Area artists take over the windows of an array of downtown businesses in a celebration of radical viewpoints and untold stories in local history.

Inspired by Machine Dazzle’s work transforming the windows of Neiman Marcus with costumes from Taylor Mac’s A 24-Decade History of Popular Music (Abridged), which will be performed at Hancher on April 28.

Displays will be installed throughout April, culminating in a parade crawl on April 27, 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Select locations will have live performances and special one-night art pieces the night of the Dazzle Crawl.

View the Dazzle Crawl map and schedule (PDF)
 

Dazzle Crawl Schedule:

1. 5:00-5:15 pm
   The Space (287 N. Linn)
   A Shout out to the Breakers Before Us
   Artists: Chuy Renteria, Mike Stenerson, and Kenny Morgan
   
   Over the past decades, there have been Breaking Crews that have been integral in laying down the roots of the Iowa Breaking Scene, Crews like: Killa Weapons Crew, The Flava Unit, 515 Breakers, Floor Spiders, Funktastic, The Nobodies, Goof Troop, Iowa City Breaking Movement, Da Bomb Squad (and many more!) This art installation aims to be a tribute highlighting these dancers and the history of this scene, of the Breakers who came before the current generation.
    

2. 5:15-5:25 pm
   Willow & Stock (207 N. Linn)
   The Vital Cycle of Fire and Growth
   Artists: Emily Jalinsky and Sayuri Sasaki Hemann
   
   Fire can be a means for rebirth. Iowa City entered into a radical state of change in the early 1970’s through peaceful protests, sit-ins, and riots with fires in the streets. The community fought for the war in Vietnam to end and university students ended their semester early in May 1970 to protest the horrific deaths at Kent State. That history is impactful to our current political landscape as we continue to protest and march in support of human rights and safety. The community took to the streets in response to the election of 2017 and participated in the worldwide Women’s March. Most recently, Iowa City high school students have been pioneers in participating in walkouts against gun violence. This cycle of protests will continue, not because change isn’t happening, but because it is necessary for continual growth.
   
   “Ecosystems native to the Midwest depend on periodic fire events to rejuvenate growth and ensure long-term survival. The human nature tendency to suppress fire allows invasive plants (weeds) to out-compete our native grasses and flowers, therefore reducing plant and animal diversity.” -Tallgrass Restoration

3. 5:25-5:35 pm
   Wesley Student Center/PS1  (120 N Dubuque St)
   Browns and Nudes*
   Artist: Katherine Simóne Reynolds
   
   Browns and Nudes is reflecting upon the language used to describe colors of brown and nude lipsticks found in the beauty aisle. This piece is exploring the complicated relationship that Black women have with being included in the “beauty” part of the beauty industry.
   
   *This piece is also presented with the support of the Iowa Arts Council

4. 5:35-5:45 pm
   Prairie Lights (15 S Dubuque St.) 
   We Are All Immigrants 
   Artist: Iowa City Community Carnaval Parade Project
   
   We Are All Immigrants project celebrates Iowa City’s history and patterns of immigration and migration by highlighting the City’s literary–and bio-diversity, represented by text and abstract images of its people and butterflies. Butterflies have captured the imaginations of the Carnaval project artists from the beginning for their graceful dance-like movements, colorful beauty, resilience, and perseverance. For us, these are all characteristics of people who bravely leave one community to make a life in a new community and of the Carnaval festivals around the world.

5. 5:45-5:55 pm
   Beadology (220 E Washington St)
   On the 45th Year of the Emma Goldman Clinic...
   Artist: Bluestockings
   (Ongoing throughout Crawl)
   
   Bluestockings, a feminist art collective, will celebrate the history of Iowa City's very own feminist healthcare and abortion services provider, the Emma Goldman Clinic. Our installation will celebrate the work of those who fought before us for our right to choose, and will help strengthen us for the fights ahead.  

6. 5:55-6:05 pm 
   Hands Jewelers (109 E Washington St)
   Rising Waters
   Artist: Alison Filley
   
   Iowa City is built around the Iowa River and a series of creeks that feed into the river creating a delicate balance between the city and water. In the history of Iowa City this balance has been tested with various floods affecting numerous residents and buildings and altering the natural landscape. During the flood of 2008 I was a graduate student in the School of Art and Art History. I remember walking to Art Building West the day the water crested and as I stood on River St. I looked across the field and saw a plastic trashcan gently float across the window inside the building. This simple moment contrasted with the reality of the amount of destruction that water can bring. My installation “Rising Waters” tells the story of not only this flood but also all the rises and falls of the Iowa River and Ralston Creek and how it has affected its residents and city planning. The installation is made from cardboard and recycled denim jeans many of which came from Iowa City residents.
    

