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Hy-Brids

Object NameSculptures

Artist / Maker Andrew Leicester (British-American, b. 1948)

Artist / MakerFabricating Artist, David Dahlquist (American, b. 1958)

Manufacturer Donovan Palmquist (American, b. 1955)

Date1991

OriginUSA

MediumTerra-cotta

DimensionsOther (Center Plaque): 52 x 112 in., 3 cm (132.1 x 284.5 cm, 1 3/16 in.) Other (Side Plaques (4)): 40 x 40 in., 3 cm (101.6 x 101.6 cm, 1 3/16 in.)

ClassificationsSculpture

Credit LineAn Iowa Art in State Buildings Project for the Molecular Biology Building. In the Art on Campus Collection, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.

CopyrightUniversity Museums, Iowa State University prohibits the copying or reproduction in any medium of materials on this website with the following exceptions: Iowa State University students, faculty, and staff for educational use in formal instruction, papers, presentations and projects; limited non-commercial; and personal use that meets the criteria for fair use as defined in the U.S. copyright laws. Images from the University Museums’ collection cannot be used for publication, apparel/non-apparel merchandise, digital or commercial purposes without prior written permission from the University Museums, Iowa State University. Fair use does not apply to the extent that a license agreement or other contract controls reproduction or other use. University Museums and Iowa State University makes no representation that it is the owner of the copyright of the art object depicted in the photo materials and assumes no responsibility for any claims by third parties arising out of use of the photo materials. Users must obtain all other permissions required for usage of the art object and the photo materials. For more information, please see http://www.museums.iastate.edu/ImageReproduction.html

Object numberU91.72abcd

Status

On view

Collections

CultureAmerican

Label TextThe G-Nome Project fully integrates art and architecture into the Molecular Biology Building. Since the artist, Andrew Leicester, was selected at the start of the project, he was able to work with the architectural firm Hansen Lind Meyer, Inc. to incorporate the art into the building's design. As a result, Iowa State University has gained a striking example of the successful merging of art and architecture, as well as a building rich in meaning and function. When Leicester was commissioned by Iowa State to create this public art, he began to research the kinds of activities that would take place there. He found information at conferences, by attending lectures, by reading books, and through conversation with scientists and students. He kept a sketchbook of ideas and drawings on the subject. It became clear to him that the most debated area of current investigation in the field of molecular biology was transgenetic animal research with both the academic community and the public expressing their opinions. Philosophers, sociologists, animal scientists, and economists were among the many who were discussing the potential legal and economic implications of genetic research. Hybrids, featuring fictional monsters some feared would be the result of molecular biology research. Surrounding these cross-bred figures are tiles containing the letters A,G,C, and T. These represent the four basic building blocks of DNA. The relief centered over the entrance contains three images. The central one is the mythological sphinx. On either side of the sphinx is a box and a horn. These represent the two possible outcomes of molecular research: an open Pandora's box of evil or a cornucopia of good.

Object Titles[com.gallerysystems.emuseum.core.entities.ObjectTitle@a484]

Locations