The Brunnier Art Museum has been busy digging around in their storage room.

The museum has two exhibits displaying pieces from their permanent collection. A museum’s permanent collection are “objects that the museum owns but are usually in storage,” Director of the Brunnier Art Museum Lynette Pohlman said.

“These exhibits from our permanent collection are special because we display the objects in a different context and allow the viewer to reinterpret their meanings,” Pohlman said.

“Even if you have seen it before, you will see the work with a new perspective,” Pohlman said.

The first exhibit displays the work of two Iowa artists, Jay N. Darling and Ulfert Wilke, according to a recent press release. The display includes 24 etchings from Darling and 12 paintings from Wilke.

“Darling and Wilke were Iowa artists with global reputations,” Pohlman said.

Darling, a cartoonist for the Des Moines Register for over 30 years, was also a fine arts print maker and created etchings of Iowa wildlife.

In natural and realistic terms, Darling’s etchings depict beauty and migrations of geese, ducks and quail, the press release stated.

Darling’s etchings were a gift to the Museum from Darling’s family after his death in 1961, Pohlman said.

Ulfert Wilke was a painter and former director of the University of Iowa Museum of Art. He took inspiration from birds in creating his print series “Words to be Seen,” the press release stated.

Wilke observed the rhythm, movement and colors of birds while on a monastic retreat. He was inspired to create abstracted and calligraphic images.

“Calligraphic images are an art form that takes its inspiration from the text,” Pohlman explained.

“We decided to put the two artists together to contrast them. Wilke is more abstract than Darling. When you see a Darling etching, you know it is a duck in flight. A Wilke painting requires more interpretation,” Pohlman said.

Both Darling and Wilke took their inspirations from the natural world, according to the recent press release.

The second exhibit is Native American Images and Their Meanings. Thirty rugs, pots and baskets have been selected from the Museum’s permanent collection. The display is from late 19th and early 20th century Native American motifs.

“The exhibit really emphasizes the symbolism and meaning of the objects,” Pohlman said.

The exhibits are on display in the Brunnier Art Museum until August 16. The museum is free and open to the public.

The fastest rising blues/rock guitar master, Chris Duarte, will unleash his guitarage for all to gawk at tonight at Venue (just Venue, that it, that’s the name.)

The Silvertone Records artists will be making the trek up from his home in Austin, Texas for a rare area appearance. Granted you can escape the water world that is Ames, this is a must see show.

If rain isn’t the problem, but rather it’s that rock you live under, here’s the story. By the time he had reached his early 20’s, Duarte had a reputation as one of the most promising new guitarists in the fiercely competitive Texas music scene.

Playing along side such axemen as Albert Collins, Buddy Guy, Jr. Wells and Hubert Smith, Duarte learned from the best of guitar gods.

If you don’t already have tickets, they are $10 and are available at all TicketMaster outlets and Venue.

Des Moines’ own Tyler Thompson Group opens the show at 9:30p.m. To charge by phone call 233-1888.