The Stanley Museum of Art kicked off the new academic year with a series of thought-provoking panel discussions that covered pressing issues around academia, freedom of speech, and its impact on art.

In the current shifting social landscape, it is more important than ever to engage in open dialogue and critical thinking. Museums can play a big role as catalysts for change by encouraging the public to confront difficult topics and engage in meaningful discussions.

Pasts Imperfect

On Tuesday, September 24, 2024, the Stanley hosted a panel discussion on public writing in collaboration with the team behind Pasts Imperfect, an online network for public scholars that addresses forgotten, manipulated, or misunderstood global histories within the ancient world. 

The event, also titled Pasts Imperfect, was part of a larger public writing forum and toolbox website helping scholars in Iowa and beyond to write and publish public-facing work that meets the public where they are, and then introduces the populace to the work done within the academy.

Panel members Hrag Vartanian (Editor-in-Chief, Hyperallergic), Stephanie Wong (Editor and Co- Founder of Pasts Imperfect), and Jennifer Banks (Senior Executive Editor, Yale University Press) explored how and why we write for the public as art critics, historians, journalists, editors, and nonfiction writers. Their insights provided valuable guidance to scholars seeking to bridge the gap between academia and the public. The talk was moderated by author and Curator of Special Projects at the Stanley Museum of Art, Derek (DK) Nnuro.

_{This program was supported by the Arts and Humanities Initiative (Office of the Vice President for Research at the University of Iowa), departments of History and Classics, the Digital Scholarship & Publishing Studio, and the Stanley Museum of Art.}

Keith Haring, Censorship, and the Power of Art

This collaborative event by the Stanley Museum of Art, the Obermann Center for Advanced Studies, and the Iowa City Public Library, explored the enduring impact of Keith Haring's work in the fight against HIV/AIDS. It was held at the Iowa City Public Library on Thursday, September 26, 2024.

The panel was in conjunction with the museum's exhibition, To my Friends at Horn: Keith Haring and Iowa City, showcasing the mural by Keith Haring at Horn Elementary School.

Panel members Saba Vlach (College of Education), Oluwafemi Adeagbo (College of Public Health), and Laura Cottrell (Iowa City Community School District) discussed the historical and contemporary implications of banned books on sexual and reproductive health and the importance of unrestricted access to information. The talk was moderated by Curator of Learning & Engagement at the Stanley Museum of Art, Kimberly Datchuk.