Visitors to this year’s Annual Ice Cream Social at the Muscatine Art Center are in for a real treat—and we don’t just mean the ice cream.
Fashionably Dressed & Other Collections
The Art Center will be opening its “Fashionably Dressed” exhibition just in time for the free annual event on June 30. This special exhibition features work by Vincent van Gogh, Henri Matisse, Edgar Degas, Auguste Rodin, and other artists recognized around the world—pairing drawings, paintings, and prints of women, men, and children with historic clothing from the Muscatine Art Center’s permanent collection. This “not-to-be-missed” exhibition is on view through September 22, 2024.
Additional exhibitions on the second floor of the historic house feature highlights from Jim Burr’s Muscatine history collection and photographs of the Iowa State Fair by Kurt Ullrich.
Local collector and former Muscatine Art Center Board President Jim Burr was a collector of all things Muscatine. Since the time of Jim’s passing two years ago, his estate has gifted more than a thousand items from his wide-ranging collection of local artifacts. Featuring finds of various origins ranging from Skateland Roller Club and Central State Bank to the Muscatine Cricket Club and Hetzler Dairy, this exhibit of Jim’s collection is a journey back in time with businesses and places locals will fondly remember.
Meanwhile, photographer Kurt Ullrich’s images of the Iowa State Fair transport visitors to more recent Iowa summers. Visitors can meet Kurt during the Annual Ice Cream Social on Sunday, June 30, from 1 to 4 p.m.
The Ice Cream Social
It’s not summer in Muscatine without the Annual Ice Cream Social, and the Friends of the Muscatine Art Center invite the community to celebrate the arts during this free event that dates back to 1979.
Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Famers and ’60s revival band Crusin’ will be performing live from 1:15–3:45 p.m. Between their sets, the Muscatine Civic Chorale will entertain the crowd from 2:15 to 2:45 p.m. Other family-friendly activities include games in the Japanese Garden, window painting, building with the big blue blocks from Musser Public Library, studio projects for kids, and learning about wildlife with Muscatine County Conservation.
“The Annual Ice Cream Social is also the perfect time to explore the rehabilitated Japanese Garden,” states Melanie Alexander, Director of the Muscatine Art Center. “Laura Musser McColm had the garden installed in 1930, and the Muscatine Art Center staff led a massive effort to bring back the historic features of the garden.” Work in the garden concluded in fall 2023, and the rehabilitation project was recognized by Preservation Iowa with a “Preservation at its Best” award earlier in June. The garden project was one of seven historic projects in the state to receive the award this year.
With a purchase of some ice cream at this otherwise free event, visitors will be helping to raise funds for the Friends of the Muscatine Art Center and supporting its educational programs. In addition to selling ice cream, the Friends organization is offering slices of pie, brownies, cookies, and other treats.
As always, those who participate in the family-friendly bike ride will receive a token for a free ice cream during the event. The bike ride is free of charge. Riders will depart from the Charles & Jean Harper Pavilion on Houser Street at 1 p.m. and stop at the Muscatine Art Center. Melon City Bike Club and Harper’s Cycle & Fitness are the organizers of the bike ride.
The Muscatine Art Center is located at 1314 Mulberry Avenue in Muscatine, Iowa. Hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Thursday evenings until 7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 1–5 p.m. Admission is free. Donations are appreciated. Visit MuscatineArtCenter.org for more information.