Dubuque Citywide High School Art Exhibition

April 13 - May 9, 2010

Examples of high school students’ work from both public and parochial schools in Dubuque were showcased in the Falb and McNamer Galleries.  The Dubuque Museum of Art presents student exhibitions every other year, alternating between art students in high school and students in all grades (K–12).  Students assist with the exhibition installation.  This exhibition was dedicated to the memory of our friend, Deidre Westpfahl, an art student from Hempstead High School who had been attending the Minneapolis Institute of Art & Design when she was diagnosed with cancer in 2007.

Arthur Geisert’s Oops

September 10, 2009 - April 5, 2010

Organized by Dubuque Museum of Art

Once again, the Museum was pleased to present original, hand-colored etching illustrations by Arthur Geisert from one of his recent children’s books, Oops! published in 2006 by Houghton Mifflin.  This wordless book tells the story of cause and effect as a family of pigs starts off innocently one morning eating breakfast when a glass of spilled milk causes a chain reaction of events that eventually leads to a giant boulder falling on the house, leaving the family without a house but with each other.

Though born and educated in California, Arthur has lived in the mid-west for the majority of his artistic career – in Galena, Illinois and now in Bernard, Iowa.  Geisert has illustrated 22 children’s books for which he has received numerous awards including one bestowed by the NY Times for Best Illustrated Book.  His humorous cartoons (for adults), also appear in the New Yorker magazine.

Image: Arthur Geisert, Oops, p. 3, 2006, hand-colored, copper plate etching on BFK Rives paper

Quiet Courage: Images of Women from The North American Indian by Edward S. Curtis

December 8, 2009 - March 28, 2010

Organized by Dubuque Museum of Art

Images of women in Curtis's masterful collection express strength and character.  Women were photographed going about the plethora of daily activities that kept everyone fed, clean, and cared for, including gathering food and firewood, cleaning game, cooking, fetching water, and caring for their children - not to mention home repairs when needed!  They also posed for Curtis wearing everything from their most elegant wedding attire to plain work clothes.

Image: Edward S. Curtis (American, 1868-1952), A Heavy Load-Sioux, 1908, volume 3, plate 100, Photogravure on Dutch Van Gelder paper, 15 11/16 x 11 3/4 in. (image), Gift of the Dubuque Cultural Preservation Committe, 2009.11.100

Larry Schulte: Pattern and Order

December 8, 2009 - March 28, 2010

Organized by Dubuque Museum of Art

New York-based textile artist, Larry Schulte brought his unique pattern-focused artwork to the Tri-States.  Larry is originally from Nebraska and has a mathematics background - he was a math professor before becoming an artist.  Mathematical phenomenon like the Fibonacci Sequence (a mathematical sequence of numbers found throughtout nature where the next number in the sequence is the sum of the two numbers preceding it) influences the order found in his paintings.

Image: Larry Schulte (b. 1949), HOTTS 42395, 1995, woven painted paper, 34x34 in., collection of the artist

John Vachon and the Great Depression in Dubuque

September 10 - February 21, 2010

Organized by Dubuque Museum of Art

Working as a photography file clerk for the Farm Security Administration in 1936, Minnesotan John Vachon came under the spell of some of the finest photographers in the country who were hired by the government during the Great Depression years to document the lives of rural Americans.  As part of his assignments, Vachon came to Dubuque in April 1940.  His Dubuque series is part of the Museum’s permanent collection thanks to the generosity of Bill and Barbara Kruse.

The hallmark of Vachon’s style of photography is the portrayal of real people and places encountered on the street, unembellished by air brushing, staging, or other beautifying devices.  Vachon became a staff photographer for Life magazine, where he worked from 1947 to 1949, and for over twenty-five years beginning in 1947 at Look magazine. When Look closed in 1971 he became a freelance photographer.  He died in 1975 in New York at age 60.

Image: John Vachon, Resident of Shack Town, 1940, b/w photograph, Gift of William G. & Barbara Kruse, 00.08.40

A Passion for Color: American Women Printmakers, 1895-1965

August 18 - November 8, 2009

Sponsored by Loras College

Innovations by women printmakers contributed significantly to all phases of the development of color printmaking techniques in America during the first half of the twentieth century. From Mary Cassatt’s early experiments in color intaglio to June Wayne’s lasting legacy in lithography, we see that women fueled much of the development in this field. This exhibition of sixty prints, in cooperation with Loras College,  surveyed these achievements through the works of more than fifty American women artists over a period of seventy years from the collection of Belverd and Marian Needles.

Image: Mary Cassatt, By the Pond, c.1898, Color etching on paper, Image: 13x16.75 in.

Bissells: A Family of Artists

September 8 – November 8, 2009

Organized by Dubuque Museum of Art

One of Dubuque’s first families of artists, this exhibition was a mix of contemporary and earlier artwork from the Frederick Bissell Jr. family, exploring their shared artistic talents and love of nostalgia.  Works from Frederick, his wife Susan Adams-Bissell, sons John and Fred, and daughter Susie Bissell-Mansfield were presented.  Frederick Bissell (1910-1983) taught history at his alma mater Harvard from 1933-1937 and was employed at Caradco for 30 years.  He enjoyed painting in his spare time and always encouraged his children in art.  Susan Adams-Bissell (1906-1999) had little formal training as an artist; however she attended the Stone City art colony under the tutelage of Iowa Regionalist artists Grant Wood and Marvin Cone.  She developed her innate artistic talent by painting scenes from her many travels in the states and abroad, and by copying images by master artists that she found in magazines.  She also enjoyed holding painting and sculpting classes at the family home on Alpine Street.  John Bissell was born in 1938 and received degrees from the Kansas City Art Institute and the University of Iowa.  He worked in graphic design for 16 years and has been a successful, full-time artist in Dubuque since 1984, where he holds a much anticipated invitation-only sale of his paintings every year.  Fred Bissell (b. 1940) only dabbled in the visual arts, like his father, and yet he too exhibited artistic talent.  He lives in Dubuque and owns Alpine Tennis and Fitness.  Susie Bissell-Mansfield was born in 1942 and has a studio in Norwood, Colorado where she works as a full-time artist.  Like her mother, she received no formal training in art. However, growing up in a family that encouraged artistic endeavors and attending painting and sculpting workshops throughout her childhood and as an adult, Mansfield is also a successful artist.

Image: John Bissell, Dubuque Brewing and Malting Company, 2009, Watercolor

Arthur Geisert's Prairie Town

June 2 - September 6, 2009

Organized by Dubuque Museum of Art

One of a series of four books illustrated by master printmaker, Arthur Geisert, with text by Bonnie Geisert exploring the life in four fictional but very familiar small towns.  Mountain Town, River Town, Desert Town, and Prairie Town show the daily lives of the residents in these small towns throughout the year as they deal with the unique climate and geography of their areas and enjoy the company of their neighbors.

Small Wonders: Still Life Paintings by Joseph Walter

May 15 - September 6, 2009

Organized by Dubuque Museum of Art

Continuing our series of mini exhibitions of work by one of the earliest Dubuque artists, Joseph Walter (Austria 1865 - Dubuque 1946), the museum is proud to present this final exhibition leading up to a retrospective next year.  Walter's beautiful still life paintings will be featured.  They are some of this talented artist's best works.

Event Horizon: 4D Paintings by Ben Marxen

June 16 - August 23, 2009

Organized by Dubuque Museum of Art

The process of painting was examined and brought to life in 10 new works by artist, Ben Marxen.  Video forms combined with traditional painting which in turn combined seemlessly with a 3-D sculptural continuation of the form into the viewers space.  These combinations of forms created a living work of art that generated before your eyes and figuratively jumped off the wall.  Originally from Dubuque, Marxen lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.

VOICES: Contemporary Ceramic Art from Sweden

June 16 - August 2, 2009

Developed by the Swedish Institute and organized for tour by International Arts & Artists, Washington, DC.

Not to be confused with Voices from the Warehouse District, this traveling exhibition presented the current trends in Swedish ceramics.  The ten working artists featured in Voices were the leading exponents of the dynamism and originality of contemporary ceramic art in Sweden. Viewed together, they enabled us to discern uniqueness in the contemporary development of Swedish ceramics. The artists, chosen by curator Inger Molin, were selected from different generations.  They work in varying styles and are free in their relationship to traditional ceramic art to seek new directions and emphasize freedom of expression.
The artists used a wide array of media including clay, glass, rope, glaze and metal. However, no longer is it the material that is of utmost importance, but instead the point of view of the ceramic artist. The artists work sculpturally and conceptually, addressing existential issues with humor or abstraction.

