Gallery of Art | University of Northern Iowa

Polycosmos: UNI Permanent Art Collection

May 24, 2021 to August 22, 2021

Curated by gallery director Darrell Taylor.

Writer Paul le Page Barrett (or John Grant) describes a concept in which all possible real, created, or dream worlds co-exist.

The acquisition of two prints by Douglas Prince this year was akin to a prompt for the exhibition. Both prints depict antique objects that can be interpreted as windows into other worlds, or conversely worlds that seem bounded by timeless objects. Thus, are matters of micro- and macrocosm as well as contour and threshold brought to bear.

Once read as “polycosmic,” many similar Collection objects came to mind. Jiri Kolar’s collages and Sandra Baker’s c-prints seemed perfect candidates to flesh out these ideas as did the Ben Sakoguchi etching, which pulsates with energy and conflict. Ken Little’s mixed media sculpture, a signature artwork in the Collection, simultaneously blurs boundaries and mocks ideologies past and present.

The polycosmos is an idea to ponder and maybe a tool to unravel a Gordian Knot or two. Look deeply, question reality, embrace all worlds in parallel, and most of all enjoy the show.

Table, blue with clouds
Table, blue with clouds

Douglas Prince (American), Queen Anne Card Table, digital print, ed. 3/10, 2020 / UNI 2021.003 / Gift of the artist, Portsmouth, NY via The Museum Project

Table, gray with landscape
Table, gray with landscape

Douglas Prince (American), George II Lowboy, digital print, ed. 2/10, 2020 / UNI 2021.004 / Gift of the artist, Portsmouth, NY via The Museum Project

superimposed imagery (G. Seurat)
superimposed imagery (G. Seurat)

Sandra Baker (American), The Use of Memory from Detail of Pattern, edition 5/50, chromogenic print, ca. 1960-85 / UNI 1984.391.05 / Gift of Mrs. Regina Bogat Jensen, New York, NY

Superimposed imagery (Edwardian England)
Superimposed imagery (Edwardian England)

Sandra Baker (American), The Figure of the Stairs from Detail of Pattern, edition 5/50, chromogenic print, ca. 1960-85 / UNI 1984.391.12 / Gift of Mrs. Regina Bogat Jensen, New York, NY

Sculpture, deer on a paper house
Sculpture, deer on a paper house

Ken Little (American), Prey, leather and vinyl shoes, gloves, belts, electrical wire and Bible pages, 1986 / UNI 1997.029 / Gift of Lois and Norman Jones, Davis, CA

Female figure with drawn body
Female figure with drawn body

Mel Ramos (American), Thrill Bill I, ed. H.C., screenprint, 1979 / UNI 1984.572 / Gift of Robert Brooks, Port Washington, NY

Complex collage, female figure in a refrigerator
Complex collage, female figure in a refrigerator

Ann McAllister (American), Never Too Thin from Dreams of Desire and Demise, chromogenic print, 1991 / UNI 1993.004 / Gift of the artist, Rochester, NY

Drawing on a handsaw
Drawing on a handsaw

Kendall Pigg (American), Fir, graphite drawing on saw, 1985 / UNI 2011.036 / Gift of Lois E. Iseminger, Chicago, IL

Collage, sitting male figure
Collage, sitting male figure

Jiri Kolar (Czech), Man, collage, 1961 / UNI 1985.020 / Gift of Derwood S. Chase; Charlottesville, VA

Collage, checkerboard pattern (Caravaggio)
Collage, checkerboard pattern (Caravaggio)

Jiri Kolar (Czech), Checker Board, collage, 1959 / UNI 1985.022 / Gift of Derwood S. Chase; Charlottesville, VA

Pen & ink, dreaming figure in a landscape
Pen & ink, dreaming figure in a landscape

Susan DeLoff (American), The Dream, pen and ink, 1977 / UNI 2004.26 / Gift of the artist, Waterloo, IA

Color drawing, abstract figures and landscape
Color drawing, abstract figures and landscape

Olive Ayhens (American), Hopping Again, pen and ink, 1971 / UNI 1971.002 / provenance: UNI Rod Library

Screenprint, heads in color fields
Screenprint, heads in color fields

R.B. Kitaj (British), In His Forthcoming Book, on Relative Deprivation (Loneliness), screenprint, ed. 57/70, 1967 / UNI 1979.029 / Gift of the Five G’s, Harrison, NY

Etching, complex line drawings of figures around a gazebo
Etching, complex line drawings of figures around a gazebo

Ben Sakoguchi (American), Only in Our Imaginary Gazebo Did We, for a Moment, Forget the Soviet-Fascist Winter Campaign, etching, ed. 10/10, n.d. / UNI 1967.007

A view of an interior through leaves of lettuce
A view of an interior through leaves of lettuce

Bill McQuaid (American), Untitled chromogenic print, 1988 / UNI 2013.116 / Gift of Professor Jeffery Byrd, Cedar Falls, IA

Renaissance figure on a checkered floor, blue hand
Renaissance figure on a checkered floor, blue hand

Bill McQuaid (American), Untitled chromogenic print, 1988 / UNI 2013.117 / Gift of Professor Jeffery Byrd, Cedar Falls, IA

Drawing, male figures in an interior with pedestal and tree trunk
Drawing, male figures in an interior with pedestal and tree trunk

Gary Viviano (American), Some People Wouldn't Know a Humorous Situation If It Hit Them Like a Ten Ton Truck, mixed media on paper, 1990 / UNI 2011.123 / Gift of Lois and Norman Jones, Davis, CA

Screenprint, reclining female nude and playing cards
Screenprint, reclining female nude and playing cards

Ronald, King (British), Capriciense from Games of Patience, screenprint, ed. 28/50, 1981 / UNI 1981.014.07 / Gift of George A. Plimpton, New York, NY

Screenprint, death camp uniform below a star of playing cards
Screenprint, death camp uniform below a star of playing cards

Ronald, King, The Star Patience from Games of Patience, screenprint, ed. 28/50, 1981 / UNI 1981.014.11 / Gift of George A. Plimpton, New York, NY

A grid of barcodes and benches
A grid of barcodes and benches

Tom Phillips (British), Benches, screenprint, ed. 73/85, 1982 / UNI 1984.508 / Gift of Dr. Dwain G. Fuller, Dallas, TX