Yes We Create Art

05/02/2026

🤢 From garbage to GORGEOUS ✨

When we found the Historic YWCA at State and Adams it had no heat. No plumbing. Over 50 partition walls had carved a once-grand landmark into a maze of forgotten rooms. It was close — very close — to being lost forever.

This room alone was three cramped spaces with dropped ceilings and active mold. For years during our restoration it was where we staged our demo debris. Garbage bags, broken materials, despair.

Today it’s one of the most beautiful rooms in Mason City.

We took down the walls, remediated the mold, and opened it back up the way it was meant to be — light pouring in from three directions, every inch of trim recreated board by board from 1918 documentation. The tin ceiling is new, chosen intentionally to honor the women who built this place.

Women like Lydia Barrett. May MacNider. Carrie Chapman Catt. Mason City suffragettes who believed a building like this could change lives. They were right. We don’t take that lightly.

We’ve watched what happened to Mohawk Square. We refuse to let the Historic YWCA meet the same fate.

On May 9th, the Historic YWCA at State and Adams comes alive for the Spring Art Crawl 2026.
The main gallery will host a stunning travel photography exhibition by Minneapolis photographer Carole Wilson. Throughout the building, studio spaces will showcase an incredible lineup of artists — Andrea Blackmon, fiber artist flying in from Washington DC; Macy Taylor, multidisciplinary artist; Shane Taylor, rustic wood assemblage; Kellilynn Robitaille, fused glass artist; Christy Harp, painter and designer; Susanne Crane, painter and writer — and more.

Shop one-of-a-kind Mother’s Day gifts, enjoy food trucks, and let the kids loose in the family activity spaces. This is a come-as-you-are, stay-as-long-as-you-want kind of day.

This very room will be hosting a massage therapy pop-up all day. Treat yourself. Treat Mom. You’ve earned it.

Building tour at 3pm — hear the full story of what it took to save this place.

Cap the night with Elisha Marin and friends playing live at the Principal Pavilion, 7–8pm.

Free and open to all. May 9, 10am–5pm.

📣 And soon — this room becomes yours. This stunning, light-filled suite with windows in three directions and two separate entrances will be available for rent as office space very soon. If you’ve been looking for a workspace that actually inspires you, stay tuned.

📍 Yes! We Create Art Gallery · Historic YWCA · 2 South Adams Ave · Downtown Mason City

🌐 www.SaveTheY.org

10/18/2025

🌱 Come Celebrate New Life!

Yes We Create Art Autumnal Art Festival
Saturday, Oct 25 from 12–7
Sunday, Oct 26 from 12–5
at the Save the Historic YWCA
2 S Adams Avenue
Mason City, Iowa

What to expect:
Food Trucks
Massage Therapy Pop-up
Live Music
Building Tours
A New Tree Friend 🙂
Artist Studio Tours

and 🎨 INTRIGUE!, a mixed-media exhibition of quizzical wonderment and creativity gone wild featuring works by:
Andrea Blackmon • Susanne Crane • Jesse Fox • Joanne Hardinger • Christina Andrea Harp • Elisha Marin • Rob McBroom • JoAnn Nielsen• Jen Reuter • Kellylynn Robitaille • Macy Taylor • Kathy W**d • Carole Wilson • Theresa Harsma

The YWCA is coming to life again! Studios lit, galleries open, music in the halls. Two days of fresh work and new energy.

See U There!

10/09/2025

10/08/2025

🎉 Get ready, Mason City!
Yes! We Create Art invites you to a weekend to experience art in an architectural gem now glowing with new life.

🗓 Sat, Oct 25 • 12–7pm
🗓 Sun, Oct 26 • 12–5pm
📍 Historic YWCA | 2 S Adams Ave, Mason City

✨ Come see breathtaking art AND be among the first to witness the stunning Phase 1 renovation progress!

What to expect:
🎨 INTRIGUE!, a mixed-media exhibition of quizzical wonderment and creativity gone wild featuring works by:
Andrea Blackmon • Susanne Crane • Jesse Fox • Joanne Hardinger • Christy Harp • Elisha Marin • Rob McBroom • Jo Nielsen • Jen Reuter • Kellylynn Robitaille • Macy Taylor • Kathy W**d • Carole Wilson • Theresa Harsma

🎶 Entertainment, refreshments, seated chair massage, and the perfect one-of-a-kind gifts for art lovers and holiday shoppers alike

We are so excited to share our progress with the community as we approach the end of Phase 1 Renovations at the YWCA. We will see you there!

04/21/2025

Curious about our progress?
Come check out the renovations during the Spring Art Crawl!

📅 Friday, May 9 · 12–7pm
📅 Saturday, May 10 · 10–5pm

🏛️ Historic YWCA – Yes! We Create Art Gallery
📍 2 S Adams Ave · Mason City, IA

Artists, food trucks, family activities, and a first look at the brand new studios—don’t miss it!

04/21/2025

Curious about our progress? Come check out the newly-renovated building during the Spring Art Crawl! 🎨✨

📅 Friday, May 9 · 12–7pm
📅 Saturday, May 10 · 10–5pm

🏛️ Historic YWCA Yes We Create Art Gallery
2 S Adams Ave · Mason City, IA

Artists, food trucks, family activities, and a first look at the brand new studios—don’t miss it!

Featuring Siricasso Garcia, Ian Podgorniak, Elisha Marin, Susanne Crane, Shane Taylor, Kathy W**d, Kellylynn Robitaille, and MORE :)