The UICHR recognizes that human rights are often well represented in the visual arts. Two examples of such projects are the current Stir Fry events and the past Articles in Art competition.
Stir Fry Project
Stir Fry, inspired by David Feinberg's "Voice to Vision" project out of the Twin Cities, seeks enthusiastic students and community members to participate in a semester long art project which aims to translate stories of resettlement into visual works of art. The goal is to tell stories of how people came to Iowa from different parts of the world through collective works of art. Stir-Fry is sponsored by the University of Iowa Center for Human Rights (UICHR) in conjunction with the University of Iowa School of Art and Art History (SAAH) and the Senior Center of Iowa City.
Stir-Fry examines displacement, resettlement, storytelling, community and art. The project seeks to translate the stories of extraordinary people into powerful visual presentations designed to inform and transform public perceptions of these populations. It will explore how people become part of their current living spaces and help illuminate these narratives in order to inform us of our own communal experiences.
Students and professors from SAAH as well as community artists will help facilitate the collaborative art process and lead workshops in mixed media, print making, and stop motion animation. An exhibition open to the public will cap off the project at the Senior City of Iowa City beginning April 27th along with a performance by the Sudanese Community Choir.
Articles in Art
In 2009 the UICHR held its first annual Articles in Art competition, which asked students to think creatively about the universality of human rights. The UICHR challenged both undergraduate and graduate students to express the Articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in a work of art. (There were no limitations on medium or dimension.) We received a wide variety of works… prints, paintings, graphic design, artists’ books, and even sculptures. The winners were announced and honored on November 14, 2009, and their creations are pictured below. Please join us in congratulating these talented artists!
2009 Winners:
1st place: Islam Aly
Ph.D. candidate in Art Education, graduate student
2nd place: Erin Carnes
Graduate student in Art & Art History
3rd place: Guldinez D. Martinek
Graduate student in Art & Art History
Honorable Mention: Shawn M. Johnson
Undergraduate student in Art & Art History
Honorable Mention: Charmaine Banach
Graduate student in Art & Art History
Honorable Mention: Guldinez D. Martinek
Graduate student in Art & Art History
Judges of the Articles in Art competition:
Rachel Williams, Professor of Art Education
Christopher Roy, Professor of Art & Art History
Peter Feldstein, Professor Emeritus of Art & Art History
Jennifer New, community member & writer