John Lawrence’s message from Aug. 21, 2017
It’s time to take a look at the Faces of Iowa State. The exhibit opens today at Iowa State’s Brunnier Art Museum and features 39 portraits painted by Maquoketa artist Rose Frantzen. The Iowa Staters who are featured include students, faculty, staff, alumni and others with close ties to the university. Iowa State commissioned Rose to paint the first batch of portraits during the 2016 Iowa State Fair. She came back to Iowa State last spring and painted the rest. Her work carries on a tradition of Iowa State portraits. Did you know?
- Since the 1930s, numerous portraits have been commissioned to commemorate presidents, deans, faculty and alumni, and honor Iowa State’s heritage and legacies. ISU departments and colleges continue this tradition today.
- Three of the Faces of Iowa State have strong connections to ISU Extension and Outreach.
- Marshall County Extension Council member Mary Giese was selected as an example of our 900 elected council members.
- Evan Fritz, a 2016 Iowa State graduate, Rising Star intern and former 4-H’er, represents how ISU Extension and Outreach builds skills in young people throughout the state. (That includes leadership skills. Evan now is a Winnebago County Extension Council member.)
- JaneAnn Stout, retired director of ISU Extension to Families and associate dean in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, influenced countless Iowans through education, outreach and her personal contribution to issues directly affecting their lives.
The exhibit continues at the Brunnier through Dec. 8 and then hits the road, including stops at these locations: Maquoketa Art Experience, Dec. 9, 2017-Feb. 12, 2018; Muscatine Art Center, Feb. 15-April 15, 2018; Pearson Lakes Art Center, April 26-June 23, 2018; Blanden Art Museum, Aug. 4-Oct. 14, 2018; and Harvester Artspace Lofts Exhibit Gallery, Council Bluffs, Nov. 4-Dec. 31, 2018. After the tour, the portraits will join Iowa State’s permanent Art on Campus Collection.
A couple more notes
- Congratulations to Gary Taylor for completing what must be one of the longer interims on record. He’s now officially director of the ISU Extension and Outreach Community and Economic Development program, as well as associate director of the Institute for Design Research and Outreach, and director of Design Extension.
- Vote for Parkin-A-Punch to win a $50,000 Encore Prize. This Human Sciences project with USA Boxing matches young boxers with older adults who have Parkinson’s disease. As the older adults learn boxing, they become role models, helping their young coaches identify and pursue their goals and dreams. You can vote once per day through Aug. 31 and help this project advance to the final stage of judging.
—John D. Lawrence
Iowa State University Interim Vice President for Extension and Outreach