The DMPL Podcast welcomes Natalie Benson to the show today. She will be hosting a five-week program at the Franklin Avenue Library titled A History of Modern Art. During the podcast, Benson discusses what exactly the nebulous that is modern art encompasses. She talks about well-known modern artists, such as Vincent Van Gogh and Pablo Picasso, as well as famous paintings from the time, including A Burial at Ornans, one of the first pieces that depicted the life of ordinary people and, in a sense, began the era of Modern Art.
A History of Modern Art begins on Monday, February 10, at 6:30 PM at the Franklin Avenue Library. It will continue on successive Mondays - February 17 & 24 and March 2 & 9 - at the same time. Each session will delve into a different topic or movement of modern art, such as surrealism, cubisim, and impressionism. Each session will also be self-contained, so guests should feel to attend as they are able without feeling like they missed out if they miss a week.
Today on the podcast, we welcome John Peragine to the podcast. Peragine is a writer that lives in Davenport. He's the author of 14 books, including A History of Iowa Wines: Vines on the Prairie, which was published last year.
During the podcast, Peragine tells us how German immigrants and a New York lawyer were intregral in ramping up the Iowa wine scene in the 19th century. He describes how Iowa, which was sixth in the nation in grape production in 1919, found itself bottoming out in the middle of the 20th century due to politics, agriculture, and weather, before blossoming again as a state known for hearty, sweet grapes.
Finally, Peragine discusses what it's like to be a ghostwriter. Peragine has been the pen behind more than 100 books in addition to his own published materials. He talks about the challenges he faces trying to find someone else's voice.
On the latest episode of the DMPL Podcast, Aaron talks with Becky and Jen about the first ever MyDMPL Con. Learn how you can create a wand in Diagon Alley, plant a Baby Groot, take part in a costume contest for prizes, and more! Becky and Jen talk about the schedule at this family-friendly event and what they're most excited about. MyDMPL Con takes place on Sunday, May 6, from 1:00-5:00 PM at the Central Library.
Music credits: "Young, Tough and Terrible" by The Losers / CC BY-NC