The Northern Illinois University Art Museum and the Interdisciplinary Certification of Graduate Study in Museum Studies program will host a public lecture by Dr. Richard M. Cooler. Cooler, Professor Emeritus and former Director and Curator of the Center for Burma Studies at NIU, will present the illustrated program, Religion Made Visible: The Traditional Sacred Art of India that examines the concepts and visual means by which Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism are expressed in art and cultural objects from South Asia. The event takes place Wednesday, April 11 at 5:10 p.m. in Altgeld Hall 315 on NIU’s DeKalb campus.
Richard M. Cooler, NIU Professor Emeritus and former Director and Curator of the NIU Center for Burma Studies.
This lecture accompanies the exhibition Across Space and Time: Cultural Perseverance of Indian Heritage which opened Thursday, April 5 and was curated by NIU graduate students in the Interdisciplinary Museum Studies Certificate program. Five students in the Museum Exhibitions and Interpretation course along with their instructor Peter Van Ael collected a number of artifacts and anecdotes from area collectors that illustrated facets of art and Indian spiritual life in both India and America. From traditional miniature paintings to modern takes on traditional dress, Across Space and Time follows Indian cultural practices from Rajasthan to Illinois and is on view through May 18, 2018.
Other events organized by the Exhibitions and Interpretation class include Working with Henna: A Demonstration on April 8th, presented by the NIU Indian Student Association and Yoga-Practice and Process taught by Alexandra Hamas on Sunday May 6th. Full event details may be found online by visiting niu.edu/artmuseum/events. For questions please phone 815-753-1936.
The Art Museum would like to specially acknowledge Brian Cory; Amanda Helfers; Kay Jansen; Rachelle Wilson-Loring; and Adina Salmansohn, Interdisciplinary Certification of Graduate Study in Museum Studies students in the Art 656: Museum Exhibitions and Interpretation course and instructor Peter Van Ael for curating Across Space and Time: Cultural Perseverance of Indian Heritage.
Also on view at the Art Museum through May 18, 2018:
All We are Breaking are Stones
The multimedia work of Shaurya Kumar addresses our constantly shifting and distorted understanding of history, culture and religion.
Reclaimed Baggage
Group exhibition of artwork by South Asian American women that addresses displacement, identity and agency. Guest curated by Nirmal Raja.
Exhibition Support: Support for this exhibition suite came from Promod and Anju Vohra; Gurukrupa Indian Grocery and Copy Services; The Barbara Cole Peters Fund for the NIU Art Museum; Northern Illinois University’s Asian American Resource Center; Indian Student Association; Muslim Student Association; Visual Communications, Design and Media Division, School of Art and Design; Center for the Study of Women, Gender and Sexuality; the Interdisciplinary Certification of Graduate Study in Museum Studies; College of Education; College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; College of Visual and Performing Arts.
Artwork and objects for the exhibitions are on loan from DePauw University, Greencastle, Indiana; SepiaEYE Gallery, New York, New York; exhibiting artists and private lenders.
About the NIU Art Museum
Serving Campus and Community by Balancing Traditional and Contemporary Art to Explore the Connections Made Through Visual Culture.
Part of the College of Visual and Performing Arts‘ vibrant and active arts community on campus, the Northern Illinois University Art Museum is a resource for the NIU campus, local community and beyond. The NIU Art Museum is located on the first floor, west end of Altgeld Hall, on the corner of College Avenue and Castle Drives on the main campus of Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL. Parking is available in the Carroll Avenue Visitor Pay Lot and metered spots in front of Altgeld Hall. Campus parking is free on weekends and after 5 p.m. weeknights.
The exhibitions and programs of the NIU Art Museum are sponsored in part by the Illinois Arts Council Agency; the Friends of the NIU Art Museum; and the Dean’s Circle of the College of Visual and Performing Arts.
