Tweet

How do budding artists in the Des Moines Metropolitan area find space to cultivate their gifts? How many talented people are out there who just do not have the resources to put their talents to work? How many artists have the resources, but do not have anywhere to show them to the public? These questions and more were all included in a local survey of Des Moines artists, art organizers and community supporters in 2011.  

This survey ultimately led to the opening of Mainframe Studios in Downtown Des Moines in 2017. According to the Mainframe website, The vision behind the studio is be a “dynamic art ecosystem in Iowa that elevates artists and cultivates leading-edge creative production.”   

A $15 million campaign allowed Mainframe to purchase and renovate the building they now use. Since then, it has managed to stay open by renting out 180 studios to over 200 artists across 30 disciplines. Painters, photographers, music producers and even glass blowers use the space to hone their craft.    

One such artist is Ben Millet, who has a Ph.D in Pathology, but has always had a creative side he wanted to explore with quilting. It started in his youth, carrying on his grandmother’s tradition of making quilts for a cousin’s wedding, then making quilts for nieces and nephews. One day he realized how much he enjoyed making them as an art, as opposed to simply making a functional quilt.   

He started at Mainframe by attending “First Fridays,” a monthly event on the first Friday of the month where the public is invited to come and view the art made by local artists and entertainers. Entry is free for all, while food and refreshments are offered as well. This is just one of many different events hosted at the studio.   

While Millet sometimes makes improv quilts, he also likes to explore personal or pop culture themes in his work. One series of quilts was made in reference to the “Loki” TV series. Fans of the show will remember the sacred timeline and the endless branches of other timelines emanating from it. This inspired Millet to create seven quilts as a set, all similar in pattern but with subtle and important differences.   

Another theme Millet likes to explore in his work is his gay identity. In the 1970s and ‘80s, people would use a “handkerchief code” to subtly communicate their sexual preferences. This inspired his favorite quilt, in which he used those handkerchief patterns as a way to honor those who came before him. That quilt is still hanging in his studio to this day.   

Millet believes it can be easier to communicate a message in quilting than other forms of visual art.  

“People have to look at the quilt a little bit longer to get it… which can be a good thing, help ease people into ideas that we are all humans and we all have value and are deserving of love and respect,” Millet said. 

Millet’s work is on display at the Polk County Heritage Gallery and in other exhibits and private collections all around the world. Millet also features a gallery of his work on his website.  

While Millet and many other artists at Mainframe use their studio strictly for business, others use it to teach.  

Teri Templeton Cadman focuses most of her work on nature and abstract art while also doing commissioned pet portraits. Cadman has always known she wanted to be an artist. From making pop-up cards and drawings as a kid to graduating with an art degree from Iowa State University, she says art is the one thing she has been consistently doing, but Cadman is not just a painter.   

“I can not focus on one specific thing,” Cadman said. “I like to do it all, so it’s been great being here at Mainframe because I can do it all. I can do whatever I want.”  

While she loves doing her commission work, her dream was to help others create their own art. Once she got accepted at Mainframe, she turned that dream into a goal. On Friday, she hosts an adult-only open studio where participants can bring their own beverage and make whatever they want as a way to decompress after the work week.   

But that is not all; she also hosts a variety of open studios and kids’ camps for those who want to come into the studio and get creative. For individuals who may need extra guidance, she offers other classes where she gives step-by-step guidance along the way. Camdan’s art can be found on her website. 

“You can make a statement with your art; you can support causes with your art. Me, I like to make pretty things and hope they bring joy to people. I’m pretty simple with that, but I mean, art is just I want art to bring joy. And that’s why I do it,” Camdan said.  

Camdan’s classes are just one example out of dozens of events that are hosted at Mainframe Studios. Even if you do not consider yourself an artist, there are various workshops and events across varying disciplines for people of all walks of life to participate in.  

Compared to places such as the Des Moines Art Center, events like these at Mainframe Studios are much more open and involved for the audience. Engage in raw, unfiltered work and support the local artists who want to show it. As opposed to the filtered and formal work displayed in galleries. As mentioned above, participants are frequently able to actively engage in the art and make something for themselves. These events are an experience truly made by artists, for artists.