News, Stories and Media

A New World: 600 BCE–600 CE invites visitors to step into the daily lives of ancient civilizations and reconsider the meaning of everyday objects. On view September 14–October 9, 2020 in the Anne Brunnier Gallery at the Brunnier Art Museum, the exhibition explores cultures across China, Greece, Rome, Egypt, and the Near East through works from the museum’s permanent collection. Organized by University Museums, the exhibition highlights how objects once used for practical purposes now carry centuries of history, offering insight into innovation, community, and daily life in the ancient world—long before modern technology shaped human experience.

FOCUS: Critical Conversations with Art invites visitors to slow down and look deeply at a single work of art, encouraging thoughtful observation and meaningful dialogue. On view September 14–October 9, 2020 in the Reiman Gallery at the Christian Petersen Art Museum, this exhibition series highlights the power of visual literacy—the ability to interpret and evaluate visual information through careful looking and critical thinking. Organized by University Museums, FOCUS presents one artwork at a time from the permanent collection, fostering reflection, discussion, and deeper connections through art.

Snuff is a form of pulverized tobacco and aromatic spices. Snuff, first introduced by Europeans to the Chinese in the mid to late 16th Century, was stored in airtight containers, often snuff boxes, to preserve its aroma. To prevent daily exposure to the air, the snuff powder was transferred to a small storage jar, a snuff bottle with a dipper or spoon attached to the lid.

A work of art tells many stories—of the artist’s intent, the time and place in which it was created, and the personal interpretations of those who encounter it. Who Am I? invites the community to explore how art reflects identity, memory, and lived experience. Organized by University Museums, the exhibition brings together artist perspectives alongside responses from the Iowa State community, creating space for dialogue about meaning, connection, and the evolving role of art in a changing world. On view August 17–November 25, 2020 at the Christian Petersen Art Museum, the exhibition highlights the power of art to build understanding and strengthen community through shared and individual stories.

The Farm House Museum is home to many unique and curious objects from the Victorian Era, but one of my absolute favorite items in the collection are two wooden display cabinets of taxidermy animals. I grew up exploring natural history museums at a young age and eventually became a taxidermist during my college years (of the avian study skin variety). I am drawn to these display cases for their delicate execution and how well they have been preserved, considering that they are well over 150 years old. But why does the Farm House Museum have these displays? As with most objects in our collection, there’s a story about how it got here and I am excited to share with you the story behind our display cases and the origins of Victorian taxidermy.

Fairs and Expositions were wildly popular attractions and extremely costly to create. Though the first major fairs were in Europe, the trend quickly moved to the U.S.

Can you name a single botanist? You probably know at least one, but if you’re stumped for an answer, I’m pleased to introduce you to George Washington Carver (c. 1861-1943). Born into slavery, Carver was an extraordinary American scientist whose contributions have profoundly impacted the world. He was best-known for his work as an inventor and innovator for agricultural products particularly for peanuts, soybeans, and sweet potatoes. The ways in which Carver introduced and implemented these agricultural products contributed to rural economic improvement, particularly for black farmers, and soil health during the nineteenth and twentieth century. I would also like to add genius, artist, and Iowa State’s very first African American student, graduate, and faculty member to this list of descriptions of Carver.

Pieced together, one section of fabric at a time, quilts tell stories through patterns, or in some cases, a purposeful absence of pattern. The geometry of quilt-work explores current events, biblical stories, memories, family, nature and so much more. Though makers often go unrecognized, and quilt-making is often passed over as merely a women’s craft, much can be learned by studying quilts and quilt-making, as it was one of the most significant forms of creative expression available to American women during the Civil War and Victorian eras.