Rurally Good Festival

Grin City Collective Artist & Writers Residency invites families and art lovers from Central Iowa and beyond to its second Rurally Good Festival 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday, May 30, 2015. Grinnell College is one of the festival’s co-sponsors.

“Each year Grin City hosts residencies for forty-five artists, writers, and performers,” explains co-director, Molly Rideout ’10. “Rurally Good Festival is an opportunity for Iowans to enjoy some of that talent and the talent of our own native Iowa artists.”

The one-day art and music festival and open house celebrates and showcases the creative work of current and past Grin City artists-in-residence and other Iowa creative talent on a 320-acre farm an easy distance from I-80.

You can enjoy a full day of literary readings, interactive art and sound installations, and live music by Grin City alumni and Des Moines’ Christopher the Conquered.

You are invited to wander the farm enjoying half a dozen outdoor art installations, an art gallery exhibition, and several short performances.

You can also:

• Bring sentimental objects to be photographed by Grin City artist Kija Lucas as part of her ongoing project, “Objects to Remember You By.”
• Have a cast made of their foot, stomach, or two hands clasped together in Lauren Frances Moore Evans’ body-casting workshop.
• Play with paint and bubbles at the kids’ art station with Des Moines artist Rachel Buse.
• Learn what an artist residency is and how Grin City brings art to the region as highlighted on Iowa Public Radio.

Lawn games, a bonfire and dance party will round out the full day of contemporary art in a rural landscape.

“Rurally Good is the kind of festival where, if you want to, you will be friends with everyone there by the end of the day,” says singer/songwriter Erik Jarvis, who will also perform during the festival. “I love that it's intimate, all-inclusive, and family friendly.”