IU publishes book with works from Art Museum galleries

After two years of editing, writing and shooting, the IU Art Museum has compiled a “masterwork” of pieces from its galleries into a book, due for release later this month.\nThe museum will host a book launch event from 4 to 6 p.m. March 20 in the Angles Café and Gift Shop, located in the museum. The event will offer light refreshments and free tours of the masterpieces by the museum’s curators.\nTitled “Masterworks from the Indiana University Art Museum,” the museum’s book contains 160 full-page, color photographs of hand-selected pieces from the galleries. The book begins with an introduction by IU President Michael McRobbie and ends with a colorful painting by Robert Colescott. The book features pieces that range from famous artists like Claude Monet and Pablo Picasso to African pieces that date back to the 1600s. \nThe publication was organized by the IU Press, museum director Adelheid Gealt, curators Diane Pelrine and Adriana Calinescu, photographers Michael Cavanagh and Kevin Montague, and Linda Baden, the museum’s associate director of editorial services. \n“We are extremely fortunate that we have curators and we have a really amazing collection,” Baden said. Baden edited the book and included a written history of the museum and its collections. \n“Masterworks” is a 364-page book that contains the museum’s rich history. Histories accompany the photographs. The artists and artworks’ histories, as well as how each piece came to IU, are all included in the research. \n“The photography is spectacular and the collection is amazing,” Baden said. “I still marvel at how wonderful the pieces are.”\nBaden said it took a little more than two years to have the book completely finished, but it was well worth it. Baden also said several pieces in the book have never been published before, so scholars will be able to see these pieces and the new research for the first time. \nThe book will not only be helpful and insightful for scholars and researchers, but students and homebodies alike will be able to enjoy the pieces without setting foot in the museum. However, visiting the museum is free, and it is open from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and from noon until 5 p.m. Sunday. \n“Masterworks” is available in hardback and paperback and will be sold for $64.95 and $39.95, respectively. Students will receive a 20 percent discount with a valid student ID at the book launch. The launch will offer light refreshments and free tours of the masterpieces by the museum’s curators. \n“This is the first true publication of the collection in a really long time,” Baden said. “Take the book launch as an invitation to see the actual works in person.”