2014–2015 ANNUAL REPORT UNIVERSITY OF IOWA MUSEUM OF ART1 The University of Iowa Museum of Art (UIMA) is funded by the General Education Fund of the University of Iowa (UI) through the Office of the Provost and by the generous support of its members and donors. UIMA@IMU Cover image: Jackson Pollock (American, 1912–1956) Mural (detail), 1943 Oil and casein on canvas 1375 Highway 1 West Tel: +1 319 335 1727 95 5/8 x 237 3/4 in. (242.9 x 603.9 cm) 1840 Studio Arts E-mail: [email protected] Gift of Peggy Guggenheim, 1959.6 Reproduced with permisson from Iowa City, IA 52242-1789 Website: uima.uiowa.edu the University of Iowa Copyright ©20152 TABLE OF CONTENTS PERSONNEL LIST 4 REGISTRAR AND COLLECTIONS • Advisory Board MANAGEMENT 37 • Development Committee • Loans • Members Council • Accessions • Museum Staff • Professional Activities • Volunteers EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 5 • Conservation AUDIENCE AND PARTICIPANT TOTALS 11 MEMBERSHIP ACTIVITIES 57 SPONSORS 2014–2015 12 • The UIMA's Annual pARTy • First Fridays CURATORIAL 13 • The Director's Circle Lecture • Exhibitions • Pollock on the Move PRESS COLLABORATIONS AND • Curatorial Initiatives MENTIONS IN REGIONAL MEDIA 59 • Donors and Fundraising • Professional Activities and Outreach • Legacies for Iowa DEVELOPMENT AND FINANCE 62 EDUCATION 22 FINANCIAL SUMMARY 65 • Programming: Public, Donor/Volunteer, smART Talks • K–12 School Programs • On-Site Exhibition and Gallery Tours • Senior Living Communities (SLC) Outreach Program • School Programs Collections Acquisitions • Professional Activities • Public Programs UIMA 2014–2015 ANNUAL REPORT 3 UNIVERSITY OF IOWA MUSEUM OF ART 2014–2015 PERSONNEL LIST ADVISORY BOARD Kevin Chamberlain—Preparator for Legacies Ellen Cranberg—Gallery Assistant Ann January, Chair; Madgetta Dungy, Robert Fellows, Alan Kathy Edwards—Senior Curator Fredregill, Budge Gierke, Susann Hamdorf, James Hayes, Myrene Steve Erickson—Preparator Hoover, Robert S. Kinsey III, Linda Paul, Anastasia Polydoran, Megan Farlow—Gallery Assistant Nathan Savin, Joyce Summerwill, Beth Tross, Rubie Watson, Dale Fisher—Curator of Education Kineret Zabner Pat Hanick—Research Support Lexi Janezic—Preparator DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Julia Jessen—Education Coordinator Amir Arbisser, James Hayes, Myrene Hoover, Pat McFarland, Emily Lennon—Senior Living Communities Nathan Savin, Joyce Summerwill, Alan Swanson, Buffie Tucker, Amanda Lissak—Marketing Assistant Nancy Willis, Thais Winkleblack, Darrell and Shirley Wyrick Ranelle Lueth Knight—Curatorial Assistant for Academic Affairs & Research Sarah Luko—Registrarial Assistant Jeff Martin—Manager of Exhibitions & Collections MEMBERS COUNCIL Yang Meng—Graphic Designer Mark Seabold, Chair; Anna Barker, Wallace Chappell, Barb Casey Murray—Gallery Assistant Christensen, James Conard, Tim Conroy, Jessica Doro, Will Beth Nobles—Associate Director of Development Downing, Jessica Glick, Beth Hanna, Dawn Harbor, Kay Irelan, Sean O’Harrow—Director Sanjay Jani, Emily Lennon, Polly Lepic, John Moyers, Kathrine Alice Phillips—Curatorial Assistant for Academic Affairs Nixon, Jean Rude, Kristen Temple, Mary Westbrook, Nancy & Research Willis, Pope Yamada, Laurie Zaiger Josh Siefken—Assistant Curator of Education Samantha Steines—Gallery Assistant Steve Strait—Application Programmer/Analyst MUSEUM STAFF Sarika Sugla—Assistant Curator for Legacies Kate Baranowski—Gallery Assistant Heather Thorpe—Registrarial Assistant Alex Brannaman—Accountant Emma Van Dyke—Gallery Assistant Betty Breazeale—Secretary Elizabeth Wallace—PR Coordinator Katherine Wilson—Assistant Registrar UIMA 2014–2015 ANNUAL REPORT 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report serves as an overview of activities In recent years, particularly since the Great endowment fund for future exhibitions, of the University of Iowa Museum of Art for Iowa Flood of 2008, the UIMA has had seven programs, and activities; prepare the the university academic and fiscal year: July primary goals for the institutional year, and groundwork for further fundraising 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015. they can be summarized as follows: campaigns; • further develop the expansion of audiences • strengthen staff numbers and expertise INTRODUCTION (breadth and depth), including geographical so that the museum is able to handle the reach (e.g. grow statewide attendance) and challenges presented by the six previous With over 14,000 works of art, the University increased interaction with Iowa students, goals. of Iowa Museum of Art (UIMA) is one academics, and visitors; of the most important and historically significant art museums in American higher • prepare the institutional groundwork and MUSEUM ATTENDANCE & PROGRAM education. Since its founding in 1969, facilities planning for a new museum facility PARTICIPATION created with art donated to the university in Iowa City; by Peggy Guggenheim, the Elliott family, In a period in which the museum is planning the Stanley family, the Arthur M. Sackler • expand the breadth and depth of to wind operations down in order to Foundation, and others, the museum has the