West Gallery

January - December 30, 2025

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Curators Statement:

“Even in stillness, there is movement.” – Anonymous

 

Visitors can embark on an artistic odyssey with "Harmonizing Dimensions," a curated collection delving into the intricate interplay of motion, time, and rhythm. This transformative exploration shapes and defines the creative landscape, leaving an enduring imprint on the ever-evolving art world.

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As we navigate the swift tapestry of the 21st century, our understanding of motion, time, and rhythm in art undergoes a profound transformation. Technological advancements and global connectivity dissolve traditional boundaries, providing artists with new realms to explore.

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Step into this odyssey at the Blanden, where artworks come alive dynamically, transcending conventional expressions. Let the masterpieces converge in your mind, facilitating a harmonious dialogue between motion, time, and rhythm. Across diverse mediums, artists showcase how movement breathes life into their works, time influences narratives, and rhythm orchestrates unique artistic experiences.

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Working in varied mediums, these artists share a profound grasp of the interplay among fundamental forces. Witness how motion is captured in brushstrokes, time in sculpture, and rhythm in the arrangement of forms and colors. The exhibition encourages an exploration of the dynamic relationship between the static and kinetic, tangible, and ephemeral, finite, and infinite – offering profound insights into the role of motion, time, and rhythm in shaping artistic expression.

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"Harmonizing Dimensions" invites you on a transformative journey where motion, time, and rhythm converge, unlocking uncharted realms of artistic expression. Celebrate the visionary contributions of artists worldwide as they entice us to delve into the profound mysteries within these elemental dimensions.

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May this exhibition inspire you to embrace the ever-shifting dynamics of life, fostering a deeper appreciation for the interconnected dance of motion, time, and rhythm in the realm of art.

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East Gallery

Aug 23 - Oct 18, 2025

 

Curated by Angela Ayala

CURATORS STATAMENT:

In Absentia explores the lasting impact of decisions made without our awareness or consent, highlighting the absence of color, voice, rights, and safety. By drawing from the Blanden Art Museum's permanent collection, this exhibition assemblies works that speak to themes of erasure, suppression, and resilience. Through the absence of physical presence, personal agency, or historical recognition, these pieces reveal the forces that shape our world not just through what is seen but through what has been omitted or obscured. Each work that makes up this exhibit approaches this idea differently, yet together, the works form a powerful dialogue about loss, struggle, and perseverance.

 

Some of the prominent examples from the show are Käthe Kollwitz's Woman and Death Hugging a Child, 1911; as part of In Absentia, this piece underscores the helplessness imposed by external forces whether war, poverty, or fate itself echoing the exhibition's theme of decisions made beyond our control.  Another notable selection is Robert Motherwell's Cadiz, 1952, which shifts this concept into abstraction, using bold, gestural forms to explore themes of suppression and resistance. In Cadiz, stark contrasts and bold gestures evoke a fragmented city, possibly shattered by the weight of war. In the context of In Absentia, his work mediates the unseen scars of history remnants of decisions made by those in power, with consequences that ripple through time. His abstraction denies the viewer a straightforward narrative, mirroring how historical events often leave behind fractured, incomplete accounts of the truth. Lastly is Henry Moore's Warrior with Shield, a striking bronze maquette that embodies the resilience that frequently emerges from absence. Warrior with Shield, the wounded yet defiant figure, missing a limb but still standing strong with a shield raised, speaks to survival despite vulnerability. The piece's rough, almost ancient texture suggests endurance through time, reflecting how individuals and cultures persist even when subjected to violence or erasure. In the exhibit, In Absentia, Moore's warrior symbolizes those who have been cast aside, forgotten, or wounded yet continue to resist. The work invites viewers to consider what remains after loss and how strength can be forged without security or certainty.

 

Together, these works, and the rest pulled from the Blanden Art Museum's permanent collection bring In Absentia to life, illustrating how absence can be both a void and a force. Each artist engaged deeply with themes of war, poverty, and loss, shaped by the events of their time.  All the works in this exhibit remind those excluded, silenced, or erased. In coalition, In Absentia asks us to consider what has been lost and what remains and how absence itself can shape the world we inhabit.

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In Memory of Kay Baldus

Second Floor Gallery

July 12 - Aug 30, 2025

 

Juror Statement:

I commend all the artists who applied to be a part of this exhibition. I was not only impressed by the quality, creativity, and skill of all the submissions, but I also thoroughly enjoyed the process of selecting the 24 works included in the exhibition. 

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When jurying an exhibition like this, I don’t follow a specific process for selecting work; I rely on my experiences as an artist and look for works that stand out to me. I take an initial look at all the entries, noting works that strike me, and begin to compile a list.  Then I take a second look at each submission to identify details and nuances in the artworks, further narrowing the pool. I don’t try to adhere to a specific theme, ensuring that the exhibition represents a wide range of artistic visions.

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Artistic skills, ambition, intent, quality, and execution were all taken into consideration. Each work elicits a different response in me, where the boldness of a color may strike me. In contrast, another may draw me in with whimsy or with delicate subtleties of line quality. I was also intrigued by artworks that featured a captivating composition or a dynamic perspective. In contrast, others pulled me in with supple textures or brush strokes. In other cases, it was an emotionally charged moment captured in ink or on film. In contrast, other artworks offered a fascinating view into the artists’ commentary on contemporary times.

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The variety of submissions allowed me to include a wide range of artistic voices and approaches to artmaking. This diversity is a testament to the richness of the artistic community, and it was a distinct pleasure to see the various ways these artists perceive and interpret our world.

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I encourage viewers to engage with this collection of high-quality artworks. Take your time to appreciate the variety of approaches to artmaking, and you might just discover some commonalities that resonate with you.

 

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Juror, Dan Perry BIO:

Dan Perry is an award-winning interdisciplinary artist based in Waterloo, Iowa who works in a variety of media from gallery-sized sculptures to monumental public artworks. He maintains a robust studio practice, exhibiting in museums and arts centers across the United States in over 50 group exhibitions as well as 10 solo shows. Dan has also completed 15 large-scale public sculpture commissions throughout the region.

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Dan works to educate the public on the importance of the arts and how communities can integrate arts in meaningful ways. He provides a unique perspective drawing from his experiences as a practicing professional public artist, an active member of public art committees and as a teacher.

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Currently, Dan teaches sculpture and is the Coordinator of the Public Art Incubator (PAI) at the University of Northern Iowa, a unique program where students can engage with professional artists in the production of their commissioned public art projects. Students are hired to assist in the fabrication of the artwork and work alongside professional artists, providing a professional experience before they graduate.