AMES, IOWA — January 6, 2022 — Amber Cowan has developed a unique artistic process based around the use of recycled, upcycled, and second-life American pressed glass to create intricate glass sculptures. On Wednesday, January 19, 2022, the exhibition Mythical Bounty: Glass Sculptures by Amber Cowan will open at the Brunnier Art Museum, second floor of the Scheman Building, 1805 Center Drive, Ames, Iowa. That evening, Cowan will lecture about her flameworking, hot-sculpting and glassblowing methods at 5:30 p.m. following the opening reception, which includes light refreshments beginning at 4:00 p.m. The reception and lecture are both free and open to the public. Free parking is available in the lot north of the Scheman Building.

“University Museums is excited to have the opportunity to host glass artist Amber Cowan on January 19th, along with celebrating her remarkable new commission created for the permanent collection of glass that began with the donations of Ann and Henry Brunnier and continues to grow through the Iowa Questers,” said Adrienne Gennett, curator of the Brunnier Art Museum. “Cowan is an important and unique contemporary glass artist who has developed an artistic process that honors an important era of American glass, which she preserves and recycles to create the fantastical and whimsical worlds within her beautiful sculptures.”

Cowan invites viewers to look closely and discover the stories she tells in her glass sculptures. Her complex dioramas and three-dimensional sculptures often use existing historic pressed glass objects she finds beautiful, then the remaining glass of the same color is melted down and painstakingly flameworked and blown to fill the space with ornament. Each sculpture has a narrative that must be sought out by the viewer as they peer through the many layers of glass ornament she has created.

Mythical Bounty celebrates The Dreams of a Descendant Sireneuse, the new work of art University Museums has commissioned from Cowan for the permanent collection. “The piece itself will be loosely themed on the Greek mythology story of the Sirens,” Cowan said when designing the new commission. “The masthead nude will act as a ship in the center of the diptych scene and include a rocky ‘cullet’ coast in which other nude figurines will lure the ship/vase.” The addition of Cowan’s sculpture connects with the range of Early American Pressed Glass of the Iowa Questers Glass Collection within the permanent collection, while also expanding the variety and depth of the contemporary glass collection.

The exhibition also includes both recent and newly created sculptures by Cowan. Each sculpture tells a unique visual story that Cowan has meticulously created, drawing viewers into a world that seems almost alive and blooming in front of their eyes.

Admission to the Brunnier 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 19, 2022, the Brunnier Art Museum is open Wednesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The museum is closed to the public on Mondays and Tuesdays, but Iowa State University curriculum tours may be scheduled for these days with two-weeks' notice. All University Museums are closed for University Holidays.

This exhibition is curated and organized by the artist, Amber Cowan, and University Museums with Heller Gallery. Generous support for the exhibition was given by Lee Huey in honor of Gayle Huey; Carol Grant; Betty and Dennis Keeney; Janelle and George McClain; Lucinda and Dirk Scholten; Clifford Smith; and University Museums Membership.

Supported by the Ames Convention & Visitors Bureau Community Grant Program.

515.232.4032 | thinkames.com.

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, January 19, 4:00-6:30 p.m.

Brunnier Art Museum

Visit the fantastical world of glass artist Amber Cowan during the opening reception for the exhibition Mythical Bounty from 4:00 to 5:30 pm. Then stay to hear Cowan speak about her highly intricate works of art and her unique process of repurposing pressed glass at 5:30 pm. Light refreshments will be served during the reception. 

Glassblowing Demonstration and Discussion

Thursday, March 3, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Livestreamed event with limited in-person seating at the Student Innovation Center Glassblowing Studio

Registration is required for the in-person attendees.

Enjoy a night of fire and glass! University Museums and the Gaffer’s Guild will present a live event for a limited in-person audience, while also livestreaming the entire event. Students, faculty, and staff glass blowers will demonstrate the process of creating blown glass and afterwards discuss how they came to glass blowing as a hobby or passion. This event is in partnership with the Student Innovation Center and the Gaffer’s Guild.

Header, second, third, and fifth images: The Dreams of a Descendant of Sirenuse, 2021 by Amber Cowan. Flameworked glass, found glass, mixed media, powder coated aluminum frame. Commissioned by University Museums with funds from the Joyce Brewer Art Acquisition Fund. In the permanent collection, Brunnier Art Museum, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. Photo by Matthew Hollerbush.

First image: Fish and Nets in Periwinkle and Milk, 2021 by Amber Cowan. Flameworked and Found Glass. On loan from the collection of the artist courtesy of Heller Gallery. Photo by Matthew Hollerbush.

Fourth image: Grotto of the Rosalene Fountain, 2021 by Amber Cowan. Powder coated aluminum frame. On loan from the collection of the artist and Heller Gallery. Photo by Matthew Hollerbush.

Amber Cowan lives and works in Philadelphia where she received an MFA in Ceramics/Glass from Tyler School of Art and Architecture of Temple University. She was the recipient of the 2014 Rakow Commission from The Corning Museum of Glass and her work can be found in the permanent collection of The Museum of Art and Design in New York, The Toledo Museum of Art, and The RISD Museum.

ambercowan.com

The Brunnier Art Museum is the only accredited museum emphasizing a decorative arts collection in the state of Iowa and one of the nation's few museums located within a performing arts and conference complex (Iowa State Center). Founded in 1975, the museum is named after its benefactors, Henry J. Brunnier and his wife Ann. Ceramics, glass, dolls, ivory, jade, and enameled metals are all included in the Brunnier Collection.

Museum Hours

Reopens Wednesday, January 19, 2022

Wednesday - Friday, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Saturday & Sunday, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Closed to the public Monday & Tuesday. ISU curriculum tours may be scheduled on these days with a 2-week notice.

Closed University Holidays.

Admission is free.

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.