The work of sculptor Christian Petersen took center stage as Iowa State’s artistic community celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Brunnier Art Museum Tuesday night. The reception featured guest speakers including former ISU president Robert Parks, interim president Dick Seagrave, and director of University Museums Lynnette Pohlman. “The 25th anniversary of the Brunnier has made this a great beginning for Iowa State as we seek to continue to become the best,” Seagrave said. “The way to become the best is do it not only through chemistry, but through the fine arts.” A commissioned 13-foot-tall sculpture of Christian Petersen by STICKS of Des Moines was unveiled as well as a Celebration Coat by Robert Hillestad was awarded to Lori Jacobson, a 1980 ISU graduate and former Brunnier student employee. Parks spoke about the history of the Brunnier Art museum, calling it the “best working example of the new humanism.” Parks founded the museum in 1975, and is credited with reforming Iowa State by putting an emphasis on the arts. Seagrave pointed out that Christian Petersen was Iowa State’s first artist in residence at the university. He recognized former ISU president Randy Hughs, who commissioned Petersen to work at Iowa State during the Great Depression. Seagrave used Petersen’s words to reiterate the artist’s enthusiasm for working in Iowa. “Create an American art here in the rich soil of the Middle West, where America has its roots, here should be the soil and the seed for American art,” he said. Pohlman explained some of the goals of University Museums. “During our next 25 years, we want to continue focus the educational mission for our university.” Pohlman said. “We may not have the Mona Lisa, but we have the best art programs in our museums.” Michael Carrigan read his poem, “His Hands,” in memory of Petersen. Carrigan credits Petersen for opening the door for artists at ISU. The gallery was filled with music from a live band that stood in the middle of the exhibit. After Jacobson received the Celebration Coat, trumpets played as she led the crowd into the gallery. The gallery featured Petersen’s sculptures, including many busts of past presidents and important ISU figures of as well as full size figure of a veterinarian holding a puppy. Accompanying the statues were “living sculptures,” students dressed as Petersen’s sculptures. Standing near the sculptures of the Four Seasons were students dressed as Native Americans. Outside the main door of the Scheman building, students dressed as other living sculptures greeted those who entered. Although the ISU art community suffered a setback when the head of a Christian Petersen sculpture was stolen earlier this week, Dana Michels, associate curator of University Museums expressed her relief. “We are very happy to have the head back to the `Marriage Ring’ sculpture,” she said. “It was just the icing on the cake.”