Unions' Public Art Blog

I am pleased to announce the inaugural hanging of the MU Student Center’s paintings of the Mid-Missouri landscape by Keith Crown and Joel Chrisman. These works depict both urban and rural scenes in their portrayal of downtown Columbia and the MU campus, Mizzou’s dairy farm, and the countryside of Ashland, Missouri. The paintings are currently on view on the first floor of the Student Center near U.S. Bank. (Left: Crown, Columbia and the University of Missouri , c. 1980s; Center: Crown, Missouri University Dairy Farm , c. 1989; Right: Chrisman, Deer Park , 2008   Keith Crown (1918-2010) is an internationally renowned Modern artist, most often recognized for his experimental work in watercolor. Crown was born in Iowa, but lived a rather transient life, working and residing in numerous cities worldwide. His travel is reflected in his body of work, which includes views of the California coastline, the mountains and pueblo at Taos, the gothic architecture of London, and the

  Not long ago the Student Unions acquired several beautiful pastels by local artist Joel Chrisman (American, b. 1947) featuring the lush countryside of mid-Missouri. A few of these stunning landscapes are currently on display on the main level of the student center just outside of Mort’s .   Bass Creek  (2008)   Chrisman is a contemporary artist who lives and works in Ashland, MO. He received  formal training from the Colorado Institute of Art in commercial art and graphic design. Over the last four decades, Chrisman has won several prestigious awards in Juried exhibitions throughout Missouri. His primary subject matter has recently included industrial cityscapes, still-lifes, and agricultural landscapes—many of which lovingly feature his property in Ashland.   North Field Edge (2011) To render his landscapes Chrisman employs pastel, a medium that lends itself to quick gestural impressions. Pastel is a useful tool for Chrisman as he seeks to capture the spo