Roy Richard Behrens (/ˈbɛərənz/; born 1946) is an American artist and academic who is an emeritus professor of art and distinguished scholar at theUniversity of Northern Iowa. He is well known for his writings oncamouflage in relation toart,design andcreativity as detailed inFalse Colors,Camoupedia,Ship Shape and additional books and essays on the subject.
Behrens was born inIndependence, Iowa. Following high school, he studied for a summer in California with Master PotterMarguerite Wildenhain, who had been a student in 1919 at theBauhaus in Weimar, Germany. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in art education from the University of Northern Iowa in 1968 and a Master of Arts in art education from theRhode Island School of Design in 1972.[2]
He taught graphic design, illustration, and design history at the University of Northern Iowa, theUniversity of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, theArt Academy of Cincinnati.[3] He has written several books and numerous papers. For twenty years, beginning in 1985, he published a quarterly magazine calledBallast Quarterly Review (the title is an acronym for Books Art Language Logic Ambiguity Science and Teaching), self-described as a "periodicalcommonplace book."[4][5] Over the years, he has written numerous articles forLeonardo[6] and for various books, encyclopedias and journals.
He is the author ofCamoupedia,[a] a book[8] and blog[9] oncamouflage. The camouflage researcher Isla Forsyth describes this work as an "extensive study into modern military camouflage..by the British and US military throughout the First and Second World Wars, exploring the contribution of art and science, and the ways in which, via modern and contemporary art, camouflage has been appropriated by contemporary culture".[10] Mike Leggett, reviewing the book inLeonardo, wrote that "the outcome of enthusiastic research it is, but an entertaining summary of the field it also manages to be."[11]Michael Martone calls Behrens "a wonderful writer and artist ... whose work on camouflage and art is important to me. He publishes an amazing 'zine calledBallast on visual and verbal punning."[12]
(1987) “The life and unusual ideas of Adelbert Ames Jr.”Leonardo (MIT Press). Vol 20 No 3, pp. 273–279.
(1988) “The theories of Abbott H. Thayer: father of camouflage”Leonardo (MIT Press). Vol 21 No 3, pp. 291–296.
(1994) “Adelbert Ames and the cockeyed room”Print (New York). Vol 48 No 2 (March / April), pp. 92–97.
(1997) “The gift of gabberjabbs”Print (New York). Vol 51 No 1, pp. 64–72.Full text online
(1998) “The artistic and scientific collaboration of Blanche Ames Ames and Adelbert Ames II”Leonardo (MIT Press). Vol 31 No 1, pp. 47–54.
(1998) “On Max Wertheimer and Pablo Picasso: gestalt theory, cubism and camouflage”Gestalt Theory: Journal of the GTA (Vienna). Vol 20 No 2, pp. 109–118.Full text online
(1998) “Rudolf Arnheim: The little owl on the shoulder of Athene”Leonardo (MIT Press). Vol 31 No 3, pp. 231–233.
(1998) “Art, design and gestalt theory””Leonardo (MIT Press). Vol 31 No 4, pp. 299-303.
(1999) “Adelbert Ames, Fritz Heider and the Ames chair demonstration”Gestalt Theory: Journal of the GTA (Vienna). Vol 21 No 3.
(1999) “The role of artists in ship camouflage during World War I”Leonardo (MIT Press). Vol 32 No 4, pp. 53–59.
(2000) “Revisiting Gottschaldt: embedded figures in art, architecture and design”Gestalt Theory: Journal of the GTA (Vienna). Vol 22 No 2, pp. 97–106.Full text online
(2002) “How form functions: on esthetics and gestalt theory”Gestalt Theory: Journal of the GTA (Vienna). Vol 24 No 4, pp. 317–325.Full text online
(2005) “Architecture, art and camouflage”Lotus International (Italy). Issue 126, pp. 74–83.
(2010) “Ames demonstrations in perception” in E. Bruce Goldstein, ed., Encyclopedia of perception. Vol 1. Sage Publications, pp. 41–44.ISBN978-1412940818.
(2010) “Camouflage” in E. Bruce Goldstein, ed., Encyclopedia of perception. Vol 1. Sage Publications, pp. 233–236.ISBN978-1412940818.
