The Third Dimension

Things are shaping up for an artful time in Newton, Iowa this weekend, as the 10th Annual Iowa Sculpture Festival celebrates practitioners of “the ultimate art form,” be they working in wood, metal, paper, fiber arts, stone, glass, or mixed media. This year’s festival concentrates the action at the Des Moines Area Community College–Newton Campus (600 N. 2nd Ave. W.). There, you’ll find a juried exhibition of works by 43 artists from ten states, each artist displaying at least half a dozen pieces. Demonstrations, workshops, and meet-the-artist events are scheduled through the weekend. On Friday, June 8, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the DMACC–Newton Campus, you can meet the artists and preview (and buy) works during a cocktail reception, backed by music from guitarist Terry Bradley; $25 minimum donation to enter. At the close of the festival on Sunday, June 10, prizes of up to $2,000 will be awarded for best-in-show and other categories. Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 9 and from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 10.

GO 10th Annual Iowa Sculpture Festival in Newton, Iowa. June 8 through 10. 641-792-1391, iowasculpturefestival.org.

Where to stay: The Aerie Glen Bed and Breakfast (2364 1st Ave. W.; 641-792-9032, aerieglen.com) offers a cottage and three guest rooms in a luxurious French Tudor mansion, with poolside dining (weather permitting); rates range from $100 to $225 a night. The August Bergman Inn (629 1st Ave. E.; 641-792-6833, augustbergmaninn.com) has five guest rooms—three in a Mission-style mansion listed on the National Registry of Historic Places and two suites in another building. In addition to breakfast, the innkeeper and chef John Gerken provides a full lunch (for groups of ten or more) and dinner menus featuring locally sourced dishes.

Where to eat: Reservations are required at the August Bergman (see above), where the menu includes an eight-ounce, bacon wrapped Iowa beef filet and, given three days notice, whole Maine lobster. Reservations are recommended at Shay’s Tea Room & Gifts (223 W. 4th St. S., Newton; 641-792-2970, shaystearoom.com), where finger sandwiches and quiche can be followed with decadent desserts (think warm bread pudding with caramel sauce and white chocolate raspberry cheesecake).

Photograph: Courtesy of the Iowa Sculpture Festival