Skeletales

Atlanta-based artist and Iowa native, Andy Imm, reveals an art installation about the missing. “Skeletales”, offers an intense system of mixed media. Through sculpture, assemblage, and performance, Andy brings to life an awareness of “a silent society” lost in our media saturated news print. By creating technological totem memorials and mask identities, he alerts us to a ritualistic form of communication. The use of age-progressions and afterimage ageplay portrays a future that now exists in present, a collage of missing identities that resurface as lasting connections to the past.

As a math educator, Andy illustrates the ability to reveal our social

acculturation. He taps into many intriguing stories of the time. By

investigating a possible manhunt, murder mystery, targeted kidnap, or urbanprime time crime he reveals the exploration of a dystopian reality.

Woody Cornwell, the founder of internationally acclaimed Eyedrum, says, "Andy is expressing a difficult and sensitive narrative to the audience... It's personal and deeply felt. Should it be an emotionally filled anger or love of loss? Yes. Loss is tragic but of course it's that... I feel that's what his art is approaching."

This anthropomorphic and phantasmagoric exhibition will provide free art giveaways, celebration, reflection rooms, and emotional release for the whole community - a cathartic family experience.

INFO: Art Stop, Saturday, September 25th, 6-10 p.m., performance @ 8 p.m.

Finder’s Creepers

515 18th Street

Des Moines, IA 50309

(515) 288-9815

Des Moines Zombie Walk!

Thanks to Dallas J. Moore, we will be hosting the 2nd Annual Des Moines Zombie Walk! Never been? No problem, we’ll walk you through it. This year promises to be even bigger and better! Not only is this a reason to dress up like a zombie and parade around town, it’s a great way to raise awareness and give to those less fortunate!

This Zombie Walk will begin and end at Finder’s Creepers and will include zombie caricatures by Job Yamen, zombie body painting by Shawn Palek and will have zombie related artwork up for grabs by D. Ryan Allen, not to mention all the fine goodies in our shop!

In addition, there will be a raffle at the end with all proceeds being donated to Central Iowa Shelter & Services. Since the winter season will be upon us all too soon, we are requesting that each zombie bring a donation of items such as medicine (aspirin, antacids, cold/flu items), travel-size shampoo/soap and winter items (such as hats, mittens, coats). Or you can always check their needs list for a more updated request.

Anyhow- mark your calendars for October 2nd and get ready to dress up like a zombie and help out the homeless all in one fun-filled day! We hope to see you there!

For more info visit the Des Moines Zombie Walk website!

Mmmm.. Brain Cupcakes

Look! Kim made the front page of the Des Moines’ Metro page!

Slaving away baking - just for us!

Our bake sale was a success!!! Many thanks to all of the kind folks who came out to show their support, made baked goods for us and helped us raise some dough to help us keep our doors open. After our flooding in June we were almost $1,000 in the hole. It really means a lot to us that we have so many awesome friends and people who care enough about our little shop to help us keep our doors open longer. If it weren’t for you guys, we would have had to close after all the grief that Mother Nature had given us in our first year of business. We kept hearing that Des Moines NEEDS us to be open and we love you for that.

We owe a special thank you to Shawn Palek, Steve Baier, Job Yamen, Kimberly Dobstaff, all our bakers, MY MOM, Erin O’Brien and ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO CAME TO SHOW US THEIR SUPPORT! We had an amazing turn-out. You guys are amazing and we thank you from the bottom of our black oozing hearts. Thanks for being the best customers, support system and friends a ghoul could ask for!

Check out the delicious Brains inspired "Car Bomb Cupcakes"

Zombie Fest

**you do not have to live in iowa to help us. if you like supporting diy businesses who in turn support diy artists and fellow comrades, please help!**

Please read the reasons as to WHY we have to have a fundraiser first... and then move on to the non-depressing FUN STUFF:

So, as most of you are already aware - we are in dire straights here at Finder's Creepers. After surviving the worst winter in 30 years we leapt right into the worst summer of rain that our state has had since the 1800's.

In June, our business flooded terribly and forced us to close for nearly two weeks. In those two weeks, we had to do all of the repairs ourselves including ripping out carpet, our stage, moving all of the furniture and display cases we once had down there as well as scraping the nasty carpet glue, clean up and painting both the floor and the walls where the carpet had removed the paint. Needless to say, it was a lot of work and it put us immediately into debt. When small businesses are forced to close and not earn their daily income - it messes things up quickly. We have been on the downhill struggle ever since.

We have been asking for donations to our pay-pal account (if you are able) all you have to do is click on the link below and donate what you can to help us keep our doors open:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi

-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&

hosted_button_id=M78776CRJ

XMF4

With that said - we are now planning a huge fundraiser that will incorporate both a Zombie Fest and a Bake Sale inspired by creepy treats!

***ZOMBIE FEST/BAKE SALE EXTRAVAGANZA!!!***

I'm all for costumes. If everyday could be Halloween I would be a much happier girl. With that said - we want to host yet another bake sale (our last one was in the name of March of Dimes for Babies and we raised $750 in a matter of hours). Although this fundraiser is for us, I am hoping we can get some volunteers to bake goods for us to sell off for donations. If you would like to volunteer your baked goods to us - you have our heartfelt gratitude. Please just send me an email at (erin@finderscreepers.com)

and let me know what you'd like to donate to the bake sale. A lot of folks have stated that they'd like to bake "spooky" themed treats just for this cause and I think that sounds like a fun idea! What better way to fit a spooky bake sale in with a zombie fest?!

For the Zombie Fest - come in costume if you want. If you don't want to - that's okay too. It is August and rotting flesh can get a little hot and smelly. It is a bake sale so we don't want to make people sick, okay? We have two Iowa made horror movies including Dead Moans and Legend Has It - plus Kristian Day may be able to gather up a few more indie films for your viewing pleasure. If after that you want to run amock in your zombie gear and terrify people in downtown Des Moines - please take pictures.

----> We will be doing a viewing of Kristian Day's indie films, as well as the indie film Dead Moans and Legend Has It

----> There will be zombie caricatures done by Job Yamen 1-5

----> There will be zombie body painting by Shawn Palek 12-5

----> There will be live pin-up zombie painting by Steve Baier 12 - ?

----> Mid Iowa Roller Girls will be here with their Wheel of Prizes 4-7

----> There will be a silent auction for original art by D. Ryan Allen and more TBA!

----> Plus, we will be watching tons of other zombie inspired films throughout the afternoon/evening

----> In addition, NIGHTMARE CITY APPAREL will be offering t-shirts to the top 5 biggest donators to our fundraiser from their Zombi line.

Ryan Jon Gillispie & Jungleville Estates

Junglevile Estates has recently re-located to Iowa from New York and his artwork is damn amazing with a graffiti like style mixed with sweet graphic design. Guaranteed you haven't seen anything like it. Pin-ups with superhero themes, monsters, big booty girls, werewolves and pin-ups are just a taste of what you will see! Plus, there will be a video to watch as well!

Ryan Jon Gillispie is a local talent that demands your attention with his cool colors and beautiful women - all drawn and colored by hand.

Although their work differs greatly, they are both inspired by the ladies - so get down here and check 'em out!

As always, this show is free and guaranteed to be fun! NEW WORKS will be shown by both artists.