AMES, IOWA — January 14, 2022 — Traditional and religious symbols interwoven within abstracted patterns serve as comments on cultural identity in the new exhibition Julie W Chang: Vibrant Matter opening on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 at the Christian Petersen Art Museum located on the campus of Iowa State University, 1017 Morrill Hall, 603 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa. 

Julie W Chang will be at the Christian Petersen Art Museum for an opening reception on Wednesday, February 9 beginning at 4:30 p.m. Following the reception, she will give a lecture in the Morrill Hall auditorium. The lecture begins at 5:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided at the reception. Both the reception and lecture are free and open to the public.

Chang works in a variety of media including acrylic chandelier forms, hanging scrolls, and colorful paintings, all included in Vibrant Matter. Her most recent series Amulet, which explores protective objects and symbols that are layered, is a feature of the exhibition. 

“There are several great events lined up for the semester, including an artist lecture, which are sure to get visitors of all ages involved and engaged with the exhibition at every level,” said Sydney Marshall, curator of the Christian Petersen Art Museum. “University Museums worked to collaborate with many departments across campus for these events, such as the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the College of Design, Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT), and Reiman Gardens.”

“CELT Teaching Talks: Visual Literacy: Interactive student learning workshop on Thursday, February 24^th (2030 Morrill, 3:10-4:00 pm) is designed for ISU faculty, staff, and graduate students with a teaching role to experience how campus resources can enhance student engagement,” said Karen Couves, event coordinator with the Center of Excellence for Learning and Teaching (CELT) at Iowa State University. “Participants from all disciplines are invited to learn how to include visual elements in their curriculum building.”

All events and programs associated with this exhibition are free and open to the public. The exhibition closes Friday, July 22, 2022.

Admission to the Christian Petersen Art Museum and all University Museums at Iowa State University is free and open to the public. There is a suggested donation of $8. Beginning January 18, the Christian Petersen Art Museum is open Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. It is closed weekends, University holidays, and spring break (March 14-18).

This exhibition is organized by University Museums. Major support for this exhibition is provided by Arthur Klein. Additional support is generously provided the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Shelley Taylor, and University Museums Membership. 

Educational programs and events are free and open to the public. Registration is required for some events, but not all. Programs are subject to change. For the latest information and to register, visit museums.iastate.edu and check the calendar. University Museums events are also updated on Facebook and the Iowa State University events calendar.

Opening and Artist Lecture

Wednesday, February 9, 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Locations: Christian Petersen Art Museum and Morrill Hall Auditorium

Join us for the opening reception of artist Julie Chang’s exhibition Vibrant Matter in the Christian Petersen Art Museum followed by a lecture at 5:30 p.m. where Chang will discuss her work as both a public and studio artist in the Morrill Hall Auditorium. Light refreshments provided.

Visual Literacy: Interactive Student Learning Workshop

Thursday, February 24, 3:10-4:00 p.m.

Location: 2030 Morrill Hall, 603 Morrill Road

Register with CELT (link)

Explore the possibilities that project-based learning, visual literacy practices, and museum collaborations can bring to your curriculum through this workshop. In partnership with the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) and University Museums, this event will be led by Sydney Marshall, University Museums curator; Karen Couves, coordinator of the CELT Mindfulness Walks; and Rob Whitehead, Associate Professor of Architecture and former CELT University Faculty Fellow for High Impact Practices. University faculty and educators will gain knowledge of teaching resources available on campus and become more familiar with the process of engaging with Museums to build their curriculum in the future.

Letterpress Prints, Abstracted Patterns

Thursday, March 24, noon-1:00 p.m.

Join Art and Visual Culture Assistant Professor Raluca Iancu to try your hand at layering letterpress blocks to create your own abstracted pattern, inspired by the Julie W Chang exhibition in the Christian Petersen Art Museum. The Memorial Union Workspace will also be leading a creative craft responding to the exhibition. Pizza will be provided and curator Sydney Marshall will lead a tour of the exhibition at 12:30 p.m.

