Inside Iowa State

Jan. 13, 2006

Calendar art featured in exhibit that will stop twice on campus

by Teddi Barron

In 1888, a small publishing company in Red Oak printed and sold calendars attached to a woodcut illustration of the county courthouse. That marked what is believed to be the birth of the calendar art industry. A big business today, the industry continues to bring museum-quality art into people's homes.

During the 20th century, the Red Oak factory became one of the largest producers of calendars in the nation. The Thos. D. Murphy Co. commissioned artwork by renowned artists, including Frederick Remington, Maxfield Parrish, Maynard Reece, Thomas Moran, Edwin Lamasure, Claude Strachan and George Howell Gay.

"The People's Art, 1889-1989," a traveling exhibition of 80 images of the company's calendar art, will be on display Jan. 17-31 in Gallery 181, College of Design. The exhibit is a mixture of original art commissioned by Thomas Murphy and printed pages from the calendars.

A preview reception will be held from 4 to 6 p.m., Friday, Jan. 13. The exhibit and reception are free and open to the public. Gallery hours are 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The exhibit also will appear at the Memorial Union March 10-April 1.