AMES, IOWA — January 4, 2023 — One hundred years after the death of student athlete Jack Trice, the Christian Petersen Art Museum at Iowa State University, located in Morrill Hall, 603 Morrill Road, hosts an exhibition honoring Iowa State’s first African American athlete and celebrates the sculptures on campus depicting Trice.

Artist and Iowa State alumnus King Au (B.A. 1982, M. ARCH 1985) was commissioned by University Museums to capture the site-specific sculptures through creative photography for the exhibition Through the Photographic Lens of King Au: Honoring Jack Trice and to add the works of art to the University Museums Permanent Collection. “Art has the power to commemorate, memorialize, celebrate, and honor,” said University Museums director Lynette Pohlman. “King Au has been photographing Iowa State’s Art on Campus Collection since 1995. In this exhibition, he adds his own unique interpretations of Jack Trice’s legacy.”

The exhibition includes large giclée prints, text about Trice, and an artist’s video, Beyond Game Day Conversations, about the project concept and implementation. In one of the commissioned images, Game Day, Au celebrates Trice as an athlete and leader of his time, depicting the sculpture I Will! The Jack Trice Legacy by Ed Dwight. Confetti-like football tickets are added to this image, each one with a barcode that scans to and represents an actual seat at Jack Trice Stadium.

On Saturday, January 21 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., the Christian Petersen Art Museum will host an in-person reception with the artist for the opening of the exhibition. King Au will give remarks at 2:30 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.

Through the Photographic Lens of King Au: Honoring Jack Trice will be on exhibition in the Neva M. Petersen Gallery, the lower level hallway of the Christian Petersen Art Museum at Morrill Hall, January 17 through October 8, 2023. Admission is free and open to the public Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

This exhibition is curated by University Museums with support from the University Museums Membership and Advancement Council, including, Claire Andreasen, Marcia Borel, Kathy Howell, Art Klein, Anne Kohs, Beverly and Warren Madden, Frankie and Cal Parrott, and Diane and Jim Patton.

Find full descriptions of programs on the University Museums Calendar. All programs are free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged but not required. Events listed below will be at the Christian Petersen Art Museum unless otherwise noted. Programs are subject to change. Check the University Museums Calendar and Facebook page for the latest events information.

Reception

Saturday, Jan. 21, 2:00–4:00 p.m.

Artist remarks at 2:30 p.m.

Join artist and ISU alumnus King Au for the exhibition reception and unveiling of his newly commissioned three works of art for the University Museums’ permanent collection depicting the campus sculptures of student-athlete Jack Trice (1902–1923).

Sketching on Napkins | The Jack Trice Tribute Story: Breaking Barriers

Sunday, Jan. 29, 2:00–3:00 p.m.

This program will explore the recent sculpture by public artist Ivan Toth Depeña that honors, commemorates and memorializes Trice's campus legacy as expressed through the power of art. A preview video featuring the creative process of creating Breaking Barriers with Depeña will be presented.

Sketching on Napkins Take 2 | The Jack Trice Tribute Story: Breaking Barriers

Thursday, Feb. 9, noon–12:50 p.m.

This program will explore the recent sculpture by public artist Ivan Toth Depeña that honors, commemorates and memorializes Trice's campus legacy as expressed through the power of art.

Art Walk: Athletics and the Body

Wednesday, March 29, noon–1:00 p.m.

Begins outside State Gym

Athletics and the depiction of the human form is a vital theme in both Iowa State’s history and the Art on Campus Collection. Museums Docent Steve Petska will lead an art walk in connection with the Honoring Jack Trice exhibition at the Christian Petersen Museum.

In Commemoration | Walking Tour

Wednesday, April 12, noon–1:00 p.m.

Begins at Christian Petersen Art Museum, Morrill Hall

Join Lynette Pohlman, director and chief curator, to explore the legacy of Jack Trice and Iowa State’s commemorative sculptures honoring this campus icon, as well as surveying the tradition of other commemorative sculptures at Iowa State. Walking required.

Open House Weekend

Saturday & Sunday, April 15 & 16, 1:00–4:00 p.m.

Christian Petersen Art Museum and Farm House Museum

Having trouble getting to the museum during the week? Enjoy the University Museums’ central campus locations and spring exhibitions during an open house weekend, Saturday & Sunday, April 15 & 16 from 1:00-4:00pm. 

King Au is a photographer/visual artist in Des Moines, Iowa and San Francisco, California who for over 30 years has specialized in interior/exterior concepts, home goods, and food in a studio environment. Au is an alumnus of Iowa State University with both a B.A. (1982) and M. ARCH (1985) in Architecture from the College of Design. He was the recipient of the Young Alumni Award in 1996 and the Christian Petersen Award in 2020. King and Ann Au are the originators and donors for the Design United Award for the College of Design at Iowa State University.

kingauphotography.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 art galleries are the Lyle and Nancy Campbell Art Gallery on the main floor, the Roy and Bobbi Reiman Public Art Studio Gallery on the lower level, and the Neva M. Petersen Gallery in the lower level hallway of Morrill Hall. 

Christian Petersen Art Museum

1017, 0003, and 0003 hallway Morrill Hall

603 Morrill Road

Ames, Iowa

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. 

Game Day, 2022

King Au

Giclée image

Commissioned by University Museums on the Centennial of Trice’s death. Funding provided by Joyce Tomlison Brewer Fund for Art Acquisition. In the Art on Campus Collection, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. U2022.120

Self portrait courtesy of King Au