ANKENY, Iowa—Mistaken Identity, a sculpture by American artist Joyce J. Scott, will be on display at the DMACC Urban Campus, Bldg. #1 from August 19 to 23.
Scott combines glass beadwork and Murano glass forms in her Mistaken Identity sculpture. The 18 ¾ x 21 x 10 inch piece of art depicts a seated figure holding fire in his hands to reference a variety of social justice concerns, such as gun violence, abuse of women, racial profiling and sex trafficking.
“I’d like my art to induce people to stop raping, torturing and shooting each other,” said Scott. “I don’t have the ability to end violence, racism and sexism, but my art can help them look and think.”
In addition to Mistaken Identity being on display at the DMACC Urban Campus, the Urban Campus will also be hosting an event at 5 p.m., Tuesday, August 20. Des Moines Art Center Director Jeff Fleming will be talking about the sculpture. Former DMACC Urban Campus Provost and later Vice President Dr. Mary Chapman and current Urban Campus Provost Dr. Anne Howsare Boyens will also speak at the free event.
“The staff and board are honored and excited to be able to work with DMACC to place this sculpture within the community,” said Des Moines Art Center Director Jeff Fleming. “We are thrilled by the opportunity to share Scott’s art with broader audiences.”
He said this is also the first time in the Des Moines Art Center’s history, they are showcasing a newly acquired piece of art outside of the Art Center.
“DMACC Urban Campus is absolutely honored to be a part of this innovative project to bring art to the urban core,” said Urban Campus Provost Dr. Anne Howsare Boyens. “As a community, we are privileged to have this access to world class art through the Des Moines Art Center. To increase that access to all communities is at the heart of this partnership with the DMACC Urban Campus.”
Although Scott will not be at the DMACC event, she will be the featured Artist Lecturer at a special event at 1:30 p.m., Sunday, August 25 in Levitt Auditorium at the Des Moines Art Center. Scott will talk about her life and work in the presentation titled, “Joyce J. Scott: My Best Voice is an Artist.” The event is free; however, reservations are required. For reservations, click here.
Scott is a MacArthur “Genius” Award recipient. She received her B.F.A. in 1970 from the Maryland Institute College of Art and a Master’s of Fine Arts in 1971 from the Instituto Allende in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Her works appear in the Baltimore Museum of Art and Design, The Fuller Craft Museum, the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, among others. For more on Scott, click here.
Photo courtesy: Rich Sanders, Des Moines
(contributed article, DMACC)
