Abstract

The PAI at UNI enables artists at any stage of a career the opportunity to contribute to the cultural landscape of their own community through the production of permanent public art.

The UNI Public Art Incubator (PAI) is a unique program that offers technical resources and fabrication assistance to regional and national artists in the production of commissioned public sculpture. In addition, through mentorships with faculty and staff and partnerships with professional artists, students gain meaningful experience and learn the artistic and organizational skills necessary to carry out large-scale public art commissions on their own. Over the past 7 years, students of all levels have been directly involved in the production of more than 20 public art projects currently installed across Iowa and beyond.

About the presenter

Dan Perry’s sculptures are composed in ways that imply a narrative to which the viewer becomes a witness - part of a scene; a moment suspended in time. Over the past 10 years, he has exhibited his sculptures across the United States in over 40 juried and group exhibitions as well as 10 solo exhibitions. Notable venues include the Des Moines Art Center, Waterloo Center for the Arts, and the Spartanburg Art Museum. He has also exhibited large-scale sculptures in outdoor exhibitions across the country. Dan has also completed 7 large-scale public sculpture commissions. Most recently, he completed large scale sculptures for the cities of Urbandale and Marion, Iowa respectively. Currently, Dan is the Art Studio Technician and Instructor at the University of Northern Iowa and also leads the UNI Public Art Incubator while serving on several civic public art committees.

Tom Stancliffe is the lead artist in charge of the PAI. He is a Professor of Art at the University of Northern Iowa and his professional involvement in public art spans nearly forty years beginning in 1974 when he was a studio assistant to sculptor Gene Horvath. In the early 1980’s after completing his M.F.A. degree at Northern Illinois University, he was the lead fabrication assistant to sculptor Bruce White and by 1988 the focus of his own art work shifted almost completely to large scale public sculpture. To date he has completed over 25 commissioned public works nationally and serves on multiple civic public art committees.