Inger Molin, has owned and operated Galleri IngerMolin, located in the Östermalm district in Stockholm since 1998.

Biennial Juried Exhibition

March 17 - May 24, 2009

Organized by Dubuque Museum of Art

The second Dubuque Museum of Art Biennial Juried Exhibition featured the best work of the some of the most talented artists in a 200 mile radius of Dubuque.  The quality and variety of regional artwork is the highlight of this popular exhibition.  This year’s juror was Michael Gerber, curator and owner of Gruen Galleries located in Chicago’s River North gallery district. Gruen, a fixture among Chicago galleries, specializes in contemporary art and African sculpture.

The artists included in the 2009 Biennial were:

Heather L. O'Neil - Dubuque, IA....1ST PLACE AWARD

Fred Easker - Cedar Rapids, IA....2ND PLACE AWARD

Jessica Rebik - Dubuque, IA....3RD PLACE AWARD

Stephen Gassman - Platteville, WI....HONORABLE MENTION AWARD

Jenny Harms - Dubuque, IA....HONORABLE MENTION AWARD

Michelle Rial - Serena, IL....HONORABLE MENTION AWARD

John F. Walté - Highland, WI....HONORABLE MENTION AWARD

Helen Anderson - Lancaster, WI; Bekah Ash - Iowa City, IA

Marcia Babler - Libertyville, IL; Maureen Bardusk - Galena, IL

Mary Snyder Behrens - Dysart, IA; Beth Bird - Galena, IL

Tam Bodkin Bryk - Iowa City, IA; Cynthia Nelms-Byrne - Dubuque, IA

Erin Lenore Cowan - Stockton, IL; Velga Easker - Cedar Rapids, IA

Stephanie Failmezger - Peosta, IA; Alison Filley - Iowa City, IA

Delores Fortuna - Galena, IL; Jewel Gwaltney - Quincy, IL

Debbie Horch - Dubuque, IA; Raphael Iaccarino - Davenport, IA

Karen Kurka Jensen - Cedar Rapids, IA; Megan Kalmes - Bellevue, IA

Alda Kaufman - Dubuque, IA; Gordon Kellenberger - Amana, IA

Jenny Knavel - Sleepy Hollow, IL; Keith Lemley - Madison, WI

Susan Long - Bettendorf, IA; Pauline Maloney - Dubuque, IA

Harold Martin - Galena, IL; Dawn Wohlford-Metallo - Bettendorf, IA

Nikolaus Miesing - Galena, IL; Bret Miller - Waterloo, IA

Robert D. Peterson - Cedar Rapids, IA; Mary Phelan - Chicago, IL

Nancy Reid - Gilberts, IL; Tom Sheppard - Decorah, IA

S. Richard Shook - Slater, IA; Steve Sinner - Bettendorf, IA

Corrine Smith - Rock Island, IL; Delmar M. Stevens - Peosta, IA

Thomas Jewell-Vitale - Dubuque, IA; Marcia Wegman - Iowa City, IA

Rose Ann Wilgenbusch - Dubuque, IA

New Views: Frederick Jones, James Walker Henry, and Kent Hammond

March 3 - May 24, 2009

Organized by Dubuque Museum of Art

In this exhibition, New Views: Frederick Jones, James Walker Henry, and Kent Hammond, three contemporary artists presented new views from today’s art world with a visually stimulating mix of abstraction, surrealism, and originality.  Each artist presented a new way of looking at and understanding the world around us.

Three digital photography collages by Frederick Jones explored the inevitable passing of time and the cycle of life through observations of nature.  His studies of time are intriguing and profound, using familiar objects like trees, cornfields, and dandelions in place of calendars and clocks.  Among his many educational accomplishments, Jones received his Master of Fine Arts from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.  He is retired from teaching at Western Illinois University where he developed the Silkscreen and Computer Generated Art programs.   He lives in Macomb, Illinois.

James Walker Henry paints Surrealist images full of intense color and compelling imagery.  He selects current political and social events that affect him personally and emotionally to inspire his work and is, therefore, never at a loss for subject matter.  His colorful, fantastical scenes momentarily camouflage powerful undertones of disenchantment and despair.  Henry graduated from Southeastern Community College.  He lives in Burlington, Iowa.

Kent Hammond is originally from Dubuque, Iowa - a graduate of Hempstead High School.  Now living in Los Angeles, his large abstracts provide a glimpse into the dynamic, contemporary west coast art scene.  He creates self-governing spaces that encourage “looking, thinking, and evaluating.”  Of his paintings, he writes “[t]hey are inquisitive yet timid, clumsy yet magnificent, calculated yet informal.”  Hammond graduated from the University of Iowa and received his MFA from Claremont College in California.  He is currently on the faculty at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising and maintains a studio in Los Angeles.

Mauricio Lasansky: Prints from the Collection

December 5, 2008 - May 10, 2009

Organized by Dubuque Museum of Art

We were pleased to present this small exhibition of prints by Mr. Lasansky from the Museum’s collection that includes prime examples of the artist's signature style, composition, and themes - the riveting series of four intaglios For An Eye An Eye I-IV (1946-48); My Daughter Marie Jemina (1959), a sweetly rendered, larger-than-life size print; and two portraits, Self Portrait (1957) and Old Lady with Bonnet (1969). 

A native of Argentina, Lasansky was a naturalized American citizen by 1952.  He was invited to establish a print workshop at the University of Iowa School of Art and Art History in 1945, which still serves as a model for other university printmaking departments.  He is best known for his complex, large-scale prints on which he applied a spectrum of masterful graphic techniques, using multiple plates and full ranges of color.  Awarded five Guggenheim Fellowships over his lifetime, as well as numerous honorary degrees and exhibition awards, Lasansky has devoted his career to exploring the expressive possibilities of graphic art; contributing significantly to establishing printmaking as a meaningful and critical art form in the 20th century.  Mr. Lasansky retired from the University of Iowa in 1985.  He and his wife Emilia raised six children in Iowa City.  They live there today and Lasansky continues to create new work in his downtown Iowa City studio.

Image: Mauricio Lasansky (Argentina, b. 1914), My Daughter Maria Jimena, 1959, color intaglio, 58 3/16 x 20 9/16 inches, ND.229

Warrior and Rider: Selections from The North American Indian by Edward S. Curtis

November 28, 2008 - March 1, 2009

Organized by Dubuque Museum of Art, sponsored by a grant from the Henry Family Foundation

Dubuque’s copy of The North American Indian collection by Edward S. Curtis, given to the library in 1909 by Mrs. Hiram Pond Ward, includes 20 volumes of encyclopedic text and photographs documenting traditional Indian life, tribal lore, history, traditional foods, housing, garments, recreation ceremonies and funeral customs.  In total he took over 40,000 photographic images of over 80 tribes.  Additionally, the collection includes 722 sepia- toned, large-format photogravure prints.  Only 272 complete sets were sold of 300 sets printed.

In 1999, the collection of photogravures was loaned to the Museum from the library for exhibition and better long-term storage conditions.  In October, a local group, Dubuque Cultural Preservation Committee, purchased the entire Curtis collection ensuring that the collection will remain in Dubuque for the community to continue to enjoy.

Warrior and Rider, featured the horse and its importance to Native American life.  From work to play to battle, the horse was an integral and indispensable part of many Native American tribes.  Curtis took these photographs between 1895 and 1928, recreating beautiful and moving images from a time long past.  Two of the books were also on view, Volumes 4 and 8, showing additional horse-themed image and text.

Edward S. Curtis was born near Whitewater, Wisconsin in 1868.  In 1874, his family moved from Wisconsin to Minnesota and Curtis built his own camera from parts his father brought home from the Civil War.  At the age of 17, he became apprenticed to a St. Paul photographer and at 19 became a partner with a photographer in a Seattle studio.  Curtis died of a heart attack in 1952 at the home of his daughter Beth in Los Angeles.

Lyrical Prints and Paintings by Arthur Thrall

November 28, 2008 - February 15, 2009

Organized by Dubuque Museum of Art

Mr. Thrall explores the relationship between visual art and music in his extraordinary paintings and etchings.  He is inspired by music, musical scores, and rhythmic patterns in his graceful abstract designs.

