Please note, exhibition dates and opening receptions are subject to change over the next month.
Hard Won – Not Done
Original Illustrations by Gary Kelley
October 29-December 6, 2020
Artist Reception: Tentative, TBA
In 2019 artist Gary Kelley was commissioned by the League of Women Voters to create a series of portraits celebrating a century of Iowa women, in what he describes as a truly inspiring project. As part of the yearlong celebration of the 19th Amendment centennial anniversary, the portraits were used to create a free 2020 calendar for the public. Within the calendar pages, each portrait was augmented with a biographical sketch by writer Cydney Kelley. The calendar was sponsored by Veridian Credit Union. This exhibition features the twelve original monotype and pastel illustrations of Iowa women that led by example such as suffragists, trailblazers, politicians and activists. Kelley also includes a month dedicated to the Iowa-born Ringling Brothers, who established a revolutionary standard of respect for their women employees in the early 1900s. Other portraits include Edna Griffin, Carrie Chapman Catt, Elizabeth Catlett and Donna Reed. A limited number of calendars will be available at the Hearst Center for no charge. A selection of Kelley’s original illustrations will be for sale.
No One Knows: Original Book Illustrations by Nancy Price
October 29-December 6, 2020
100 Days: Kate Brennan Hall – This exhibition has been postponed to spring 2021
October 29-December 6, 2020
Artist Reception: Tentative, TBA
This exhibition features works from the daily practice of illustrator Kate Brennan Hall. Kate’s second installment of a 100 day project (creating original art every day for 100 consecutive days and posting it on Instagram) opened up many avenues of exploration that she’s been wanting to investigate: patterns, portraiture, poetry and more. She’s ready to roll up her sleeves and see where it will lead. Creativity ebbs and flows. As a professional illustrator and printmaker Kate has enjoyed the challenges of deadlines and the parameters of projects from clients. But longevity as a maker means that it’s important to keep going back to that feeling from childhood that led to all of this—the act of playing and experimenting without an end goal in sight: just pure exploration. Kate Brennan Hall is a graduate of the Minneapolis College of Art + Design where she focused on illustration + printmaking. She has worked with clients such as Target, Mastercard, Blue Cross Blue Shield, American Airlines, and Doubleday; she has exhibited her work in Europe and the United States. Her current projects include working on product lines for the home that feature funny dogs & cats along with many other designs. The main theme of her work: she seeks to elevate the ordinary & necessary things that awaken us to the beauty all around us.
Also on view: Artists Kate Brennan Hall and Gary Kelley curate a selection of favorite animations for screening in the Dresser-Robinson Gallery. Stop in to see what inspires and excites these two local artists