CANCELLED: Lawrence Nowlan Artist Lecture and Reception on Nov. 4th

Lawrence Nowlan
Artist Lecture and Reception on Nov. 4^th

Ames, IA –  Lawrence Nowlan: Continuing ISU’s Campus Portrait Tradition in Sculpture  an artist lecture and reception will be held 2 p.m. Nov. 4, 2012 in the Brunnier Art Museum, 295 Scheman Building, Iowa State University.

Celebrate the newest public art acquisition to the Art on Campus Collection with Lawrence Nowlan, sculptor of the newly installed Coach Bill Bergan bronze sculpture at the Cyclone Sports Complex. This sculpture commemorates Bergan, one of the most successful coaches in the history of Iowa State Athletics and the most successful track and field coach at Iowa State.  Placing his sculpture in the context of American art, Nowlan will discuss his new sculptures for Iowa State University. Visitors will have the chance to view the Coach Bill Bergan maquette (pictured) on exhibition at the Brunnier Art Museum during this event.  Esteemed curator of the Saint Gaudens National Historical Site, Dr. Henry J. Duffy, will provide an introductory historical perspective on the portrait legacy in American art, addressing Nowlan’s, Saint Gaudens’ and Christian Petersen’s body of work.

Lecture and reception are free and open to the public. Free parking available north and south of the Scheman Building in the Iowa State Center lots.  

“Lawrence Nowlan has taken the tradition of the past and brought it into the twenty-first century...The imprint of the artist’s mind and thought are clear.” -Dr. Henry J. Duffy

During Nowlan’s 2011 ISU campus visits, he was inspired by Christian Petersen’s (Danish American, 1885-1961) many campus works of art, including Three Athletes at State Gym. Nowlan also sculpted three terra cotta bas reliefs depicting softball, soccer, and track and field student athletes for the new Cyclone Sports Complex.  Having created many portrait commissions nationally and internationally, Nowlan also has regional sculptural commissions for the University of Iowa, including Nile Kinnick, the 1939 Heisman Trophy Winner, and Dan Gable, Iowa State University wrestler and University of Iowa’s head wrestling coach.

Based in Windsor, Vermont, Lawrence Nowlan (American, b. 1965) is one of America’s finest figurative sculptors who brings vibrancy, realism and vitality to his sculpted portraits.  Nowlan extensively studied at the prestigious Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and the New York Academy of Art Graduate School of Figurative Art. Nowlan also held a five-year tenure as sculptor-in-residence at Augustus Saint Gaudens National Historical Site, Cornish, New Hampshire, which is the home and studio of one of America’s greatest 19th century sculptors, Augustus Saint Gaudens. This experience provided Nowlan with rare experience and insight into portrait sculpture.  Nowlan’s contemporary, realistic portraiture continues the artistic legacy of Christian Petersen, who in his own right was inspired by Augustus Saint Gaudens, Michelangelo and Augustus Rodin.

More on Lawrence Nowlan: http://www.ljnsculpture.com/HOME.html

The portrait sculpture, Coach Bill Bergan and the three ceramic bas reliefs, were commissioned by the ISU Athletic Department and the University Museums with funding from the Iowa Art in State Buildings Program.  These public works of art are in the Iowa State University Art on Campus Collection.

For further information about other events and programs at the museums, please visit the University Museums website atwww.museums.iastate.edu/Events.html.