Twelve Iowa artists will showcase their works at the Des Moines Art Center through Nov. 4. The exhibition titled “By Design IA01” concentrates on convergence in design as it is becoming increasingly popular in today’s media and museums. It includes such exhibits as a bubblegum-chewing milk bottle and a space-age washing machine.

Objects such as Nike Shoes and iMacs are becoming increasingly dependent on design and Iowa artists have landed themselves in the position of designers.

While the convergence of art and design has been going on internationally for the last 60 to 70 years, it has become especially relevant to the art made in Iowa.

The exhibition will contain a wide variety of designs and installations, most notably perhaps is that of Maytag. The company will be showing prototypes of its appliances.

Curator Chris Gilbert sorted through over 200 slide submissions and numerous studio visits. Selections were based on the work’s quality and strength as art, with the show’s theme of design serving as a useful contextualizing device.

The exhibition that started Aug. 25 has been a tradition in Iowa since 1949. It focuses on the images that vie for consumer attention and the similarity that each has with each other, including the makers of household appliances, magazine ads, movies and paintings. The artists involved in “By Design IA01” are Maytag, based out of Newton, John Andrews and Peter Feldstein, from Oxford, Dave Bergeron, from Norwalk, Carla R. Gonzalez, from Grinnel, Joe Hall, from Iowa City, Matthew Kluber and John Paul Schafer, from Cedar Rapids, Jennifer Maidment ,from Fairfield, and Fred Truck, from Des Moines.

There are also a number of related programs including Community Day Sept. 23 from 1-4 p.m. which will celebrate Arts in Iowa with dance performances, music, food, and art workshops for children and families. Admission is free, and the event is open to the public.

Although the first Gallery Talk happened Sept. 6, there is another one scheduled for tonight at 7 with featured artists Dave Bergeron, Carla Gonzalez, Joe Hall, and Fred Truck.

At a lecture Oct. 21 at 2 p.m. at the Levitt Auditorium, John Cunnally, associate professor of art and design, will give his speech “Bauhaus to Barbie’s House: Design in the 20th Century.”