It all began 25 years ago with a gift. An extensive decorative-arts collection of ceramics, glass, dolls, ivory, jade and enameled metals was donated by an ISU alumnus, Henry J. Brunnier, and his wife, Ann. Besides the collection of artwork, the Brunniers provided funding for the Brunnier Art Museum, located on the second floor of the Scheman Building. Today, University Museums will celebrate its 25th anniversary to the exact date and time the Brunnier Art Museum opened. It’s not just the art and money that the Brunniers have given to Iowa State, said Director of University Museums Lynette Pohlman. “Ann and Henry’s true gift is the growth and knowledge that each piece in the collection has provided for students and faulty of the university,” Pohlman said. The Brunniers contributed 10,000 works of art that encouraged 500 other collectors to donate to the museum during the past 25 years, Pohlman said. Today the university museum has more than 30,000 works in its permanent collection. “Each object is wonderful on its own, but it’s the accumulation of objects into a collection that gives the university an intellectual and emotional base,” she said. Dana Michels, associate curator of University Museums, said the program has grown from one museum to three parts: the Brunnier Art Museum, the Farmhouse Museum and the Art on Campus Program. Tonight’s anniversary celebration will start at 7 p.m. with a 20-minute program in the second-floor lobby of the Scheman Building. A reception in the museum will follow the program for the exhibition “Christian Petersen: Sculptor.” Christian Petersen came to Iowa State in 1934 to complete a campus-sculpture project and stayed 21 years, becoming the country’s first collegiate artist in residence. The exhibition features Petersen’s life work in 90 sculptures and 100 drawings, Michels said. Most of Petersen’s work was done on the ISU campus and relates to campus life. “Petersen left a great sculptural legacy here and his sculptures enrich the lives of faculty, students and visitors,” Michels said. Pohlman said former ISU President Robert Parks will speak during the anniversary program about the founding of the Iowa State Center in the 1970s. Interim ISU President Richard Seagrave will be speaking about the museum’s role in the university today, and Pohlman will talk about the future of University Museums. Pohlman said three pieces of work have been commissioned for the evening. A 12-foot tall sculpture of Christian Petersen by Sarah Grant Hutchison, Des Moines artist, will be unveiled at the celebration. Four poems based on Petersen’s work and life by Michael Carey, professional poet from Farragut, also was commissioned. Robert Hillestad, textiles and apparel designer from Lincoln, Neb., has designed a “very colorful,” 6-foot long coat, Pohlman said. The “Celebration Coat” will be worn by Lori Jacobson, former Brunnier student employee who now operates her own museum-consulting firm. Jacobson will lead the procession into the museum after the program, Michels said. Michels said it will also be used at other major museum events throughout the anniversary year. She describes the coat as long and full and made of many fabrics and fibers. “It is really beautiful,” she said. “At the end of the year it will go into our permanent collection.” Another thing Michels feels is interesting about the evening is the use of students as living sculptures. “Students will be posing as Petersen’s famous sculptures and answering questions about them,” she said. Tonight’s event is free and open to the public, and students from all majors are encouraged to attend the reception, Michels said. “The spirit of the night will be appreciation to all of the supporters and to celebrate the future,” Pohlman said.