Arts and attractions

Fountain of the Four Seasons

Fountain of the Four Seasons sculpture by Christian Petersen.

Exhibits Calendar

Anderson Sculpture Garden | contact

South of Morrill Hall, free

Brunnier Art Museum | contact

Scheman Building, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 1-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, $3 suggested donation

  • "Parallels: The Architecture of Impermanence," features paintings by Joe Patrick, Jan. 17 through July 30
  • "Creative by Nature," the Bohan Collection of Inuit Art, through July 30
  • "Challenging Taste: Art Nouveau in the Decorative Arts," features American and European versions of Art Nouveau, through July 30
  • "Decidedly Collectable," features state patterns in the Iowa Quester Glass Collection, through July 30

Christian Petersen Art Museum | contact

Morrill Hall, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday, $3 suggested donation

  • "RED," an exploration of the cultural and aesthetic diversity of the color red, through Aug. 4
  • "Commissioning a Collection: 75 Years of Public Art," a history of ISU's public art collection, ongoing
  • "The People's College: the Morrill Act and Iowa State," a comprehensive historic timeline will be installed on the walls of the ground floor hallway that leads through Morrill Hall, ongoing

Design on Main Gallery | contact

203 Main St., 2-5 p.m. Thursday-Saturday

Farm House Museum | contact

Central campus, Noon-4 p.m., Monday-Friday, $3 suggested donation

Gallery 181 | 515-294-7428

College of Design, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, free

        Parks Library | contact

        Special Collections and University Archives, 403 Parks Library, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, free

        • "This movement for a more beautiful Iowa: The Early Years of Iowa's State Park System," opens May 17
        • Online exhibits: archives.lib.iastate.edu

        Memorial Union | contact

        Gallery, viewing based on room availability, free

        • "So the Story Goes," artwork by Michelle Holley, through July 18

        Pioneer Room, viewing based on room availability, free

        • "Ghost Twinkles," artwork by Whitney Courtney Nastanovich reflecting the process and destruction of hand-recorded data, April 27 through July 5

          Multicultural Center, 8 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-5p.m. Friday, 5-11 p.m. Sunday, free

          • "The Students of Urban Leadership," photographs of student activism by Jami Milne, through June 2017

          Reiman Gardens | contact

          9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, $8 (youth $4, free for members)

          Conservatory

          • "Totally Tubular," plantings inspired by surfing the big breaker, through Aug. 12

          Gardens

          • "Washed Ashore," features sea creature sculptures made from trash collected from beaches to graphically illustrate pollution in oceans and waterways, April 29 through Oct. 31

          Textiles and Clothing Museum, Mary Alice Gallery | contact

          1015 Morrill Hall, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday, free

            Reiman Gardens

            Reiman Gardens

            Campus attractions

            Highlights

            Best public rose garden

            Iowa State's Reiman Gardens has been named the best public rose garden in the U.S.

            Most beautiful campus

            Iowa State's campus includes over 600 public works of art and was rated as one of America's 25 most beautiful in the book, The Campus as a Work of Art.

            Carillon

            The 10-bell carillon chime installed in the Campanile in 1899 was the first scientifically tuned bell chime outside of England; the carillon has 50 bells today.

            Building of the 20th Century

            Iowa State's Stephens Auditorium was named Iowa's "Building of the 20th Century" by the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Iowa Chapter.

            Most Grant Wood murals

            Iowa State has the largest Grant Wood murals in the nation, including two WPA projects located in Parks Library -- "Breaking the Sod" and "When Tillage Begins, Other Arts Follow."

            Seamless curtain

            The main stage curtain in Stephens Auditorium is seamless, made entirely of silk, measures 85 by 35 feet and weighs 3,000 pounds. It was woven in Kyoto, Japan, on the world's largest continuous loom.

            Accredited museum

            The University Museums at Iowa State is one of only 10 percent of museums in the nation to be accredited by the American Association of Museums.

            Medallion site

            Iowa State's central campus was one of only three university campuses to make the American Society of Landscape Architect's 1999 centennial listing of "Medallion Sites."

            Most Christian Petersen sculptures

            Iowa State holds the nation's largest campus public collection of sculptures by Christian Petersen, who was artist-in-residence from 1934 to 1955.

            Online art tour

            You can take a virtual look at some campus art with University Museums' Digital Art on Campus project.