We Shall Know Iowa State By Its Myriad Parts

I begin with a mural that incorporates all aspects of the university. We Shall Know Iowa State By Its Myriad Parts was commissioned in 2007 to ornament the walls of the Hixson-Lied Student Success Center. This center was created to aid students in their quest for academic success. It provides tutors and learning resources but also provides assistance to student athletes. The mural reflects the goals of Hixson-Lied by representing all the academic departments and athletic teams that make up the Iowa State community. The work of art is made up of 80 wooden boxes that depict anything from animal anatomy to the extended color wheel. The acrylic paint ranges from bright color palettes to subdued neutral tones. The mishmash of subject matter, color palettes, and artistic styles adds to the overall aesthetic and makes the viewer create connections to their own lives. Created by Sticks, Inc. a workshop based out of Des Moines, IA, the sculptural mural is able to speak to all people because of its diverse panels that appeal to all styles. I was able to find a great quote provided by Sticks, Inc. that discusses why they feel the mural should impact all of its viewers. “Student’s academic success depends upon being able to identify themselves as part of the academic world. Each student entering the Hixson-Lied Student Success Center ought to be able to envision himself or herself as a part of the varied mural and the university it celebrates.” (http://www.museums.iastate.edu/AOCFactSheetsPDF/Hixson-Lied.pdf)


This quote is a great way to interpret the goal of the artists and also the goal of the University Museums to inspire students through images of their future.

My interpretations of the mural have been altered slightly by the information I found through the museum, however the panels speak for themselves. As a student of Iowa State, I find the mural to be incredibly motivating. I feel the artwork is successful in making even the most basic aspects of any academic or athletic program seem monumental. By placing these images in the atrium of the two-story building each panel seems significant.

When I first visited the mural I went with a friend of mine that is getting a degree in chemistry…a complete 180 degrees from my own degree program. However, what I found amazing was that both of us were able to connect with certain aspects of the mural and even found panels that touched us both. As I stood in front of this immense mural the emotion that came through the strongest was a feeling of pride: proud that I was a hard worker academically, proud to be a part of the College of Design, and most importantly proud to be a Cyclone. After I left the mural, I couldn’t help but think about the fact that the sculptural mural was a relatively simple idea. As the institution that commissioned the mural, I might have had a hard time accepting this concept for fear that it might be too obvious to viewers. I would have feared that it would not have elicited enough emotion or kept visitors coming back. Wow did Sticks, Inc. deliver! Not only is each tile thought provoking, they also challenge the viewer to think about the deeper meaning of each image. I was even compelled to do some research about ISU after I could not identify the relationship some of the panels had with the university.

In the end, I was able to grasp what I thought was a simple, elementary concept and see how effective this mural had become. I am glad We Shall Know Iowa State By Its Myriad Parts, was my first artwork in my blog because it gave me a sense of what the University Museums is looking for when they purchase art for their public collection. Providing a mural that all students can identify with and appreciate in their own way makes this sculptural mural a successful work of art for an academic success center. In addition, I have learned the importance of site-specific public artwork. Through understanding the importance of this murals location I will be able to evaluate how successful the location is for other public artwork.

To complete this blog entry I would like to express how important it is to research and learn about your own community and university. No matter if you live at ISU or, god forbid you might go to the University of Iowa, or even somewhere across the country, before you think about spending gobs of money to experience other culture see what is in your own backyard. You might be surprised by what you find.

http://www.museums.iastate.edu/AOCFactSheetsPDF/Hixson-Lied.pdf

-By Libby Grant