IOWA CITY, Iowa–In 1969, the University of Iowa opened its first art museum, providing a home for the large collection of art the University had received from generous donors. Along with a collection of modern American and European art contributed by various donors, C. Maxwell and Elizabeth Stanley donated their collection of African Art. An outstanding contribution, this collection of art helped the University of Iowa stand out as a leader in art education and pioneer the practice of offering advanced art degrees.
In 2008, the University’s original museum became unusable because of flooding from the Iowa River. Knowing they needed a museum, the University started a capital campaign to create one, and Richard and Mary Jo Stanley continued the family tradition of supporting the arts by making a gift of $10 million to the project, which in part inspired the Stanley Consultants Charitable Fund to provide a $100,000 matching grant. The museum now honors them with its name, the University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art.
The Stanley Museum opened Aug. 26, providing an outstanding opportunity for both University of Iowa students and visitors from across the state to connect with art of every type. In the entryway, visitors can view highly accessible works created by artists with ties to Iowa through the Thresholds public art campaign. They can also enjoy a variety of live performances, as the area has an acoustic ceiling and wall built for that purpose. Along with classrooms for university students and visiting school groups alike, the museum has numerous galleries filled with exhibits exploring some of the big questions societies have tried to answer since the start of time. Two of these installations, “History is Now” and “Fragments of the Canon,” created by Curator of African Arts Cory Gundlach, will include parts of the African collection, including pieces donated by the Stanley family. “When the Stanleys were collecting art, they set the foundation for studying African art,” observed Stanley Museum Director Lauren Lessing.
Free and open to the public, the Stanley Museum welcomes visitors on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Locally, both Stanley Consultants and the Stanley Center for Peace and Security feel proud that the newly opened museum honors the Stanley Family. “I know that Dick and Mary Jo would be so pleased to see the Stanley Museum come to fruition, especially given how thoughtful and intentional the University of Iowa and the museum staff have been in designing this beautiful facility,” observed Stanley Center President and CEO Keith Porter.
“The Stanley family practiced a long legacy of thoughtful and generous philanthropy. A museum of this caliber named in their honor is a wonderful tribute to both their love of the arts and passionate support of the University of Iowa,” reflected Stanley Consultants President, CEO, and Chair Kate Harris.
