Siriaco “Siricasso” Garcia is a Huxley, Iowa-based muralist, event organizer, screenprinter, afterschool art teacher, and father. Guided by a deep love for family and community, he has painted over 40 murals across central Iowa and is known for his bold black outlines and vibrant storytelling.

As the founder of the Middle of NOWhere festival, Siricasso creates platforms for fellow artists to gain exposure and build confidence in sharing their work. Through his art and actions, he remains committed to inspiring others and supporting the next generation of creatives.

Born and raised in Ames, Kaleb Stevens is an experiential producer and poet with a passion for activating spaces and building meaningful community connections in unforgettable ways. His earliest production credits included basement dance battles and high school open mics, and since then he has had the opportunity to produce concerts featuring artists like Davido, Pusha T, Tokischa, and BigXThaPlug.

Kaleb is obsessed with the healing power of music and spoken words and is working to ensure a captivating MONFest stage show featuring the Midwest’s most poignant independent artists.

Kandace Creel Falcón, PhD. is a former tenured Associate Professor of Women’s & Gender Studies who spends their days painting and writing in their home-based studio in rural Otter Tail County, MN. In 2021 they founded the Art of KCF to enhance opportunities for personal and collective healing through art.

For MONfest they oversee the narrative framing and external communication of the organization as well as helping guide the internal programatic elements for expansive world-building possibilities.

A Northwest Iowa native with a bachelor’s degree in Art Education. She blends a love for creativity with a strong background in event planning and philanthropy. She is the co-founder of Unfiltered Events, a nonprofit designed to empower emerging artists, performers, and curators by providing high-energy platforms for expression, connection and growth. Known for her dedication to a good theme and being one cat away from crazy, she believes art should be expressive, accessible, and unforgettable.

Jenn brings her experience from leading the Waukee Arts Festival for ten years to the MONfest team. She uses her experience as an artist to build meaningful systems and relationships with our vendor partners and help oversee day-of logistics for the festival.

As Event Production for the Middle of NOWhere festival, Drew is responsible for supporting the festival event from concept to execution.

He supports the creative direction including producing the visuals for the festival flyer and stage visuals. He also implements digital assets for the MONfest socials. Drew’s commitment to design’s role in storytelling enables him to craft cohesive and compelling visuals that capture the spirit of the festival to enhance the audience experience.