The seemingly odd connection between motorcycle crashes and artwork will be explained Thursday when sculptor Michael Sturz gives a lecture on his life and work.

The lecture, at 7 p.m. in the Brunnier Art Museum of the Scheman Building, is part of “eMotions,” a traveling exhibition that links orthopedics and art. One of Sturz’s metal pieces is currently on display in the gallery.

The sculpture contains chunks of Sturz’s motorcycle welded together after he was involved in an serious accident that required extensive knee surgery. Video taped from astride a motorcycle and videotaped during his surgery are projected onto the wall as a metal leg bone moves the wheels of the structure.

“He will talk about what influenced his life in terms of the artwork and the processes – what he’s gone through physically and mentally to get to where he is today,” says Rachel Hampton, Brunnier Gallery communication specialist.

Hampton says Sturz has another connection with orthopedics.

“He was supposed to be an orthopedic surgeon and follow in his father’s footsteps,” she says. “Instead of manipulating mechanics of the body through surgery, Michael turned the the arts where he could manipulate mechanics of different art media.”

Not only is Sturz an artist himself, Hampton says, but he is also founded and teaches classes at a sizable California art school and studio called “The Crucible.” The Crucible’s Web site at http://www.thecrucible.org states that classes are held in blacksmithing, welding, jewelry, neon and video production.

Hampton said she was struck by the openness with which Sturtz shares his experiences.

“Everything about this artwork is so exposed, and in that way he’s exposing himself,” Hampton said. “You can tell he’s really thought it through as someone trying to understand what happened to him by working through that emotion and creating the artwork. He didn’t put a case over it like most motorcycles have. You can see the welding marks, the nuts, the bolts, the things that are running.”

Matthew DeLay, Brunnier Gallery curator of education, says Sturz’s work and the rest of the “eMotion” exhibit have proved useful to ISU students and faculty. He says students studying health and human performance, gerontology, biology, pre-medicine and exercise science have visited the exhibit so far.

“There’s an awareness in the faculty about practicing `visual literacy’ – how we interpret visual processes, how we know what we’re looking at, and how we share that with others,” DeLay says.

The “eMotions” exhibit touches on a range of topics, DeLay says. He says aspects of the work deal with health, aging, accidents, and how we feel about those issues. Captions on the various art pieces elaborate on some of the artists’ emotions.

One of the captions by artist Laurie S. Austin reads, “My art gives me confidence. I know I can deal with anything when I look at what I created and realize I literally used my body to make it. That healthier mental outlook is half the battle in dealing with physical limitations.”

Another artist, Elizabeth Hines, shares her personal mantra in her work. The phrase is written over and over on a long, narrow white ribbon and is gathered into folds. It reads “I am not weak. This is not me. The pain will not stop.”

Lew Schon, an artist and foot surgeon, points out the humor of his business with a painting entitled “Fillet of Sole.” In the work, a human foot is displayed nicely on a plate along with vegetable garnishes.

Hampton says the “eMotions” exhibit is pertinent to ISU because of the campus’ large medical community and the common aspects of the theme.

“I think everybody knows somebody with some sort of orthopedic condition, whether it be arthritis or knee surgery,” she says.

Thursday’s lecture by Michael Sturz is free, as is admission to the eMotion display, which runs through Oct. 20. A family day and a panel discussion are also planned in conjunction with “eMotions.” A schedule of those events can be found on the Brunnier Web site at http://www.museums.iastate.edu/BrunnierFrames.htm.