Mount Pleasant Arts Impact

12/15/2025

11/06/2025

"Thai Time" at the Mount Pleasant Library

A little bit of Thailand is visiting the Arts IMPACT Gallery in the Mount Pleasant Public Library this November and December. The exhibit by Burlington artist Diane Jennings features jewelry, textiles, authentic clothing, and a diverse exhibit of photography.

"Thailand is a tropical paradise with 70 million friendly people," Jennings observed. She visited the country in 2020 and 2025 to connect with family living there.

Having family connections in the country, she was able to see some locations that are unique and beautiful but perhaps not seen by typical tourists. She added, "The country is bigger than California, so there is a lot to explore!"

Rich in agriculture, Thailand has rubber trees, pineapples, rice and shrimp paddies, coconut trees, sugar cane, cassava, to***co, and more fruit trees than you can imagine. Mining of tin, tungsten, limestone and granite adds to the local economy.

The artist Diane Jennings comes from a career in physical therapy. She enjoys helping and exhibiting at the Art Center of Burlington and the Fort Madison Area Arts Association. One of her real strengths is in encouraging people, especially young artists, in the many different types of artistic expression and media.

Jennings has dabbled in acrylics, oil and soft pastels, watercolor, pencils, sculpting, Raku, pottery, felting, quilling, scratch art, stained glass, papier mache, sand painting, collage, quilting, and just about any other art medium you could think of.

The Mount Pleasant exhibit in the Library features many photographs of her visits to Thailand. Additionally, she showcases fabrics and textiles as well as some jewelry from her travels.

The Arts IMPACT exhibit is open to the public free of charge through December during regular library hours. Jennings is open to sharing experiences of her travels with anyone interested through her email address listed at the library display.

09/11/2025

STUDENT ARTWORK is the theme of the Arts IMPACT display in the library for September and October. Art students of Annie Guldberg, ages from elementary school through adult, have successfully completed a "challenge assignment" for their recent lessons with Annie. Come to the library to check out how well they did! Free during regular library hours 😀.

09/02/2025

Many thanks to the TALENTED staff at the Mt. Pleasant public library for sharing their artistic work these last two months! They are a wonderful, creative resource in our community.

07/09/2025

MtP Librarians Show Their Stuff!
--->. Who Knew?

05/06/2025

Artwork by Aidan Krell is featured May and June in the Arts IMPACT Gallery

The Mount Pleasant Arts IMPACT mini gallery in the public library is proud to feature the work of Aidan Krell for the months of May and June, 2025.

Artist Aidan Krell was born in Iowa. He pursued his passion for visual arts at Southeastern Community College where he earned an associate’s degree in arts after completing his early education at West Burlington High School. His educational journey served as a catalyst for his experimental approach, encouraging him to question conventional techniques and explore the boundaries between various artistic disciplines.

Aidan’s creative practice revolves around intuitive exploration of materials, embracing spontaneity and controlled chaos in equal measure. By applying heat directly to paint surfaces, he creates unexpected reactions that transform ordinary pigments into dynamic, almost sculptural elements on the canvas.
This process of disruption and reformation allows him to capture moments of transformation that might otherwise go unnoticed in more traditional approaches.

His artistic journey began through experimentation, combining different painting styles with mixed media elements to create pieces that speak to both emotion and technique.
He finds joy in the process of discovery—learning new methods and merging them into hybrid forms that allow for spontaneous expression while maintaining technical precision.

Looking ahead, he's excited to continue pushing the boundaries of his practice by incorporating even more diverse media and textures into his evolving body of work.

In addition to the IMPACT gallery display, other examples of his work are available online at this address: https://aok-creations-100007.square.site/

IMPACT Gallery hours in the Mount Pleasant Public Library are Monday thru Thursday from 9 am to 7 pm, Friday 9 am to 5 pm, and Saturday 9 am to 2 pm. Of course, admission is free and open to the public.

Aidan will also have a show at the Art Center of Burlington all the month of August, and the reception for his show there is scheduled on Friday, August 1st.

04/21/2025

Craig Fleece has more down-to-earth artwork on exhibit in the Arts IMPACT mini gallery in the Mount Pleasant Iowa Public Library until the end of the month of April. Check it out!

03/07/2025

March and April Art Show Features Craig Fleece

Mount Pleasant, IA — The Mount Pleasant Arts IMPACT mini gallery at the public library is thrilled to announce an art exhibition by renowned artist and educator, Craig Fleece. The exhibition will run throughout the months of March and April, showcasing Fleece's latest works and offering visitors an immersive artistic experience.

Drawing deeply from his experiences in nature and outdoor adventures, Craig Fleece translates the healing essence of wild places into vibrant interpretations on canvas. His creative journey begins in the landscape itself, where he captures the immediacy of each location through plein air oil painting and sketching. Later, Fleece transforms these initial studies into more elaborate works in his studio, merging the raw energy of direct observation with his distinctive artistic style. This process results in pieces that not only share the profound beauty of these moments but also serve as an invitation to viewers to embrace their own adventures rather than postponing them to some distant future.

The gallery is open during regular library hours, from 9 am to 7 pm, Fridays until 5 pm, and Saturdays until 2 pm, offering ample opportunity for visitors to explore Fleece's captivating works.

An accomplished artist and educator, Craig Fleece has dedicated over a decade to arts education while maintaining an active creative practice. He is a graduate of the Iowa Wesleyan University Art Education program and is proud to bring this show to the Mount Pleasant community. Recently, he won the 2023 "Battle of the Brushes All Stars" Live Painting Competition, and his impact on arts education spans from teaching K-12 students to serving as Board Secretary at the Art Center of Burlington. Currently serving as an Education Specialist and Adjunct Professor at Mount Mercy University and West Burlington Independent School District, Fleece combines his artistic practice with educational leadership to foster innovative learning environments and inspire the next generation of artists.

Don't miss this opportunity to experience the enchanting works of Craig Fleece at the Mount Pleasant Arts IMPACT mini gallery in the public library.

11/03/2024

Come and be inspired!

Check out the amazing journey of Jeri Sparks, a Burlington artist transforming lives with her art at the Arts IMPACT gallery in the public library, now through December. From teaching young minds to capturing souls on canvas, Jeri’s story is one of passion and creativity. Don’t miss her stunning portraits in oil, acrylic, and soft pastel landscapes. The gallery is free and open during library hours. Dive into her world Monday-Thursday 9am-7pm, Friday 9am-5pm, and Saturday 9am-2pm.

More info at www.jerisparks.com.

09/19/2024

Annie Guldberg is the featured artist for September and October at the mini gallery in the Mount Pleasant Iowa Public Library. Gorgeous colors, dramatic landscapes - this show is all about the beauty of COLORS!