BVU, Witter Gallery team up for interactive Harmony at Dusk event

Buena Vista University and Witter Gallery turned Harmony Gardens into a hands-on arts space Friday night, pairing free admission with live music, student creativity and an interactive finale designed to pull people into the program, not just sit them in front of it.

Harmony at Dusk ran from 7 to 9 p.m. in front of Witter Gallery in Storm Lake and was built around a simple pitch: a free, family-friendly night that mixed entertainment with participation. The opening set came from the Buena Vista University Rock Ensemble, directed by Assistant Professor of Music Production Aaron Eastwood, who joined BVU in 2021 and focuses on music technology and audio production for digital media.

As the ensemble played classic hits, guests moved through make-and-take art booths and coloring tables set up around the garden. Witter Gallery also served ice cream sundaes, giving the evening a downtown stop that looked more like a community gathering than a standard campus showcase.

The most unusual piece of the night came at 8 p.m. with Visual Sound, a short film created by students in BVU’s Advanced Video class. The project used sound cues from Harmony Gardens so children could trigger audio elements and help drive the finale, turning the audience into part of the artwork.

Local artist and Witter Gallery board member April Mason added another layer with an art demonstration, and the finished piece was included in the Wingspan Raffle. Raffle tickets cost $10, and prizes from community businesses were announced throughout the evening, tying local commerce directly into the arts program.

The partnership also fit BVU’s Education for Service motto, giving students real-world creative experience while reinforcing Witter Gallery’s year-round role as a free public arts venue in Storm Lake. For Buena Vista County, the event showed how a college and a downtown cultural institution can work together to draw families, support local businesses and keep a Friday night rooted in the community.