student blog

Along with the Stanley's belief in getting students into and engaged with the museum physically, we also believe students should have a space to share their research, creative projects, writing, and other achievements, expertise, and thoughts about art, art history, and the Stanley with their peers. 

The Stanley Student Blog will not only serve as a way to make our events accessible, but also to preserve the work that students do;  their work isn't gone once the event they helped coordinate is over or their employment ends, but lives on here, for future students to engage with days, weeks, months, or maybe even years later. 

If you're interested in contributing to our blog in some type of way, please reach out to Assistant Curator of Student Engagement Allie Tokarski at allison-tokarski@uiowa.edu. We'd love to hear your thoughts on the art on display at the Stanley, the work you're doing related to the Stanley or the arts community on campus, or how the arts are impacting your time here at Iowa. 

A photo of Bella Epstein, standing in front of the Keith Haring mural, "A Book Full of Fun," in the Stanley Museum of Art galleries, teaching in front of a group of children and their parents.

A Reflection from Summer Learning & Engagement Intern Bella Epstein

Monday, September 2, 2024
Click here to learn more about the various projects Bella Epstein, an art education and printmaking student at UNI, worked on during her summer as an intern for the Stanley's Learning & Engagement department.
A photo of Stanley student employee, Shaun Mallonga, working on Jiha Moon's mural, 'One An Other,' in the Stanley Museum of Art lobby.

A Reflection on Working with Jiha Moon

Thursday, August 29, 2024
Shaun Mallonga, an MFA student at the University of Iowa and Gallery Host at the Stanley Museum of Art, reflects on the experience of working with artist Jiha Moon on her recent mural project, "One An Other," in the Stanley Museum of Art's lobby.
Student employees Sarena Gibson and Mari Johnson crouch on the street in downtown Iowa City, where they are working on a large chalk drawing as part of the city's Rock the Chalk summer festival.

Stanley Museum of Art Student Employees at Rock the Chalk 2024

Tuesday, August 13, 2024
Two of the Stanley's student employees, Communications & Marketing Assistant Sarena Gibson and Gallery Host Mari Johnson, participated in the Iowa City Downtown District's "Rock the Chalk" event. This festival features community members and local artists filling downtown streets with chalk art. For their piece representing the Stanley, Sarena and Mari recreated Keith Haring's mural, "A Book Full of Fun," currently on display at the Stanley.
A photo of a linoleum block print; printed in red ink, the image is of Keith Haring, a young man wearing glasses, with vibrant, childlike imagery, reminsicent of his artwork, swirling around his head.

Marta Leira: Inspired by Keith Haring

Sunday, June 9, 2024
A junior at the University of Iowa and a former Horn Elementary student (2008 - 2014), Marta Leira has enjoyed learning about Haring's life and legacy, creating portraits of the artist for her class, "Printmaking and the Politics of Protest." Click this link to learn more about Marta's work on Haring for her class, and how, in her mind, he embodies 'Good Trouble.'
Student Spotlight picture of Adrian Carmenate

Videographer 2024/2025: Adrian Carmenate

Friday, June 7, 2024
Click here to learn more about Sarena Gibson and the work she will do as the Stanley Museum of Art's Communications & Marketing Assistant this upcoming academic year.
A photo of Sarena, smiling, with orange-red text overlaid on top that says "Student Spotlight."

Communications & Marketing Assistant 2024/2025: Sarena Gibson

Monday, June 3, 2024
Click here to learn more about Sarena Gibson and the work she will do as the Stanley Museum of Art's Communications & Marketing Assistant this upcoming academic year.
A photo of Bella taken on a street corner; she holds up a croissant in one hand, smiling.

Museum Studies Education Intern Summer 2024: Bella Epstein

Monday, June 3, 2024
Click here to learn more about Bella Epstein and the work she will do as an intern within the Learning & Engagement department at the Stanley Museum of Art during the Summer 2024 term.
A graphic with the words "Student Spotlight" in shades of blue surrounding a photo of Annelies, smiling in a sweater vest.

Campus Engagement Coordinator 2024/2025: Annelies Knight

Tuesday, May 28, 2024
Click here to learn more about Annelies Knight and the work she will do as the Campus Engagement Coordinator at the Stanley Museum of Art beginning summer 2024 and lasting through academic year 2024/ 25.
A photo of Amelia Goldsby standing and presenting in one of the African art galleries at the Stanley Museum of Art.

Reflections on the Course Curating the Arts of Africa in America

Tuesday, May 28, 2024
Amelia Goldsby, a PhD student in the University of Iowa's Art History program, reflects on her experience taking the class MUSM:4081 during the Spring 2024 semester. This class was taught through a synchronous learning hybrid platform with students at Indiana University, and engaged with African art collections at both the Stanley Museum of Art (University of Iowa) and the Eskenazi Museum of Art (Indiana University).
A photo of Monica standing beside a poster she made at the Iowa Arts Fest, detailing her work as part of Cory Gundlach's class.

A Reflection on MUSM:4081 Curating the Arts of Africa in America

Tuesday, May 21, 2024
Monica Vree, a PhD student in the University of Iowa's Art History program, reflects on her experience taking the class MUSM:4081 during the Spring 2024 semester. This class was taught through a synchronous learning hybrid platform with students at Indiana University, and engaged with African art collections at both the Stanley Museum of Art (University of Iowa) and the Eskenazi Museum of Art (Indiana University).