Posted on June 28, 2020 at 3:00 PM by Adrienne Gennett
When we installed the exhibition Creating Global Understanding: World Languages and Cultures and University Museums in early January of this year, we were just beginning to hear of a devasting new virus affecting China. Little did we realize that the years of planning and work by myself and Dr. Michèle Schaal would unfortunately end in having to close the exhibition in Mid-March, much too early. In several previous posts Allison Sheridan, Collections Manager, and I have had the opportunity to try and virtually extend the exhibition by sharing both our and faculty interpretations from the exhibition, along with images of the art that was on exhibit. It certainly is not the same as seeing the art in person. Viewing art is a unique experience that while we cannot completely replace, we have made the best of a terrible situation by experimenting with new virtual tours, talks, and more. We are all learning new skills of being on camera, working the camera (luckily not me!), editing videos, and developing educational content that can easily transition to online formats. Many of these new digital formats are wonderful additions to what University Museums already does and will continue long after the virus disappears. But again, it can never completely replace seeing a work of art in person.
For this final post about the Creating Global Understanding exhibition, I wanted to say a final “THANK YOU!” to my co-curator Dr. Michèle Schaal; to each faculty member in WLC who took the time to write a thoughtful interpretation; to the wonderful donors who gave generously to the exhibition; to the rest of the University Museums staff who helped to install, promote, and teach with the exhibition; and to the visitors who were able to see the exhibition before it closed and have continued to engage with it virtually. It has already been taken down and this week a new permanent collection exhibition installed in its place, ready to welcome everyone back to campus with a physically spaced-out installation to promote appropriate social distancing. The gallery guide created to accompany the exhibition lives on though, with printed copies still available and now a downloadable version. Each work of art and interpretation is included in the guide and it will continue to be a wonderful tool for students, faculty, and staff at Iowa State.
Enjoy images of a group of objects from Creating Global Understanding that we didn’t have a chance to write posts about and, if you want to read the interpretations or learn more, the gallery guide is available!
INSET IMAGE: Ibis, 800 BCE, Egyptian. Wood, bronze, gesso, and remains of gilding. Gift of Ann and Henry Brunnier. In the Ann and Henry Brunnier Collection, Brunnier Art Museum, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. 5.1.2ab
ABOVE LEFT: Ghost Dancer, From the Ghost Dancer Series, 1981, Jaune Quick-to-See Smith,(American; Confederated Salish and Kootenai Nation, b.1940). Pastel on paper. Gift of the artist, in honor of Helen Schuster and John Weinkein, faculty members at Iowa State University. In the permanent collection, Brunnier Art Museum, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. UM82.8
ABOVE RIGHT: Symphonion Disc Box #252424, 1895–1905, Symphonion Musikwerks (German, 1885–1930). Wood, glass, metal, paper. Gift of Donald E. Larew to the Farm House Museum. In the Farm House Museum Collection, Farm House Museum, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. UM2011.431
ABOVE LEFT: Homenaje a Selena, 2000, Anita Rodriguez (Hispanic-American, b. 1941). Lithograph. Gift of Diane Greenlee for the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women in Politics. In the Art on Campus Collection, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. U2003.33
ABOVE RIGHT: Saint John the Baptist Preaching, 1962, Auguste Rodin (French, 1840–1917). Foundry: Georges Rudier Foundry (French, founded 1952). Bronze. Gift of the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation. In the Art on Campus Collection, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. U2009.13
View and download the Gallery Guide
Creating Global Understanding: World Languages and Cultures and University Museums