Iraqi refugee artist Amer al-Obaidi paints every day in his Windsor Heights home.

REMARKABLE ARTIST FEATURED IN DSM

We were thrilled by the crowd attending last week's unveiling of our March/April issue. The event was hosted by Minnesota Cabinets in Clive, whose showrooms proved well-suited to accommodate the professional networking and casual chatting that are hallmarks of the unveiling parties.

We also were pleased to introduce Amer al-Obaidi and his daughter, Bedor, to those attending the party. The prominent Iraqi artist fled the violence in his homeland for a fresh start in Greater Des Moines. Read about his journey and art in our cover story, "The Color of Hope."

There's much more, of course, in an issue we are proud to present and are sure you'll enjoy. The new issue has been mailed to subscribers and delivered to the usual sites around town for you to pick up. You can also find it online at dsmmagazine.com.

Photo Essay: Tile with Style

A beautiful tile design and installation can add that final touch of warmth, glamour or excitement to any remodeling project. ... Read More ť

Pablo Picasso illustrated a 1934 edition of "Lysistrata," written by Aristophanes. See it at the Des Moines Art Center exhibit, "Arts & Letters."

CELEBRATING BOOKS AND ART

By Christine Riccelli

If you haven't yet viewed the new exhibit at the Des Moines Art Center, put it at the top of your to-do list. "Arts & Letters" explores intriguing connections between literature and the visual arts across cultures and time periods. It's easy to lose yourself in the exhibit -- much like losing yourself in a good book.

You'll not only find centuries-old hand-illustrated books and manuscripts but also contemporary works -- ranging from paintings to digital video -- that draw on books as their inspiration or that celebrate the act of reading itself. Many of the exhibit's 70 objects are so captivating that it's hard to pinpoint highlights. But here's a try: a video meditation on Ralph Ellison's "Invisible Man," which evokes the story's central metaphor; Salvador Dali's psychedelic illustrations for Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland;" Tim Rollins' bright multimedia ode to Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," consisting of watercolor, fruit juices, collage, mustard seeds and book pages on canvas; and a reproduction of a Parisian bookstall by Mark Dion.

The exhibit also showcases rare and splendid texts on loan from the Salisbury House & Gardens' library, notably the "Kelmscott Chaucer" from 1896; Aristophanes' "Lysistrata," illustrated by Pablo Picasso; and James Joyce's "Ulysses," illustrated by Henri Matisse.

"Arts & Letters" runs through May 1. Don't miss it.

The sculpture SWIRL displays its colorful character for visitors to Cowles Commons.

MEET JIM CAMPBELL, ARTIST WITH A SWIRL

Artist Jim Campbell will discuss his downtown sculpture, SWIRL, and other work Sunday, March 13, at 2 p.m. in the Des Moines Art Center. Spanning 94 feet, the 28-foot-tall SWIRL brightens Cowles Commons with 8,000 colorful lights. Presented by Des Moines Performing Arts and the Des Moines Art Center, Campbell's free presentation is open to the public. Reserve seats here.

You'll learn tricks and tips for incorporating modern design touches at the seminar "How to Use Trends Without Being Too Trendy" at the Home & Remodeling Show.

ONE-STOP SHOP FOR REMODELING IDEAS

If your home needs a refresh -- or even if it doesn't -- you'll find plenty of inspiring ideas at the Home & Remodeling Show this Friday through Sunday, March 11-13, at the Iowa State Fairgrounds' Varied Industries Building. Hosted by the Home Builders Association of Greater Des Moines, the free event will include 120 booths featuring local remodeling and home-improvement experts.

In addition, you can attend free seminars throughout the weekend. One that caught our attention is "How to Use Trends Without Being Too Trendy" (11:30 a.m. Saturday), presented by Julie Youngblade of JY Design and Jody Peterman of Erin Elizabeth Designs. The two designers will give tips on styles ranging from contemporary farmhouse to boho to midcentury modern.

The Big Red Food Truck, 515 Pi and other local food trucks will dish up specialties, and plenty of activities will keep the kids busy. For more details, go to dmhomeandremodelingshow.com.

A moment's paws can make a big difference at next month's ARL auction.

TICKETS GOING FAST FOR ARL AUCTION

We admit being caught off guard when we learned that more than half of the tickets are already gone for the Animal Rescue League of Iowa's popular Raise Your Paw Auction. So we're making our plans and wouldn't want you to miss it either. With more than 300 donated items to bid on, live music and appetizers, the fundraiser is April 16 at The Meadows Events and Conference Center in Altoona. The schedule, reservations and other details are on the ARL website. Tickets are currently $65 ($550 for a table of 10), but prices go up after March 15.