Iowa State is a monument to much of the past and what will be the future. “Past, Present and Future” will be presented at the Brunnier Art Museum this weekend.

University Museums Director Lynette Pohlman will be presenting a lecture and slide show about the Art in State Buildings Program at Iowa State University.

“Many students are here four years or so, and they only see the project’s beginning and don’t see the end,” Pohlman said. “I will take the audience behind the scenes and show them what goes into art located in various buildings around campus.”

The purpose of the presentation is to “demistify the process of art in state buildings,” Pohlman said. She added the slide show presentation will take the audience behind the scenes.

The slides will feature artists viewing the buildings before any work has been done. Also, they will show the artist at work on the project, the art going into place and the finished product. Pohlman said the process usually takes a minimum of two years and may take up to six years.

Three major projects from the past will be presented. The first one is “Janus Agri-Alter” located in Agronomy Hall. The second project is “Left-Winged Angel” located outside Parks Library. The final project is the “Gnome Project,” which is the artwork in the Molecular Biology Building.

“By showing the past processes, the audience will be able to understand what will take place in the future,” Pohlman said.

Pohlman said an example of a present project that will be presented is the Student Health Care Center, which is under construction.

Pohlman will also discuss projects for the future such as a new child care facility and the Palmer Building, which is to be completed in 1999.

A variety of methods is used in selecting the artists who create for ISU’s buildings Pohlman said. A committee is formed for each building made up of members appointed by the department head or dean to which the building belongs.

Next, contests are held to select artwork for the building. Public artists who collaborate their work with the studio audience may also be suggested.

Another way artists are selected involves a discussion by the comittee of possible artists and an invitation to them to submit 10 to 15 ideas for the building with which they are working. The committee then decides on the best one.

The Art in State Buildings Program (AiSB) is administered by the Iowa Arts Council. The law was enacted by the Iowa legislature in 1975. It requires that one half of one percent of state buildings funds be used to acquire public art.

The Art in State Buildings Program lecture and slide presentation will take place Sunday, Oct.13, at 2 p.m. at The Brunnier Art Museum.

The Brunnier is located on the second floor of the Scheman Building in the Iowa State Center. Admission is free.