studios on Friday, May 2nd from 5–8PM! 🎉

🎨 Explore open studios from our talented artists
🍽️ Enjoy delicious food & drinks
🎶 Soak in the free entertainment
🌍 Experience the opening of "The Environment" exhibition!

This show will explore humankind’s relationship with, and impact on the natural world. From the vastness of nature to altered landscapes shaped by human activity, works will engage with the environment, through observed, imagined, or idealized views.

The exhibition is curated by Diane Blair Kunzler an artist deeply connected to nature and whose work often reflects her interest in detailed observations of nature.

We look forward to seeing you on Friday, May 2nd from 5-8PM!

04/08/2025

This past Friday, we gathered for "Diverse by Design". Works in our First Friday exhibition curated by Jill WellsArt, encouraged audiences to expand how they interact with art.

Pieces from (FACE of Mahaska County) were featured in our 3rd floor gallery.

Thank you all for checking out these exhibitions! Both will be on view through the end of April.

📍 Mainframe Studios is open Monday–Friday, 8AM–6:30PM, and weekends, 10AM–5PM.

Big thanks to Maharry Photography for capturing the night so beautifully!

04/05/2025

This is the last call for entries for THE ENVIRONMENT exhibition! Submissions are due by tomorrow at 11:59 PM (CST). We are excited to see works that explore our impact as humans on the world around us, as well as admiration, and observations of nature.

The exhibition will be juried and curated by Diane Blair Kunzler, an artist deeply connected to nature and whose work often reflects her interest in detailed observations of nature.

Looking for other ways to show your work? Stay tuned for more call for entries from Mainframe Studios! Check the link in our bio.

04/03/2025

🎨✨ Join us tomorrow for an incredible First Friday! It will be the opening of Diverse by Design, curated by Jill WellsArt, as well as the FACE of Mahaska County Member Artists Exhibit.

Check out these exhibits from 5-8 PM. Diverse by Design will have art displayed on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd floors. The FACE exhibit will be in our 3rd floor gallery space.

Swipe for a sneak peak at the FACE exhibit, and see you at First Friday!

📍Mainframe Studios 900 Keo Way, Des Moines, IA

Artists featured in post:
Polina Petrikey
Hailey Van Weelden
Diana Petrikey

Don't miss this chance to celebrate local talent and immerse yourself in inspiring artwork!

04/02/2025

🎨✨ DIVERSE BY DESIGN | ART + ACCESSIBILITY ✨🎨

Join us this Friday, April 4th, from 5-8pm for an inspiring exhibition curated by the incredible Jill WellsArt, where art isn’t just seen, but felt, experienced, and embraced by all.

Featuring the work of Adriana Senges Nicolini, this show challenges the notion that art is only visual. Through vivid colors celebrating her Latina heritage and bold textures designed for tactile exploration, Adriana invites everyone regardless of ability to connect with art in a deeply personal way.

"Being the daughter of a visually impaired mother, I realized that art should not be solely visual. It’s meant to be held and felt—because our hands perceive the world in ways our eyes cannot." – Adriana Senges Nicolini

🌍 Art is for everyone. Come experience it in a whole new way!

03/28/2025

🎶✨ DIVERSE BY DESIGN at Mainframe First Friday! ✨🎶

Presenting THREE one-night-only, time-based sensory experiences on April 4th!

🌟 Amenda Tate, Artist brings interactive art to the Big Room with custom tech, traditional mediums, and social interactions.

🎵 Jazzmine Brooks(Rural Black Doula) offers an immersive sound bath in Room 108.

💃 DJ Jaide Night spins live beats in the Atrium, connecting us all through music.

A night of immersive experiences you won’t forget. Join us!

📍 Mainframe | April 4th | 6pm-10pm

03/26/2025

✨ Join us Friday, April 4th, for DIVERSE BY DESIGN | ART + ACCESSIBILITY!

Curated by the amazing Jill WellsArt, this show invites you to experience art in new, inclusive ways! 💫

Featuring "Healing Topographies Series" by Alicia Wilkinson, an immersive collection that encourages touch 🤲🎨, letting you feel the textures and engage beyond sight!

Enjoy open studios, delicious food, drinks, and live entertainment while celebrating the power of accessible art!

📍 Mainframe Studios |
📅 Friday, April 4th | Don’t miss it!

