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Art Museum plans ‘Vice + Virtue’ programming

January 10, 2013

Vice + Virtue posterIn conjunction with its “Vice + Virtue” exhibition, the Northern Illinois University Art Museum has announced additional programming.

This exhibition is currently on display in all four galleries of the NIU Art Museum, and will run through Saturday, Feb. 23, with a public reception scheduled from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24.

Supplementary programming will be offered throughout the course of the exhibition.

Steven T. Asma Lecture
“Karma and Craving: Buddhist Perspectives on Sin”

  • 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24, Altgeld 315 (immediately following reception)

Asma, professor of philosophy at Columbia College Chicago, holds the title of Distinguished Scholar. He is the author of several books, including “Against Fairness” (Univ. of Chicago Press, 2012), “On Monsters: an Unnatural History of Our Worst Fears” (Oxford Univ. Press), “Stuffed Animals and Pickled Heads” (Oxford Univ. Press). He has written for the New York Times, the Sunday Times, the Daily Beast, the Chronicle of Higher Education, the Chicago Tribune, the Huffington Post, Psychology Today, the Fortnightly Review and Skeptic magazine. Asma has also lectured at Harvard, Brown University, the Field Museum, the Newberry Library, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History and many more.

Tag Team Art History Mini Lectures: “Wisdom from Our Elders”

  • 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 17, Altgeld 315

Lectures will be delivered by professors emeriti from the NIU School of Art. Each will speak briefly about their favorite historical work of art that embodies virtue or vice. Jerry Meyer will speak on Robert Gober; Judith Testa will offer her thoughts on Hans Baldung Grien.

Curator’s Talks

  • 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26
  • 4:45 to 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12

Exhibition curator Peter Olson, assistant director of the NIU Art Museum, will offer his thoughts on the artwork in the galleries; he will also outline the trials, tribulations and ultimate rewards of putting “Vice + Virtue” together.

Art from "The Dante Quartet" by Stan BrakhageFilm Screenings

  • 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29
    Visual Arts Building 111
  • 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 20
    Visual Arts Building 111

A digital copy of “The Dante Quartet” (1987) by Stan Brakhage will be running in “Vice + Virtue” throughout the course of the exhibition. As a supplementary experience, we will be showing this short, colorful, non-narrative film from a 16mm print (rather than a digital copy) so that viewers may discern the unique qualities of this medium. Olson and faculty from the School of Art will provide follow-up commentary. Join us for a unique look at this rarely seen work as it is presented in its original format.

Rare Book Viewings

  • 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30
  • 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12

Large and fragile volumes on display in the museum will be taken out of their vitrines and paged through by Lynne M. Thomas, curator of Rare Books and Special Collections at Founder’s Memorial Library, and a museum staff member with delicate, clean hands. Don’t miss this opportunity to take an up-close-and-personal look at these rare and beautiful manuscripts.

Artist’s Talk and Workshop

  • Talk: 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6, 5:00 pm, Visual Arts Building 111
  • Lace Making Workshop: 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6, Visual Arts Building 413

This talk and workshop is offered by April Dauscha, one of the artists featured in “Vice + Virtue.” Workshop participants are limited to 15, ages high school to adult. Materials for the workshop will be provided. Pre-registration for the workshop is required by Friday, Feb. 1. Call (815) 753-1936 or email hgreen2@niu.edu for registration.

Poetry Reading

  • 7:15 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7, Altgeld 315

“Open mic” style; participants are invited to read a favorite poem or one they have written themselves on the themes of vice and virtue. Readers’ pre-registration is requested. Call (815) 753-1936 or email hgreen2@niu.edu to register.

Paula Frasz

Paula Frasz

Dance Performances

  • 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 20
  • 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21
  • 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23

“The Seven Deadly Sins” as interpreted by students of Paula Frasz, associate professor in the NIU School of Theatre and Dance. Performances will take place in the galleries of the NIU Art Museum.

Located on the west-end first floor of Altgeld Hall, the galleries are open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and by appointment for group tours.

Exhibitions and lectures are free; donations are appreciated.

Pay parking is available in the visitor’s lot on Carroll Avenue and at metered spots in front of Altgeld Hall. Free parking is available Saturdays and during receptions and visiting artist lectures in the lot northeast of Gilbert and College Drives.

The exhibition is sponsored in part by the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency; the Friends of the NIU Art Museum; and the Dean’s Circle of the College of Visual and Performing Arts, NIU Foundation.

Call (815) 753-1936 for more information.