1997
February
February, 1997
Mural brings ISU history, future to life
owa State's rich history and promising future are depicted in a
new mural that will tour the state before its installation in the
Parks Library.
University officials commissioned artist Doug Shelton to create
"Unlimited Possibilities" as part of Iowa State's celebration of
the Iowa sesquicentennial. In the tradition of the Grant Wood
murals already in the library, Shelton was the lead painter and
oversaw a group of ISU faculty and students, who helped transfer
his ideas to canvas.
"Grant Wood's murals depict Iowa State's early history," said Lynette Pohlman, University Museums director, "while Doug Shelton's mural reflects a vision of Iowa State's future and celebrates the university's past accomplishments.
"Shelton and his group synthesized a virtual mountain of perceptions to create this mural," Pohlman said. Ideas for the mural were gathered from numerous Iowa State sources, including faculty, administrators, students, staff and campus publications.
The creation of the mural became a public event, with teachers,
students and other spectators watching the mural take shape in the
Mural Studio in the Brunnier Art Museum.
It took eight months to create the mural, which consists of three panels. The center panel depicts the global concerns and influence of Iowa State, while the left panel features an agricultural setting and the right, a classroom setting.
"The two sides of the mural can be viewed as urban and rural, or nature and civilization," Shelton said.
Members of the artist group included faculty members Dean Biechler, Donna Freidman and Brenda Jones, and students Robert Atwell, Nikki Grote, Gwen Kaye, Qimin Liu, Justin Lorenzen, Kande Rappe, Sandra Spilker and Jim Wilcox.
The mural was commissioned by the University Museums and funded by
External Affairs, University Museums and a gift from the Alice
Davis Estate. In 1998 it will be installed around the doorway in
the vestibule leading to the Parks Library reading room and will
commemorate the 140th anniversary of ISU's founding.
-- Erica Brizzi, News Service intern
Iowa State homepage
Copyright © 1997, Iowa State University, all rights reserved
URL: http://www.iastate.edu/IaStater/1997/feb/mural.html
Revised: February 1997