The Elizabeth Allen Visiting Scholars in Art History Lecture Series, the NIU School of Art and Design and the NIU Visual Studies division present, “The Largest Mystery: A Buddhist Shrine in the Art Institute of Chicago,” as a free lecture, open to the public, Wednesday, April 24 at 6 p.m. The lecture will be held in Room 110 of Jack Arends Hall, the Visual Arts Building on NIU’s Main Campus and will also be broadcast on Zoom.
Janice Katz, Roger L. Weston Associate Curator of Japanese Art, joined the Art Institute in 2003 and curates the museum’s quarterly exhibitions of Japanese prints. She will introduce a work in the Art Institute of Chicago collection that few people have ever seen or been aware exists. A butsudan (Buddhist shrine or altar) is a type of platform or cabinet where memorial tablets, an iconic Buddhist sculpture or devotional objects are enshrined. They can be found in homes or in temples and range considerably from simple to elaborate constructions. Come learn about this butsudan’s unexpected journey to the museum. The presentation is coordinated with ARTH 657, a graduate seminar focusing on the mysteries, curiosities and under-researched topics in Japanese art history.
For more information, contact Helen Nagata, hnagata@niu.edu or Molly Walker m.walker@niu.edu.
