NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS

As NIU and the world around us deals with a global pandemic, artists continue to find ways to express themselves. In the College of Visual and Performing arts the learning and teaching hasn’t stopped, it’s simply evolved to meet the needs and limitations of the situation. Over the coming days, we’ll be featuring how NIU students, alumni and faculty in the arts are continuing to do what they love.

Denise BellezzoDenise Bellezzo
Major: Master of Fine Arts
Year: 1980
Hometown: Chicago

“I had an artist residency at Arquetopia in Peru. February 27 to March 30, 2020. Part of the residency was a natural dye workshop, taught by a Quechua weaver. We boiled plants and minerals and made 40 shades of colors.

In the middle of the residency, Peru was quarantined  and borders were closed. All flights canceled, all ground transport canceled. The US embassy started repatriation flights.

On March 25, I was repatriated to Florida.  On March 30, I flew to Chicago. I don’t know what I will do with the dyed lambswool. I did dye some papers that I would like to work with now that I am home.”

Are you a student, alumni or faculty member in the NIU College of Visual and Performing Arts with video of yourself performing or creating, or photos of a finished product? Use this form to share it with us.