Friday, December 8, 2023
Written by
Alexis Belme
Image Gallery

Somehow in the blink of an eye, we have reached the end of the Fall 2023 Semester. Each week we were busy planning events, making Friday Focus videos, working on my self-guided tour, designing Baggu tote bags and hosting really great events! Although the entire semester has been a learning experience, a few moments stand out to me.  

design of the zine created for the HBD,SMA Event. On the pieces of paper are pictures, text, and colorful outlines of events and moments that look back at the last year

The first would definitely have to be looking back on the last year we have been opened in preparation for our HBD, SMA Event. I had a lot of fun looking back on events, pictures, and other memories from the past year in the museum and creating a fun Zine to commemorate them all! 

In relation to the Stanley’s first birthday, our celebration was just as fun to host as it was to plan! Everyone who attended seemed to have a great time and loved the cupcakes we got from Molly’s (I know I did).  

A photo of the cupcakes at the HBD SMA event. There are 12 of them in a cardboard box, with different colored cakes and frosting.

Moving further into the semester, I began to focus a lot more of my time working on my self-guided tour. This has been a really eye-opening experience to be able to analyze and connect with pieces on display. We are in the final stages of creating the tour, so I am excited for people to be able to see it next semester!  

The Art of Voting was a really fun event to plan in terms of collecting the images for button making and collaborating with Hawk the Vote. However, Bingo Queens felt like a much larger event because we had roughly two months to plan it.

close up image of a hand pouring a canned ginger ale into a clear plastic cup

This allowed us to come up with mocktails recipes, create graphics, and find prizes for the bingo winners. From the start of the semester, I have been really looking forward to Bingo Queens because it was the exact event I had in mind for the museum when I began working here as the Campus Engagement Coordinator.  

To wrap up this semester, the museum will be hosting Study at the Stanley for students to have a space to study, have snacks and drinks, and of course grab some stress toys. This is always a really fun way for students to come into the museum and unwind.  

Looking towards the Spring Semester, I am really excited to continue planning events, film more Friday Focus videos, and hopefully see people in the galleries with my Social Justice self-guided tour! I am also looking to interacting more with the collection and using it as inspiration for my senior capstone project. To learn more about the events we have planned for next semester, click here! 

Gallery
design of the zine created for the HBD,SMA Event. On the pieces of paper are pictures, text, and colorful outlines of events and moments that look back at the last year
A photo of the cupcakes at the HBD SMA event. There are 12 of them in a cardboard box, with different colored cakes and frosting.
A photo of two chalk sandwich board signs in an office. One sign has a cupcake drawn on it, the other has multicolored balloons and a "1" birthday candle. Both advertise the HBD, SMA birthday party event.
A photo of the HBD, SMA zine, held up against the colorful mural in the Stanley Museum of Art lobby.
A photo showing the HBD, SMA set up. Facing west inside the building, black cocktail tables, an information desk with chairs and pamphlets, and the Stanley's rainbow-colored lobby mural can be seen.
A photo of HBD, SMA event in progress. Alexis is being interviewed by the Daily Iowan TV crew, while other event guests eat cupcakes, talk, read their zines, and mingle.
One student takes a Polaroid picture of two other students, posing excitedly, their arms raised, in front of the Stanley's rainbow-colored lobby mural.
A photo of four students posing together in front of the mural in the Stanley lobby--three students are members of Hawk the Vote, and one is the Stanley's Campus Engagement Coordinator, Alexis.
A photo of the Art of Voting event, showcasing the info table at the front of the event. At the table sits Campus Engage Coordinator Alexis Belme, who is smiling, prepared to greet event attendees as they walk through the museum's front doors.
Students try their hand at a button press machine, making buttons themed to the "Art of Voting" event.
A photo showing the setup of the Art of Voting event--the projector at the far end of the lobby has a looping PowerPoint with images of art and archival photos; there are two tables for button making; and Hawk the Vote has a table to register people to vote.
written in colorful chalk is a sign indicating the bingo queen event
on a marble table are empty plastic cups, chip bags, Jolly Ranchers, and Bingo Cards with assorted numbers
round cocktail table with an assortment of prizes. These include a candle making kit, coloring book with pencils, popcorn kit, and a hot chocolate kit with a mug
shown are 5 individuals. On the left is Virgo Frost, then Abbie McLaren, Anaka Sanders, Alexis Belme, and Hazel Sanchez-Belle
shown is a full table of students playing bingo. The table is covered with a black table cloth and has bingo cards and Jolly Ranchers on it
display of written menu items available as a mocktail. these include plaid sweater, spring embraces yellow, spirit dance, and fish coffin.
shown is a student standing in between two drag queens against the lobby mural
employee, Anaka, working at the information desk. the desk has scattered bingo cards and Stanley Student Challenge Cards