03/25/2025

TOMORROW (March 25th) is your LAST chance to experience DMPS at our closing reception! 🎨✨

Join us at Mainframe Studios for an Open House from 4-7 PM for an opportunity to see these incredible pieces before they’re gone!

We’ve absolutely LOVED this show, and we’d love to share it with you one last time! 💛

📸 Shoutout to Jon Lemons for capturing the magic of our April First Friday. Student artists seeing their work on display is pure joy! 🖼️🎉

You don’t miss it, see you there! 👀✨

03/20/2025

There is still time to apply to Mainframe Studios' May 2025 First Friday exhibition, THE ENVIRONMENT!

This show explores how humans appreciate, interact with, and impact the natural world. 🌱 We welcome works that engage with the environment, whether through observed, imagined, or idealized views.

The exhibition will be juried and curated by Diane Blair Kunzler, an artist deeply connected to nature and whose work often reflects her interest in detailed observations of nature.

🔗 Submit your work online by April 6th, 11:59 PM (CST) to be part of this thought-provoking show! Click the link in our bio or visit mainframestudios.org/calls-for-entry.

03/14/2025

You’ve seen our calls for entry... Now it's time to mark your calendars! 🗓️ April 4th will be a First Friday like never before at Mainframe Studios!

Join us for April's First Friday // Diverse by Design | ART + ACCESSIBILITY, an exhibition celebrating diversity through multisensory engagement and accessible spatial design.

Curated by the amazing Jill Wells, this show will feature work that invites you to experience art in alternative, inclusive ways. It’s all about making art accessible to EVERYONE. 🌟

And like every other First Friday, there will be open studios, artists to connect with, food, drinks, and entertainment to enjoy throughout the night! 🎉
Stay tuned for more details

Let’s make art and design accessible to all! 🎨💫

03/14/2025

🎨✨ 850 students from 60 Des Moines schools showcased their art at Mainframe Studios’ First Friday event! This growing collaboration lets students see themselves as real artists in a gallery space. The exhibit is up until March 25th, and you don’t want to miss it! 🎉

Read more about it in Hailey Evans’ piece from the DSM Magazine!

Two young aficionados examine student artwork at Mainframe’s First Friday. (Photo: Jon Lemons) By Hailey EvansLast weekend, 850 students from 60 schools and programs throughout the Des Moines…

03/12/2025

Our Executive Director, Julia Franklin, joined Emily Abbas on 's Community Difference Makers podcast for a discussion on Mainframe Studios’ journey to becoming the nation’s largest nonprofit building for creative workspaces. Julia talks about our programs, workshops and demonstrations, experiencing First Fridays and how you can support local artists.

Listen to the episode here: www.bankerstrust.com/communitydifferencemakers/ or by visiting our news page.

03/10/2025

🚨 LAST CALL 🚨

Artists, today is your last chance to submit to Mainframe Studios' "DIVERSE BY DESIGN | ART + ACCESSIBILITY" exhibition! Submissions close tonight at 11:59 PM. Don't miss your opportunity to showcase art that explores diversity and accessibility through multisensory engagement and inclusive design. Curated by Jill WellsArt, this exhibition aims to create an environment where everyone can experience art in unique and meaningful ways.

🔗 Apply now on our website under the apply tab or at https://www.mainframestudios.org/calls-for-entry!

03/09/2025

🎨 Calling all Artists! 🧑‍🎨

There is still time to submit to Mainframe Studios’ April 2025 First Friday exhibition, "DIVERSE BY DESIGN | ART + ACCESSIBILITY." This exhibition will explore diversity in art and design through multisensory engagement and accessible spatial design. We're looking for work that invites alternative, inclusive experiences like audio descriptions, tactile tours, movement-based performances, spaces for sensory relief, and more.

Curated by Jill WellsArt, an interdisciplinary artist and advocate for accessibility, this exhibition aims to create a multi-modal, accessible environment where everyone can connect with art on a deeper level.

🔗 Submissions are open until March 10th, 2025 (11:59 PM CST). Whether through an online form, recorded application, or phone interview, we want to hear from you! All applicants will be notified of the results.

For more info, visit the apply section of our website or visit www.mainframestudios.org/news/open-call-diverse-by-design. If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out to [email protected]!