A giant red elephant seated in a Buddha-like pose greets visitors to the ASU Art Museum, complete with a remote control in one hand and adult video boxes on the floor next to it.
This is just one of the pieces on display at the museum, which will host a schedule of nine exhibits this spring, with topics ranging from ceramics in Arizona to a feature on Latin American art.
Marilyn Zeitlin, the director and chief curator of the museum, said there is an "extraordinary season" planned this semester.
From January to April, the museum is featuring pieces from the collection of Mikki and Stanley Weithorn titled "The Other Mainstream."
The exhibit focuses on art that makes a statement on political or social issues, especially from minority artists.
Zeitlin is most excited about "Rampa: Signaling New Latin American Art Initiatives," a collection of more than 800 pieces that presents a diverse look at the art of the southern hemisphere.
"The Rampa exhibit is a great chance for ASU students to see work from unique artists no one's ever heard of," Zeitlin said. "It's art you would never see unless you were in Rio de Janeiro."
Jessica Carroll, an art education senior, works as an education assistant at the museum.
"I consider myself abundantly lucky to do work that coincides with my major and guide kids through the museum," Carroll said.
She said she is very excited about the 'Anthony Goicolea: Photographs, Videos, and Drawings' show coming in March.
"Children will love the fact that the artist has digitally cloned himself in his work and created an adventurous and dream-like theme," Carroll said.
The ASU Art Museum will host exhibits through August, and Zeitlin said she is proud of the art on display.
"We feel like here at the museum that we are showing work as a service to the community. People should really stop by and check it out," Zeitlin said.
All exhibits are free and open to the public.
Reach the reporter at charles.obrien@asu.edu.
