AMES, Iowa — An exhibition exploring “the open-ended nature of dualism and how it can be interpreted” is on display through Friday, July 1, at the Iowa State University Design on Main Gallery, 203 Main St. in downtown Ames.

“Dualism” features work by six artists—ranging from sound installation and interactive three-dimensional poems to ceramics, furniture, painting and photography—that “explores similarities and differences seen in the world around us,” said Glenn Terpstra, Bloomington, Minnesota, an Iowa State graduate student in integrated visual arts who organized and has work in the show.

Gallery hours are 2 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. A public reception will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today, June 24.

Featured artists
In addition to Terpstra, who is exhibiting paintings and doing a live drawing demonstration throughout the exhibition, artists include:

  • Robert Hagen, River Falls, Wisconsin, recording artist and sound designer – sound installation of outside and inside, city and night
  • Laura Huisinga, Cedar Rapids, doctoral candidate in human computer interaction at Iowa State who received a Master of Fine Arts in graphic design in May – interactive photo series of three images of abandoned places
  • Matt Obbink, Ames, graduate student in integrated visual arts – two benches
  • Patricia A. Quinn, Rochester, New York, author – interactive mixed-media poetry series
  • Sophia Wermers, Elizabeth, Colorado, graduate student in integrated visual arts – six ceramic pieces in three series and a collaborative interactive piece created with Terpstra that uses mouse traps to represent the various “traps” present in traditional gender roles

“I chose dualism for the theme of this show as so much of what we are seeing in the news and on social media is polarized opposites. There are spectrums of interpretation, experience and life that exist between two points that are not being discussed,” Terpstra said.

“I wanted to give artists a place to explore opposites they have observed in order to better understand the space between black and white, yes and no, male and female.”

An extension of Iowa State’s College of Design, Design on Main seeks to strengthen creative connections between the university and the community through arts education, artist-led projects and interactive events. Exhibitions and events are free and open to the public.

Contacts:
Glenn Terpstra, Integrated Visual Arts, (715) 864-4771, gterp@iastate.edu
Jennifer Drinkwater, Design on Main Gallery, (515) 708-2825, jd1@iastate.edu
Heather Sauer, Design Communications, (515) 294-9289, hsauer@iastate.edu