Inspirations Art Studio

08/04/2026

THIS THURSDAY, join us for our next First Thursday exhibition on August 6th! Mark your calendars!

📅 First Thursday | August 6
🕔 5:00–7:00 PM
🎤 Artist Remarks: 5:30 PM

📍 Chadima Gallery at the Iowa Ceramics Center & Glass Studio

Our 2026–2027 Resident Artists have officially arrived, and you’re invited to be among the first to experience their work.

Join us for a special First Thursday exhibition celebrating the beginning of a new residency year at the Iowa Ceramics Center & Glass Studio. Throughout their first week at ICCGS, each resident artist has created new work that offers a glimpse into their unique artistic voice.

Spend the evening browsing the exhibition, meeting the artists behind the work, and hearing about their background, experiences and creative practice. Whether you’re a longtime supporter of ICCGS, an artist yourself, or simply curious about contemporary ceramics and glass, this is a wonderful opportunity to connect with our newest resident artists and the local arts community.

What You’ll Experience
🏺 View artwork created during each artist’s first week in residence
🖐 Meet all of our new Resident Artists and learn about their creative journeys
🎤 Hear brief artist remarks beginning at 5:30 PM
🥂 Enjoy light refreshments while exploring the exhibition

New Resident Artists Include:
-Riley Baldus
-Lillian Davis
-Claire Dolan
-June Jacquot
-Monica Long
-Matthew Rowe

Admission is free and everyone is welcome.

Come celebrate the beginning of another exciting residency year, discover new artists, and get a first look at the work they’ll be creating throughout the year ahead. We look forward to seeing you!

07/21/2026

🎉 Meet Our New Resident Artist: Monica Long (she/her)
We're excited to welcome Monica Long to the Iowa Ceramics Center & Glass Studio's 2026–2027 Resident Artist Program!

Raised on a farm near North English, Iowa, Monica's artistic journey began at Mount Mercy University, where she studied wheel-thrown functional pottery and earned both a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Bachelor of Social Work in 2011.

After graduation, Monica put her art career on hold to raise her family with her husband, Tony, and their four children—James, Henry, Thomas, and Lily. In 2024, she rediscovered her passion for creating through stained glass before finding fused glass at ICCGS, where she quickly fell in love with the endless possibilities of warm glass.

Now commuting from Williamsburg, Monica is excited to immerse herself in the supportive and inspiring artist community at ICCGS and throughout the Cedar Rapids arts scene.
As one of our beginning glass instructors, Monica's favorite part of teaching is helping others discover the joy of creating. She believes that "Life is a journey!"—a philosophy reflected in both her artwork and her willingness to continually learn new techniques.
Monica is inspired by innovative glass artists like Tabitha Burrill and David Melamed, whose dedication to experimentation and sharing knowledge encourages her own artistic practice and teaching.

When she's not in the studio, you'll likely find Monica listening to audiobooks, camping, kayaking, hiking nature trails, or simply enjoying time outdoors.
We're thrilled to have Monica as part of our Resident Artist Program and can't wait to see where her creative journey takes her next.

🎉 Meet Monica—and all of our new Resident Artists—in person!
Join us for our Resident Artist Exhibition 1st Thursday Opening Reception and be among the first to see work created during each artist's first week at ICCGS. It's a wonderful opportunity to meet the artists, hear about their creative practices, and get a glimpse of the exciting work they'll be developing throughout their residency.
Opening Reception: August 6th, 5:00–7:00 PM
🎤 Artist Remarks: 5:30 PM

We hope you'll join us in welcoming our newest Resident Artists to Cedar Rapids and the ICCGS community!

✨ Follow Monica's artistic journey: .artstudio

06/03/2026

Today marks the end of my full-time employment and the beginning a new journey as a full-time artist. I am excited about the opportunity to join an artist residency program, which will allow me to develop my skills as a glass artist, collaborate with fellow artists in a studio environment, and share my passion for glass through instruction.

05/21/2026

Take a class with me! Explore warm glass with this 8-week beginner course.
https://dd0000000cfsbeam.my.salesforce-sites.com/events/CnP_PaaS__ticketdetails?sid=a3P6T000001jF6uUAE&cat_id=a2N6T000005i70FUAQ&pro_id=01tUO00000D8h3VYAR&mode=site

05/20/2026

04/22/2026

Thank you for supporting my small business and an amazing spring show season! I appreciate all of you! I have just a few pieces left so I will be busy over the summer months making lots of new pieces for this fall and upcoming holiday season.

04/19/2026

Day 2 at Made in Iowa Market! Hawkeye Downs 9am-3pm today.

04/18/2026

Below are the 150 vendors joining us tomorrow, day two, April 19th, including 60 new vendors that were not here today. Thank you to everyone that joined us for day 1 of the Made in Iowa Spring Market. See you tomorrow from 9am to 3pm at Hawkeye Downs for another great market day.

