Iowa State University’s very own Christian Petersen Art Museum — located in Morrill Hall on central campus — is hosting artist Jeanine Coupe Ryding’s collection of enchanting art from January 21 through July 25, 2025. At the curator’s tour on Feb. 6, one of the museum’s curators, Alison Ranniger Van Zante, gave an in-depth explanation of Ryding’s work.
Ryding was born and raised in Ames and went on to be an instructor at the Art Institute of Chicago for nearly 30 years. She currently resides in the outskirts of Chicago.
“Ominous… longevity… impeding on the human presence… there’s a lot of memories that are tied to trees that people take for granted and I think that’s what she’s trying to elicit with these paintings,” curator Ranniger Van Zante said.
The “Into the Woods” collection is a series of artistic interpretations of trees and the memories, wonder and meaning they hold while also emphasizing the destruction of deforestation. The collection was inspired by the shutting down of museums, galleries and public gatherings of 2020.
“I walked in all kinds of weather and all seasons and always looked forward to exploring anything nature offered,” Ryding wrote in her prints and paintings booklet. “Being outside, even on short walks, inspired ideas for work.”
Copies of the booklet can be found at the Christian Petersen Art Museum.
Her art in this collection is a mixture of abstract paintings involving the use of amate bark paper. Amate is a traditional form of paper made from trees in Latin America. The painting of trees onto their original form symbolizes a full circle representation.
“The exhibition acts as a way of taking you through different scenes,” Ranniger Van Zante said.
The artist collection is like a walk through the park, almost as if you’re experiencing the forest environment right alongside Ryding herself.
Ryding will be in person at the Christian Petersen Art Museum for the artist reception on Thursday April 24, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. It is open to the public.
Ryding is coming with a wealth of knowledge and creative expertise and is ready to answer questions and dive into the details behind the art.
Stop by the Christian Petersen Art Museum today to experience Ryding’s work for yourself.