(2011) “Nature’s artistry: Abbott H. Thayer’s assertions about camouflage in art, war and zoology” in Martin Stevens and Sami Merilaita, eds.,Animal camouflage: Mechanisms and function. Oxford University Press.ISBN978-0521152570.
(2013) “Now you see it, now you don’t: camoufleurs, conjurers and pickpockets” in H. Rothstein and B. Whaley, eds.The art and science of military deception. Artech House. pp. 217–237.ISBN978-1608075515.
(2013) “Art, design and brain research: non-scientific thoughts about neuroesthetics” inGestalt Theory: Journal of the GTA (Vienna) Vol 35 No 2 pp. 169–182.
(2014) “Abbott H. Thayer’s vanishing ducks: surveillance, art and camouflage” inMAS Context (Chicago) 22, pp. 164–177.Full text online
(2015) “Khaki to khaki (dust to dust): the ubiquity of camouflage in human experience” in Ann Elias et al., eds.,Camouflage cultures: beyond the art of disappearance. Sydney University Press.ISBN978-1743324257.
(2016) “Setting the stage for deception: perspective distortion in World War I camouflage”Aisthesis: Pratiche, linguaggi e saperi dell’estetico (Firenze, Italy).Full text online
(2017) “Camouflage” in Viction Workshop,Camo mania: New disruptive patterns in design. Victionary, pp. 209–222.ISBN978-9887774648.
(2018) “Seeing through camouflage: Abbott Thayer, background-picturing and the use of cut-out silhouettes”Leonardo (MIT Press). Vol 51 No 1, pp. 41–46.
(2018) “Chicanery and conspicuousness: social repercussions of World War I camouflage”UNIversitas (University of Northern Iowa) Vol 13.Full text online
(2018) "Under the big top at Sims' circus: ship camouflage behind the scenes in World War I" Bobolink BooksFull text online
(2018) "Disruption versus dazzle: prevalent misunderstandings about World War I ship camouflage" Bobolink BooksFull text online
(2019) "Optical science meets visual art: the camouflage experiments of William Andrew Mackay." Bobolink BooksFull text online
(2019) "Ship shapes" inPatek Philippe: The International Magazine. (Geneva, Switzerland) Vol 4 No 7, pp. 10–15.
(2020) "Simpatico on the patio: emphatic art, mimicry, and camouflage" in Susanne Bürner, ed.,Mimicry-Empathy. Berlin, Germany: Monroe Books, pp. 158-171Full text online
(2020) "Bewilderness: James Joyce and the National Parks" Bobolink BooksFull text online
(2020) "Mason City’s prairie gems—and how Australians found them" inThe Iowa Source. JulyFull text online
(2020) "Buffalo Bill in Iowa: tales of a western folk hero—and his doppelganger" inThe Iowa Source. AugustFull text online
(2020) "Honoring Navajo traditions: chronicles of an immersive education in New Mexico" inThe Iowa Source, NovemberFull text online
(2020) "Nature Boy: the enchanted life of Eden Ahbez" inThe Iowa Source. DecemberFull text online
(2021) "The Corn Parade: Orr Fisher’s wacky WPA mural" inThe Iowa Source. JanuaryFull text online
(2021) "The camoufleur: Carol Sax, Ottumwa’s dazzling designer" inThe Iowa Source. FebruaryFull text online
(2021) "Old Fort Atkinson: My family’s brief occupation of an army outpost" inThe Iowa Source. JuneFull text online
(2021) "Tea and frankfurters: the story of Gertrude Kasëbier’s Portraits of the Lakota Sioux" inThe Iowa Source. JulyFull text online
(2021) "The Hubbards of Roycroft: an arts and crafts community with Iowa ties" inThe Iowa Source (Fairfield IA), AugustFull text online
(2021) "Artist Clemens Gretter: Robert Ripley’s ghost" inThe Iowa Source. OctoberFull text online
(2021) "A Tale of Twain Wives: Mark Twain, Albert Paine, and klecksography" inThe Iowa Source. DecemberFull text online
(2021) "Pandemic Images and Gestalt Theory: introspective musings about a series of digital artworks" inGestalt Theory. Volume 43 Number 3Full text online
(2022) "Oscar Wilde, Whiskey, and the Peacock Room" inThe Iowa Source. JanuaryFull text online
