The Life and Times of M.E. Ensminger

Object NameMural

Artist / Maker Jason Gaillard (American, b. 1965)

Date1998

OriginUSA

MediumOil on canvas

Dimensions120 x 288 in. (304.8 x 731.5 cm)

ClassificationsPaintings

Credit LineGift of Agriservices Foundation. Commissioned by the University Museums and the College of Agriculture. In the Art on Campus Collection, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.

Object numberU98.31

Status

On view

Collections

Editionn/a

Label TextLife of M.E. Ensminger. Mr Marion Eugene Ensminger died in July, 1998 at the age of 90. For more than 30 years Ensminger conducted international agricultural technology schools to improve livestock management practices. In the 90s' he teamed with Iowa State officials to conduct schools in Russia, Ukraine, Cuba and China. In 1996, ISU awarded Ensminger an honorary doctorate of humane letters to recognize his lifelong achievements in animal science, education and international agriculture. The mural has 50 images of his life in a frame surrounding a large central image. In each corner of the mural are flags from the countries he visited. The left side of the mural shows him teaching a classroom full of people. There's a student sitting down in the front row. The same student sits down, studies, graduates and moves on into real life. On the right is a landscape with cornfield, sheep, and shepherd. The student is Ensminger's best friend and former student, Leonard Vanderhoop. Ensminger is the shepherd. In the background are scenes from China. Dr. Ensminger is in the mural several times..he's kneeling down and planting a seed, which grows into a whole field of corn being harvested, then in the background is the storage of corn symbolizing the knowledge that grows, is harvested and stored in the books that he has written.

Signednone

Locations