blog

blog http://uima.uiowa.edu/blog/rss Relive November First Friday http://uima.uiowa.edu/relive-november-first-friday/ November First Friday was a great success, featuring talented local artists - illustrator <a href="http://juliejohnsonart.com">Julie Johnson</a> &amp; ambient electronic duo The Main Sequence.
Check out <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152261407080319.937423.104649000318&amp;type=1">photos from the event</a> &amp; listen to <a href="http://soundcloud.com/the-main-sequence">The Main Seuence Live from First Friday session</a>! Mon, 05 Nov 2012 08:30:00 -0600 http://uima.uiowa.edu/relive-november-first-friday/ Pollock loan to DMAC http://uima.uiowa.edu/pollock-loan-to-dmac/ The UIMA is thrilled to announce the loan of one of Iowa's most prized cultural possessions -- Jackson Pollock's Mural -- to the <a href="http://www.desmoinesartcenter.org/" target="_blank">Des Moines Art Center</a> this spring. We're grateful to the <a href="http://www.desmoinesartcenter.org/" target="_blank">Figge Art Museum</a> for exhibiting this master, along with many others, since the Flood of 2008. 
<a href="http://news-releases.uiowa.edu/2012/february/022912Pollock.html" target="_blank">Read more about the loan here. </a> Thu, 01 Mar 2012 08:30:00 -0600 http://uima.uiowa.edu/pollock-loan-to-dmac/ Art | Iowa: Inspired by Landscape – Exhibition Opening http://uima.uiowa.edu/art-iowa-inspired-by-landscape-exhibition-opening/ On Thursday, February 2, a new exhibition, Art|Iowa: Inspired by Landscape, opened at the University of Iowa Old Capitol Museum. Located in the Hansen Family Humanities Gallery, the show features work by Iowans throughout history—from American Indian objects, to iconic regionalist images, to selections by contemporary practitioners.
Lithographs by Grant Wood adorn one wall and historical Meskwaki beadworks are displayed in cases. Contemporary artworks include paintings, sculptural pieces, and even an Iowa landscape created on an Etch-A-Sketch. A major focal point of the exhibition is its innovative multimedia component. Art|Iowa visitors have the unique opportunity to explore a dedicated website, featuring interviews with the contemporary artists and an interactive learning game, created by Christopher Merkle, UIMA education assistant. Art|Iowa is a beautiful display representing our state, which reminds guests just how lucky we are to live among such inspirational landscapes.
The exhibition is a collaboration between the UI Old Capitol Museum, the UI Museum of Natural History, and the UI Museum of Art, which loaned several pieces from the permanent collection.
Art|Iowa: Inspired by Landscape will be open to the public in the Hansen Family Humanities Gallery until May 30, 2012. For more information on the Old Capitol Museum and for exhibition hours, please visit <a href="http://www.uiowa.edu/~oldcap">http://www.uiowa.edu/~oldcap</a>. View photos from the opening reception <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/iowaart/sets/72157629159383893/">here</a>. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:30:00 -0600 http://uima.uiowa.edu/art-iowa-inspired-by-landscape-exhibition-opening/ Thank You, Volunteers http://uima.uiowa.edu/thank-you-volunteers/ <img src="http://uima.uiowa.edu/assets/_resampled/resizedimage316200-GraphicLang.jpg" width="316" height="200" alt="" title=""/>
With the end of another semester comes the end of another special exhibition. Graphic Language: The Art and Literature of Comics completed its run in the Black Box Theater on Sunday, December 11. Therefore, it’s time to thank another great group of volunteers! This past semester, 32 volunteers donated over 360 hours to help make Graphic Language a super-hero success.
The UIMA would like to thank the following supporters: Sarah Albert, Sophie Amado, Wan Qin Ang, Agnes Bouraj, Lydia Bridges Kuennen, Bridget Cooney, Allison Cramer, Jeova Flores, Kallie Holt, May Ling Hu, Andrea Jackson, Teresa Kelly, Rani Kumar, Jude Langhurst, Emily Lennon, Polly Lepic, Si Li, Winona Lyons, Angela Mazza, Ellandrea McKissack, Cathlene Nelson, John Ng, Kathrine Nixon, Emily Patrick, Trista Reis, HyeIn Shin, Daphne Kar Yee Soo, Jean Spitzer, Boyi Sun, Maria Velazquez, Qing Xie, and Yemu Xu.
We’d especially like to thank Teresa Kelly, the UIMA’s heroic Members Council Volunteer Chair.
Volunteers are crucial to the success of the Museum. We seek to match individuals with their interests, ranging from special events and marketing, curatorial support, and of course, welcoming visitors to exhibitions and enriching their art experience.