(2022) "Gertrude Stein: the author’s fondness for her Iowa friends" inThe Iowa Source. FebruaryFull text online
(2022) "Allen Ginsberg in Cedar Falls: beatniks, socialists, and 'all that hair'" inThe Iowa Source. MarchFull text online
(2022) "Paintings in Sand: the meticulous work of Andrew Clemens" inThe Iowa Source. JuneFull text online
(2023) "Looming Large: the outdoor mega sculpture student projects of Bill Close" inThe Iowa Source. JanuaryFull text online
(2023) "Stories of Sarah Royce: from Stratford-upon-Avon to Tipton, Iowa, and beyond" inThe Iowa Source. SeptemberFull text online
(2023) "Did Artist Meet Architect? Grant Wood and Frank Lloyd Wright in Iowa City" inThe Iowa Source. NovemberFull text online
(2024) "MacKinlay Kantor: the tangled past of a once-famous author" inThe Iowa Source. JanuaryFull text online
(2024) "Ralph Waldo Emerson in Iowa: when the popular essayist walked on water" inThe Iowa Source. MarchFull text online
(2024) "William Cary Wright: Looking for Frank Lloyd Wright’s Father" inThe Iowa Source. JuneFull text online
(2024) "Walter Hamady, Papermaking Champion, 1940-2019" onHall of Champions, North American Hand Papermakers. JulyFull text online
(2024) "Horse-Racing Pooh-Bah: C.W. Williams and his Kite-Shaped Track" inThe Iowa Source. JulyFull text online
(2024) "British-American Artist Frederick A. Pawla: His Achievements in Ship Camouflage during World War I" Bobolink BooksFull text online
(2024) "An Iowa artist's adventures with the Lost Generation in Paris: The enduring friendship of William Edwards Cook and Gertrude Stein" inIowa History Journal. July-AugustOnline link
(2001)Modern Design Icons: 20th century graphic, industrial, and architectural design at Gallery of Art, University of Northern Iowa (Cedar Falls IA). August 27 through September 21
(2010)Seagoing Easter Eggs: artists' contributions to dazzle ship camouflage at Convergys Gallery, Art Academy of Cincinnati (Cincinnati OH). January 15 through February 12
(2017-18)Razzle Dazzle: World War I ship camouflage at Dubuque Museum of Art (Dubuque IA). November 3 through February 4Online link
(2017-18)Hidden Figures: the role of American women in World War I camouflage at Betty Strong Encounter Center / Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center (Sioux City IA). November 12 through June 3Online link
(2018)Assembly: the work of dazzle camouflage at Hearst Center for the Arts (Cedar Falls IA). October 5 through November 25
(2018)Animal Forms and Patterns at Hartman Reserve Nature Center (Cedar Falls IA). November through DecemberOnline link
(2019)National Parks and Monuments Posters at Hartman Reserve Nature Center (Cedar Falls IA). March through AprilOnline link
(2019)Hartman Nature Posters: Part One at Hartman Reserve Nature Center (Cedar Falls IA). May through JuneOnline link
(2019)Hartman Nature Posters: Part Two at Hartman Reserve Nature Center (Cedar Falls IA). July through AugustOnline link
(2019)Hartman Nature Posters: Part Three at Hartman Reserve Nature Center (Cedar Falls IA). September through OctoberOnline link
(2019)Hartman Nature Posters: Part Four at Hartman Reserve Nature Center (Cedar Falls IA). November through DecemberOnline link
(2022)Pandemic Montages: a series of digital stories at Hearst Center for the Arts (Cedar Falls IA). January 6 through February 20Online link
(2022)Evolving Graphic Design Exhibition at University of Wisconsin-Madison (Madison WI). May 24 through June 24
(2022)National Parks and Monuments Posters at Jester Park Nature Center (Granger IA). May 1 through August 28
(2024-ongoing)Iowa Novelist and Short Story Writer Ruth Suckow 1892-1960: an exhibition about her life. Traveling exhibition (designer of) at libraries and history centers in State of Iowa, with funding from Humanities Iowa.
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