Develop a better understanding of Iowa artist Rose Frantzen’s body of work in Perceptions of Identity exhibition
AMES, IOWA - January 20, 2021 Perceptions of Identity: Paintings by Rose Frantzen, a solo exhibition of nationally-recognized Iowa artist Rose Frantzen opens January 25 at the Christian Petersen Art Museum. This exhibition includes works of art selected from the University Museums’ Permanent Collection and on loan from the artist.
Perceptions of Identity aims to help visitors develop a better understanding of Rose Frantzen’s body of work. Frantzen’s portraits, whether they are commissioned projects for Iowa State or studio explorations of her subjects, continuously explore identity. Paintings from her In the Faces of Illusion series open a conversation between the represented subject and optical illusions, to address perceptions of identity.
One of the portraits included in the exhibition is of retired department chair of Entomology and National Resources Ecology Management Sue Blodgett. Blodgett sat for the portrait in 2019 for Rose to develop initial sketches.
“[Rose] was very determined to capture an essence and express a feeling of who I was in the portrait,” Blodgett said. “It goes far beyond a resemblance, but portrays me as I think I must have appear to students, staff, and faculty.”
After the exhibition, Blodgett’s portrait will be permanently installed the Science 2 Building.
Frantzen will also add six new portraits to the Faces of Iowa State series during the first week in March. She will be a temporary artist-in-residence at the Christian Petersen Art Museum and there will be a livestream webcam available during the hours she is painting. Details and times will be posted on the University Museums’ website and social media closer to the event dates.
Perceptions of Identity: Paintings by Rose Frantzen opens on Monday, January 25, 2021 and runs through July 30, 2021 in the Campbell Gallery of the Christian Petersen Art Museum, located at 1017 Morrill Hall on the Iowa State University campus, 603 Morrill Road. The museum is open Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; closed weekends, holidays and University breaks. Admission is free, with a recommended donation of $8.
About Artist Rose Frantzen
Rose Frantzen was born and raised in Maquoketa, Iowa, where she later returned as an adult and continues to live. The rural lifestyle and landscape provide constant inspiration for her paintings. She attended the American Academy of Art in Chicago, the Palette & Chisel Academy in Chicago, and the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts in Old Lyme, CT. She recently placed in the top five of the Portrait Society of America’s International Portrait Competition.
Her paintings can be seen in several locations across campus including the 41 Faces of Iowa State portraits installed in the University Library; Do You Know What’s Inside This Flower?, the dual portrait of George Washington Carver and Henry Wallace in Curtiss Hall; Rhythms - Bean Fields at Sunset in the Advanced Teaching & Research Building; the portrait of Sarah Rajala, former dean of the College of Engineering in Marston Hall; and Ivy College of Business Dean David Spalding’s portrait. Rose is currently working on a mural installation for the Gerdin Business Building that will be installed in early March. Some of these paintings will be featured in the exhibition Perceptions of Identity.
Christian Petersen Art Museum
Hours: Monday - Friday 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM Closed weekends, University holidays and University breaks
Address: 1017 Morrill Hall, 603 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa
Admission: The cost is free, however there is a suggested donation of $8
IMAGE ABOVE: Waves of Misperception Migrating, 2017 by Rose Frantzen. Oil on linen. On loan from the artist.
Exhibition Programs
Similar to ISU classes, University Museums will be offering a hybrid schedule of online and in-person educational programs through July 2021. Virtual programs can be viewed on the University Museums YouTube Channel. For webinar and in-person programs, please register in advance on the University Museums’ website. Due to COVID-19 guidelines, in-person programs will have a limited number of seats available for reservation on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Masks are required for all program attendees per Iowa State University policy. Seating will be placed 6 feet apart and we kindly ask that all attendees respect physical distancing. Chairs will be cleaned both before and after the program. Hand sanitizers will be available at the entrance to each museum.
Faces of Iowa State “Portrait Cam” Livestream - Wednesday, March 3
VIRTUAL PROGRAM: Get a behind the scenes look at the painting process of Rose Frantzen, as she paints new portraits for her public art installation Faces of Iowa State. Livestream times will be posted on University Museums’ website and social media channels on March 1.
Artist Talk: Rose Frantzen - Thursday, March 4, 4:30 to 6 p.m.
IN-PERSON PROGRAM: Kingland Hub, 1450 Gerdin Business Building
In conjunction with the exhibition and her new public art installation at the Gerdin Business Building, artist Rose Frantzen will give a talk on her recent studio and public artworks.
University Museums cannot guarantee an environment free of the risk of transmission of COVID-19. Visiting University Museums includes possible exposure to and serious illness from infectious diseases including but not limited to COVID-19. Visit at your own risk. University Museums does recognize the possibility of an additional outbreak and that things may change. The University Museums and ISU emergency teams will monitor this closely and facilities may have to close again. University Museums may make very quick decisions on shutdowns or cancellations due to capacity concerns, health precautions, staffing and occupancy-related considerations.
Major support for Perceptions of Identity: Paintings by Rose Frantzen is provided by the Debbie and Jerry Ivy College of Business. Additional support is generously provided by Avis Lovell Andre, Vickie and Norman Hill, Robert and Nancy Lindemeyer, and Cynthia and John Paschen, MD.