Mr. Thrall received undergraduate and graduate degrees at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (Milwaukee State Teachers College), University of Illinois-Urbana, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Ohio State University.  After holding teaching positions outside the area, he returned to Milwaukee-Downer College as a professor of art.  Following the college's merger with Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin Thrall held the Ferrar-Marrs Chair in Fine Arts until his retirement in 1990.  Thrall now live in his native Milwaukee where he has a studio in Riverwest.  He and his wife Win have four children and seven grandchildren.

Image: Arthur Thrall, Galaxy I, acrylic on canvas, 2007, 24x28 in., private collection.

Abdul Sinno: The Mississippi – Inspiring Panoramas of Dubuque and the Tri-State Area

Organized by Dubuque Museum of Art

An amuse bouche of panoramic Dubuque area images from Dr. Abdul Sinno’s sweeping collection of images along the Mississippi River were featured on the second floor balcony area.  For the past several years, Dr. Sinno has been photographing scenes of Dubuque, the Mississippi and towns along its path.

Dr. Sinno’s work is exhibited in art galleries, museums, and other fine art outlets throughout the Midwest. He is a featured motivational speaker, author, and workshop leader.  Dr. Sinno holds a Ph.D. in mass communication from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.  Currently he is a full professor of communication and the chair of the department at Clarke College, Dubuque, IA.

Image: Abdul Sinno, The Mississippi Highway, Fall 2006, panoramic photograph, 13x43 in., Collection of the artist.

Joseph Walter: Portraits

September 2 - November 30, 2008

Organized by Dubuque Museum of Art

This exhibition continued the exploration of the work of this little-known but highly skilled and classically trained Dubuque artist from the early 20th century.  Walter made his living creating religious murals and paintings in churches in Dubuque and many surrounding communities.  However, he spent his free time creating beautiful masterpieces of the landscapes, people, and still-life scenes around him and that he found on his travels throughout the upper Midwest.  These exhibitions are organized with the cooperation of Dubuque's Friends of Joseph Walter group.  Eleven portraits were on display including the artist's self-portrait, portraits of his son and daughter, and three portraits that are strongly assumed to be of the three Herrmann brothers from Dubuque.

Joseph Walter (American, b. Austria, 1865-1946), Portrait of Marie Walter (detail), c. 1908, oil on canvas, 20x16 in., Gift of Dr. Darryl & Terry Mozena, 2007.12.28

2008 Annual Holiday Party and Art Auction

Friday, November 21, 2008

beginning at 6:00 p.m.

The largest and best selection ever of original artwork from local and regional artists supporting the Museum was the main attraction of the auction.  Thank you to participating artists: Maureen Bardusk, John Anderson-Bricker, Amethyst Barron, Mary Beck, Beth Bird, John Bissell, Jennifer Braig, Gail Chavenelle,  Charles Cunliffe Jr., Odra Carney Eberhardt, Jim Ehlinger, Bill Farrell, Delores Fortuna, Stephen Gassman, Arthur Geisert, Donna Gibson, Jenny Harms, Roy Haught,  Andrew Hudson, Thomas C. Jackson, Tom Jewell-Vitale, Carl Johnson Jr., Louise Kames, Alda Kaufman, Joyce Kuhle, Pauline Maloney, Ioana Mamali, Jane Melgaard, Nikolaus Miesing, Stormy Mochal, Kerin Moldenhauer, Cynthia Nelms-Byrne, Kenneth W. Nelson, Gregory T. Nelson, Tim Olson, Ann Reisdorf, Wendy Rolfe-Mulgrew, Doug and Dona Schlesier, Becky Sisco, Abdul Sinno, John Solarz, Mark Stevens, Karen Thomas, Jac Tilton, Gene Tully, Ellen Wagener, Pat Wathan, RoseAnn Wilgenbusch, and Norman Zepeski.

Other popular items that included the use of a condo in Park City, Utah, delicious meals, use of the newly enlarged Red House for a gathering, and a beautiful leather Flexsteel chair and ottoman!

The second annual Dubuque Museum of Art Raffle winner was drawn following the live auction.  The winner of the $25,000 raffle drawing was Mary Jo Chapman.  Congratulations, Mary Jo!!   Proceeds benefitted the Museum (and the winner!).  Thank you to raffle sponsors American Trust, Crescent Electric, Farber Bag, Steele Capital Management Inc., The Red House, and Theisen’s.

An image of beautiful Park City, Utah; Image above: Cynthia Nelms-Byrne, Iowa Summer, 2008, oil on canvas, 14x18 in.

Politics as Usual: Political Cartoons by Dick Locher

August 26 - November 9, 2008

Organized by Dubuque Museum of Art

Dick Locher's ability to capture the absurdities of life through political cartooning is known worldwide.  His impact as a widely recognized cartoonist and commentator on American life is seen in the numerous awards he has received, including the Pulitzer Prize.

Locher established his reputation as one of the leading editorial cartoonists at the Chicago Tribune, where he worked since 1973.  Since 1983, he has been the artist of the "Dick Tracy" comic strip and in 2005 took over as both writer and artist.  Locher's previous experience with the strip was as Chester Gould's assistant from 1957 to 1961.  Prior to joining the Chicago Tribune, he was president of his own sales-promotion agency.  Locher is also know as a fine art painter, sculptor, and inventor.  He is originally from Dubuque.  This exhibition included over 50 of Locher's political cartoons and 7 small caricature sculptures.

Looking for More: Recent Paintings by Thomas C. Jackson

August 26 - November 9, 2008

Organized by Dubuque Museum of Art

The Dubuque Museum of Art presented the paintings of Cedar Rapids, Iowa artist Thomas C. Jackson in the Kris Mozena McNamer Gallery. With a graphic artist’s technical aptitude, Jackson creates absorbing images of American life using imagery that we may see everyday but take for granted or are only aware of subconsciously. Jackson uses his commercial background to make insightful statements about American pastimes and popular culture:

"All of the paintings reflect society's desire for more -- more summer fun, visual stimulation, crowds, excitement, food, travel, money, music, dancing. They may be interested in buying one more Christmas present, showing off the latest fashion, traveling to the next hot spot, enjoying one more big band dance, winning a prize, eating comfort food, or exuding the most Christmas spirit."

Thomas C. Jackson received a BA from Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois in 1972 and an MFA from the University of Notre Dame in 1974. Prior to becoming a full-time artist in 2000, Jackson was General Manager and Vice President for Client Development at Stamats Communications, Inc. in Cedar Rapids. His work is represented at Karolyn Sherwood Gallery in Des Moines, Iowa.

Image: Thomas C. Jackson, Holly Ball, 2008, oil on canvas, 36x54 in., collection of the artist.

The Spiritus Suite by Louise Kames

August 6 - November 9, 2008

In the latter part of the twelfth century the women who became known as “Beguines” began a creative experiment in a new style of living.  They were not members of the established religious orders, or convents, although their lifestyles were similar.   Beginning in Belgium and the Low Countries, the movement spread along the Rhine, with its numbers peaking at the end of the thirteenth century.

Kames’s interest in the Beguines began in preparation for a 2005 residency at the Frans Masereel Centrum, the Flemish International center for the contemporary printmaking, located in Kasterlee, Belgium.  Again in the summer of 2007 Kames was a resident at the Frans Masereel Centrum, when she finalized the format for the Spiritus Suite.  Numerous small Beguine communities or "begijnhofs" still exist in the Northern part of Belgium. Although, there are no Beguines still living, their distinctive communal structures have found reuse as museums, cultural centers, student or senior housing.  Many remaining begijnhofs are classified as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.  Kames visited and documented begijnhofs at Turnhout, Brugges, Antwerp, and Leuven in Belgium.  Often the begijnhof took the form of small row houses situated around a central garden and chapel.  This architectural plan informed the structure of Spiritus Suite.

Each of the etchings suggests one of the "Seven Stages of Mystical Journey" found in numerous Beguine writings. The individual parts of the print reference Beguine spiritual life as well.

Image above: Louise Kames, Spiritus Suite II, 2007, colored etching, 6.5x23 in., collection of the aritst.

Edward S. Curtis

Highlights from The North American Indian Collection

May 20, 2008 - August 24, 2008

Edward S. Curtis is one of the most prominent and recognized photographers of the 20th century; best known for his colossal photography collection "The North American Indian," nine of which are displayed in this exhibition.  He was born in 1868 near Whitewater, Wisconsin, only 130 miles from Dubuque.  His adolescence coincided with the emergence of photography as an artistic medium.  Photography captivated him from an early age and he would dedicate his life to the medium.

