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| 3-15-00 Contacts: Lynette Pohlman, University Museums, (515) 294-3342 Steve Sullivan, News Service, (515) 294-3720 ISU PHOTO EXHIBIT DEPICTS INSIDERS' VIEWS OF CAMPUS AMES, Iowa -- George Christensen and Louise Haug spent a combined 60 years working for Iowa State University. Their photographs of the campus they know so well are now on display in ISU’s Brunnier Art Museum. "Campus Aesthetics in Black and White: George Christensen and Louise Haug" opens March 21 and continues through Aug. 5, 2000, in the Brunnier, located in the Scheman Building at Iowa State Center. "The exhibition reflects upon Iowa State's conscious decisions in creating a campus filled with beauty and inspiration," said University Museums Director Lynette Pohlman. "These black and white images are timeless, poised and filled with personal expression that mirror the feelings of us all." In 1998, Pohlman commissioned Christensen to take contemporary photos of the campus. His 89 photographs are juxtaposed with Haug’s 28 historical images dating from 1948 to 1972. The images document changes on the campus during that time span and deal with issues of light, shape, shadows and seasons. Their subject matter sometimes overlaps, but the photographers’ styles are different, said Pohlman. Christensen approaches photography analytically, while Haug has a more spontaneous approach, she said. "Despite their disparate paths, their visions converge at times and they both captured the aesthetic vision of Iowa State," Mary Kitchell and Bob Campbell wrote in a exhibit catalog essay. The idea for the joint photography exhibit evolved slowly over the last decade, said Pohlman, who has known Haug and Christensen for 20 years. Christensen was vice president of academic affairs at Iowa State for 23 years. He retired in 1992 from the same position at the University of Alaska. Haug held various positions during her long career, the last as a manager for the University Printing Services. She retired in 1980. Guest curators Kitchell, Campbell and Marilyn Annin selected the images for the exhibit. A crew of volunteers, led by Bud Ewing, retired professor of animal science, matted and framed the photographs on display. Although Christensen’s photographs date from the last two years, he has been active in photography since he was a teenager and has participated in workshops with well-known national photographers. Self-trained, Haug got her first camera, a Brownie, at age 11 in 1920. They have both exhibited extensively in the central Iowa area. A special public reception, sponsored by the Friends of the University Museum, will be held Sunday, March 26, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Brunnier Art Museum. Christensen and Haug plan to attend. The Brunnier Art Museum is open Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m. and weekends from 1 to 4 p.m. There is no admission charge. -30- |
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