Ian Berry is the director of the art museum at Skidmore College, and his ambitious vision has shaped the Tang’s mission to spark curiosity and foster collaborative learning through active engagement with ideas, artworks, and exhibitions.  Among other topics, Berry will discuss his influential, collaborative model for faculty-curated exhibitions—a process that has resulted in over 100 ground-breaking, cross-disciplinary shows closely linked to Skidmore’s curriculum.  These exhibitions have included Radical Fiber: Threads Connecting Art and Science, Look After Each Other: Intimacy and Community, and Flex.

This event is free and open to all.

If you are unable to join us in person, the talk will be steamed live on Zoom: https://uiowa.zoom.us/j/91855906239

Ian Berry is Dayton Director of the Tang Teaching Museum. Hired in 2000 as the Museum’s inaugural curator, he became director in 2012. He is a leader in the field of college and university museums, and is a regular speaker on interdisciplinary and inventive curatorial practice and teaching in museums. His publications have garnered numerous awards, including eight prizes from the American Association of Museums.

He has organized over 100 museum exhibitions. Recent projects have featured Sarah Cain, Ellsworth Kelly’s postcard collages, Elizabeth Streb and Streb Extreme Action Company, Chicago Imagists’ sculptural work and dimensional painting, Njideka Akunyili Crosby’s Predecessors series, and a career survey of Dona Nelson’s paintings.

During Berry’s tenure, the Tang’s collection has expanded greatly with significant additions in historical photography and contemporary art. Berry serves on the board of the Museum Association of New York and on several advisory committees, including Cranbrook Academy National Advisory Committee, Artist Advisory Board of the Fabric Workshop and Museum, and Saratoga Springs Art Commission.