Brunnier Art Museum
January 21 – July 27, 2025
For over 50 years Josh Simpson has been making functional and extraordinary aesthetic glass works of art. Simpson’s interests in art, the natural world, technology, space and sea combine to create objects that invite and demand contemplation by the viewer, exploring his visions of this earth-bound world as well as other worldly places.
Simpson has been called a Renaissance Man for his nearly encyclopedic knowledge of glassmaking techniques that date over two thousand years and for inventing contemporary processes and tools to create his unique visionary expressions.
To commemorate the University Museums’ 25th Anniversary in 2000, Simpson was commissioned to create Megaplanet which became an iconic work of art for all of Iowa State and expressed the University Museums’ desire to be at the crossroads of art, science and technology. For them University Museums’ 50th Anniversary Simpson once again was commissioned to create a signature object to add to the permanent collection, resulting in a suite of eleven Interstellar Disks, which are presented in this exhibition along with earlier works of art.
Exhibition Programs
Find full descriptions of programs on the University Museums Calendar. All programs are free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged but not required. Click the event title for more information and/or to register. Events listed below will be at the Brunnier Art Museum (1805 Center Dr., 295 Scheman Building, Ames, Iowa) unless otherwise noted. Times are in Central Standard Time (CST). Programs are subject to change. Check the University Museums Calendar and Facebook page for the latest events information.
Lecture and Reception with glass artist Josh Simpson & retired NASA astronaut Cady Coleman
March 9, 2025, 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM (US Central)
Location: Brunnier Art Museum, 295 Scheman Building
Renowned glass artist Josh Simpson and retired NASA Astronaut Cady Coleman will discuss their lives in art and science together and how they have influenced each other throughout their careers. After the lecture they will be available to sign copies of their books which can be purchased on site. Enjoy light refreshments and conversation at a reception to follow.
Lecture at 2:00pm and reception at 3:00pm.
Visit the Brunnier Art Museum
Hours:
Tuesday–Friday, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday, 1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Closed to the public Mondays. ISU curriculum tours may be scheduled on these days with a 2-week notice.
Closed University Holidays
Click here to see when the museums are closed.
Address: Scheman Building (2nd Floor), 1805 Center Drive, Ames, Iowa
Admission: The cost is free; however, there is a suggested donation of $8.
This exhibition is curated by University Museums with support from Marcia and Jim Borel, Lynn and Paul Hempe, Beverly and Warren Madden and University Museums Membership. New acquisitions to the permanent collection were generously funded by Arthur Klein for Interstellar Disks, and MegaVase funded by Dorothy and Robert Rust.