If you are interested in becoming a UIMA volunteer, please visit <a href="http://uima.uiowa.edu/volunteer">uima.uiowa.edu/volunteer</a> for more information. Mon, 19 Dec 2011 11:30:00 -0600 http://uima.uiowa.edu/thank-you-volunteers/ December First Friday http://uima.uiowa.edu/december-first-friday/ December’s First Friday event was a jolly good time! (<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/iowaart/sets/72157628309364171/">See proof here</a>.) Raygun, located on Iowa City’s Ped Mall, is a witty Iowan’s merchandise mecca, and on December 2nd, it was buzzing with Museum supporters. Thanks to Brett DePue, store manager and member of the UIMA Bureau of Friendraising Affairs, specially designed t-shirts were screen printed on-site.
<img class="right" src="http://uima.uiowa.edu/assets/FF-Dec-3.jpg" alt="December FF - UIMA supporters" title=""/>
The UIMA hosted this free First Friday reception as a holiday gift to our supporters. So many guests showed up, that we made three separate pizza runs!
This month’s event featured photography by ten UI art students selected by Professor John Freyer. We would like to give a big thank you kiss (under the mistletoe, of course) to all of the students whose works were featured: 
Erica Alexander - BFA candidate
Kate Allen - BFA candidate
Evelyn Ayala - BFA candidate
Kristina Craft - BFA candidate
Stephen Crompton - MFA candidate
Jean Finley - Advanced Photography
Caitlin Lombardo - BFA candidate
Aaron Lurth - MFA candidate
Sarah Smith - MFA candidate
Allison Welch - MFA candidate
The photographs looked so fantastic on the store’s walls, Raygun offered to display them through the month of December. If you didn’t get a chance last Friday, be sure to stop by Raygun to enjoy the exhibited works, and pick up a UIMA t-shirt—a perfect holiday gift.
 
Photo: Photography students enjoying the festivities. Tue, 13 Dec 2011 14:30:00 -0600 http://uima.uiowa.edu/december-first-friday/ John Dilg on the Legacy of Tom Aprile http://uima.uiowa.edu/john-dilg-on-the-legacy-of-tom-aprile/ Around 60 people gathered to hear John Dilg, UI Professor of Art, present an enlightening gallery talk entitled "Retracing the Path of the Labyrinth—A Close Look at Tom Aprile's Real and Mythic Daily Exits” in the second floor north reading room of the UI Main Library on Wednesday, September 28.
In addition to sharing the same birthday, Dilg and Aprile were colleagues and friends before Aprile passed away suddenly last year. Dilg, with the assistance of Kathy Edwards, UIMA chief curator, and Laura Young, Aprile’s widow, assembled a memorial show that can be enjoyed by countless visitors and students in a quiet room.
Dilg related the joy of shifting through Aprile’s copious work, whose “obsessive skills” he praised. As the gallery talk moved around the room, addressing individual art pieces, attendees explored the concept of the artificial nature of the suburbs and the idea of furniture as both prop and icon of the suburban experience. Aprile’s wooden sculptures and works on paper physically explore the arena of the labyrinth. Dilg pointed out the philosophical connotation of labyrinths over mazes; the former has just one way through to the other side, suggesting that difficulties can all eventually be overcome. 
The lecture shed light on Aprile’s biographical inspirations. A trip to Nigeria yielded not only malaria, but a meaningful exchange with African sculpture. In addition to serving as the material, wood is the very subject of Aprile’s sculptures of embedded chairs and cupboards. Dilg also spoke about the materials used in the works on paper, including acrylics, black ink, pastels, colored pencils, collage and simple line-marking chalk applied as “underpainting” with an oven mitt. 
Most moving was how clearly Dilg enjoyed the work, occasionally observing “what a beautiful piece.” The audience also actively appreciated the pieces, whether noting the fusion of cityscape and landscape, or asking thoughtful questions about process and influence. 
Dilg noted the intriguing progression of an artist, which can be witnessed in the spark of a motif in early work and transformed over time into a major aesthetic and intellectual thesis. The exhibition was arranged based on formal relationships, not chronology. Two juxtaposed works on paper—created 25 years apart—illustrate an uncanny similarity of concepts.
 The evening served as a testament to a formative teacher at the university and renown practitioner. The exhibition, <a href="http://uima.uiowa.edu/tomaprile/">Labyrinths and Other Daily Exits: The Art of Tom Aprile</a>, can be seen through the fall semester. Tue, 11 Oct 2011 16:00:00 -0500 http://uima.uiowa.edu/john-dilg-on-the-legacy-of-tom-aprile/ Student Essay Contest http://uima.uiowa.edu/essay-contest/ The University of Iowa Museum of Art is pleased to announce an inaugural student short essay contest. Tell your story, and you may be eligible to receive free tickets to the elegant Museum pARTy Bash, and publication in our upcoming magazine!
Send us your 500 word response answering: How has the UIMA has enriched your university education experience?
As we focus on rebuilding your art museum, we want to hear from UI students! Personal anecdotes and specific experiences are encouraged. Have you visited the new Visual Classroom with your class? Perused the permanent collection at UIMA@IMU in your off hours? Volunteered to be a gallery attendant at the Black Box Theatre? Has a particular exhibition affected your own art-making practice? Please let us know!
