Works by Catherine Opie (left) and Paul Mpagi Sepuya (right) feature in a new showcase on the Grinnell College campus. Photo: Grinnell College
A hub of creativity on the Grinnell College campus, the Bucksbaum Center for the Arts bustles with energy.
Student musicians tout cellos and other instrument cases; theater students practice lines in open spaces; artists sit quietly and sketch. At the heart of the building, the Grinnell College Museum of Art welcomes students, faculty and visitors with expressive exhibitions, including the new “Queer/Dialogue,” which highlights LGBTQ artists from around the country.
The exhibit, which runs through Dec. 12, focuses on contemporary issues—racism, politics, income inequality, discrimination, home life. Students helped select the topic. “Everything we do is with the students in mind,” says Daniel Strong, associate director and curator of exhibitions.
Featuring eight artists, the space is set into mini galleries, with several works by each maker.
The focus is diverse voices expressing their identities. Perhaps one of the examples is Brooklyn artist Doron Langberg’s paintings of domestic life. Through a wash of color, Langberg’s works emote love, passion and sadness on a monumental scale—some of his works measure 8 feet by 6 feet.
The free museum aligns with the progressive college. “The goal is to present diverse range of art as possible to both campus and community audiences,” Strong says.