Open House Weekend

Saturday & Sunday, April 2 & 3, 1:00-4:00 pm

Locations: Christian Petersen Art Museum & Farm House Museum

Having trouble getting to the museum during the week? Enjoy the Museums central campus locations and spring exhibitions during an open house weekend. At the Christian Petersen Art Museum see Julie W Chang: Vibrant Matter and All the Evils: Christian Petersen and the Art of War. At the Farm House Museum, the exhibition Arts & Craftsman: Simplicity, Honesty, and Truth to Materials will be open.

Representing Agriculture Through Public Art: University Museums as a Student Service

Tuesday, April 12, noon-1:00 pm

Begins at Curtiss Hall, lower level rotunda, 513 Farm House Lane

Join CALS Student Services and University Museums for a student-focused tour of Curtiss Hall's public art and exploration of services available to all students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences followed by a viewing of the exhibition in the Christian Petersen Art Museum at Morrill Hall. Julie W Chang is the artist behind the rotunda art at Curtiss Hall and has an exhibition Vibrant Matter in the Christian Petersen Art Museum spring semester 2022.

Lotusaumswords, 2021 by Julie W Chang. On loan from the artist and Hosfelt Gallery.

Details from the Amulet series, 2021 by Julie W Chang. On loan from the artist and Hosfelt Gallery.

Scrolls: Gingko Guns, Pineapple Head, Argyle Pony, Ballerina Oilrigs, and Crown Girls, all 2007 by Julie W Chang. Inkjet and silkscreen on paper. On loan from the artist and Hosfelt Gallery.

Panels in gallery entrance all 2012 by Julie W Chang. On loan from the artist and Hosfelt Gallery.

Photo of Julie W Chang. Courtesy of juliewchang.com.

Photo of student making a letterpress print with Raluca Iancu.

Photo of Morrill Hall, location of Christian Petersen Art Museum.

All the Way Home, 2013 by Julie Chang. Site integrated terrazzo floor with brass and bronze insets. Commissioned by University Museums and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Iowa Art in State Buildings Project for Curtiss Hall. In the permanent Art on Campus Collection, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.

Julie W Chang is a San Francisco based contemporary artist whose work investigates how identities are constructed and how (mis)understandings of both self and other might be resisted, subverted, and reimagined. Chang received her MFA from Stanford University in 2007, her BA in Sociology from Tufts University and her BFA in Studio Art from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in 1999. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including the San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery, San Jose Museum of Art, Stanford University, Transformer Gallery in Washington DC, Montserrat College of Art, Tulane University, Iowa State University and Yeditepe University in Istanbul. She was a recipient of the 2004 Murphy Cadogan Award, 2007 Headlands Center for the Arts MFA Studio Award and is represented by Hosfelt Gallery in San Francisco.

juliewchang.com

The Christian Petersen Art Museum was opened in a renovated Morrill Hall in 2007. The museum is named after the nation’s first permanent campus artist-in-residence, Christian Petersen, who sculpted and taught at Iowa State University from 1934 through 1955, and is considered the founder of the Art on Campus Collection. University Museums strives to preserve his legacy and continue his tradition of art on the Iowa State University campus through exhibitions and educational programs. The Christian Petersen Art Museum exhibits works of art by Christian Petersen in addition to a rotating schedule of exhibitions that includes contemporary art, public art, and exhibitions that engage a diverse group of departments across campus.

The Christian Petersen Art Museum is the home of the Christian Petersen Art Collection, the Art on Campus Program, the University Museums’ Visual Literacy and Learning Program, and contemporary changing art exhibitions. The two main art galleries are the Lyle and Nancy Campbell Art Gallery on the main floor and the Roy and Bobbi Reiman Public Art Studio Gallery on the lower level of Morrill Hall. 

Museum hours:

Monday-Friday, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Closed weekends and University holidays & breaks

Admission:

Free (with a suggested donation of $8)

museums.iastate.edu

University Museums is a distinctive organization that encompasses two art museums, a National Historic Landmark historic home museum, a sculpture garden, and one of the largest campus public art collections in the nation. University Museums brings world-class exhibitions with educational programming to Iowa State University actively acquires works of art to add to the more than 30,000 permanent collection objects, conserves and preserves collections, conducts and publishes curatorial scholarship, and fosters student engagement.

museums.iastate.edu

To schedule interviews, photograph events, or request high-resolution images, please contact Alisha Abner at 515.294.3342 or aabner@iastate.edu.