His family moved to Seattle, Washington in 1887 where Curtis became a professional photographer.  Curtis honed his artistic skills photographing the residents in the Seattle area.  But it was through the opportunities to work as a photographer on expeditions to the north, documenting the geography and indigenous people, that Curtis gained the skills and the desire to travel the country capturing images of North American Indian cultures.

For Curtis, "The North American Indian" project was a race against time.  Their culture was rapidly changing and their traditions were disappearing.  He received encouragement and financial assistance from President Teddy Roosevelt and J.P. Morgan but the grueling work required all of his energy and more resources than he could raise, subsequently he incurred large personal debt.  He spent thirty years creating "The North American Indian" which consisted of 20 illustrated volumes of ethnographic text and over 720 large-format  photogravures.  He took more than 40,000 photographs; made over 10,000 recordings of Native speech and music; and produced lectures, slide shows, an opera and a documentary film all based on his this work.

Image: Edward S. Curtis, A Family Group — Noatak, The North American Indian, Volume XX, Plate 717, Photogravure on Van Gelder paper, copyrighted 1928, 11 9/16 x 15 9/16 inches, On long-term loan from the Carnegie-Stout Public Library, Gift of Mrs. Emma H. Ward.  LTL.1999.11.717.

Landscapes: Selections from the A.G. Edwards/Wachovia Securities Collection

June 3 - August 17, 2008

Sponsored by Wachovia Securities, formerly A.G. Edwards

A stunning selection of contemporary landscapes from the A.G. Edwards/Wachovia Securities Collection was on display including works by Jim Dine, Andy Warhol, Peter B. Kaplan, Roy Lichtenstein, and Christo and Jeanne-Claude.

Image: Roy Lichtenstein (American, 1923-1997), Landscape, 1996, Serigraph, Framed: 35x42.5 in., Collection of Wachovia Securities

Tim Olson: A Rake's Progress

June 3 - August 17, 2008

Organized by Dubuque Museum of Art, sponsored by Cottingham & Butler

In his signature energetic style, Olson creates realistic paintings full of familiar sites and clever humor.  The unruliness of his loose, erratic lines disguise carefully planned compositions in an unexpectedly satisfying way.

Tim Olson received his BA from Loras College in 2003.  He was born in Storm Lake, Iowa in 1962 and now makes his home in Dubuque with his wife and two children.

Image: Tim Olson, Double Stack Train Cars, 2008, Oil, ink, watercolor, and pastel on paper, 42 x 30 in., Courtesy of the artist

Erin Kono : Hula Lullaby

June 3 - July 31, 2008

Organized by Dubuque Museum of Art

Kono brings the lush, colorful world of Hawaii to life in her 2005 children’s book.  The saturated colors and beautiful figures soothe the soul of children and adults alike.  Hula Lullaby was awarded the Children’s Literature Council’s Excellence in a Picture Book Award and was named by Nick Jr. magazine as Best Lullaby and Goodnight Book.

Erin Eitter Kono studied graphic design at UCLA in 2000.  She graduated from the University of Iowa in 1995 with a BA in art history.  She was raised in Dubuque and traveled extensively before settling down in Redondo Beach, California with her husband and daughter.

Image: Erin Eitter Kono, The scent of tropic blooms, Perfume the darkened sky, Music rocks you lightly, With its hula lullaby, 2003, Acrylic and pencil on paper, 10x22 in., Courtesy of the artist

The final AMERICAN ICONS series:

Snoopy as the World War I Flying Ace

March 25 - April 27, 2008

A program of ExhibitsUSA, a national division of Mid-America Arts Alliance and the National Endowment for the Arts

Snoopy as the World War I Flying Ace presented Charles M. Schulz’s lovable beagle, Snoopy, as his alter ego, the Flying Ace.  The exhibition showcased 40 of Snoopy’s most exciting adventures in his transformed doghouse—now a Sopwith Camel airplane — from the time he faced a deadly bout of influenza to sparring with the Flying Ace’s archenemy, the Red Baron. Snoopy as the World War I Flying Ace is toured by ExhibitsUSA, the national touring division of Mid-America Arts Alliance, a non-profit regional arts organization based in Kansas City, Missouri.

Image: Charles Schulz at his work table, courtesy of ExhibitsUSA

Bonnie Peterson and Nancy Steinmeyer: Landscape Recollections

March 4 - April 27, 2008

Organized by Dubuque Museum of Art

The natural world changes and evolves either due to or despite the presence of mankind. In this exhibition featuring two Illinois artists, preserved and changing landscapes were explored.  Bonnie Peterson's quilts become visual journals from her national park expeditions.  Nancy Steinmeyer's innovative paintings focus on land development and its effects on the environment.

Images Top: Bonnie Peterson, When I Saw Winter, 2000, mixed media quilt, 56 x 50 in., collection of the artist; Bottom: Nancy Steinmeyer, Keep It Clean, 2001, acrylic on canvas and wire screen, 24 x 38 x 11 in., collection of the artist

Sandra Dyas

Selections From Down to the River: Portraits of Iowa Musicians

March 4 - April 27, 2008

Organized by Dubuque Museum of Art

The Dubuque Museum of Art presented a limited selection of Iowa City photographer, Sandra Dyas' black and white photographs from her book "Down to the River: Portraits of Iowa Musicians."  Dyas spent 20 years shooting live performances and portraits of Iowa musicians – compiling a visual record of blues and blues-inspired rock musicians and music that are uniquely Iowan.  Dyas captures the lives of the musicians on and off stage; never as a paparazzi photographer exploiting her prey but as an artist who loves and understands her subject.  Many of the musicians in her book are popular and frequent performers at nightspots in Dubuque and throughout the tri-states area.

Sandra Dyas graduated from the University of Iowa in 1998 with an MFA in intermedia and video art.  She teaches photography at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa and is a freelance photographer.  Dyas has exhibited her work in the Museum’s 2003 tri-state invitational and her series "The Lost Nation Photographs" was shown here in 2002.

Image: Sandra Dyas, "Bo Ramsey, Lansing Music Festival, Lansing, Iowa", June 2004, gelatin silver print, 12x8 in., collection of the artist

Harold Martin: Symbols

November 23, 2007 - March 9, 2008

Organized by Dubuque Museum of Art

Galena, Illinois artist Harold Martin paints powerful scenes in a way that captivates both the spirit and imagination of the viewer.  One look at Mr. Martin’s work and his technical mastery is immediately evident.   The Dubuque Museum of Art was proud to present this major installation of Mr. Martin’s highly realistic paintings and drawings.  The remarkable figures in these works are Martin’s friends and acquaintances; their experiences and personalities sometimes establish the subject of the paintings.  Religious symbols are prevalent throughout but, unlike Symbolism, each symbolic object does not always provide insight into some mysterious hidden meaning, instead the objects work together aesthetically to complete the work – more akin to the visual language of a modern day Hieronymus Bosch.

Harold Martin graduated from the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts and the Art Institute of Chicago.  He worked with the Leo Burnette and J. Walter Thompson advertising agencies for 25 years before answering his true calling as a painter.

Image: Harold Martin, My Four Masks, 2004, acrylic on panel, 30.5x48.5 in., collection of the artist

Richard Moninski: Brystklut

November 23, 2007 - February 24, 2008

Organized by Dubuque Museum of Art

Textile or trompe-l’œil?  Whether sewn, beaded, or embroidered, Richard Moninski’s textile paintings delight the eye – capturing an accurate yet painterly rendering of these masterfully crafted textile works.  Moninski of Mineral Point, Wisconsin explored the varieties of brystklut, ornamental bodice inserts found on Norwegian women’s folk costumes, in this exhibition of his realistic oil paintings.  Intrigued by the rich cultural heritage that shows through in the bodice designs, Moninski visited Norway in 1996 and 2000 to study first-hand the geometric and traditional patterns integrated into these complex pieces of fabric.  The cleverly juxtaposed, abstract patterns inspired him to create this ongoing series of textile paintings.

Moninski received an MFA in 1984 from the State University of New York in Albany, and his BFA in 1980 from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.  He is the owner and director of Green Lantern Studio in Mineral Point.

Image: Richard Moninski, Brystklut VII, 2006, oil on linen, 32x34 in., courtesy of the artist

AMUSE BOUCHE

Arthur Geisert: Selected etchings from Pigs from 1 to 10

May 25, 2007 - February 24, 2008

Organized by Dubuque Museum of Art

Pigs 1 to 10 is the story of ten industrious pigs and their quest to discover the mysterious land of their bedtime stories.  This children's book teaches counting and encourages the imagination and curiosity of young readers.  Geisert is famous for his children's book illustrations especially his use of pigs as the main characters in many of his books including Pigs from A to Z, Roman Numerals I to MM, Pa's Balloon and Other Pig Tales, Mystery, Pigaroons, Lights Out, Oink, Oink Oink, and The Giant Ball of String.