Awards will be given to first, second and third places. The winning essay will be submitted for publication in the UIMA's Spring 2012 magazine, distributed to over 4,000 individuals and locations around campus. All awardees will receive complimentary tickets to the grand Museum pARTy Bash on Saturday, October 29.
Send your essay to <a href="mailto:erika-brown@uiowa.edu" target="_blank">erika-brown@uiowa.edu</a> with the subject line: Student Essay Contest. Please include your name, email address, year in school, and major. This contest is open to both undergraduate and graduate students.
Deadline is Monday, October 24.
<img class="right" src="http://uima.uiowa.edu/assets/Uploads/_resampled/resizedimage53878-pollock-crop.jpg" alt="Jackson Pollock (American, 1912-1956) Detail of: Mural, 1943 97 1/4 x 238 in (247 x 605 cm) Gift of Peggy Guggenheim, 1959.6" width="538" height="78" title=""/>
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Jackson Pollock (American, 1912-1956); Mural (Detail), 1943; 97 1/4 x 238 in (247 x 605 cm); Gift of Peggy Guggenheim, 1959.6
 
</div> Wed, 05 Oct 2011 16:00:00 -0500 http://uima.uiowa.edu/essay-contest/ Director's Circle http://uima.uiowa.edu/director-s-circle/ 
On Saturday, August 27, top UIMA supporters gathered at the elegant University Club for the annual Director’s Circle reception. The program featured a dynamic introduction to a ceremonial mask from Burkina Faso, a recent Museum purchase made possible by Dick and Mary Jo Stanley, as well as an introduction to Catherine Hale, the new curator of African and non-Western art.
Chris Roy, art history professor and UIMA adjunct curator, expressed the Museum’s deep appreciation for the continuing support of the Stanleys and their commitment to further enhance the UIMA African collection, and presented an overview of the history of gifts made to the Museum by the Stanleys. The generosity of this family has enriched the excellence of our pre-Colombian and African collection, establishing it as a teaching asset to the University of Iowa, the surrounding community and scholarship generally.
Afterwards, Roy introduced the spirit mask of the Winiama people of Burkina Faso, purchased at Sotheby’s Paris auction in June. He explained the symbolism of religious laws in the graphic patterns and explained that the zigzag motif represented ancestral paths.
He noted the materials – chalk, gum Arabic, dyes and hemp fiber nets – and underscored the differences in Western and African restoration, where signs of wear indicate use and power. He also showed a video clip featuring a bush buffalo mask in situ during a ceremonial dance. Roy noted that mask-makers of Burkina Faso realized, before Picasso and other Modernists, that “the best way to represent an abstract idea (such as the spirit world) is through abstract art.”
Catherine Hale then took to the podium, and explained her myriad reasons for joining the UIMA, including the high caliber collection of African art, and the opportunity to display work in innovative ways—a positive spin on the curatorial challenge resulting from the devastating 2008 flood that shuttered the previous art museum facility. Hale then showed excerpts of her fieldwork on Asante stools in Ghana.
The evening ended with socializing, dinner, and much enthusiasm for the coming year at UIMA! Check out our <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/iowaart/sets/72157627570467890/show/">Flickr page</a> for more photos of the events.
 
PHOTO: Professor Chris Roy presents personal research footage Thu, 15 Sep 2011 16:00:00 -0500 http://uima.uiowa.edu/director-s-circle/ Hail, Hale! http://uima.uiowa.edu/hail-hale/ We are proud to announce that Catherine Hale has joined the UIMA as the new African and non-Western Art Curator. Below she tells us a little bit about her background, plans, and inspiration as the newest member of the UIMA staff.
What were you doing before you came to the UIMA?
I’ve been all over the place for the last few years. I am currently completing my PhD at Harvard in African art so I’ve spent time in Cambridge, MA, as well as the Ashanti Region in Ghana, West Africa, and Europe for research. I’ve also spent a few semesters in Ottawa, Canada, where I was teaching courses on African art at Carleton University and curating exhibitions for the Carleton University Art Gallery and the Agnes Etherington Art Centre at Queen’s University.
What does a curator do?
I think that what a curator does depends on the individual as well as the institution in which they are working. For me, curating is very much a collaborative process. I see my job as being a liaison between art objects and the varied audiences who are stakeholders in the museum and its collections. In other words, I try to figure out how we can think/talk about fascinating art forms from as many vantage points as possible. 
What inspires your curatorial ideas?
People and places. You can appreciate an object’s form on its own merit but knowing about its original cultural environment, especially in the field of African art, really enriches visitors’ understanding of diverse artistic traditions. This is always a major challenge in exhibitions of the so-called non-Western arts: how do you communicate an object’s original cultural context in a Western museum space? One of the things I am thinking about right now is how to evoke context through different strategies of display. For example, in a recent exhibition of textiles, I layered cloths on the wall in a way that was intended to suggest the aesthetic of an African marketplace. 
