"Nothing will come of nothing," says Lear in Act 1. And you can quote him on that.

KING LEAR ON GRASS

King Lear comes to life with all his tragic woes Thursday through Sunday, June 16-19, on the south terrace of Salisbury House. It's Shakespeare on the Lawn, performed by Repertory Theater of Iowa. Poor old Lear thinks he wants to divide his realm among his several daughters, and miseries ensue. (See? Now this is why we have estate attorneys.)

Gates open at 6:30 p.m. for seating, and the orating fires up at 7:30 p.m.

For additional information or to purchase tickets, give this a click or call 515-274-1777. General admission is $25, with discounts available for students and Salisbury House members.

Your Home and Sustainability. What's the Scoop?

Simple, practical info on what 'sustainability' means for your home. This popular blog explains ways we incorporate sustainability into design+build.
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Great things can come of the simple process of organizing the right words in a fine order.

WORD TO THE WISE: WONDER OF WORDS

Craig Johnson is foremost among 10 authors speaking at the Wonder of Words Festival in Gateway Park on Saturday and Sunday, June 18 and 19. Johnson wrote the popular Walt Longmire mystery series, including the national best-seller "Hell is Empty." He will speak at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
A full roster of speakers and events is on tap for the free weekend festival, including children's programs and book-signings. Find details here. And, if you haven't already, be sure to check out dsm's related story here.

Detail of a screen print by Shepard Fairey, considered one of today's most influential street artists. In this work, he plays off Andy Warhol's iconic pop works that depict a Campbell's soup can, replacing the traditional label with "Obey."

ART HERE, ART THERE -- IT'S EVERYWHERE!

If you're sitting around bored next week, you sure won't get any sympathy from us. That's because you can choose from dozens of programs and events -- nearly all of them free -- during Art Week Des Moines, June 20-26. Various organizations, venues and businesses will host events that showcase the diversity of our local arts and culture scene. A few highlights on our calendar:

"Urban Visionaries," an art exhibit at the Des Moines Social Club's Viaduct Gallery, June 22-26. Hosted by Visionary Services Inc., the exhibit will feature works by acclaimed national and international urban street artists, such as Bansky, Shepard Fairey and D*Face. View a video by Visionary's president and the collection's owner, David Safris, here.
Bumper Crop, presented by makebreak and the East Village boutique Preservation, 321 E. Walnut St., June 23. Prints, photos, sculptures, drawings and paintings by such noted Iowa artists as Judith Eastburn, Stephanie Brunia and Van Holmgren will be available for a flat rate of $33. Proceeds benefit the local Community Supported Art program.
Art2Art Bike Ride, hosted by Air Noir, June 25. The 19-mile ride focuses on public art in Greater Des Moines. It begins at the Des Moines Art Center and ends at 515 Brewing Co. in Clive. Learn more and register here.

Find a full list of events on the Art Week website and Facebook page.

Art Week will culminate with the Des Moines Arts Festival June 24-26, when 175 artists from across the country will converge in Western Gateway Park to show and sell their works. For details on the festival, go to the organization's website.

To learn how artists were chosen for the festival -- and to meet some of them -- read this story in the current issue of dsm. Scroll down in that article to read more about Art Week Des Moines and David Safris' fascinating urban street art collection.

With an ear for art, Alex Braidwood is eager to share his recorded sounds of Des Moines.

NOW HEAR THIS: IOWA ARTISTS 2016

Shhhh ... listen -- do you hear any art? Yeah, same here, but that could change June 23, when the Des Moines Art Center opens Iowa Artists 2016: Alex Braidwood and Jordan Weber (through Oct. 9).

Braidwood, you may recall, installed microphones around town last spring, collecting the sounds of the city. The project, titled Listen Right Here, seeks to raise awareness of the noise that surrounds us and provides Braidwood with the acoustic elements of a composition, set to debut at the Art Center June 23.

On that same evening, Weber will premiere art installations and a performance that presents themes of labor, political issues and the place of art in our lives. Weber's exhibition, called Body Snatchers, ties divergent locations together in surprising ways, both personal and political.

We're curious to check this out and hope you are too, Questions? Find answers here. Read more about Braidwood in this story in dsm, and Weber here.

All dressed up with no place to go? Wouldn't wish that on a dog. You can change it.

WANT TO WALK? THIS BEATS A FITBIT

Here's an easy way to enhance your exercise, have fun and do a little something good in the world: Walk a rescue dog. Or run (that's between you and the dog). Check out the Animal Rescue League of Iowa program Paws on the Pavement. Participants run or walk shelter dogs, raising the volunteer's metabollsm, the dog's exposure to potential adopters and everyone's joie de vivre! Why not sign up with a couple of friends and enjoy three-dog nights?

Interested in learning more? Attend a volunteer orientation, offered the second Saturday and third Thursday of every month. After that, you'll receive training on how to get dogs out of their kennels, dress them in their swanky Adopt Me vest, and more to prepare you for your first walk. Give it a try. Now, who's a good boy?