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.