How does African art fit into the Iowa City art scene?
Since I’ve been in Iowa City for only a short period of time so far I can’t tell you exactly how African art fits into the art scene. What I can tell you, though, is that long before coming to the UIMA I had heard about their amazing collections of African art as well as the outstanding scholarship of Professor Chris Roy. In many ways, Iowa City was synonymous with African art for me. I am looking forward to participating in the art scene here and making sure African art continues to play a central role.
What are your curatorial plans for the UIMA this year and for the future?
There are a number of exciting projects in the works but, since this is just my second week of work, what I am doing right now is a lot of listening. The UIMA has a long history of excellence and I want to spend some time hearing about the collections here and the work the staff has been doing before I rush forward with any plans. What I know for sure is that one of my key priorities will be thinking about how to make the African and other non-Western collections available to as wide a public as possible. One of the really exciting things about coming onboard with the UIMA at this moment is the opportunity to think beyond the traditional museum space and figure out how to display art objects in new ways. Tue, 06 Sep 2011 10:00:00 -0500 http://uima.uiowa.edu/hail-hale/ Volunteer Tea http://uima.uiowa.edu/volunteer-tea/ On August 23, dedicated UIMA volunteers convened for an afternoon of treats at the Volunteer Tea.
<div class="captionImage " style="width: 310px;"><img src="http://uima.uiowa.edu/assets/Uploads/046.jpg" alt="Volunteer Tea at The University Club" width="310" title=""/>Volunteer Tea at The University Club
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The event was hosted at The University Club and consisted of lots of catching up— between friends and with museum updates. Attendees learned about the upcoming Graphic Language exhibition, the Art and Museum Education Lecture Series, and new School Programs initiatives. 
<div class="captionImage " style="width: 310px;"><img src="http://uima.uiowa.edu/assets/Uploads/voltearesized2.jpg" alt="Director of Development Pat Hanick and volunteers" width="310" title=""/>Director of Development Pat Hanick and volunteers
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Delectable treats were enjoyed by all, as were the surprise gifts for the volunteers. (The table centerpieces were more than merely artistic décor! Each participant went home with a freshly-designed UIMA coffee thermos.)
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/iowaart/sets/72157627517128338/show/">Take a look at photos from the event here.</a>
Interested in helping out? We have both behind-the-scenes and public engagement opportunities available. Find out more about donating your time to the museum at <a href="http://uima.uiowa.edu/volunteer">uima.uiowa.edu/volunteer</a>. Thu, 01 Sep 2011 10:00:00 -0500 http://uima.uiowa.edu/volunteer-tea/ UIMA at State Fair http://uima.uiowa.edu/uima-at-state-fair/ On Sunday, August 14, 2011, about ten members of the UIMA staff took a field trip to the Iowa State Fair! Our purpose was to enjoy much more than the food on a stick (although we did enjoy our share of that ...).
<div class="captionImage right" style="width: 300px;"><img class="right" src="http://uima.uiowa.edu/assets/Uploads/_resampled/resizedimage300199-IMG2722.jpg" alt="Staff at the UIMA State Fair booth" width="300" height="199" title=""/>Staff at the UIMA State Fair booth
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The UIMA was stationed in the Varied Industries Building to celebrate one of Iowa’s most prized gifts – Mural by Jackson Pollock. We passed out informative fans and bookmarks, plastered on temporary tattoos, and even wore matching t-shirts, inspired by the masterwork.
 
<div class="captionImage left" style="width: 300px;"><img class="left" src="http://uima.uiowa.edu/assets/Uploads/_resampled/resizedimage300199-IMG2761.jpg" alt="Child proudly sports a masterpiece" width="300" height="199" title=""/>Child proudly sports a Pollock masterpiece
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We also brought along two modified reproductions of Grant Wood paintings for fair-goers to step inside – literally. Check out our <a href="http://www.flickr.com//photos/iowaart/sets/72157627324413173/show/" target="_blank">Flickr set </a>to see who became the archetypical couple in American Gothic and the boy in Plaid Sweater, a seminal painting from the UIMA collection.
Our busy booth also featured new pieces from the Art of India School Programs collection, including a cast brass Ganesha form and embroidered garment.
We had a grand old time sharing art and engaging with the community that we serve. Thanks to everyone who stopped by our booth! Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:30:00 -0500 http://uima.uiowa.edu/uima-at-state-fair/ John Dilg at Stuit Hall http://uima.uiowa.edu/john-dilg-at-stuit-hall/ <img class="right" src="http://uima.uiowa.edu/assets/_resampled/resizedimage312209-john-dilg2.jpg" width="312" height="209" alt="" title=""/>Check out this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PToD5Ga_5KA&amp;feature=related" target="_blank">gorgeous video-tour of John Dilg</a> introducing his work at the historical Stuit Hall on the UI campus. Serving as a site for music, painting, and, finally, clinical psychology students, the location is honored in Dilg's paintings, which seek to capture "the spiritual properties of the landscape and architecture." 