Hands: Beth Shadur and Petronella Ytsma

August 21 - November 4, 2007

Organized by Dubuque Museum of Art

How two very different artists interpret the same subject is a popular and often very appealing study.  Such was the case with the exhibition, "Hands."  Minnesota artist, Petronella Ytsma and Illinois artist, Beth Shadur each use the human hand as the subject for their work.  In Shadur's mixed media works the hand represents a multicultural symbol for protection, prayer, unity, giving, and creating.

Ytsma calls the human hand the original and ultimate tool.  In her series of hand photographs titled "Treuren", Ytsma makes a statement using hands of all ages and races that have experienced all levels of manual labor and human toil.

Images:  left: Beth Shadur, Hand's Off (detail); right: Petronella Ytsma, Treuren (detail)

Regionalist Prints from the Needles Collection

Presented by Loras College and American Trust Bank

August 28 - November 4, 2007

Over 50 prints by such Regionalist masters as Thomas Hart Benton, John Steuart Curry, and Iowa's favorite artist Grant Wood.  This collection came from the extensive print collection of Dr. Belverd and Marian Needles of Chicago and the Dubuque Museum of Art was proud to be able to display these popular and timeless works.

Image: Thomas Hart Benton, Huck Finn, 1936, Lithograph on paper, 19 5/8 x 23 5/8 in., Collection of Belverd E. and Marian Needles

Nikolaus Miesing: The Art of Stone

August 28 - November 4, 2007

Organized by Dubuque Museum of Art

Galena, Illinois artist Nikolaus Miesing presented a select collection of some of his most stunning, Brancusi-inspired stone sculptures.  Born in Germany, the artist often travels to Italy to select the stone that he will carve and has the marbles and travertines he chooses shipped back to the States.  He also uses local materials like Iowa limestone.  Miesing's work had recently been featured in the Museum's Biennial exhibition.

Image: Nikolaus Miesing, Stylized Female, 1999, Indiana limestone, 26.5x9x5 in. , Collection of the artist

Voices From the Warehouse District 3

September 8 - October 7, 2007

Organized by the Dubuque Museum of Art, guest curated by Gene Tully

11 new artists once again filled the warehouse space at 10th and Jackson Street in Dubuque with their cutting edge artwork.  Artists were Abigail Butcher, Jamie Elizabeth Hudrlik, Anita Jung, John Martinson, Tom Newport, Joey Wallis, Yen-Hua Lee, Bruce Howdle, John Kabot, Christian Narkiewicz-Laine, and Doug Schlesier.  This years Voices exhibition also included a theatrical performance by The Loras College Players and Fly-By-Night Productions: Shakespeare Live - theater with an artistic twist.

Joseph Walter: The Christensen Collection

May 1 - August 23, 2007

Organized by Dubuque Museum of Art

Prolific Dubuque artist, Joseph Walter (1865-1946), emigrated from Austria in 1898 and made a name for himself as a church muralist though his passion was painting pictures, primarily scenes of Dubuque and the surrounding landscapes.  This exhibition showcased eight newly acquired works.

Image: Joseph Walter, Untitled, September 19, 1934, Watercolor on paper, 12x18 in., Gift of James S. and Marcia Christensen, In memory of parents Stanley T. & Gladys M. Christensen (Roberts) and her sister Lillian Roberts, a close friend of the Walter family.  05.08.015

AMERICAN ICONS SERIES

Edward S. Curtis: Faces from the North American Indian Collection

June 12 - August 19, 2007

Organized by Dubuque Museum of Art

With the endorsement of President Theodore Roosevelt and the backing of J.P. Morgan, Edward S. Curtis set about accumulating one of the most important cultural records of Native Americans ever assembled.  He photographed tribes from Indian cultures between 1907 and 1930 covering the Plains to the Southwest, Northwest, and Alaska.  These images are not purely ethnographic records.  Curtis was an artist and that is evident in the moving impressions and pictorial nature of his portrait images.

Image: Edward S. Curtis, Geronimo - Apache , The North American Indian, Volume I, Plate 2, Photogravure on Van Gelder paper, copyrighted 1907, Image: 15 ? x 10 ½ inches, On long-term loan from the Carnegie-Stout Public Library, Gift of Mrs. Emma H. Ward.  LTL.1999.11.2

Fiber Sculpture by Mary Merkel-Hess

June 5 - August 10, 2007

Organized by Dubuque Museum of Art

Mary Merkel-Hess is a genius with paper and fiber.  The Dubuque Museum of Art was honored to exhibit the sculptures of this Iowa City fiber artist.  Her brilliantly colored basket forms recall the soft movement of fields of grass on a windy summer day as well as the strict lines of a manicured lawn.  Contained in a precisely arranged package, they are the epitome of natural beauty in their form and material.

Image: Mary Merkel-Hess, Haven, 2005, Reed, paper, and acrylic paint, 19 x 14 x 6 inches, Courtesy of the artist

Biennial Juried Invitational

February 27 - May 27, 2007

Organized by Dubuque Museum of Art

Originally slated as a tri-annual invitational, this popular event now takes place every other year to maximize exhibition opportunities for regional artists.  Artists within 200 miles of the museum were invited to submit their work for consideration by guest juror, Alan Z. Aiches, an art museum professional for over 25 years.  Mr. Aiches established Aiches Design in Washington D.C. in 1998 and serves as an adjunct curator at the National Building Museum.

Image: RoseAnn Wilgenbusch, Surf City, October 2006, Acrylic, copper leaf, and gold leaf, 30 x 40 inches, Courtesy of the artist

Ingrid Lilligren, A Certain Consistency. Works, 1996-2006.

February 27 - May 27, 2007

Organized by Dubuque Museum of Art.  Presented by Cottingham & Butler

Strong colors, whimsical shapes, and bold symbolism highlight the abstract works of central Iowa artist, Ingrid Lilligren.  An Associate Professor at Iowa State University, Lilligren received her M.F.A. from The Claremont Graduate School and her B.F.A. from the University of Wisconsin.  Her fresh California-influenced work provided a wonderful opportunity for visitors to experience a taste of the bustling Western art scene.

Image: Ingrid Lilligren, Dee's Sniffer , 2002, clay, bamboo, and horsehair, 64x32x16 in., Courtesy of the artist

Nomi's Rainbow Family

Written by Kent Shankle, Illustrations by Kettle

February 27 - April 29, 2007

Organized by Dubuque Museum of Art

An exhibition of illustrations created by Iowa artist Kettle made its exhibition debut at the Dubuque Museum of Art.  Entitled Nomi's Rainbow Family, the exhibition included 29 original paintings accompanied by the text for a children's book by the same name.

This project was conceived of by Kent Shankle who worked in collaboration with his two daughters, Kethe and Naomi Shankle, to develop a fictional story based upon some of the real-life experiences that they encountered living in a non-traditional family situation.  Naomi, whose nickname is "Nomi", became the central character of the narrative.  As she prepares to attend a family event at her school, she must come to terms with the fact that her family might be somewhat different from other families.  The book attempts to address issues of divorce, alternative lifestyles and step-parenting in a light-hearted, yet straight-forward way, embracing and celebrating the diverse nature of contemporary families.

Images: Kettle, Nomi's Rainbow Family, pp. 28-29, 2007, 4x6 in. ea., Courtesy of the artist and Kent Shankle

Cityscapes by Barry Masteller

January 16 - April 15, 2007

Organized through Katharine T. Carter & Assoc.

Northern California painter Barry Masteller creates haunting cityscapes that recall the glowing effects of Rembrandt and the charcoal drawings of Seurat. In his Boulevard series, the artist has arranged city streets and apartment buildings, along with the silent movements of silhouetted, Hopperesque people seen through store or apartment windows, to create a sense of community and isolation.

Mr. Masteller has shown his work extensively, most recently at the Caldwell/Snyder Gallery in New York.  His work is included in many public and corporate collections, including the Crocker Museum of Art and the Monterey Museum of Art.

