Sustainable Art Using Natural Materials

Hear from several local artists who are using natural materials to create sustainable works of art.

Pam Dennis and Ryk Weiss of Flock 9 Studios are artists and educators with 25+ years of experience creating art, teaching workshops, and leading collaborative public installation projects. The couple lives simply with a conservation ethic on an acreage north of Ogden in central Iowa, and over the years, they've completed commissioned work for nature centers, gardens, hospitals, and schools. Dennis has been a popular teacher for the Iowa Arts Council’s Arts in Education program. Found things become décor in the garden, while the willow on their property - indigenous and renewable - is an apt material for their art.

Robert Sunderman graduated from the University of Iowa with a BFA, MA & MFA in 1982. He is a Fine Artist, Scenic Designer, Scenic Artist & ISU Associate Professor Emeritus of Theatre. He was the Resident Scenic Designer/Scenic Artist & Associate Professor of Theatre Design at Iowa State University for 21 years. Before that, he was the Scenic Designer at Iowa PBS for 16 years. Rob has taught art classes at the Des Moines Art Center for over 35 years. He has designed & scenic painted over 286 shows during his career. He has received Iowa Film, National Broadcasting Designers, Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival awards for his scenic designs & many Fine Art awards. He has been a fine artist throughout his life & has exhibited his work in over 295 exhibitions nationally & internationally.

Rob’s artwork is best described by his quote: “Not limiting materials is so important in my work. I use whatever materials best convey the subject or story that I am addressing”. Recently, he has been working on pieces dealing with renewal, fleeting moments, and human intervention in natural cycles. Most of Rob’s work has to do with nature, humanities intrusive nature, natural environment & climate change. His work conveys a sense of beauty, but also confronts the challenges we are faced within our environment and proposes creative solutions. He has been in online and in-person exhibitions now as well. Rob is presently working on the following series of sculpture work: "Reliquary Series," "Shattered Glass Series," "Tree/Fire Series," "Grain Crib: A Storage for Knowledge & Growth" and a painting/photography series: "Iowa Aerial View with Clouds?" He is pursuing solo exhibitions, galleries and new ways to promote his artwork nationally and internationally. He also is continuing to work on scenic design projects.

Please note: This lecture will not be recorded.