In Their Time

Brunnier Art Museum
August 27–December 20, 2024

At times throughout history, museums have been seen as static, unchanging, and out of sync with popular taste and fashion. This generalization is often located in the belief that art or history museums that aim to exhibit the past do not always make room for changing ideas. Yet contemporary art or cultural museums are also assaulted with similar accusations, which can come out of very understandable circumstances and reasons due to current worldwide sociopolitical situations.

In Their Time is an exhibition that takes a hard look at those questions within University Museums collections and aims to lift the veil from museum work. What does it mean to be an art institution on the brink of its 50^th anniversary? How did the collection come into existence? What has changed in the last 50 years due to taste, society, and popular thought? How do the Museums deal with the problematic objects housed within the collections? Why do the Museums continue to care and conserve certain objects, yet not others? Who are the donors that have made this 50-year history possible? What is the future of museums and how does a university museum fit into these new conversations about the role of museums?

Spun out of an idea to take a hard look at those objects in the collection that have lost favor in the eyes of popular taste, this exhibition is an opportunity to engage University Museums curators with Iowa State University faculty and students to ask those difficult questions and engage in a meaningful dialogue about the future of museums.

Learn More

Read about the exhibition themes and the questions raised. Themes include: Taste & Time, Care & Conservation, Cultural Context, Collecting Over Time, Resources & Donors, and Trade & Provenance.

Read About Themes

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.

Coming soon!

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 and organized by University Museums. Support was given by John F. and Nancy J. Wiederspan and University Museums Membership.

Images: All objects in the permanent collection, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.