By Estelle Johnson
Special correspondent to the Cedar Falls News Hub
The life and work of Cedar Falls’ prolific artist and illustrator Gary Kelley is on full display this summer. A retrospective of Kelley’s seven-decades long career is currently showcased at the Hearst Center for the Arts in Cedar Falls through August 21. To highlight the exhibition, a documentary about Kelley’s career was screened on June 17 at the arts center.
Kelley’s list of commissions is long and varied. He has worked on projects for prestigious and well known publications, businesses and organizations, such as The New Yorker, Rolling Stone, Barnes and Noble, the NFL, NBA, MLB and the Kentucky Derby.
A 1968 art graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, Kelley is the keeper of 28 gold and silver medals from the Society of Illustrators in New York. He has received best-in-show recognition in New York and Los Angeles Illustrators’ Exhibitions and is a member of the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame.
The Documentary
The Hearst Center hosted a screening of the documentary film, “Gary Kelley,” on June 17. The film was produced by UNI’s filmmaker-in-residence, David O’Shields, and Tristan Bennett, a filmmaker based in West Des Moines.
The idea to make the film goes back to 2015 when O’Shields was having a conversation about potential documentary projects with the former owner and founder of Cup of Joe, Ann Eastman.
“I need to do something that’s local, but has the potential for a broad national audience,” O’Shields recalled telling Eastman.
As he remembers it, Eastman reminded him that artist Gary Kelley’s studio was just down the street. That’s when it came together for O’Shields.
The film premiered on Oct. 28, 2023, at the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center in Cedar Falls. Since its debut, it has been shown to a handful of audiences including one in Kelley’s hometown of Algona in April of 2023.
The one-hour film is currently being edited to include more details about Kelley’s life as well as to go more thoroughly into his creative processes. The new version of the film is expected to be 90-minutes long.
O’Shields is hopeful that the film will be featured at art festivals around the country.
Hearst Center Film Screening
The Hearst Center screening took place in Mae Latta Hall, which was packed to its 133-person capacity.
One audience member who couldn’t get into the room but wanted to be part of the experience was artist Judy Stiers, a 1986 UNI graduate.
“The venue filled up fast,” she said. “We watched from outside the doors.”
Stiers said that she was familiar with Kelley while she attended UNI. She added he was well known among UNI art majors for the work he did for the Waterloo-based creative agency, Hellman and Associates. “I took a class with Kelley a few years back, and he led part of it at his studio,” she said.
Joining Kelley at the screening was his wife, Linda, and their daughter, Cydney.
The film features Kelley’s family, including his granddaughter, Estelle Kelley, as well as his late friend, Jim Landau, and his wife Jodi, owners of Montage and the Brown Bottle restaurants.
Audiences members interviewed for this article found the documentary informative and enlightening.
Cedar Falls resident Ardelle Brown said it was not only “very interesting,” but that she also “learned something.”
Carol Teare, pastor at the First Baptist Church in Waterloo, said: “I hope many more will get the chance to see the documentary.”