AMES, IOWA – January 8, 2024 – Two exhibitions about Iowa State’s first artist-in-residence Christian Petersen (1885–1961) will open with free admission on Tuesday, January 16, 2024 at the Christian Petersen Art Museum, a University Museums affiliate located inside Morrill Hall, 603 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa. Both exhibitions are guest curated by Jerome Thompson, Iowa State University alumnus (B.A. ’74) and retired State Curator for the State Historical Society of Iowa, and each focuses on a different aspect of Petersen’s career. 

From 1934 to 1955, Petersen completed twelve major campus public works of art that represent the history and culture of the Midwest and then became the core of the Art on Campus Collection. Christian Petersen: A Sense of Place in Campus Life highlights many of the site-specific sculptures Petersen created for Iowa State’s campus. Sketches, models, and concept drawings will be on view to figuratively bring the sculptures to the Campbell Gallery, 1017 Morrill Hall. Campus maps with marked locations of these sculptures will be provided for visitors to take away for exploring the sculptures at their ISU campus locations.

“In 2007 I wrote about my experiences with encountering Petersen’s works of art around campus as a ‘faculty kid’ growing up in the 1950s and 1960s,” says Thompson. “The array of his sculpture around campus gives a special sense of place to me that I have not found on any other campuses I have visited. I suspect others who have experienced the Iowa State campus as a student, alumni, or community resident may have a similar view.”

The Reiman Gallery, located on the lower level of Morrill Hall in Room 0003, will exhibit Sculpting an Icon: Christian Petersen and the “Fountain of the Four Seasons.” Thompson offers his perspective of the people and events that may have influenced the design of the iconic Fountain of the Four Seasons, which is located on the ISU campus at the north entrance of the Memorial Union, 2229 Lincoln Way. The pool structure was dedicated in 1937 as a gift from the VEISHEA Committee, and then the sculpted Fountain of the Four Seasons was unveiled at a 1941 VEISHEA celebration. The final sculpture designs took shape in the fall of 1940 at the National Corn Husking Contest held in Davenport, Iowa where the sculptures were part of a major exhibition prepared by Iowa State showing the origins, colonization, commercialization, open pollinations, and hybridization of corn.

Thompson will be in the Christian Petersen Art Museum to give a Curator’s Talk about both exhibitions on Sunday, February 4, 2024. A reception is included in the program from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. with the talk beginning at 2:30 p.m. Like all University Museums programs, this is free and open to the public.

These exhibitions are particularly relevant as the Fountain of the Four Seasons is currently undergoing conservation and replication, a project that has taken multiple years to plan and execute. The Fountain of the Four Seasons is made up of a fountain, basin, pool, terra cotta ring surrounding the fountainhead, and four limestone sculptures known as the Maidens. The conservation project addresses issues of wear from the over 80 years the Maidens have spent outdoors, and it will end further considerable wear on the original by re-carving the sculpture and placing the 1941 Maidens indoors. The fountain and pool have been rebuilt and enhanced with more eco-friendly updates and lighting upgrades. It is anticipated that the Fountain of the Four Seasons will be complete and fully functional by the beginning of the fall 2024 semester. University Museums has updates about this project online.

Christian Petersen: A Sense of Place in Campus Life (Campbell Gallery, 1017 Morrill Hall) will run from January 16 through July 26, 2024. Sculpting an Icon: Christian Petersen and the “Fountain of the Four Seasons” (Reiman Gallery, 0003 Morrill Hall) will run from January 16 through December 20, 2024. The Christian Petersen Art Museum is open to the public Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and admission is free. Christian Petersen Art Museum is closed weekends, holidays, and university breaks.

This exhibition is guest curated by Jerome Thompson and coordinated by University Museums, with support by Lorraine Bruns Estate, Carol & David Hawn, Beverly and Warren Madden, Rae Reilly, and University Museums Membership.

Find full descriptions of programs on the University Museums Calendar. These programs take place at the Christian Petersen Art Museum inside Morrill Hall, 603 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa, unless otherwise noted. All programs are free and open to the public. Registration is not required unless noted. Programs are subject to change. Check the University Museums Calendar and Facebook page for the latest events information. All times are Central Standard Time (CST).

Exhibition Tour

with Sydney Marshall

Thursday, January 25, 5:00–6:00 p.m.

Join Art on Campus curator Sydney Marshall as she highlights objects within the two exhibitions guest curated by Jerome Thompson. Explore how Christian Petersen’s works of art have transformed the visual legacy of ISU’s campus. Begins in the Campbell Gallery, 1017 Morrill Hall.

Reception & Curator's Talk

with Jerome Thompson

Sunday, February 4, 2:00–4:00 p.m.

Stroll through the galleries with guest curator Jerome Thompson for the opening reception of the Christian Petersen Art Museum’s spring exhibitions. Thompson’s talk will begin at 2:30 p.m.

Native American Cropping Practices, Pre-Contact to Today

with Derrick Kapayou

Thursday, March 7, 5:30–6:30 p.m.

Join Natural Resource Ecology and Management Ph.D. candidate Derrick Kapayou for a conversation on the evolution of Native American agricultural traditions and delve into current research on the topic.

Christian Petersen in Context

with Dr. Lea Rosson DeLong

Sunday, April 21, 2:00–3:00 p.m.

