Some works of art return to campus

Last week, nearly 250 works of art from the UIMA permanent collection returned to campus. This broad cross section of 197 prints, 38 photographs, and 13 drawings will be stored in UI Libraries Special Collections, located in the third floor of the Main Library building. These works are the first from the Museum's collection to return to campus since the June floods forced evacuation of the building and removal of the collection to art storage in Chicago.

Instructors (UI and other) may make appointments for their classes to view selections from the group in a classroom adjacent to Special Collections. Individuals, including students, may make appointments to see specific works in the Special Collections Reading Room. Please contact Nathan Popp, UIMA Curatorial Graduate Assistant, at nathan-popp@uiowa.edu, for more information or to set up a Special Collections visit. Visit the UIMA website at www.uiowa.edu/uima for a link to a list of available works.

“The Museum of Art’s top priority since the flood has been to find creative ways to make selections from the collection available for UI classes,” said UIMA Chief Curator Kathleen Edwards, who chose the works to return to the UI with input from UI faculty. “We are grateful that Special Collections can accommodate these key works and work with the UIMA on student and faculty access.”

Last week on Thursday, Edwards assisted Professor Julie Hochstrasser's "History of Prints" class with viewing more than 50 of these works. Here is a slideshow of the students taking a close look at some of these works.



The remainder of the museum’s permanent collection remains in storage in Chicago. Several members of the UIMA staff visited the storage and conservation facilities in late August and left feeling optimistic: limited access to the collection will likely be available for class use, research, and future exhibition and educational planning.

In addition, new purchases and gifts to the UIMA collections can be stored in these facilities, ensuring the continued growth and vitality of the museum’s collections during this transitional time.

Pollock 'Mural' will not be sold

Good news -- The Iowa Board of Regents will not even consider the possibility of selling the UIMA's celebrated Jackson Pollock painting, Mural (above), at their next meeting!

This news broke late last week after the Regents reviewed a report prepared by the UI in response to the Regents request for information about the painting. This report, sent to the regents on Tuesday, September 30, was prepared using information provided by UIMA Interim Director Pamela White, documentation in the Museum's records, other information in the public domain concerning Jackson Pollock and the painting Mural, as well as help from other university departments. A copy of the report is available here.

The Regents released the report publicly on Friday, October 3, along with a statement from Board President David Miles, which is available here. Miles, in his statement, says, "This concludes the Board's inquiry into this matter." Art blogger Lee Rosenbaum talked with the Board's communications director and confirmed that the regents will not even discuss the matter of potentially selling the Pollock at their October meeting because they consider the issue closed. Read her full post, which includes an Q&A with UIMA Interim Director Pamela White here.

Other coverage of the Regents' report:

• The Gazette, "Consultant: Famous painting at UI too valuable to lose."
  
• The Press Citizen editorial, "Our View: Painting worth far more than its price tag."
• The Daily Iowan, "Selling Mural discussion continues."
  
• The Associated Press, "U of I says ‘Mural’ sale would hurt museum." Article appeared in The Des Moines Register, the Sioux City Journal, The Chicago Tribune, WHO TV, and KLEM 1410 radio (Le Mars).
  
• Modern Art Notes blog: "UIMA: Sotheby's offered $150M Guarantee for Pollock"; "Weekend roundup"; "Sotheby's: UIMA approached us (updated)."
  
• Time Magazine blog, "Auction House Follies."
  
• LA Times blog, "Sotheby's called out over Pollock offer."