The Northern Illinois University Art Museum is pleased to announce the NIU School of Art and Design 2022 Faculty Biennial exhibition on display in the museum’s Altgeld Hall galleries Tuesday, Jan. 18 running through Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. The biennial exhibition features the work of current full-time and part-time faculty and teaching staff.
Frank Trankina – “Flying Naugas,” oil on linen, 36″ x 48″, 2019.
The work on display represents the activity and interests of individual members of the School of Art and Design but also the breadth of the arts programs and disciplines offered at NIU. Work includes the fields of art and design education, art history, ceramics, drawing, fibers, illustration, metals and jewelry, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, time arts and visual communications.
Featuring: Michael Barnes, Wes Beeler, Sasha Bitzer, Todd Buck, Amy Fleming, Billie Giese, Aleksandra Giza, Cynthia Hellyer Heinz, Joseph A. Insley, Jim Kearns, Jessica M. Labatte, Kimberly Martens, Helen Nagata, Jamie Obermeier, Heriberto Ponce, Catherine Raymond, Mike Rea, Nina Rizzo, Stephanie Sailer, John Siblik, Geoffrey Todd Smith, Kryssi Staikidis, Perrin Stamatis, Ben Stone, Frank Trankina, Peter Van Ael, Amanda VanValkenburg, Shei-Chau Wang.
A series of live, virtual and hybrid events, including scholarly talks and workshops are planned. We will follow current university, county, state and federal health guidelines for the safety of our visitors. Programming, gallery hours and capacity are subject to change during COVID-19.
Please check our website go.niu.edu/artmuseumevents for current visitor safety recommendations, hours, program schedule and instructions on how to join from home. Have our event announcements and program information delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up at go.niu.edu/artmuseumsubscribe.
Calendar of Events
Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022 – Virtual Event
“Myanmar Women Artists and the Art of Protest” Presentation given by NIU Art History Professor and Director for the Center for Burma Studies, Catherine Raymond.
5 to 6 p.m. CST Join Zoom Meeting
(Raymond): https://niu-edu.zoom.us/j/85414995234?pwd=cndWcHRPTFhFUGtyNDBQazJHbjFiZz09
Saturday, Feb. 12 – Virtual Event
“Mindfulness Through Still Life Photography” Workshop for ages 12 to adult, inspired by her series “Almanac for Shade Gardeners,” NIU Associate Professor Jessica M. Labatte will share her studio and working methods before leading the participants in the creation of their own still life photographs using mindful attention as a strategic practice.
No fancy equipment required. Use any image capture device such as a cell phone or tablet.
2 to 4:30 p.m. CST
Join Zoom Meeting (Labatte): https://niu-edu.zoom.us/j/89571092887?pwd=cUtib2dZRUFWL1F4V3ZlZHd0anBkZz09
Wednesday, Feb. 16 – Virtual Event
“The Unconventional Letter: How to Make Design Distinct in the Digital Era”
Presentation by NIU Associate Professor of Visual Communications Aleksandra Giza on the powerful expressiveness of photography.
5 to 6 p.m. CST
Join Zoom Meeing (Giza): https://niu-edu.zoom.us/j/81960130408?pwd=WVdSR2xxY1dUMmNMd1lBQkJlYlBUUT09
Thursday, Feb. 17 – Hybrid Event
“Birds, Bees, Artist”
Hybrid artist talk by NIU Studio Associate Professor Billie Giese on her mixed media work, photographs and videos inspired by her research in creating a suburban native habitat supporting pollinators, birds and other creatures.
In-person with limited seating: Altgeld Hall 125.
Noon – 1 p.m. CST
Join Zoom Meeting (Giese): https://niu-edu.zoom.us/j/84116576832?pwd=R09QTm9OUnB3aWs2b2MycmhBazBCUT09
Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022 – Virtual Event
“Exploring Synaptic Sparks where Performance Arts and Woodblock Print Compositions Meet”
Presentation given by NIU Art History Associate Professor Helen Nagata.
5 to 6 p.m. CST
Join Zoom Meeting (Nagata): https://niu-edu.zoom.us/j/82586088054?pwd=U1pwRzBtN1BGZWJnUnBVNXhPUDJhUT09
Exhibition Support
Artwork for the Faculty Biennial is on loan from the exhibiting artists and courtesy Western Exhibitions Gallery, Chicago. COVID-19 Visitor Information The Art Museum will follow the latest recommendations from university, local, state and federal guidance. Please review our current directions for visitors before planning your visit niu.edu/artmuseum/about/visit.shtml. Programming and gallery hours are subject to changes, additions or cancelations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Feeling sick or unwell? We ask anyone feeling unwell to postpone their visit for another time. Visitors are welcome on campus, but we ask that you take the same precautions we ask of our students, faculty and staff to protect yourself and others. Current practice is for all persons over two to be masked indoors and for separate parties to maintain social distance.
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, at the corner of College Avenue and Castle Drive on the main campus of Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois. Those using GPS can find us at 595 College Avenue, DeKalb.
Parking is available in the visitor pay lot located at 200 Carroll Avenue. Limited metered and accessible parking spaces are available in front of Lowden Hall with accessible aisles and route to Altgeld Hall. Campus parking is free on weekends and after 5 p.m. weeknights in nearby lots 3 and 14.
To request disability-related accommodations for museum programs: please contact the museum at least one week in advance. Northern Illinois University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.
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; the NIU Arts and Culture Fee, and the College of Visual and Performing Arts’ Season Presenting Sponsor Shaw Media.
Gallery Hours
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday
Noon to 6 p.m. Thursday, Friday
Noon to 3 p.m. Saturday and by limited appointment for group tours.
Closed university holidays and between exhibitions.
Exhibitions are free and open to the public following the latest guidance from university, local, state and federal guidance during COVID-19 pandemic. Current practice is for all persons over two to be masked indoors. Guests are reminded to maintain physical distance.