John Dilg is curating the upcoming UIMA exhibition, "Labyrinths and Other Daily Exits: The Art of Tom Aprile," which will open in the second floor north reading eoom of the UI Main Library later this summer. The show will commemorate the work of the late SAAH professor and sculptor. Wed, 06 Jul 2011 10:00:00 -0500 http://uima.uiowa.edu/john-dilg-at-stuit-hall/ UIMA Volunteers Rep at Summer Orientation Fairs http://uima.uiowa.edu/uima-volunteers-rep-at-summer-orientation-fairs/ Weekday afternoons at the Iowa Memorial Union are buzzing with excitement. Incoming students of the Class of 2015 and their parents have been visiting the University of Iowa in waves over the past several weeks for Freshman Orientation. Until late July, new students can learn about the endless opportunities the University offers at the UI Information Fairs, where dedicated volunteers are representing the UIMA. 
<div class="captionImage right" style="width: 400px;"><img class="right" src="http://uima.uiowa.edu/assets/Uploads/_resampled/resizedimage400266-UI-Orientation-Fair-2011resized.jpg" alt="UIMA Volunteers at Summer Orientation" width="400" height="266" title=""/>Kristin Summerwill and Charlie Nusser, both Members Council participants, share info about the UIMA.
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Kitted with gallery guides, reproductions of our collection’s treasures – including Jackson Pollock’s Mural and Grant Wood’s Plaid Sweater – and Tootsie Rolls, UIMA volunteers greet visitors and answer an array of questions pertaining to art and the Museum. Many visitors are delighted to discover that the University of Iowa has a dedicated art museum, but dismayed that the building was destroyed in 2008 flood. However, it's an ideal chance to explain all the opportunities the Museum has pursued to bring art to the community, including the UIMA@IMU, First Fridays, and school visits. 
“Where is the art?” is the most common question the volunteers receive. Their answer? “Right above you!” as they point upwards in the general direction of the <a href="http://iowa-memorial-union/?stage=Live">UIMA@IMU</a>, a visual classroom where works from the permanent collection are on display. Volunteers note that while only a small portion of the UIMA’s art collection is displayed on campus, other works can be viewed at the Figge Art Museum in nearby Davenport. Students and their parents are encouraged to take home information on the UIMA, as well as sign up for the <a href="http://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001uV3jnccU8bZzldJJoALPjgmHESyAdnJdBQc0fvBi1suKKuFIqTbeAw%3D%3D">UIMA’s e-newsletter </a>to remain current with happenings at the Museum. Tue, 05 Jul 2011 10:00:00 -0500 http://uima.uiowa.edu/uima-volunteers-rep-at-summer-orientation-fairs/ Our view on the pending Pollock sale http://uima.uiowa.edu/our-view-on-the-pending-pollock-sale/ <img class="left" src="http://uima.uiowa.edu/assets/Uploads/19596small.jpg" width="500" height="200" alt="" title=""/>
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As many of you have heard or read in recent news, Iowa's most famous painting, Jackson Pollock's <a href="http://uima.uiowa.edu/mural/">Mural</a> has again become a target for those who wish eliminate it from the UIMA collection. The bill to sell Mural, <a href="http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us/Cool-ICE/default.asp?Category=billinfo&amp;Service=Billbook&amp;ga=84&amp;hbill=HSB84">House Study Bill 84</a>, was introduced Wednesday, February 9, by Representative Scott Raecker (R-Urbandale), and if passed, would require the sale of the monumental work as a means of providing scholarship assistance.
