And Then There Were Five, 1981
George Longfish (Seneca/ Tuscorora/ American, b. 1942)
Acrylic on canvas
Gift of the artist. In the permanent collection, Brunnier Art Museum, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.
UM82.7

Interpretation

Iowa State’s first campus art museum, the Brunnier Art Museum, opened in 1975, and frequently has partnered with ISU’s Native American Indian Symposium presenting exhibitions exploring Native American aesthetic expressions, including: Michael Naranjo (1976); Fritz Scholder (1977); I Wear the Morning Star (1977); Confluences of Tradition and Change (1982); Oscar Howe (1982); Dan Namingha and Allen Houser (1983).

Confluences of Tradition and Change was a major exhibition with 27 artists invited by University Museums and the symposium to exhibit their art. These artists represented diverse tribes and were significant, and recognized, for their artistic accomplishments as represented in public and private collections. During the week-long symposium, which all the artists attended, they also conducted workshops, lectures, tours, class presentations, and spent many hours in the galleries discussing their art with museum visitors. There was magic within the galleries, one of expression, understanding, education and joy. As is typical and expected, museums collect and acquire art for their permanent collection to teach, enlighten and inspire audiences. As the Brunnier Art Museum was newly opened, there was not acquisition funds to purchase works of art. During the symposium, several artists discussed their desire to contribute to the permanent collection by gifting their works of art, and they did. George Longfish, Jaune Quick-To See Smith and Ted Sitting Crow Garner all made arrangements to gift and share their art with the future audiences of University Museums. As a curator, I will always be grateful to them for their generosity of spirit, artistry, and their vision in education. 

Lynette Pohlman
Director and Chief Curator, University Museums