Iowa does not have the reputation for cutting-edge, risk-taking art that cities like New York and Los Angeles do. Perhaps it should. Case in point: Iowa State’s Brunnier Art Museum.

The Brunnier is one of three University Museums, along with the Farm House Museum and the Art on Campus program. Located on the second floor of the Scheman Building (next door to Hilton Coliseum), the Brunnier beautifully awaits with its wooden ceilings, tall open rooms and seats thoughtfully placed across from exhibits just for your pondering.

The exhibit presently displayed in the Brunnier is titled Interpretations of the Interpretations, by Des Moines artist King Au. Commissioned in 1992 specifically by ISU, Au began photographing ISU’s extensive public art collection. Two-and-a-half years later, Au’s results can be found in Interpretations.

Au has captured entirely new images from other artist’s work, such as Christian Peterson and Grant Wood. Other art works from actual campus buildings were used, such as the G-Nome figures at the Molecular Biology Building and an abstract image of a flask created with gold leaf rubbings in Sweeney Hall.

The exhibit, which began March 30, will run until July 30. Contained in the exhibit are 33 black and white photographs inspired by ISU’s public art. Au used extreme camera angles, odd choices of close-up photography, collages, repetition, overlapping imagery and out-of-focus methods to accentuate the meanings of accepted art. Because of this show, eight of King Au’s pieces will remain as permanent pieces at the Brunnier.

One of the Brunnier’s most anticipated shows is titled Land of the Giants; Landscapes, Environments, and Peoples of the Loess Hills. The show contains close to 100 pieces from 27 different artists. These artists visited the Loess Hills in western Iowa and created sculptures, prints, paintings and drawings reflecting the unique Midwestern geological land formations that exist only along the Yellow, Rhine and Missouri Rivers.

This traveling exhibit began in September of 1994 and will make its fifth stop on the tour at ISU.

Lynette Pohlman, Director of University Museums, actually grew up in the Loess Hills area, and made sure that the Brunnier help put together the show. The exhibit will run from September 5 to January 5.

David Nisi, Museum Education Assistant and December ’94 ISU graduate, said, “The last show [Interpretations] proved to be quite popular. Land of the Fragile Giants should grab an even bigger response from people.

The Brunnier show will have pieces that didn’t travel around with other shows, which in a way will feature the Brunnier. This exhibit seems to have reached many different audience levels; [it] seems to be more concrete.”

Checking out the Brunnier will be a much more enlightening way of experiencing summer than frumping in front of the boob-tube to watch another sick-com rerun —and to top it all, it’s FREE!

The museum is always looking for new members. Different levels of membership pertain to different costs, but the student rate is as cheap as $15.

All members also receive a quarterly newsletter, discounted tickets to workshops and programs, invitations or announcements for major exhibitions and special events and a 10 percent discount at the Brunnier Museum Store (which is so cool!).

Donations are always accepted at the drop box near the door.

Museum hours are Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. till 4 p.m., and Thursday evening from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m.