The idea of “gathering” takes on rich and varied meanings in a new exhibition, “Gathering: Unity, Dissonance, and the Spaces Between,” now on display at The Art Museum of Eastern Idaho in Idaho Falls through July 12, 2025. The exhibition is a collaboration between the museum and Fonda Portales, director of university art, and curator and collections manager at Boise State, bringing a significant selection of works from the university’s permanent art collection to a wider audience.
The exhibition began as a conversation between Portales and Alexis Stanger, a Boise State alum (BFA, art, painting emphasis, 1996) and the director of the museum. The theme of “gathering” emerged as a unifying concept, exploring the multifaceted ways people, ideas and natural elements converge – or diverge – in the world.
“We considered the many layers of gathering,” Portales said. “From the comfort of community and connection to moments of isolation and division. We looked at how we gather with one another, how we gather materials, the sustenance we derive from gathering and even the instances when gathering might not lead to belonging.” The exhibition, featuring approximately 60 pieces, guides visitors through these varied interpretations.
The exhibition would not have been possible without the generosity of donors to the university’s art collection, Portales said. Patrons include Elaine and John French, Forrest and Lynne Geerken, and Micah Hetherington, a Boise State alum and current history graduate student who gave artwork to the collection.
“Being good stewards of the gifts we receive means sharing this work beyond campus,” Portales said. “This collaboration with The Art Museum of Eastern Idaho is a wonderful opportunity to connect Boise State’s cultural resources with an Idaho community, highlighting the talent of Idaho artists.”
The exhibition includes pieces by Sylvia Mangold, Deborah Oropallo, James Rosenquist, Roy De Forest and Ramon Murillo. It includes pieces by Idaho artists and those with ties to Boise State including Jill AnnieMargaret, Marianna Jimenez Edwards, Howard Huff, Hallie Maxwell, Surel Mitchell, David Oravez, Cheryl Shurtleff, Veiko Valencia, Kate Walker and Stephanie Wilde.
Alum spotlight: Alexa Stanger
Boise State alum Alexa Stanger has spent the past two decades turning creative vision into community impact. Raised in Idaho Falls, Stanger also has deep family roots in Boise, which made her time at Boise State feel both grounding and expansive. Attending Boise State, she said, “gave me a strong foundation and opened up new ways of thinking.”
Stanger said she appreciated the university’s balance between traditional and contemporary approaches to art. Veteran professors taught her the fundamentals—drawing and painting—while younger adjunct faculty brought fresh energy and new ideas to the program. “It was the perfect mix for someone who would go on to teach,” she said. “I got the technical skills I needed, but also learned to think critically about art and its role in the world.”
Independent study opportunities and mentors like Cheryl Shurtleff and Richard Young gave her the freedom and encouragement to explore challenging ideas. A final project with Young, curating an exhibition, foreshadowed the work she does now as a museum director.
After college, Stanger worked at Foothills School in Boise, where she carved out a unique role blending art education with early learning. In 2003, when the museum opened in Idaho Falls, she became education director. In 2023, she took on the role of executive director. Since then, Stanger has developed a wide-reaching education program that sends teaching artists into classrooms and brings students into the museum, funded by a network of grants and community sponsorships. Her work continues to champion Idaho artists and grow creative connections across the state.
“I see my job as building bridges,” she said. “Between artists and audiences, between rural and urban communities, between tradition and experimentation. Boise State helped me understand how to do that.”