08/31/16

AMES, Iowa — An exhibition at Iowa State University’s Brunnier Art Museum showcases inspiration and collaboration in the creative process. “Inspired By… Faculty Responses to the Permanent Collection” is on display Aug. 23, 2016, through Jan. 6, 2017.

ISU Art and Visual Culture Professor Chris Martin initially proposed the project and worked with University Museums Assistant Curator Adrienne Gennett to bring it to life. Twelve studio faculty members from the Department of Art and Visual Culture each selected an object from the museums’ permanent collection and used it as a source of inspiration in creating a new piece of artwork. Two of the artists chose to collaborate with colleagues in other departments on campus in their responses.

Both the original sources of inspiration and the newly created pieces are in the exhibition. This juxtaposition “opens up a discussion about how art can be perceived and the nature of inspiration” as well as provides a “way to show both the depth of the collection and also how examining the past and the history of art found within the collection can challenge, inspire and inform an artist to create their own exceptional works of art,” Gennett said.

BAM Happy Hour
In a “happy hour” event from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2, artists and collaborators who contributed to “Inspired By…” will be present to talk about their involvement and creative partnerships. Admission is free, although donations to support the museum are accepted. There will be a cash bar.

Additional events in September and October will highlight specific works and collaborations in the show.

Participating faculty
Art and visual culture studio faculty members with work in the exhibition include Professors Brenda Jones, Ingrid Lilligren, Chris Martin, Joe Muench and Chuck Richards; Associate Professors Cindy Gould, Brent Holland and Barbara Walton; Assistant Professors Christine Carr and Kim Moss; and Lecturers Celinda Stamy and Paula Streeter.

Collaborating faculty include Barbara Haas, associate professor of English, who wrote short narratives responding to the same object (an articulated wooden doll) as Streeter did as well as to the 11 works Streeter created; and Eulanda Sanders, the Donna R. Danielson Professor of Textiles and Clothing in apparel, merchandising and design, who worked with Gould to produce their joint project, a head piece and strapless dress inspired by Robert Hillestad’s “Celebration Coat #41.” View list of artists and artworks

Art and Visual Culture Associate Professors John Cunnally and April Eisman and Assistant Professor Emily Morgan provided art historical interpretations of some of the works (both newly created and from the permanent collection) included in the show.

With this project, University Museums seeks to “further solidify the strong ties between the art and visual culture faculty and University Museums and inspire other departments to join in these types of collaborations in the future, where the permanent collection can be used to explore various aspects of history, culture and as inspiration in their own studies and curriculum,” Gennett said.

Contacts:
Adrienne Gennett, University Museums, (515) 294-3342, agennett@iastate.edu
Paige Adams, Design Communications, psadams@iastate.edu
Heather Sauer, Design Communications, (515) 294-9289, hsauer@iastate.edu

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