Doug Shelton's Unlimited Possibilities

Looking at a piece of art causes different feelings from different people. When one considers a piece of art, the usual things that come to mind are what does this art piece mean, why was this art piece created, or just complete admiration for the piece. At Iowa State University there are many art pieces that invoke the aforementioned feelings in people. One such art piece that stood out to me is a mural titled “Unlimited Possibilities” by Doug Shelton. I have never been a person that has just been astonished by artwork, but this piece really caught my attention as it inspired me due to my previous experiences at Iowa State University. After looking through the history of this art piece, I gained a thorough understanding of how this piece

Doug Shelton is an artist from Des Moines that was selected by a committee representing the library, Iowa State Faculty, students and Iowa State University Museums to represent their vision of commemorating the founding of Iowa State University as well as the sesquicentennial anniversary of the state of Iowa (“About the Artist,” n.d., 2014). This piece was started in 1996 and was created by Doug Shelton, nine Iowa State University students from the Department of Art and Design, Faculty members, and team artists (“Doug Shelton Mural,” n.d., 2014). Doug Shelton began collecting images of the campus in the spring of 1996, then five months later returned with a plan on paper (“Doug Shelton Mural,” n.d., 2014). He then spent the rest of the year creating the mural, along with the rest of the staff designated to help with the mural .The mural was completed on November 1996 (“Doug Shelton Mural,” n.d., 2014). The mural was then installed in the library on January 1998, and was later, formally dedicated on Founders Day for the 140th anniversary of Iowa State University (“Doug Shelton Mural,” n.d.,

One such event on the right hand side of the mural depicts students in a classroom learning, and gathering information. The students appear to be engaged, looking for information through textbooks, computers, and cabinets. Another event which compares but also contrasts the previous event is an event depicted on the left hand side of the mural. This event shows students in what appears to be an Iowa countryside, the students seem engaged with one taking a photo, another taking notes, and another holding a piece of soil which appears to be the shape of Iowa. These events are contrasted only by the setting which they occur in, but they both speak to the experiences that may be attained at Iowa State University. These events depict the purpose and meaning of the mural in a much more direct way as they directly show you the experiences you may have at Iowa State University and how these experience may impact