Sioux City Adventures: My 5 Favorite Pieces at the Sioux City Art Center
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote an article about things that you could do in Sioux City this month. One of the ideas I wrote about was taking a trip to the Sioux City Art Center to check out the Michael Dunbar sculptures. I was really intrigued by the image I saw of ‘Touched by the Sun’ and I decided to go and see it for myself.
While we were there, we checked out the rest of the exhibits as well. It was tough, but I chose my top five favorite pieces from this visit, although I’m sure it will change every time I go back.
Chi-Cyclotron by Michael Dunbar
(Photo courtesy of History and Culture by Bicycle).
Before I begin my list, I want to preface it by saying that, while I appreciate art, I’m not an expert by any means. My opinions, therefore, are just my own personal thoughts, not critiques of the artists or their works. I think all artistic expression is wonderful!
1. Chi-Cyclotron – Michael Dunbar
I found all Michael Dunbar’s sculptures absolutely fascinating, especially after reading the concept behind his series, Relics From the Future: “To create references to the remnants of future mechanical instruments as in looking back on those objects one hundred years later.” As someone who has already been fascinated by science fiction and time travel, this idea really appealed to me.
I will admit that Dunbar’s pieces all started to blend together and look alike to me. I enjoyed the smaller pieces of cast and machined bronze, which really did look like intricate mechanical shapes from bigger pieces (like giant robots, perhaps?), but I think seeing them on the larger scale they are all meant for would make more of an impact. Along the walls of the exhibit were posters of Dunbar’s larger pieces, and it made me really excited for the arrival of Touched by the Sun, which will be coming to the Art Center soon!
2. My Own Private Weather – Susan Chrysler White
I was blown away by a lot of Susan Chrysler White’s paintings, because there is just so much going on in all of them. The brochure explains it best by saying that she “layers not just paint on top of paint, but paintings on top of paintings. And more recently she layers paintings on sculptural additions on top of paintings on paintings.”
My Own Private Weather by Susan Chrysler White. (Photo courtesy of susanchryslerwhite.com
My Own Private Weather had those sculptural additions, which was part of what made it stand out to me. Not to mention the lovely turquoise and pinks that I personally enjoy the combination of. There’s also the statement that it makes about climate change. In fact, climate change and environmental issues are a large inspiration behind many of Chrysler White’s pieces, and knowing that makes them even more powerful.
3. Dango – Jun Kaneko
Dango is part of the permanent collection at the Art Center. I immediately liked this piece because I am a huge fan of all things polka-dotted. That’s a very simplistic view, but that was really all I had to go on. In looking at the website, I read that there is a lot of work that goes into Kaneko’s creation these ceramic sculptures, which he calls dangos, the Japanese word for “dumplings”.
I wasn’t the only one impressed with this piece. While we were there, a young boy with blonde hair and glasses was so attracted to Dango that he could not stop touching it, even after his mother, siblings, and an Art Center employee asked him not to. At one point, his mother lured him away by asking him to help her find another piece from the brochure, but he came back a few minutes later. I understood, because I wanted to touch it, too. I was able to resist the temptation.
4. The Student Displays
I was really excited to see all of the student artwork on display at the Art Center. There was an area for middle school and high school work downstairs behind the front desk area, and then a place for elementary work on the second floor. I was so moved by the talent of youth in this town, and seeing all of their work on display like that was probably the most moving part of my experience there.
Dango by Jun Kaneko
(Photo courtesy of Sioux City Art Center)
From watercolor projects featuring President Obama and Martin Luther King Jr. to renderings of animals made from soda cans or yarn, from the hot air balloons hanging from the ceiling to pages of old books serving as a canvas to new art, everything that I saw in those sections inspired me. It also made me a little jealous – we never did art projects that cool when I was young!
5. Sioux City – John Henry
Who doesn’t love the French Fries? For anyone that’s lived in Sioux City long enough, the “french fry” sculpture is a familiar part of our downtown culture. It was put away in storage for quite awhile, but was recently re-erected on the corner of 3rd and Pierce, right by the Art Center. Is it technically an Art Center exhibit? I’m not sure, but I’ve always wanted a picture in front of it, and I wasn’t about to miss my opportunity!
The statue, in case you were curious, isn’t actually called “French Fry”. In fact, the title is simply Sioux City, which I find very appropriate, since this piece of art is so closely linked to our city and culture. I don’t know, however, if I’ll ever stop referring to this structure by its delicious, potato-y nickname.
What are your favorite pieces at the Sioux City Art Center? If you haven’t been there, I highly suggest checking it out – it’s fun and free and I guarantee that you will learn something new.
Where should I go on my next adventure? Let me know in the comments below. Again, I’m willing to try anything, so long as it’s not illegal, dangerous, or harmful to myself or others.
Nakia Tyler is the Junior Firestarter at Team Creative Fire. When she isn’t exercising her creative muscle, she spends her time fan-girling over Doctor Who, playing with her adorable niece, and chowing on vegan food. If you see her out and about this summer, feel free to say hi. She’ll probably be wearing pink.
About the Author
Nakia Tyler Nakia is a Web Specialist at Team Creative Fire. When she isn’t exercising her creative muscle, she spends her time fan-girling over Doctor Who, playing with her adorable niece, and channeling her inner Hello Kitty. If you see her out and about having adventures, feel free to say hi. She’ll probably be wearing pink.
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