New Generation Brings Art to Oskaloosa

FACE Board Members and Oskaloosa Mayor David Krutzfeldt joined Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg (left) and Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs Acting Director Chris Kramer at the Iowa Arts Summit in Ankeny. (submitted photo)

FACE Board Members and Oskaloosa Mayor David Krutzfeldt joined Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg (left) and Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs Acting Director Chris Kramer at the Iowa Arts Summit in Ankeny. (submitted photo)

Matt Kargol didn’t know much about art as a kid in Oskaloosa.

“I didn’t have a lot of art until I moved away to college,” he said. “I never really had access to it at all until I saw the world.”

But eventually, Kargol returned to his hometown and became a high school art teacher. He wants to make sure his students and others around town can experience art in ways he never could.

So in addition to teaching, he became the vice president and gallery coordinator for FACE of Mahaska County, which received a Governor’s Arts Award during the recent Iowa Arts Summit in Ankeny.

The governor’s award recognized Kargol, his wife Sarah and their colleagues for their work to develop a master plan for the community that include public exhibitions, pottery classes, open-mic nights, poetry readings, painting and knitting projects, art camps and ethnic dinners.

The group’s turning point, Kargol said, came when they moved into new space at the Oskaloosa Art Center, in the heart of downtown. From there, they opened a gallery, shop, studio space, classrooms and a performance space. They’ve also worked with other groups and secured grants to create a sculpture tour around town and nearby University Park.

Soon they plan to open a sculpture annex at the art center, to showcase 3-D art and murals.

“So many people are commenting about what a great arts community we have in Oskaloosa,” said Sarah Kargol, who directs the art center. “I never thought we’d hear those two thoughts in the same sentence. This validates what we’re doing and makes a difference for us in our community and across the state. It just shows what a dedicated group can do when they set their minds to it.”

— Jeff Morgan, Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs

Posted by on Aug 9 2018. Filed under Local News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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