T-R PHOTO BY ROBERT MAHARRY — Local artist Kim Mills Hanken, pictured at her home studio in January, will have an exhibit at the Marshalltown Arts and Civic Center (MACC) beginning Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

The Marshalltown Arts & Civic Center will debut its first artist exhibit from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. The featured artist is well known to the community: Kim Mills Hanken.

Hanken’s artwork was last exhibited in Marshalltown earlier this year at the Ray Frederick Art Gallery at MCC. The pieces she’ll exhibit at the MACC are completely new.

“I’ve been painting crazily. I was painting even before they asked me to do the show. I have 23 pieces currently,” she said. “Some can be bought as a pair, but are strong enough pieces on their own.”

Hanken’s artwork will be set up in a conference room. Light appetizers will be served and a cash bar on site. The works will remain on display through the end of October, viewable during building hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.

Following the 2020 derecho, the building, formerly known as the Fisher Community Center, underwent major renovations.

“We opened a year ago (Sept. 18, 2022), and we just kind of used this first year to get settled and see how the MACC was used, in an organic way. We always anticipated doing art exhibits. We’ve had a lot of artists contact us, inquiring about having art exhibits,” said Nancy Vellinga Burke, who serves as executive director of the MACC. “Kim is from Marshalltown and is well-versed in the art world here. She was a good first choice for us.”

Hanken, who identifies as an “earth artist” turned to the healing powers of Mother Nature during the COVID-19 pandemic, which in turn, began the process of recovering from depression. Retirement also gave her more time to devote to her craft.

“We need the earth to heal, so I started putting the earth’s treasures into my paintings,” she said. “I don’t lack for subject matter. The earth is so abundant. You just know when you find the right mate — that’s exactly how I feel with this partnership with the earth.”

She incorporates found objects into her paintings, including leaves, flowers, feathers and bark. Leaves damaged by Asian beetles are of particular interest to her.

Admirers of her work send her various specimens to use in her art. Hanken utilizes a special adhesive for affixing the items to her canvases. In some cases, she only imprints the objects — it just depends.

“The paintings are really doing well, as far as longevity,” she noted.

Hanken revealed that a lot of seeds go into her artwork, which add texture and also represent the bounty of nature. She takes inspiration from her garden, during her daily walk and the view out the window of her studio, which she dubs the Bird’s Nest.

“It’s abstract (art), in a very real way,” she said with a laugh. “The more I paint, the more I understand what I can do with paint. Painting is really experimental. Do I have a vision before it’s finished? No, not at all. There’s such a freedom in that.”

What’s to come at the MACC

Burke added that the objective is to feature an artist in rotation every two to three months with the next exhibit slated for January 2024.

“A panel will vet them, going forward,” she noted of the selection process.

The MACC encompasses the Fisher Art Museum and Martha-Ellen Tye Playhouse, as well as office space for the Marshall County Arts and Culture Alliance, the Marshalltown Area United Way and the Martha-Ellen Tye Foundation. The public can rent parts of the building for meeting space, parties and other gatherings. The art museum includes a collection of pieces by Cassatt, Matisse, Pissarro and other famed artists.

Coming to the MACC in November will be a kiosk where people can purchase bookmarks, playing cards and a calendar featuring artwork housed in the MACC.

Author Elise Broach will be at MACC on December 6 and 7 to meet with third and fourth graders. She will then be at the Marshalltown Public Library on Dec. 8 in the morning for story hour and then again after school for a meet and greet/book signing event.

The MACC Classical Splash Art Contest will launch mid-January, 2024. Fifth and sixth grade students will participate this year. It will be an annual event, Burke noted, and more grades will be added in the future. The contest will end early March with a reception and art exhibit for the winners.

“One of my goals was to come up with ways to get students in Marshall County into the MACC and Fisher Art Museum at least once in their lives,” she said.

To learn more about the MACC, contact Burke at: director@maccia.org

View Hanken’s artwork at: www.facebook.com/kimhankenart.