Bisignano Art Gallery Opens the 2024-2025 Season with Pigs and Letters

DUBUQUE, Iowa - Award-winning children's book author Arthur Geisert's original etchings of pigs building a treehouse with letters hidden amongst the pages has taken over the University of Dubuque's Bisignano Art Gallery.

"Arthur Geisert: PIGS from A to Z" is free and open to the public Tuesday, August 13, 2024, through Friday, September 27, 2024, at the art gallery inside Heritage Center, 2255 Bennett Street. It is the first exhibit of the 2024-2025 season.

The works on display are Geisert's original etchings from his 1986 children's book, PIGS from A to Z. The collection is on permanent loan to UD from the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

"Arthur Geisert's PIGS from A to Z is a delightful and intricately illustrated children's book that takes readers on an alphabetical journey featuring a charming cast of pigs," said Noah Bullock (C'21), coordinator of the art gallery. "Each letter of the alphabet is represented by a different scene in which the pigs engage in various whimsical activities. Geisert's detailed, etching-style illustrations are filled with humor and creativity, inviting readers to explore the images closely to find all the hidden details."

Geisert studied sculpting and printmaking at the Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles, California, and taught at Concordia University Chicago in Chicago, Illinois. He would discover his passion was in the studio and would become an award-winning author, working on numerous books through the years. Geisert now lives in Elkader, Iowa.

"PIGS from A to Z is a visual treat, with each page offering a new, unexpected twist on what pigs can do, making it enjoyable for both children and adults," Bullock said. "Geisert's unique artistic style, characterized by fine lines and meticulous attention to detail, adds to the charm and appeal of the book."

A free reception for "Arthur Geisert: PIGS from A to Z" will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 22, 2024, in the art gallery.

Gallery hours are noon to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. The art gallery is also open in conjunction with all major events in John and Alice Butler Hall, Heritage Center.

"Arthur Geisert: PIGS from A to Z" will also be available virtually at https://www.dbq.edu/Gallery.