The painting was a gift from Peggy Guggenheim, one of the most important art gallery owners of the twentieth century. She donated the work so the University of Iowa may use it to teach students about art. Guggenheim clearly expressed that she would be against the sale of the work by the UIMA, as her 1963 letter to UI President Virgil Hancher explicitly states, "... it is extremely unpleasant for me that you should sell my gift... If you no longer wish to have this mural in your university I must ask you to return it to me..." Needless to say, if the heirs of Guggenheim choose to pursue this in the courts, the entire situation will reflect poorly on the state and the university, and we could end up losing the work with no compensation. Furthermore, the proposed sale clearly contravenes the UIMA's accreditation with the American Association of Museums, as well as the museum's standing with other national professional organizations. This is not the first time Pollock's work has been the topic of discussion. In 2008, the sale of Mural was proposed as a means to offset costs in flood damage costs. Just as in the past, UIMA staff members stand firmly and protectively by the UIMA collection, one of the most significant university collections in the world. Sean O'Harrow, UIMA director, states: "Pollock's Mural is the most famous painting in Iowa and one of the most important paintings in all of American Art. Selling this historic masterpiece would tear the heart out of the University of Iowa's collection and undermine our credibility throughout the world. I believe that the reputation of our university and our state is of the utmost importance. The proposed sale cannot be allowed to happen if you value our future." Since March 2009, when Pollock's Mural was returned to the state of Iowa after the 2008 flood and exhibited in the UIMA's gallery at the <a href="http://uima.uiowa.edu/figge-art-museum/">Figge Art Museum</a> in Davenport, Iowa, more than 100,000 Iowa students, Iowa citizens and Iowa visitors have seen the painting and have been educated on American art. The sale of Pollock's Mural would not only harm our ability to teach art and related subjects at the University of Iowa, but also be a tremendous loss to the people of the state of Iowa. We encourage you to voice your opinions and concerns to your legislators, Mr. Raecker, and Governor Terry Branstad. You can find your legislator <a href="http://www.legis.iowa.gov/Legislators/find.aspx">here</a>. Rep. Raecker can be reached by <a href="mailto:scott.raecker@legis.state.ia.us">e-mail</a> or by calling 515-276-5987. Governor Branstad can be reached by calling 515-281-5211 or electronically by filling out a form on his <a href="https://governor.iowa.gov/contact/">website</a>. Thank you for your continued support of the University of Iowa Museum of Art and its collection. Mon, 21 Feb 2011 14:00:00 -0600 http://uima.uiowa.edu/our-view-on-the-pending-pollock-sale/ Photos: The 2010 Museum Party! http://uima.uiowa.edu/photos-the-2010-museum-party/ 
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Wigs, hats, boas, burned ties, and all things 70s! The 2010 Museum Party! was a night of dressing up, dancing, and donating!
Guests of the Party! found themselves surrounded by 1960s and 70s-inspired décor centered around the UIMA’s upcoming exhibition, <a href="http://uima.uiowa.edu/lil-picard-and-counterculture-new-york/">Lil Picard and Counterculture New York</a>. Throughout the evening, art enthusiasts headed to the photo booth to play 70’s dress up and have their picture snapped. The resulting photos were projected on a giant screen for everyone to enjoy.
But the fun didn’t stop there! The Rich Webster Band played hits from the 60s and 70s while guests grooved to the their favorite tunes of the period. A short program featuring a testimonial video and an introduction of the Museum’s new director, <a href="http://uima.uiowa.edu/dr-sean-o-harrow-is-named-uima-director-2/">Dr. Sean O’Harrow</a>, emphasized the importance of supporting the University of Iowa Museum of Art programs and events.
At the heart of the Museum Party! was the sponsorship table, where guests were able to support the Museum by purchasing sponsorships for the 2011 Museum programs. The money raised will be used to maintain existing programs and support UIMA events, and collection care including: special exhibitions at the <a href="http://uima.uiowa.edu/figge-art-museum/">UIMA@ Figge Art Museum in Davenport</a>, on-campus exhibitions, academic resources at the <a href="http://uima.uiowa.edu/iowa-memorial-union/">UIMA@IMU</a>, and the <a href="http://uima.uiowa.edu/school-programs/">K-12 school program</a>. All funds help the UIMA achieve its goal of providing first hand experiences with the visual arts to the University and community at large.
The UIMA would like to thank those who have generously chosen to support the Museum through sponsorships: Agnes and Michael Apicella, Steve Burton and Serena Stier, Mary Calkin, Wallace and Karen Chappell, Margaret C. Clancy, Kathy and Jim Clifton, Claudia Corwin and family, Peggy Doerge, Lowell Doud, Will Downing and Kumi Morris, Bob and Karlen Fellows, Tom and Becky Gelman, Hands Jewelers, Kevin and Pat Hanick, INVISION Architecture, Iowa Public Radio, Teresa and Michael Kelly, Dick and Mary Lea Kruse, Mike and Vicki Lensing, Tom and Polly Lepic, Joanne and Mike Margolin, Yvonne McCabe, David and Monica Nassif, Carrie Z. Norton, Sean O’Harrow, Armond and Polly Pagliai, Robert Rasley, Carl and Julie Schweser, Schweser Family Trust, Richard Smith and Lynne Lanning, Marlene Stanford, Faye Strayer, Kristin Summerwill, Dick and Buffie Tucker, and all of the anonymous donors.
Many sponsorships are still available. If you are interested in supporting the UIMA through purchasing a sponsorship, please call the UIMA office at 319-335-1725.
