A Journey Begins

Seso Marentes, February 25, 2026
Photo: Alyson O’Hara

An Elephant in the Room.

Since returning to Central Iowa in 2009 I saw a need for more media coverage or content in general about the local arts scene. Over the years I spoke on and off to several people and entities about this observation. DSM Magazine does a terrific job of regularly dedicating three to four beautiful pages of their monthly publication to an artist. Their e-newsletters also share events happenings in the arts. Rachel Buse’s efforts with Art Beacon were engaging and impactful, but not sustainable.

Des Moines risks diminishing its own potential when it overlooks the artists who give the city its depth, energy, and reason to stay. They help shape our culture and identity.

Artists are the difference between a place that functions and a place that matters.

For too long, the creative work happening here has been under-documented, under-amplified, and underestimated. Not because it isn’t good—but because no one has consistently told its story.

Des Moines is a surprisingly vibrant hub for the arts in the Midwest, featuring a mix of world-class museum and performing arts centers along with public art installations and cultural events. However, even with the addition of Mainframe Studios, individual artists struggle to build viable careers.

Enter Seso Marentes.

Seso Marentes has been faced with a very challenging family crisis. The political climate and the violence invoked by the presence of ICE in cities across the country was amplifying its impact.

Our community has been stepping up to help Seso, a person who regularly steps up for our community through his art practice. I set out to help him the best way I know how — by supporting his art practice.

Together, with Seso, Melissa Guerrero and Studio E’s new pop-up art opportunity, we mounted a beautiful art exhibition that honored Seso’s burgeoning creative career and his dedication to strengthening our community. Funds raised supported legal fees related to bringing his young son back home after being taken to Mexico without notice.

Seso’s solo exhibition at Studio E provided us to properly showcase his talent and have the work professionally photographed. It was important that the show not only sell his artwork, but also help build his career.

It not just about exposure.

Make Hay is exploring what it might look like to be a cultural publisher—grounded in the belief that artists like Seso Marentes aren’t just creating work, they’re shaping how we understand this place in real time.

It’s not just about exposure. It is about creating an infrastructure for change, for growth, for connect and for putting the Des Moines community of artists on the fucking map.