Vendor -- Booth #

12 Crystal moons -- 165 & 166
151 Permanent Style w/Karla -- 221
42 North Winery -- 262
99 Proof Designs -- 231
A&S LEATHER -- 180
AB Canning -- 114
ABC Acres -- lobby
Amana Farms Foods -- 146
Amarillo Lilly Silver -- 135
American Sparks and Sawdust LLC -- 131 & 130
Annie’s Rock-n-Tail Feathers -- 136
AT Welding -- 245
Author Brittany Pyle -- 214
Backroads Homestead -- 118 & 119
Backyard Flavors -- 163, 164
Bandit Creek -- 232, 233, 234
Black Ivy Apothecary -- 174
Bladetrade -- 107
Bread and Buttered Bakery -- 170
Brickyard Wines -- 126
Brobst Signs by Design -- 141
Cakes by Amber -- 190
Candle Barn -- 145
Carlenas Kolaches -- 142
Charlie and Ruby Sue -- 201
Chris' Kettle Corn -- 257
Crawford Creations -- 110 & 111
Creative Thymes -- 102
Dale's Specialty Breads -- 127
Dania De Bortoli Designs -- 224
Dave's Coffee Cake -- 199
Diggity Dawg Bakery -- 177
Down-Wright Boozy -- 240
EDARA WELLNESS -- 128
Elk Creek Maple -- 207
Embodying Elysium -- 153
Evans Family Farm -- 168
Everyday Nails & Beauty -- 217
Familiar Cat Café -- 230
Farm Gal Soaps, LLC -- 195, 196
Feelin' Knotty -- 160
For Cakes Sake -- 244
Freedom Stitchers of Iowa -- 191, 192
Freedombird naturals -- 161
Gansen Farms & Country Market -- 172
Grimm's Farm -- 100, 101
Harmony Baking Flours -- 211
Helen Lyness Art -- 206
Hollow Hill Designs -- 235, 236, 237
Honey War Bee Company, LLC -- 176
Inspirations Art Studio -- 223
Inspired Decor By Jill -- 112
Ivy Leora -- 197
Jack'd On the Rocks -- 158
Jaylee’s Dipped Delights -- 225
JD's Salsa -- 239
Jenna Lou Art -- 220
Jennings Winery -- 210
Jesus Reigns LLC -- 226
Jordan Essentials/ Sanders -- 264
Just The Girls -- 302
Kanbeon -- 212
Katie Jo Essentials -- 178
Kelley Creations -- 250, 265
Lakeside Gifts -- 247
Link Everlasting Permanent Jewelry -- 157
Lotus Creations -- 215
MamaLlama Creations -- 255
Moen Jewelry -- 209
Momma Hirl's Baking! -- 261
Moon Acres Embroidery -- 243
Moonshiner Larry's BBQ Sauce -- 263
Ms. T’s BBQ Sauce, llc -- 125
Mw Woodcraft LLC -- 159
Mystical Wood Designs/Kanoodles -- 137
No BS Jerky -- 139
Nonna Mancini Veggies -- 242
Norwex -- 203
Pampered Chef - Kelly Fulton -- 123
Pickle Creek Herbs -- 249
Plot Twist Pasteries -- 219
PnBGoodies -- 238
Pomifera With Jodi -- 227
Porch Light Candle Company -- 184
PR Creations -- 113
Print Village Shop -- 260
Printed Paw Crafts -- 124
Progress Platform Publications -- 120
Purely Crafted By Alycia -- 193
Quiet Nights Co. -- 218
Rainbow Feathers Fantasticals -- 183
ReAlive Metaphysical Shop -- 246
RISN Cookie Co -- 179
Rye Roasters Coffee LLC -- 182
Scarlett Lane Boutique -- 252, 253
Scentsy with Oakley -- 108
Sds -- 143, 144
Shwug Nation -- 155
Simple Goods -- 194
Snuggly Skeins -- 147
Squiggle Laser and Designs -- 121 & 122
Sticky Situation Caramels and Turtles -- 208
Sugar Shoppe LLC -- 134
Sunrise Stories Custom Leather -- 132
Tabor Home Vineyards and Winery -- 188
Tamz Craftz -- 140
Tegtmeier Art Creations -- 251
Tesy’s Treats -- 167
The Bees Knees -- 181
The Blue Strawberry Coffee Co -- 162
The Clyde Company -- 205
The De-Ranged Chicken Bread -- 138
The Dessert Mixologist -- 109
The Ditzy Dipper -- 117
The Great Indoors -- 198
The Holton Homestead -- 129
The Labradorite Witch -- 133
The Local Refresh -- 169
The Painted Lady -- 105, 106
The Sarcastic Stitcher -- 254
Thrive In Nature -- 189
Timeless Ties and Butterflies -- 258, 259
Total Health Naturally -- 204
Trixie Rox designs LLC -- 228, 229
Truelys -- 104
ultimate chocolates -- 301
WagWorks handmade -- 154
Weeds of desire -- 216
Whitcher Printing -- 173
Wild Angels Expressions -- 171
Wild Lotus Apothecary -- 248
Wild Rayne Mercantile -- 213
Window Depot of Eastern Iowa -- 116
Witchy Taboo -- 202
Xperience Candle Bar -- 186, 187

04/18/2026

It's a Beautiful Morning! Made in Iowa Spring Market 9am-3pm at Hawkeye Downs.