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Throughout his life, late Grinnell College trustee Gregg Narber ‘68 was a huge lover of art. When he was young, he took classes at the Des Moines Art Center and began collecting artwork by American artists. But he was drawn to the work of one particular artist — Roy Dean De Forest — whose pieces and sculptures are quirky and fantastical in nature.
“While I didn’t get to meet Gregg, I got a sense of his personality from the art he collected, " remarks Susan Baley, director of the Grinnell College Museum of Art. “He was very much a Renaissance man with a great sense of humor.” When Narber passed in 2022, his wife donated 66 pieces to the museum, some of whose frames are on display with colorful and eccentric objects.
“When we curate an exhibition, we primarily think about how college classes can use the collections — this is especially important for donors, who consider how their collected artwork might be studied in the classroom,” says Baley.
Art pieces are donated to the museum every year, from alumni to teachers at Iowa State University. “We make a big commitment whenever we accept a piece of art — essentially, we are promising to take care of a piece forever,” says Baley. The museum’s current exhibition, “Primary Sources: Recent Acquisitions to the Museum's Art Collection,” is proof of how the museum’s collections are growing — many of the works displayed have been added within the last three years.
“These are gifts, as well as purchases,” explained Baley to the Chamber Ambassadors. “I’ve been fortunate to work with a budget for acquisitions based on an endowed gift every year.”
Because of the endowed gift, Baley often strategizes on how their collection can grow. One area she is particularly passionate about is expanding the museum’s collections to include artists of diverse backgrounds, specifically women and indigenous artists.
For example, this current exhibition includes works from artist Dindga McCannon, a Black woman who was influential in empowering and creating a collective of Black women artists within her 50-year career.
“We are always striving to represent diversity in a collection,” remarks Baley. She also pointed to displayed works that incorporate markers of Mexican art with contemporary styles. One piece of Puebla pottery was built from the same artist who incorporated Mexican styles of art to the contemporary culture of low rider cars. “It is amazing to see how indigenous artists connect important art styles from Mexico from the past and into the present.”
Exhibition designer Milton Severe had these prominent visual connections in mind when he curated the museum’s current display. Amongst the artworks, you might also notice constant pops of color and dots scattered among the paintings and sculptures, including one sculpture designed with Braille.
If you are deeply interested in art, or are a casual art lover, become involved with the museum! On Oct. 31, artist Dindga McCannon will be at the museum to present her talk, “Where We At,” at 4 PM, and will discuss her work as an artist and how it draws attention to forgotten histories of public figures and everyday heroines. On Wed., Nov. 12, former museum director Lesley Wright will also present on her years working with the Narbers and cultivating a relationship that allowed them to connect deeply over art.
This coming summer, the museum will be closed for a second time because of an HVAC renovation, “which did not end up happening last summer because of a production delay,” laughs Baley. Until then, the museum will be open to the public Tues.-Fri., 11 AM-6 PM; Thurs., 11 AM-8 PM; and Sat.-Sun. 1-5 PM. And not to worry, the museum’s summer outreach programs will continue despite the summer closure!
Chamber Ambassadors, from left to right:
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