On Aug. 26, the highly anticipated reopening of the Stanley Museum of Art took place. The Stanley Museum of Art is located in Iowa City at the University of Iowa. It was first established in 1969 after the University of Iowa was offered to construct an art museum in return for being gifted many valuable and timeless art pieces.
Over the next 40 years, the Stanley Museum of Art consistently had thriving collections displayed, soon becoming recognized as one of the best art museums in the nation. However, in June of 2008, all the museum’s artwork had to be cleared out due to huge flooding of the Iowa River, and the condition of the museum was no longer capable of displaying the fine art.
After several years of effort toward constructing a new building, The Stanley Museum of Art welcomed the public on Aug. 26, 2022.
There have been various collections displayed in the Stanley Museum of Art over the years before the flood. Currently, a launching exhibition titled “Homecoming” is being held, which brings back the remarkable art that the “Homecoming” exhibit had to offer.
One of the installations, “Generations,” includes a notable art piece by internationally renowned abstract artist Jackson Pollock. Titled “Mural,” This artwork was completed in 1943 and exemplifies Pollock’s abstract art form with oil and water-based paint on linen. This piece is also the largest of all his pieces.
In November, PV AP Art students were able visit the Stanley Museum of Art and see the installations of art firsthand. Junior Willa Samuelson was enthralled to see Pollock’s “Mural” in person. “I liked the abstract room the best, especially Mural by Jackson Pollock. I enjoyed being able to see artwork that was out of my usual range in size,” Samuelson stated.
Another installation in the Homecoming exhibition is “Fragments of the Canon: African Art from the Saunders and Stanley Collections.” Junior Mya Griffin admired the art in this installation, specifically the “103 (Face Jugs Series).”
“I liked the deeper meaning behind the jugs on culture and tradition. The face molded onto the jug remains ominous, which lets viewers of the art piece analyze it on their own,” said Griffin. In “Fragments of the Canon: African Art from the Saunders and Stanley Collections”, the extensive collection of art donated by Claude and Elizabeth Stanley is being presented in a new way.
For the first time, the museum has an African art installation curated by a Black collector, Meredith Saunders. This gives viewers different perspectives of the artwork. The Stanleys focused on a broader idea of major historical events and world trends. Saunders puts a spotlight on African cultures locally with the perspective of a tourist.
As the Stanley Museum of Art continues to bring out new collections and curations, viewers will be able to acquire more historical and cultural knowledge of various art pieces and appreciate the collection of art the museum has to offer.
The Homecoming exhibition will be open to view until July 2025.