Thank you to all of the Museum Party! guests for your continued support, especially this year’s Honorary Chairs Sandy and Susan Boyd, the Party! sponsor James P. Hayes, and the Party! hosts: Alan and Liz Swanson; Gerald and Leesa Elseman; Gerry Ambrose and Kristin Hardy; H. Dee and Myrene Hoover; Lowell Doud; Kristin Summerwill; Margaret C. Clancy; Mary Westbrook; Neumann Monson Architects; Oaknoll Retirement Residence; Phelan, Tucker, Mullen, Walker, Tucker &amp; Gelman, L.L.P.; Pleasant Valley Flower Shoppe; Rob and Paulina Muzzin, Rohrbach Associates P.C. Architects; Sandy and Susan Boyd; Shive-Hattery, Architecture-Engineering; and Whitedog Imported Auto Repair and Sales. Mon, 25 Oct 2010 12:30:00 -0500 http://uima.uiowa.edu/photos-the-2010-museum-party/ Ere Ibeji: Yoruba Twin Figures from the Collection of J. Richard Simon http://uima.uiowa.edu/ere-ibeji-yoruba-twin-figures-from-the-collection-of-j-richard-simon/ 
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A woman wearing a wrapper on her back dances through the streets of her compound in southwest Nigeria while the other women in the village sing songs for ibeji. Inside her wrapper where her child is normally carried rests a newly carved wooden figure, one believed to embody the spirit of her recently deceased twin.
The Yoruba culture has one of the highest twin birth rates (45 per 1000 births). The birth of these agents of good luck and fortune, as twins are thought of, is reason for celebration but also a cause for concern. Twins suffer a higher mortality rate because of their fragility versus that of a single birth and because of this, frequently one or both twins die.
Upon the death of a twin, the parents consult with a diviner, the babalawo, who advices whether an ere ibeji should be carved. If deemed necessary, the parents commission a six-to-eight-inch wooden figure to be created to emblematize the soul of the deceased. While in production, the mother will send gifts of food to the artist; after it is completed she will send additional offerings of appreciation.
The figure then becomes a part of the mourning family taking the place of the twin who passed away. The ere ibeji is cared for in the same way every other family member is: the face is washed after the feeding of beans and palm oil, the believed favorite food of twins; it is dressed in rich garments and beads; and family members lay the wooden figure down for bed at night. If the ibeji figure is honored in these ways, the spirit of the deceased infant may bring its parents wealth and good luck.
The UIMA proudly welcomes the temporary exhibition Ere Ibeji: Yoruba Twin Figures from the Collection of J. Richard Simon which features retired UI Professor Emeritus Richard Simon's extraordinary collection of these commemorative figures. The exhibition is open September 2 through October 17 in the Iowa Memorial Union's Black Box Theater.
-Meghan Centers, Marketing and Media Assistant Tue, 07 Sep 2010 16:30:00 -0500 http://uima.uiowa.edu/ere-ibeji-yoruba-twin-figures-from-the-collection-of-j-richard-simon/ Dr. Sean O'Harrow is named UIMA director http://uima.uiowa.edu/dr-sean-o-harrow-is-named-uima-director-2/ When Dr. Sean O'Harrow visited in the University of Iowa campus on July 20, he said at age 18 his future goal was set: he would become the director of an art museum. While he realized that goal in 2007 when he became the executive director at the Figge Art Museum, he now gets to further develop his dream at a new museum: the University of Iowa Museum of Art.&nbsp;
<img class="left" src="http://uima.uiowa.edu/assets/Uploads/_resampled/ResizedImage188260-071910sean-o-harrowHIREZcrop2.jpg" width="188" height="260" alt="" title="" />When he was offered the position, Dr. O'Harrow said he had a general feeling of excitement and honor. "I'm humbled by being offered this position at the UIMA," he said. "This is not a new beginning for the Museum, but rather a new chapter and I am excited to be a part of that."
O' Harrow is no stranger to the educational value of a museum. While at the Figge, he has partnered with several area colleges, including St. Ambrose University and Scott Community College in Davenport as well as Western Illinois University in Macomb, Black Hawk College in Moline and Knox College in Galesburg, Ill.
Now moving into a role in a museum located on a university campus, O'Harrow hopes to bring more people to the UIMA and involve more UI students.
"This may sound odd, but I don't want the Museum to necessarily be a different and special place. Instead, I want it to be a regular, routine part of everyone's lives," O'Harrow said. "Art should be seen all the time, and a museum building should be democratic and open to everyone, not just studio art or art history students. All students and residents should be exposed to the wonders of the collection."
When Dr. O'Harrow assumes his position as director of the UIMA on November 15, 2010, he plans to start on his first project, one that is split in two parts. He will begin by making sure the UIMA has a permanent home on the University of Iowa campus which will involve working with federal agencies and government officials. Next, he will work with staff members and other stakeholders to create a plan to achieve all of the goals of the Museum, something he describes as essential to the success of the UIMA.
Dr. O'Harrow knows what it takes to make a museum successful and he has the knowledge and experience necessary to see it happen. A few months from beginning his time as the director of the UIMA, he has already thought about what he wants his legacy to be.
"I want to make the UIMA an integral part of the education at the University of Iowa and have it become an indispensable part of life for the students, the Iowa City community, and those living in the wider region," he said. "I want the UIMA to become a world famous museum; a museum that people will travel far and wide to visit. I guess I like to keep my ambitions modest!"