collection, exhibitions, events, and prepare for building and moving into a new been widely recognized in a number of educational offerings; facility, the number of people attending areas, from twentieth-century American and and taking part in museum activities has, European painting to art from West Africa, • raise the national and international profile yet again, broken many audience records. from nineteenth- and twentieth-century of the museum in the world of art history, Some 313,971 people participated in American prints to Pre-Columbian ceramics art collections, and museums; in doing so, UIMA programs and exhibitions during and textiles, as well as many other strengths. raise the profile of the university and the the 2014–2015 season. A further 126,502 The past four decades have been punctuated state; users accessed our websites as part of by a series of important achievements and our exhibition and education offering acquisitions that have helped create the • increase the role of the museum and (yes, contrary to some skeptical views, the reputation that it deservedly enjoys today. further collaborative partnerships within the internet is indeed an important part of our This long track record makes the successes university; develop institutional partnerships presentations, as not everyone can visit in 2014–2015 all the more impressive, given across Iowa; the museum!). This total is in line with the that the bar has been set so high for so long highest numbers recorded during the past and given the previous year had broken so • make progress towards raising $5,000,000 few years. This bodes well for the future many performance records. in donations and pledges to create an when the museum moves to a new facility UIMA 2014–2015 ANNUAL REPORT 5 in Iowa City; however, the year of the move Art Museum in Davenport, the Dubuque the Grand Tour to American Pop: Learning should prove to be a period of lessened Museum of Art, the National Czech & Slovak from the Alden Lowell Doud Collection, activity due to the logistical requirements Museum and Library in Cedar Rapids, the which was another partnership with our of the change in location. Faulconer Gallery at Grinnell College, and academic colleagues. Over 3,540 university the Muscatine Art Center. students participated in programs and The 2014–2015 season included a variety exhibitions related to these projects. of events, ranging from the usual museum The relationship with the Figge Art Museum, fare to highly unusual activities. The high located an hour to the east of Iowa City, In summary, the 2014–2015 period total of point for the museum’s international profile continues apace with over 88,900 people in 440,473, including some 313,971 participants was the spring opening of the UIMA’s attendance. A large proportion of the UIMA and a further 126,502 accessing our internet David Anfam guest-curated exhibition permanent collection galleries is located offerings, constitutes one of the best years entitled Jackson Pollock’s Mural: Energy at the Figge, and this number of visitors is ever. The success is in large part due to Made Visible at the Peggy Guggenheim about 10% higher than normal, which is the international aspect of the exhibition Collection during the Venice Art Biennale. encouraging. The popular UI Art Faculty schedule, and this means the museum has a By the end of June, 92,092 visitors had Biennial Exhibition took place during this different profile from previous years, when seen the show and learned that Iowa’s art period, which brought in many people from it would see some 146,000 people between collection is a significant contribution to the Iowa City. 2011 and 2013, and over 91,000 in 2010– understanding of world culture. The UIMA 2011. These numbers also demonstrate that show was presented at the Guggenheim The Education and Outreach programs the UIMA’s internet presence is receiving under the auspices of the US Diplomatic reached a very large number of primary and more attention, with three times as many Missions (US Department of State) and secondary school students. In 70 locations visits made to the Art & Life in Africa site represented the US, as well as Iowa, to an in fourteen counties, the initiative educated than the previous year, for example. international audience. Needless to say, this 14,888 students from kindergarten to was a great honor and the UIMA performed twelfth grade. Also, 5,839 people took part to the highest standard with much positive in our public programs, such as lectures MUSEUM FACILITY PROGRESS press coverage around the world. and artist presentations, and 440 seniors attended our events in their community The University administration announced The Integrated Outreach With Art centers. in October 2014 that they would be (I.O.W.A.) free statewide exhibition and working with H+H Development Group and loan program, supported by the Matthew Two key exhibitions were organized and Mortenson Inc. to create a new museum on Bucksbaum Family, had a successful first curated by the UIMA in the IMU Black Box the corner of Clinton and Burlington Streets full year by attracting 108,183 visitors to Theater gallery space: Tea Time: Going in downtown Iowa City.