Image: Barry Masteller, Boulevard 49, oil on canvas, 48x54 in., Courtesy of the artist

Tom Metcalf: Zodiac paintings

December 1, 2006 - February 22, 2007

Meticulously rendered oil paintings on wood panels of the twelve astrological symbols and astrological wheel by a talented local artist and art professor. This was the inaugural exhibition of the Dubuque Museum of Art series presenting mini exhibitions of local talent - Amuse Bouche!.

Image: Tom Metcalf, Aries, 2006, oil on panel, 10.5x15 inches, Courtesy of the artist

Steven Gordon: Alaskan Vision

November 28, 2006 to February 18, 2007

Organized by the Dubuque Museum of Art, Presented by Cottingham & Butler

The Dubuque Museum of Art welcomed Steve Gordon's large-scale oil paintings of the vast and breathtaking Alaskan countryside, providing visitors with a first-hand look at the land of the midnight sun.  Mr. Gordon’s focus is the landscapes of south central Alaska portrayed in a painterly, realistic style.  “My large-scale paintings enable the viewer to see both the loose brushwork and the realistic image.”

Born in 1956 in Dubuque, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Dartmouth College in 1979 and a Master of Fine Arts in painting from the University of Iowa in 1984.  He and his wife moved to Alaska in 1984 where he taught art for several years before becoming a full-time artist in 1992.

Image: Steven Gordon, Johnson Pass, Early Fall, 2006, oil on canvas, 33x73 inches, Courtesy of the artist

Legacy and Innovation in Contemporary Clay

November 28, 2006 to February 11, 2007

Organized by Dubuque Museum of Art, Curated by Bill Farrell, Delores Fortuna, and Ken Bichell

The genesis of Legacy and Innovation in Contemporary Clay, was the desire of three area clay artists to showcase the work of other artists who served as significant influences in the development of clay as a fine art form after the Second World War.   At the same time they wished to illustrate the work of contemporary artists who they saw as being the “inheritors” of these often radical teachers and aesthetic philosophies.   As ideas developed, it seemed there were invited artists whose work has come to influence and epitomize the essential elements of work that followed; some whose work refined the artistic philosophies and techniques of the former; and still others who have learned, and completely absorbed, the techniques of their predecessors and are moving their own work to the very cutting edge of the medium.   Often, these artists are producing works that could be included within all three of these generalities – a testament to their creative spirits and energy.

Image: Paul Soldner, Untitled, 2004, low-fired salt, 24x26x10 inches, Collection of the American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona, California

Selections from the Papua New Guinea Museum, Wartburg Theological Seminary

August 29 - November 12, 2006

Organized by the Dubuque Museum of Art, sponsored by David & Kathy Schaller

Tucked away in a refurbished gallery in the basement of the Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque is a splendid array of art, tools, jewelry, and other items that represent the native cultures of Papua New Guinea.  The missionaries from Wartburg Seminary have had extensive interaction with the many different tribes of these islands in the South Pacific, north of Australia, since the early 20th century.  A variety of artifacts that have been collected during mission visits were on display in the Dubuque Museum of Art's lobby.  These select artifacts focused on the artistic talents of the people of Papua New Guinea.

Image: Kundu Drum, local wood and snake or lizard skin, Collection of the Papua New Guinea Museum, 20-1/180

VOICES FROM THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT

September 9 - October 22, 2006

Organized by the Dubuque Museum of Art, sponsored by Premier Bank, Iowa Arts Council, Wilmac Property Company, and Francis Henkels Attorney

Following the success of the wildy popular debut exhibition last year, Voices 2006 was housed in the same warehouse at 1000 Jackson Street in Dubuque.  However this event boasted a six-week run and was open Friday evenings as well as Saturday and Sunday afternoons through the period.  Artists from the original exhibition nominated artists for this presentation.  They included:  Mary Beck and Tom Jewell-Vitale from Dubuque; John Fillwalk from Muncie, Indiana; Mary Koenen Clausen from Tipton, Iowa; Susan Becker from Bellevue, Iowa; Paul Sacaridiz and Gary Justis from Bloomington, Indiana; Stephen Maxon and Doris Park from Kalona, Iowa; and Kenneth Nelson from Platteville, Wisconsin.

Remembering Ilze Siltumens-Holzer

August 22 - November 5, 2006

Organized by the Dubuque Museum of Art, presented by Cottingham & Butler

Much admired as a “new regionalist” this presentation of works by the late Ilze Siltumens-Holzer (1955-2005), who passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in January 2005, highlighted her landscapes of the rural Midwest in the style of which she was so well-known.

Ms. Holzer earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from The Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design in 1992.  After two years of study at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, she decided to devote her efforts exclusively to oil painting, studying with nationally acclaimed artists Tom Uttech, William Nichols and Adolph Rosenblatt.  In 2002, Ms. Holzer moved with her husband, James Holzer, to Hannibal, Missouri where they owned and operated the Red Hat Gallery, now known as The Gallery of Fine Art.

Image: Ilze Holzer, Forest Series #4, 31x25 in., oil on hardboard, Courtesy of The Gallery of Fine Art, Hannibal, MO

AMERICAN ICONS SERIES

Moved by the Machine: Art Inspired by the Automobile

featuring Art for the Automobile: Hood Ornaments From the Wahl Collection

June 13 - October 22, 2006

Curated by Josephine Shea, organized by the Dubuque Museum of Art, presented in part by Mike Finnin Ford-Chrysler-Jeep

The machine that changed American life and landscape has served as muse for the artist, and the results range from playful to unsettling.  “Moved by the Machine” looked at the automobile as inspiration for artwork in a variety of media, including photography, painting, ceramics, embroidery, and mixed media.  Art in the exhibition came from private collections, galleries, and museums - artists include Linda Allen, Sharon Bida, Margarita Cabrera, Jeremy Dickinson, Jörg Erichsen, Chris Everts, Shannon Goff, Richard Griesbeck, Louise Herron Halliburton, Charmaine Kaptur, Nina Katchadourian, Paul T. McCarthy, Nam June Paik, Carol Shinn, Alfred Stieglitz, and John Vachon. A special display of mascots entitled "Art for the Automobile: Hood Ornaments From the Wahl Collection" was also on view.

Image: Dennis Clive, Black Beauty, 1987, Low-fire ceramic, 7 ½ x 10 x 20 ¾ in., Private collection, Courtesy of the Allan Stone Gallery, New York

F.S.A. Photographs of Dubuque by John Vachon

May 30 - August 13, 2006

Organized by the Dubuque Museum of Art

John Vachon, a product of the Midwest, was born in St. Paul, Minnesota where he attended St. Thomas College.  In 1936, Vachon’s thirst for adventure led him to accept a position with the Farm Security Administration (FSA) in Washington, D.C.  In 1940, Vachon’s FSA work took him to Dubuque.  Vachon photographed conditions of rural poverty, creating visual records for FSA historical files. His documentation of the living and working environment in this typical Midwestern city served as evidence of the plight of American farmers and laborers.  Vachon’s photographs evidence a keen, straightforward observation of life that at times evokes significant emotion.

Image: John Vachon, Farely-Loetscher Building, 1940, Black and white photograph, 11 x 14 in., Collection of Dubuque Museum of Art, Gift of William G. & Barbara Kruse, 00.08.28

AGAINST THE GRAIN: CONTEMPORARY TURNED WOOD URNS by STEVE SINNER

May 30 - August 13, 2006

Organized by the Dubuque Museum of Art, sponsored by Cottingham & Butler

This exhibition featured beautifully crafted vessels that demonstrate the artist’s technical mastery well beyond the simple hobby or pastime.  Each piece has a brilliantly decorated, high-finish surface achieved through a variety of sophisticated techniques and materials.  In fact, these handsome, turned wood urns borrow much from their ancient Greek predecessors.

Mr. Sinner’s interest in woodworking led to a degree in Industrial Education at Iowa State University.  Inspired by Dale Nish’s "Creative Woodworking" in 1975, he attempted woodturning and acquired a passion for the craft.  He concentrates on vase forms – difficult because of their deep, hollow interiors.  He lives in Bettendorf, Iowa with his wife.

Image: Steve Sinner, Class of '60 – Faded Memories, March 2002, Walnut, ink, and silver leaf, 23 ¼ x 8 1/8 x 8 1/8 in., Collection of Dubuque Museum of Art, 04.01.003

DUBUQUE CITYWIDE HIGH SCHOOL EXHIBITION

May 2 – 21, 2006

The Dubuque Museum of Art hosted an exhibition of work by students of Hempstead, Senior and Wahlert high schools from May 2-21, 2006.