Curator Dr. Lea Rosson DeLong, noted scholar of Christian Petersen, will examine Petersen’s works of art on campus, placing them in context with his artist peers of the 1930s through the 1950s while also centering his sculptures and legacy in the greater art historical context of the 20^th century.

Open House Weekend

Saturday & Sunday, April 27 & 28, 1:00–4:00 p.m. each day

Christian Petersen Art Museum & Farm House Museum

Having trouble getting to the museum during the week? Enjoy the University Museums’ central campus locations and spring exhibitions during an open house weekend.

Fountain of the Four Seasons Renewal Update and Seed Planting

Sunday, May 5, noon–1:00 p.m.

Begins at ISU Memorial Union north entrance, 2229 Lincoln Way

Learn the latest update on the conservation project surrounding the Fountain and then walk to Morrill Hall to take home a seed to plant in time for spring. Learn from guest curator Jerome Thompson about the impact of corn and agricultural practices on the creation of the Fountain’s design.

Preserving Christian Petersen’s History: New Research on the Artist’s Life and Work

with Allison Sheridan and Edie Hunter

Sunday, May 19, 2:00–3:00 p.m.

Join Curator Allison Sheridan and Business Administrator Edie Hunter, both ISU History graduates, for a talk on the recent discoveries and research on Christian Petersen’s works of art, as well as his personal history. Through a newly unveiled Catalog Raissonné, deep dives into U.S. Census data and more, see a clearer vision of Christian Petersen, his art, and personal history.

Jerome Thompson was the State Curator for the State Historical Society of Iowa, a position he held since 2004. He retired in July 2015 after more than 30 years of service. In this position he provided professional and technical assistance and training to local historical organizations and museums across the state. He had a long tenure with the Historical Society beginning in 1982 where he directed the historic sites program and directed the museum and education programs for 18 years.

A native of Ames, Iowa, Thompson is a graduate of Iowa State University with a B.A. in Anthropology in 1974. He began his work in museums as an archaeologist with the Texas Tech University Museum where he obtained his M.A. in Museum Science in 1977. Thompson has also worked for the Minnesota Historical Society and was the first site coordinator at Terrace Hill, a National Historic Landmark Site now serving as Iowa Governor’s Residence. He is a contributing author to several professional journals and publications.

Thompson is active in a number of professional organizations including the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) and the Iowa Museum Association (IMA) where he served on the board and was president from 1991-1993. He was elected to a third term on the State Historical Society Board of Trustees in 2022 and was elected to the board of the Iowa Jewish Historical Society in 2017.

Thompson was awarded a 2014 Leadership in History Award of Merit from the American Association for State and Local History for over three decades of exceptional service to the history community of Iowa. In 2015 he was awarded "Preservationist of the Year" from Preservation Iowa.

The Christian Petersen Art Museum was opened in a renovated Morrill Hall in 2007. The museum is named after the nation’s first permanent campus artist-in-residence, Christian Petersen, who sculpted and taught at Iowa State University from 1934 through 1955 and is considered the founder of the Art on Campus Collection. University Museums strives to preserve his legacy and continue his tradition of art on the Iowa State University campus through exhibitions and educational programs. The Christian Petersen Art Museum exhibits works of art by Christian Petersen in addition to a rotating schedule of exhibitions that includes contemporary art, public art, and exhibitions that engage a diverse group of departments across campus.

The Christian Petersen Art Museum is the home of the Christian Petersen Art Collection, the Art on Campus Program, the University Museums’ Visual Literacy and Learning Program, and contemporary changing art exhibitions. The art galleries are the Lyle and Nancy Campbell Art Gallery on the main floor, the Roy and Bobbi Reiman Public Art Studio Gallery on the lower level, and the Neva M. Petersen Gallery in the lower-level hallway of Morrill Hall. 

Christian Petersen Art Museum

1017, 0003, and 0003 hallway Morrill Hall

603 Morrill Road

Ames, Iowa

Museum hours:

Monday-Friday, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Closed weekends and University holidays & breaks.

Admission:

Free (with a suggested donation of $8)

museums.iastate.edu

University Museums is a distinctive organization that encompasses two art museums, a National Historic Landmark historic home museum, a sculpture garden, and one of the largest campus public art collections in the nation. University Museums brings world-class exhibitions with educational programming to Iowa State University, actively acquires works of art to add to the more than 30,000 permanent collection objects, conserves and preserves collections, conducts and publishes curatorial scholarship, and fosters student engagement.

museums.iastate.edu

To schedule interviews, photograph events, or request high-resolution images, please contact Alisha Abner at 515.294.3342 or aabner@iastate.edu. 

Header: Detail of Fountain of the Four Seasons, 1941

Christian Petersen (Danish-American, 1885-1961)

Bedford limestone, terra cotta

Commissioned by Iowa State College. In the Christian Petersen Art Collection, Art on Campus Collection, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. U88.69

Detail of History of Dairying, 1934

Christian Petersen (Danish - American, 1885–1961)

Terra cotta

Commissioned by Iowa State College. In the Christian Petersen Art Collection, Art on Campus Collection, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. U88.64a-g

Fountain of the Four Seasons, 1941

Christian Petersen (Danish-American, 1885-1961)

Bedford limestone, terra cotta

Commissioned by Iowa State College. In the Christian Petersen Art Collection, Art on Campus Collection, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. U88.69

Photo of a Maiden from the Fountain of the Four Seasons being replicated.

Photo of Jerome Thompson