"Join us to enjoy life's creative pleasures at Plum Creek Art Center!!"
Click on any of the upcoming events below to learn more information or to register online! If you call to register for a class, please leave a message with your name, name of class and a good phone number to return your call. Stop back often, as class/event information may be updated or more classes/events may be added.
HER EXHIBIT WILL BE ON DISPLAY UNTIL THE END OF JULY.
COME AND ENJOY HER COLORFUL, VIBRANT, AND EMOTIONAL PAINTINGS!!
SOME OF HER PAINTINGS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR SALE.
MS CHAVEEVAH'S BIOGRAPHY
Cheryl Banks Ferguson, (aka Chaveevah), is originally from Chicago, Il. She and her 5 children moved to Iowa in the mid-1980s. She is a multifaceted person having described herself as a mother, wife, artist, teacher and storyteller.
She is a noted artist (painter), writer, dancer and teacher. In 2003 she founded BaHar Publishing. Ms. Chaveevah has published 70+ books ranging from fiction, non-fiction, poetry and children’s books. Additionally, she was a former staff writer for the Waterloo Courier and taught Oral Communications at Wartburg College and Hawkeye Community College.
For over a decade, she performed with the Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago, known nationally and internationally. As a charter member, she was also one of their earliest tailors and costume designers.
As a prolific illustrator and muralist, Ms. Chaveevah has created murals in Waterloo for the Jesse Cosby Neighborhood Center and the Grout Museum’s Black Stories Collective exhibit. Her current paintings are moving, colorful and vibrant.
From 2017 to 2025, she was co-host of North End Update LIVE. This is a popular weekly interactive social media broadcast started by her best friend, Joshalyn, (aka Ms Rocki) Hickey Johnson. Now she works behind the scenes to produce the show, where they talk about items from media representation to lived experiences in the local community.
"If it’s inspiration, amusement, sadness or joy, art in any form should make you feel something." A quote from Ms. Chaveevah.
Looking to connect with other artsy, crafty, and creative folks?
Plum Creek Art Center is starting a supportive group where you can work on your own projects, share ideas, get gentle, constructive feedback. Be motivated and inspired!
This 'club' will be lead by the super nice Barb Sowers! She is very encouraging and enthusiastic about people with any level of creativity and skills. Monday Morning Makers will meet every two weeks.
Come and check out the group on Monday, June 1st, June 15th, June 29th, 9:30-11:30 am at Plum Creek Art Center classroomarea. The group now meets the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Monday of each month.
For ages 18+. No registration necessary. No class fee.
Bring a project to work on, example: sew on a button or 2 (x,=), try painting with watercolor, watch someone do felting with wool, beading, knitting, crocheting, or just come to learn more about the Monday Morning Makers. Don't be shy, please come! Make new friendships!
Please tell your friends about this new endeavor, TYVM!
On June 21 & 23, 2026 (6-8 pm) learn an exciting, friendly table game called American Mahjong. Then continuing on the following dates:June 28 & 30 (6-8 pm), continue learning the 'ins and outs' of the game. The game's popularity is growing! Challenge yourself to learn in 2026, the hottest game since dominos, poker, monopoly, etc. Who knows, you may become the National Champion of American Mahjong!
Cost is: $10.00 for each person for the 4 week series
Instructors: Cheryl Mulder and Linda Rouslek
Location: Plum Creek Art Center/Connie Mohr Gallery, 115 W. Main St., Fredericksburg, IA 50630
Limited class size of 8
Basics of the game:
It is a four-player tile game where players draw and discard tiles to form specific 14-tile hands shown on an annual scorecard, using racks, jokers, and special rules like the "Charleston" tile change, differing from Chinese Mahjong by its focus on these specific hands and added accessories. The goal is to be the first to declare "Mahjong" by matching tiles to a hand on the National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) card, a new version of which is released yearly, incorporating suits (Circles, Bamboos, Characters), winds, dragons, flowers, seasons, and jokers.
Some history:
Joseph Park Babcock, a representative of the Standard Oil Company in Shanghai, was importing mahjong sets to the United States in great numbers by 1923. To increase interest in the game in the United States, he wrote and published new rules that became the American standard. When the National Mah Jongg League, Inc. published a volume of "Official American Rules" in 1935, the American style further morphed into a very distinct form.
American mah jongg tournament standards and rules were established in 1986, when the National Mah Jongg League and Mah Jongg Madness jointly conducted their first annual Mah Jongg Tournament at Sea. This tradition of championship tournaments at sea continued for over 34 years. Now there are American mah jongg tournaments conducted throughout the United States, and consist of players from America and Canada. Mah Jongg Madness conducts more than a dozen tournaments a year and an annual NMJL cruise culminates in the National Mah Jongg Convention in Las Vegas every March.
Tournaments are now played according to the Standardized National Mah Jongg Tournament Rules, which were codified and published in 2005. In 2011, Mah Jongg Master Points (MJMP) were established to post an individual's tournament scores. The MJMP website formulates the scores (awarding bonus points to the top 10 winners of an event), and ranking the individual players. There are 10 ranks for players, based on the accumulation of these points.
The basics and history are extrapolated from Wikpedia.
Registration: is required for all classes, which can be done online
by adding the class to your cart, coming into the Gallery prior to
or on the day of class.
Payment : can be made at the time of class.
Keep an
out for Future Classes or Events on this page!!!
Plum Creek Art
115 W Main Street | Fredericksburg, IA 50630
563.412.6000