Students contributed two- and three-dimensional work in a variety of mediums including painting, ceramics, sculpture, and textiles.  The students helped hang the exhibition under the supervision of Stacy Gage, the Museum’s Collections & Exhibitions Manager and the art specialists of their respective schools. The exhibition also featured artwork by the art specialists.

On Wednesday, May 10, selected art students had the opportunity to participate in enrichment activities.  The activities included a critique session lead by Rachel Williams, Assistant Professor of art education at the University of Iowa and a panel discussion of career opportunities in the visual arts.  The panelists were Ken Bichell, artist, teacher and owner of Mississippi Mud Studio,  Rachel Williams, Assistant Professor of art education at the University of Iowa, Kristin Baum, assistant conservator of the University of Iowa Libraries, and Edwin Ritts, executive director of the Dubuque Museum of Art.    

Exhibitions featuring the artwork of Dubuque Community School students happen every two years at the Dubuque Museum of Art, alternating between a high school exhibition and an all school K-12 exhibition.

Organized by the Dubuque Museum of Art.  Presented by DuTrac Community Credit Union, Dave & Marilynne Field, James & Nancy Klauer, and anonymous patrons

Telegraph Herald Photojournalists

Day In, Day Out

February 21 - April 23, 2006

Organized by the Dubuque Museum of Art and presented by The Dubuque Telegraph Herald

This exhibition presented a dramatic look at life in the tri-state area from 1993 to 2005 documented by photojournalists from Dubuque’s consummate local newspaper. Area residents remembered many of these moving images but for new generations, newcomers, and visitors the images revealed the vibrancy of Dubuque, then and now.

Curated by Mr. Mark Hirsch of the Telegraph Herald, he explained, "As I selected photographs for this exhibition, I sought feedback from the many staff photographers and interns I have worked with over the last 15 years. Some of the selections were their personal favorites; others are included because they elicited a smile, sparked a laugh, or poignantly captured the 'moment.' The common denominator is the photograph’s ability to communicate information while transcending cultural and language barriers. That is photojournalism."

Image: Dave Kettering, June 23, 2005, 16 x 20 in., Digital print, Courtesy of the Telegraph Herald

Images From Places Past: Photography by Louie Psihoyos

February 7 - April 23, 2006

Organized by the Dubuque Museum of Art, sponsored by Nick & Christine Yiannias

The Dubuque Museum of Art proudly welcomed world-renowned photographer and Dubuque native, Louie Psihoyos with an exhibition of his stunning photography.

This exhibition featured a collection of Mr. Psihoyos' greatest hits from his brilliant career as a photojournalist shooting for such distinguished magazines as National Geographic, Smithsonian, and Vanity Fair.  The collection boasts a wide array of amazing subjects from around the globe.

Forbes magazine has described Mr. Psihoyos as, “one of the ten top photographers in the world.”  He has captured subjects from dinosaur eggs, exotic landscapes, and documentary wonders to lively portraits of some of the most famous people in the world.

Louie Psihoyos was born in Dubuque, Iowa in 1957.  He graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in photojournalism.  He has lived and traveled all over the world and currently resides in Colorado with his wife.  Mr. Psihoyos has been the subject of a National Geographic Explorer program, as well as segments on CBS Sunday Morning, Good Morning American, and has been invited to speak on NPR several times.

Image: Louie Psihoyos, Guardian, 1989, color photograph, 44 x 46 in., Courtesy of the artist

New Clay Vessels by Elizabeth Shriver

February 16 - April 16, 2006

Organized by the Dubuque Museum of Art, sponsored by Cottingham & Butler

This exhibition featured ceramic vessels that explore the synthesis of organic form with functional application.  Some objects share the fragile, graceful, and elegant appearance of plants and sea life, while others have the solid, rugged, and durable look of stone.  Ms. Shriver’s “aim is not to replicate nature but to blend artistic expression with the beauty of the natural world.”  Borrowing from clay vessel shapes centuries old, these coil and hand-built objects break from the traditional in surface treatment.

Elizabeth Shriver received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Iowa in 1987 and was an award winner in the Museum’s 2004 Tri-State Tri-Annual Juried Exhibition.  She resides in Coralville, Iowa with her husband and four children.

Image: Elizabeth Shriver, Split Vessel, 2005, Ceramic, 22 x 18 x 12 in., Courtesy of the artist

Exploring Transparency - Art Glass Invitational

November 29, 2005 to February 12, 2006

Organized by the Dubuque Museum of Art, curated by Mark Fowler, sponsored by American Trust Bank

The beauty of art glass was brilliantly displayed at the Dubuque Museum of Art.  Since the 1960s, the use of glass as a purely artistic medium has flourished.  In Exploring Transparency, works from the collection of the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Museum of Art highlighted art glass from this early period.  In addition, over 20 contemporary glass artists from around the United States represented the current trends in art glass, including Hank Murta Adams, Mark Bokesch-Parsons, Barrie Bredemeir, William Carlson, José Chardiet, Jim Cook, Fred di Frenzi, Sheryl Ellinwood, Mark Fowler, Shaun Graves, Wes Hunting, Kreg Kallenberger, Brent Kee Young, Michael Meilahn, Mark Peiser, Stephen Powell, Mike Rogers, Charles Savoie, Paul Stankard, Alex Stisser, Mark Sudduth, and Steven Weinberg.

Image: Alex Stisser, Soft Barbell Composition, 2005, Blown glass, Dimensions vary, Collection of the artist

Maureen Bardusk and Kathy Weaver

Confluence

November 22, 2005 to January 29, 2006

Organized by the Dubuque Museum of Art, sponsored by Cottingham & Butler

The challenge with successful artistic collaboration is to gain the camaraderie without losing the self.  For Maureen Bardusk and Kathy Weaver, the vigorous collaborative process allowed them to gain a better awareness of their own style by requiring each artist to define her style and content in order to proceed, giving each artist a heightened sensibility concerning their own work.  There is a sense of renewal and discovery in achieving collaboration because unique ways of problem solving and artistic outlook are uncovered.  Their motivation was fired by the intrigue of pushing beyond their comfort zone and normal aesthetic. 

This exhibition featured a collection of individual pieces by each artist along with 50 collages which Bardusk and Weaver worked on individually then jointly, exchanging work until completion.  Confluence illustrated the role healthy, voluntary collaboration plays between artists in the process of creativity.  The individually created works on display lent a clue to the input each artist contributed to the collages. The show was truly a synthesis and study of contrasting aesthetics.

Miss the Mississippi: Landscapes of My Home

Paintings by Jennifer Braig

August 30 - November 13, 2005

Organized by the Dubuque Museum of Art, sponsored by Cottingham & Butler

Dubuque native, Jennifer Braig, presented paintings that express her love of the landscape she remembered growing up.  Her style is balanced yet energetic with unexpected compositions and thick impasto.  She uses intense, eye-catching colors to draw the viewer in for a closer look to discover rhythmic brush strokes enlivening the canvas.

Ms. Braig cultivated her love of working in oil at Loras College where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Art, with minors in Art History and English in 1992 and studied under Tom Jewell-Vitale.  Ms. Braig currently lives in Spearfish, South Dakota with her husband and two daughters.

Her smaller works had been displayed locally, so the Museum was excited to showcase Ms. Braig’s large-scale works that reach up to six feet wide.

Image: Mississippi River Barge, 2005, oil on canvas, 7x20x2 in.

Visions for the Next Millennium: Wilderness Photography - Focus on Preservation

Large-format photographs by Clyde Butcher

September 20 - November 6, 2005

Presented by Smith Kramer Fine Art Services

Clyde Butcher's large-format black and white photographs explore his personal relationship with the environment.  The photographs chronicle some of America's most beautiful and complex ecosystems.  The exquisite depth of his works draw the viewer into a relationship with nature.  For more than thirty-five years, he has been preserving on film the untouched areas of the landscape.

Image: Clyde Butcher, Moonrise, Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida, 1986, Black and white photograph, 61 1/2 x 47 1/2 in. framed.

Voices From the Warehouse District

1000 Jackson St., corner of 10th and Jackson Streets, look for the orange door

September 10 - October 9, 2005 (weekends only, 1:00-5:00p.m.)

