Iowa artists will be spotlighted in a series of exhibitions and programs taking place at The Octagon Center for the Arts in the next few months.

“Iowa Artists in Time and Spaces,” an exhibition of contemporary art, kicked off Oct. 4 at The Octagon Center for the Arts and will be running through Nov. 8.

The exhibition is a collection of 42 works by 24 current and former Iowa artists.

“We always try to show something from our own state and this is one way of doing it” said Darlene Tope, office manager at The Octagon.

Selections were chosen by Juror Bernice Steinbaum, gallery director for the Steinbaum Krauss Gallery in New York City.

“The exhibition proves definitively that art is alive and well and living in Iowa” former Iowa native Steinbaum said. “The works will include all aspects of visual art including painting, sculpture, ceramic, metal, wood, collage, drawing, watercolors, assemblage, installation, photography and fiber art.”

Accompanying each work will be a written statement depicting the artist’s views on the values of living and working in Iowa.

In collaboration with the exhibition, there will be an Iowa Artist Forum Oct. 25, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Artists showcased in the forum will include Iowa State professor Priscilla Sage, David Dahlquist of Des Moines, University of Iowa professor Keith Achepohl and Sheryl Ellinwood of Lake Red Rock, among others.

Mary Huber, director of the James and Meryl Hearst Center for the Arts in Cedar Falls, will be the moderator.

For the developing young Iowa artists (3rd to 5th graders) and their parents, there will be a workshop Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon.

A showing of new artists’ work in the Young Artist Gallery will follow the workshop.

All the exhibitions are at The Octagon Center for the Arts, 427 Douglas Ave., in Ames.