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-Meghan Centers, Marketing and Media Assistant Mon, 09 Aug 2010 15:30:00 -0500 http://uima.uiowa.edu/dr-sean-o-harrow-is-named-uima-director-2/ UIMA director candidate, Dr. Sean O'Harrow, speaks to museum supporters at public forum http://uima.uiowa.edu/uima-director-candidate-dr-sean-o-harrow-speaks-to-museum-supporters-at-public-forum-2/ <img class="left" src="http://uima.uiowa.edu/assets/Uploads/_resampled/ResizedImage157204-071910sean-o-harrowHIREZcrop.jpg" width="157" height="204" alt="" title="" />Dr. Sean O'Harrow, the second UIMA director candidate to visit the UI campus, said at the age of 18 he had his life goal set: He would become a museum director. In 2007 he realized that dream by becoming the executive director f the Figge Art Museum in Davenport. Dr. O'Harrow, who received a bachelor's degree from Harvard University and a Ph.D. from Cambridge, spoke to museum supporters on Tuesday, July 20 about "Issues for leading University Art Museums in the 21st century."
About 100 people attended the forum where Dr. O'Harrow said one of his top priorities will be establishing a permanent home for the museum, something he believes can be accomplished by using all of the available resources, including state and local government. As the executive director at the Figge Art Museum, he raised around $1 million per year for the museum which previously carried a deficit.
To read more about Dr. O'Harrow and the public forum, read articles in <a href="http://www.dailyiowan.com/2010/07/21/Metro/18068.html">The Daily Iowan</a> and the <a href="http://www.press-citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20107210310">Iowa City Press-Citizen</a>.
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-Meghan Centers, Marketing and Media Assistant Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:30:00 -0500 http://uima.uiowa.edu/uima-director-candidate-dr-sean-o-harrow-speaks-to-museum-supporters-at-public-forum-2/ First UIMA director candidate speaks to museum supporters at public forum http://uima.uiowa.edu/first-uima-director-candidate-speaks-to-museum-supporters-at-public-forum/ <img class="right" src="http://uima.uiowa.edu/assets/Uploads/_resampled/resizedimage199234-Lydecker-Photo-1.jpg" width="199" height="234" alt="" title=""/>Dr. Kent Lydecker, the first UIMA director candidate to visit the UI campus, began a public forum by making a comparison between the depiction of chickens in works by Grant Wood and Parmigianino <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/iowaart/4265952453/in/set-72157623064940033/">(see here, from the recent UIMA exhibition, In the Footsteps of Masters)</a> as a way of demonstrating the importance of an art museum. The former Frederick P. and Sandra P. Rose Associate Director for Education at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York explained that it is within a museum that ideas and conversations come together.
About 100 people attended the forum to hear Dr. Lydecker talk about his goals for the Museum. Coming to the UIMA, "a much bigger place," as he called it in comparison to the Metropolitan Museum, his goal if hired would be authenticity and improved communication with UI academic departments to promote the success of the museum.
The remaining candidates will visit the UI in July. More information on public events during their visits will be posted on the UIMA website, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/UIMuseumofArt">Facebook</a>, and <a href="http://twitter.com/UIMuseumofArt">Twitter</a>.
To read more about Dr. Lydecker and the public forum, read today's articles in <a href="http://www.dailyiowan.com/2010/06/30/Metro/17761.html">The Daily Iowan</a> and the <a href="http://www.press-citizen.com/article/20100630/NEWS01/6300308/UIMA-director-candidate-visits">Iowa City Press-Citizen</a>.
-Meghan Centers, Marketing and Media Intern Wed, 30 Jun 2010 16:00:00 -0500 http://uima.uiowa.edu/first-uima-director-candidate-speaks-to-museum-supporters-at-public-forum/ Video: Graffiti artist Lady Pink paints with UI students http://uima.uiowa.edu/video-graffiti-artist-lady-pink-paints-with-ui-students/ 
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Over three 8-hour days, graffiti artist Lady Pink, UI assistant professor Deborah Whaley, UIMA Preparator Steve Erickson, and seven UI art students completed the 8-by-20-foot mural titled Consensus.
The footage for the video was shot on the second day of work, April 21, 2010. With music playing and spirits high, the team continued painting in the warm weather to create a one-of-a-kind frenzied scene of Iowa imagery in Lady Pink's signature graffiti style.
Consensus was installed in the Iowa Memorial Union's <a href="http://uima.uiowa.edu/black-box-theater/">Black Box Theater</a> as part of the UIMA's exhibition <a href="http://uima.uiowa.edu/two-turntables-and-a-microphone/">Two Turntables and a Microphone: Hip-Hop Contexts featuring Harry Allen's "Part of the Permanent Record: Photos from the Previous Century,"</a> on display through June 27.
—Meghan Centers, UIMA Marketing and Media Intern Wed, 09 Jun 2010 11:30:00 -0500 http://uima.uiowa.edu/video-graffiti-artist-lady-pink-paints-with-ui-students/