Sponsored by Premier Bank, Wilmac Properties, and Mission Creative

The Dubuque Museum of Art was very excited to announce it's first-ever, off-site exhibition featuring some of the regions most talented and cutting-edge artists.   This exhibit showcased major installations that pushed artistic skill and thought beyond a typical museum exhibition setting.  Many of the works were created on-site specifically for the unique, historical warehouse space.  We hope you were able to join the Dubuque Museum of Art in celebrating this truly unique, cultural experience for Dubuque and the tri-state area.  Participating artists included Beth Bird, Bill Farrell, Delores Fortuna, Rose Frantzen, Louise Kames, Amy Mangrich, Tom Metcalf, Chuck Morris, Wendy Rolfe-Mulgrew, and Gene Tully.

Frank Lloyd Wright's SAMARA: Realization of a Usonian Dream

June 7 - September 4, 2005

Organized by the Dubuque Museum of Art & The John E. Christian Family Memorial Trust, Inc., sponsored by Durrant Group and Metrix Company

America's most celebrated architect was featured through an exciting collection of renderings, blueprints, furnishings, textiles, and other items from SAMARA, one of the late Usonian style homes Wright was commissioned to design during the 1950's by John and Catherine Christian of Lafayette, Indiana. But this exhibition represented much more than that. It was really an exhibition about dreams. It reflected Wright's deeply held dream of designing a comfortable, harmonious, and affordable home for the common man; a home at one with nature and in sync with the lifestyle of its occupants.

Image: SAMARA Living Room

A Century of Iowa Architecture

June 14 - August 21, 2005

Organized and circulated by The American Institute of Architects, Iowa Chapter, sponsored by Cottingham & Butler

This was a statewide traveling exhibit in conjunction with the AIA Iowa's 100-year anniversary.  The American Institute of Architects, Iowa Chapter, announced the top 50 Iowa buildings of the 20th century last fall, as part of its centennial celebration. To be considered for the honor, a building had to be in Iowa, still standing and designed by an architect.  This juried exhibit, intended to celebrate and inform Iowans of their rich and vibrant architectural heritage, consists of select photographs of the top 50 Iowa buildings including Dubuque's own Julien Dubuque Bridge and Eagle Point Park Shelters.

Tom Jewell-Vitale

February 22 - June 5, 2005

Organized by the Dubuque Museum of Art, sponsored by Cottingham & Butler

Local artist and Loras College art professor, Tom Jewell-Vitale, presented an exquisite body of expressive abstract works in oil, wax and acrylic.  Jewell-Vitale's style evokes tranquility and acumen, and acquaints the viewer with the artist's sensibility.  Each image provides a personal opportunity for peaceful introspection and appreciation;  overflowing with lush colors, intriguing juxtapositions, and fascinating shapes.

Image: Thomas Jewell-Vitale, Roshi's Advice, 2003, Oil, wax and acrylic on paper, 11 x 9 in., Collection of the artist

Ideally Real

The Paintings of Mary Kline-Misol

March 29 - May 20, 2005

Guest curator David Wells, sponsored by Tri-State Independent Physicians Assoc., Inc. and Dubuque Orthopaedic Surgeons, P.C.

This exhibition examined the style and motivation of well-known Des Moines area artist, Mary Kline-Misol.  Drawing from her extensive body of extraordinary, life-size paintings, guest curator, David Wells provided insight into the works' ideally real settings.  The artist's unique perspective and thick impasto creates a definite air of mystery and magic in subjects ranging from portraiture and still-life to Alice in Wonderland and botanical series.

Image: Wintertree (Blackbird), 2000, Acrylic on canvas, 40 x 60 in., Collection of the artist

Salmagundi Club: An American Institution

January 25 - March 20, 2005

Organized by Smith Kramer Fine Art Services, sponsored by FRIENDS and the Dubuque Museum of Art

The Salmagundi Club, founded in 1871, is one of the oldest art organizations in America and boasts the membership of influential artists like George Inness, Howard Chandler Christy, Robert Blum, William Merritt Chase, Emil Carlsen, Childe Hassam, Louis Comfort Tiffany, just to name a few.

This exhibition of club member's work included works of art, artists' used palettes, hand decorated mugs, photographs and the coveted Salmagundi Club medal.

Image: William Merrit Chase (1849-1916), Seated Woman with Fan, c. 1890, Ink drawing

Pig Latin: Illustrations by Arthur Geisert

November 23, 2004 - February 18, 2005

Organized by the Dubuque Museum of Art, curated by Jane Milosch, sponsored by Cottingham & Butler

From the Museum's permanent collection, this exhibit featured original hand-colored etchings created for Geisert's book, "Roman Numerals I to MM", published by Houghton Mifflin in 1996.  Lessons of how to count Roman numerals are filled with fanciful depictions of pigs in hot-air balloons, pigs playing tug-of-war and pigs romping about the farmyard.

Image: Arthur Geisert, Roman Numerals, Jacket Front, 1996, Hand-colored etching, The Arthur Geisert Collection.  Gift of Arthur and Bonnie Geisert, made possible by Jack and Mantea Schmid.

Dubuque: The Grant Wood Collection

May 29, 2004 to January 9, 2005

This exhibition featured works from the Museum’s significant collection of Iowa Regionalist, Grant Wood.  Wood’s work celebrates the rolling landscape of rural Iowa and gives dignity to the seasonal labors of the farmer who works the soil.  Wood’s work is also infused with a gentle humor that viewers can easily identify with.

Dubuque’s Grant Wood Collection was established in 1935 when the Carnegie-Stout Public Library, using a bequest of Mary E. Lull, purchased two important paintings: "Appraisal" and "Victorian Survival".  It was the first public collection in Iowa to acquire major works directly from Grant Wood.  Throughout the history of both organizations, the Museum and Library have enjoyed a longstanding professional partnership.  This relationship was capped in 1999, when, through a long term loan by the Carnegie-Stout Library, the Dubuque Museum of Art became the caretaker of the Woods and other paintings.  The Museum was entrusted with the collection because they could “provide the best facility and opportunities for the community to enjoy these treasures."

Other works in the exhibit came to the Museum through the generosity of Museum patrons, Dr. Randy Lengeling and Bob and Barbara Woodward.

The exhibit included Wood’s early work, as a student exploring a variety of aesthetic models during his travels in Europe, his iconic and familiar   Regionalist images of the Midwestern landscape and rural folk that he loved and respected, and the set of lithographs completed during the last four years of his life.  Also included in the exhibition were whimsical flower pot sculptures, “Lillies of the Alley”  composed of nuts and bolts found in Wood’s alley.

Other objects in the exhibition included books illustrated by Wood and a brochure he published to advertise the Stone City Art Colony.

The exhibit was sponsored by Dubuque Internal Medicine, PC and Tri-State Independent Physicians Assoc. Inc.

Image: Tree Planting Group, lithograph, 1937, Gift of Dr. Randall and Cathy Lengeling, 99.12.02

Edward S. Curtis: The North American Indian-Selections from the Complete Portfolio Collection

May 29, 2004 - January 9, 2005

The exhibit was sponsored by Target and FRIENDS of the Dubuque Museum of Art

Pioneering photographer Edward S. Curtis captured the daily and ceremonial existence of the Native Americans during the period 1900-1930.  His ambitious project was endorsed by then President Theodore Roosevelt and financed by JP Morgan.  Curtis’ goal was to produce a 20 volume set of ethnographic text illustrated with high quality photogravures.

The exhibition consisted of 20 images from the Complete Portfolio.  The Portfolio came to the Dubuque Museum of Art once again through the auspices of the Carnegie-Stout Public Library.  Former Dubuque native, Mrs. Emma H. Ward gave the portfolio to the Library as a memorial to her late husband, Hiram Pond Ward.   This Portfolio came under the care of the Museum in 1999, with other significant works from the Library’s collection.

After languishing for years unnoticed, the Curtis photographs resurfaced in the 1970’s and are now recognized as one of the most significant records of the Native American cultures ever produced.

Michelle Sales: Accumulations

August 10 - November 7, 2004

Sponsored by Cottingham & Butler

Fiber artist Michelle Sales expresses herself forcefully with dyed and heat treated synthetic fiber in her exhibit "Accumulations", in the Kris Mozena McNamer gallery at the Dubuque Museum of Art.  Photo journals of decay and erosion created during travles to Central and South America influence her work.  Each piece of material that Ms. Sales manipulates and then sews together represents a memory that she recalls while creating her work. The exhibition work provides viewers with a chimerical yet corporeal environment of human forms including torsos, arms, and life-size figures to examine.

Image: Paladin 3, 2003, 74 x 24 x 12 in., Thermoplastic materials, dyed and stitched, wire, transferred text, found objects, Collection of the artist