7. 6:05-6:15 pm 
   Velvet Coat (118 E College St)
   Untitled  
   Artist: Frankie Schneckloth
   
   From our small midwestern town in the plains of Iowa, thousands have embarked on wild mountaineering expeditions around the world. These literal trailblazers were sometimes the first to reach summits and peaks, even naming a few along the way. The Iowa Mountaineers were one of the most prolific mountaineering clubs in the world with over 6,000 members across the globe, climbing over 1,300 peaks. With an aim to embrace our natural surroundings and experience life's adventures, club founder S. John and Ede Ebert started the group in 1940 which continued until 1996. Over the years, beautiful vistas and breathtaking scenes were experienced by avid adventurers under the guidance of this club. This installation seeks to capture a bit of that breathtaking beauty, encouraging us all to connect with the natural world and allow us to transform our small beginnings to grand adventures.

8. 6:15-6:25 pm 
   Revival (117 E College St)
   Nightlife
   Artist: Zoë Woodworth
   
   Nightlife celebrates the history of LGBT nightlife in Iowa City. Before it was safe to be out of the closet, LGBT Iowa Citians took refuge in bars and dance clubs like Kenney’s (1960’s), Boulevard Ltd. (1973-75), That Bar (1979-1980), and the 620 Club (1988-2008). For many, these spaces were the only places where they could truly relax and be themselves. This project seeks to celebrate those safe spaces and the Iowa Citians whose presence brought them to life.

9. 6:25-6:35 pm 
   Sculpt (105 E College St)
   FOAM (Friends of Ana Mendieta)
   Artists: Atom Burke, David Dunlap, and John Engelbrecht
   (Ongoing throughout crawl)
   
   A social conversation, a living breathing thing (a story unfolding and changing over April) (#dazzlecrawl to be included in the story). FOAM forefronts the artists of this place who came before: stepping off with the story of Ana Mendieta (Foster Child of Iowa), a month-long, ever-changing work-in- progress will unfold in the window of Sculpt. Sometimes narrative, sometimes abstract: FOAM aims for todolessness as a philosophy and presents to the world in the original social media: the mind expanded into ink, ink onto paper, paper in a public window. Stay tuned for the alternative-to- now manifesto (released on the night of dazzle crawl): A Clock with No Hands / Fake Yellow manifesto (working title).

10. 6:35-6:45 pm 
    Yotopia (132 S Clinton St)
    Guts and Glory
    Artist: Vero Rose Smith
    
    A bacterial battle rampages continuously in our intestines. Day after endless day, microflora friends such as L. bulgaricus (Gary), S. thermophilus (Mo), and Bifidobacterium (Fifi) bravely resist the invasion of pathogens. By completely colonizing stomach space, utilizing all available nutrients, and secreting compounds deadly to would-be invaders, our mini-but-mighty warriors tirelessly defend our tummies. We can assist them by sending reinforcements - that is, eating foods rich in probiotics such as frozen yogurt. This installation serves as a real-time reenactment of the war that rages within and as a tribute to the over 205,000 Iowan cows who provide our probiotic-fueling dairy.
    
    Plan your attack! Try to take back the window from the bad bacteria!

11. 6:45-7:00 pm 
    The Garden Room (123 E Washington St., upstairs) 
    One-night Only Speakeasy Burlesque Experience
    Artist: Heartland Bombshells 
    (Present at Garden Room throughout crawl, performance begins at 6:30)
    
    Hey, pssst! You, yes...you. One night. One show. One chance to be enthralled. Curious? Iowa City's own burlesque darlings, The Heartland Bombshells are capping off Dazzle Crawl with an intimate Secret Showcase to tease you with our finest array of talent. Come on up, don't be shy.

Dazzle Crawl is presented by:
Hancher
Flyover Fest
Iowa City Downtown District
Public Space One

with support from the City of Iowa City Public Art Advisory Committee