The Davenport museum will open Portrait of America and Corn Zone on July 5, two exhibitions that offer Midwestern perspectives on history, culture, agriculture and national memory.
The Figge Art Museum will open two summer exhibitions this Sunday, July 5, exploring American identity through a Midwestern lens.
The exhibitions, Connie and Michael Roberts: Portrait of America and Corn Zone, arrive ahead of the 250th anniversary of the United States and bring together portraits, sculpture, blown glass, video, sound and references to Iowa’s agricultural landscape.
Admission to the Figge Art Museum will be free throughout July, giving visitors access to both exhibitions at no cost at the museum in downtown Davenport, along the Mississippi River.
Portrait of America features figures from U.S. history
Connie and Michael Roberts: Portrait of America presents a series of collaborative portrait panels by Iowa City artists Connie and Michael Roberts.
The exhibition features notable figures from U.S. history and combines painting, sculpture and visual storytelling. Michael Roberts’ realistic portraits are paired with hand-carved sculptural whistles by Connie Roberts, which serve as symbols of important moments in the life of each person portrayed.
Melissa Mohr, executive director and CEO of the Figge Art Museum, said the two exhibitions explore the American story from distinct but complementary perspectives: one through people who helped shape the country and the other through the agricultural landscape that has deeply influenced life in the Midwest.
Joshua Johnson, co-senior curator at the museum, said Connie Roberts has developed a distinctive artistic language that brings together music, sculpture and story. In these collaborative works, her carved narrative elements create a dialogue with Michael Roberts’ portraits and add humor to the way viewers encounter historic figures.
The exhibition is presented in honor of former U.S. Representative Jim Leach, who worked closely with the artists and inspired many of the works included. The collaboration among the Roberts and Leach produced a particular view of American history shaped by their time in Iowa.
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Corn Zone turns the agricultural landscape into an immersive experience
While Portrait of America focuses on historic figures, Corn Zone turns to the landscape and agricultural traditions that continue to define life in Iowa and the Midwest.
The installation, returning to the Figge’s galleries, was created by Wisconsin glass artist and farmer Michael Meilahn in collaboration with video and sound designer Nick Nebel.
Corn Zone transforms one of the Midwest’s most recognizable symbols into an immersive experience. The work features a suspended “field” of oversized ears of corn made from blown glass, surrounded by video projections and atmospheric sound.
The installation explores the history of agriculture in the Midwest and examines contemporary issues such as genetic modification and technological innovation in farming.
Meilahn, a fourth-generation farmer, draws on his firsthand experience with the land to create a visually striking work that invites reflection on the relationship between agriculture, the economy and regional culture.
Vanessa Sage, co-senior curator at the Figge, said that for many Iowans, corn is more than a crop: it is part of the landscape, economy and everyday culture. Corn Zone reimagines that familiar element and offers another way to think about agriculture and the relationship with the land.
The work was acquired in honor of the late Tom Gildehaus, a former museum trustee, board president and Figge supporter. Over time, Corn Zone has become one of the most beloved pieces in the museum’s collection.
Admission to the Figge will be free throughout July
The two exhibitions will open Sunday, July 5. The Figge Art Museum will offer free admission throughout the month of July.
The museum is located at 225 West Second Street in Davenport. The institution sits downtown along the Mississippi River and is one of the leading art exhibition and education spaces between Chicago and Des Moines.
The Figge Art Museum houses a recognized collection, temporary exhibitions and community programs designed to connect the public with art.
Two programs will accompany the exhibitions in July and August
On Thursday, July 16, the museum will present America 250: Focus on Connie and Michael Roberts with artist Connie Roberts.
The program will begin at 6:00 p.m. in the auditorium and will be connected to the exhibition Connie and Michael Roberts: Portrait of America. Connie Roberts, trained as a figurative painter, describes herself as a “thing-maker” and works between fine art and folk art, with humor and visual sharpness.
That day will include bar and food service, along with free admission from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
On Thursday, August 13, the Figge will host Music & Makers Night: What’s Hot with Glass. The program will include live music in the Figge Café with Randy Leasman, drop-in art-making activities and a special themed tour with Logan Ryser at 6:00 p.m.
The event will also include bar and food service, with free admission from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The exhibitions Connie and Michael Roberts: Portrait of America and Corn Zone will open Sunday, July 5, at the Figge Art Museum, 225 West Second Street, Davenport. More information is available at www.figgeartmuseum.org.
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