Not happy with your current web browser? Shop around to get the most out of the web with these following browsers:

Safari (Apple) Compatable with PC/Mac. Safari is an excellent browser for web browsing with the in the box simple-to-use interface that is standard with Mac products. Bookmarking and adding/removing items to the bookmark bar is easy as drag-and-drop. Learn more here.

Firefox (Mozilla). Compatable with PC/Mac. The standard for web browsing. Comes out of the box with the highest security standards (which are constantly updated with new releases of the browser which can get annoying). As well as versatility with loads of plug-ins and add-ons (especially useful if you happen to be a web designer). Learn more here.

Camino (Mozilla) Mac only. Is basically Firefox that has been built specifically for your Mac. Camino has access to your keychain and can automatically store your passwords similar to Safari (the default Mac browser). Has a simple interface which can be refreshing (or annoying if you like your buttons). Learn more here.

Opera (Opera) Mac and PC compatible. Opera has a clean interface, a nice little "Opera Community" and touts strong security and allows for customization. Learn more here.

Flock (Flock) Mac and PC compatible. Is a new movement for social community integration. The main pitch for this browser is the ability to get friend updates and post pics and interact with facebook and myspace friends, Youtube, and the like all within the sidebar of the browser while maintainting a free browswer space to search the web. Learn more here.

Chrome (Google) PC/Windows only. Still in beta, this is Google's aim to topple the infamous Internet Explorer. Learn more here.

Yahoo just released an updated version of a site called "upcoming". Use it as a tool to find art and community events in your area. Another big (exclusive to New York, San Francisco, LA, London, Miami, and Chicago) resource that covers major events is Flavorpill.com

check em out
Nick

Congrats to all of the recent NIU MFA candidates for the year 2008:

Christian Arrecis
Michele Bosak
Erin Coleman-Cruz
Dustan Creech
Kelly Egger
David Exner
Lindsay Larsen
Dominic Paul Moore
Zina Mussmann
Rachel Quirk
Cherie Tymkiw
Scott Zieglar

The MFA Gallery show entitled "PIle Up" is currently showing in the Pilsen art district at 1915 S Halsted, Chicago, IL. The show will be up for the next month. To get directions to the event click here.

Ed Ruscha and Photography opened March 1st and will be open until June, 1 2008.

33 collective gallery is holding its 4th annual self portrait competition. Details here. Submissions deadline is May 31, 2008. They are also internships available as a web designer and a gallery assistant. Details here.

A friend of myself and studentfinearts.com 'what to wear during an orange alert' is agreat music, art, and pop culture blog.

Want to go on a field trip? Two new museums opened this month:

Newseum (The museum of newspapers) in Washington, D.C.

The Gangster Museum of American in Hot Springs, Arkansas

Imagine a world without us.

Then visit designers can change to see how you as a designer (or artist) can make small changes to help the earth.

Also, view 101 things designers can do to save the earth so you as an artist can do your part to help the earth.

Read about the art market that the MFA program doesn't want you do know about.

Got graffiti skills? Enter the sketch battle on Bombingscience.com.

Be healthy with your art, read articles on art and art safety here.

Illustration Illustration Illustration:

Check out the graphic hard-edged, yet loosely rendered and fresh style of Darren Hopes.

View the moving, traditionally styled, dark, heroic characters of Pat Lee Productions.

Goth, macabe, and all around monstrous works of Axel Torvenius.

The quirky colorful work of Agata Dudek.

The amazing fantasy and perspective works of Yu Chung Peter Chan.

The fluid and colorful works of YaYa Moskaluk.

And finally, dare to use the forbidden colors.

NIU Art Museum reopens its main galleries at 10 am:
Gallery Hours are Tuesday - Friday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday 12 noon -
4 p.m., and by appointment for group tours.

Please join us for the Fall Opening Reception -
Thursday, August 30, 4:30 - 7:00pm
Opening receptions for our fall exhibitions: Some Enchanted Evening
(Evening Gowns), Dafatir: Contemporary Iraqi Book Art, and Body Politic.

5:15 and 6pm:Gallery Talks in Some Enchanted Evening with collector and
curator Barbara Cole Peters

The NIU Art Museum is located on the first floor, west end of Altgeld
Hall, at the northwest corner of College and Castle Drives on the NIU
campus in DeKalb.

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 on
Saturdays, and during receptions and visiting artist lectures in the lot
northeast of Gilbert and College Drives.

Exhibitions and artist talks are always free.

Been busy, but here's a few token links from my journeys around the web:

Design Sessions is a good blog on the day to day life of commercial art, especially graphic design. Ever wonder who made that ad or billboard? Most likely it came from TDA, check out their site. Read about some great creatives on Veer.com's "portrait" section, my favorite is the interview of Armin Vit of Pentagram, NY. Check out the works of Sirrus Design. Get the skinny on contemporary arts within the Bay area at Fecal Face. (they also have job listings). And artinfo.com has a new look and a weekly newsletter of the goings on the NY area art scene. Need modern furniture? Kramblin may be where you need to look (for inspiration anyway). And if you're into the simpsons or not, their site is pretty intense.

Word -
Nick - SFA

Video game tunes an influence on you? Check out an event in tribute to your favorite tunes this Saturday in Chicago:

"The Video Game Soundtrack of Our Lives feat. Super 8-Bit Brothers" Chicago Cultural Center, Cassidy Theater (78 E Washington St, 312.744.6630)

More info on this event here.

Chicago's Proposed Public Art Ordinance Revisions, good for art? Read about it here.

Get international exposure, submit work to Diesel. Check it out.

Are you a speed demon?

Need words to fill your designs? Check out lipsum!

HOW has some tips on networking.

Check out German Modernists at the Smart Museum, open now until August 16th.

Want to be in the Chicago Art Open? Apply here. You have until 6/22/07 to submit work. Check out other Chicago art events here.

Be sure to check out KLUSTERKRUSTS before it closese on the 12th, also, check out Chris Cannon's show 'Infected Placebo'.

Enter your mug in the 33 Collective's 3rd annual self portrait exhibition. Details here.

Here's another great website for art faculty jobs: http://chronicle.com/jobs/

View the great and bizarre work of Massive Black.

Know 3-D and animation? Looking for a job? Check out the CG society.

View the portfolio of NIU alum Angel Damico.

View the skateboard photowork of Mike O'Meally.

Want photos delivered in your mailbox daily? Check out Chicago-based Flak photo and sign up for their newsletter.

Well, everyone's graduating, and will now migrate into the world of a professional job hunter/interviewer for probably the next six months. Here's a few sites that will hopefully shorten that time and get you a job faster.

Graphic Artists, Graphic Designers, Illustrators, and Web Designers:
• www.creativehotlist.com (This site is free, and has listings for full-time, part-time and contract work all over the U.S.)
• www.aiga.com (This site requires a membership, and is mainly for graphic designers that are mid, to senior level, but is a lightning rod of sorts for everything going on in the field of graphic design)
• www.krop.com (This site caters to mid to senior level candidates and has job postings all over the world for those who are looking to travel outside the U.S. for job opportunities).
• www.createmagazine.com (This site has some more obscure postings for jobs all over the U.S. within the graphic art field, everything from Illustration, to motion graphics, to web design).
• Creative Circle. Art jobs for designers, production artists, web designers, and illustrators in the Chicago metro/suburbs area.

General Job sites that post graphic design and art jobs:
• www.experience.com (This site you need to create an account to log-in, as a college student, at NIU for example the career services will provide you with a log-in, but for most, the login is their Z-ID and current password)
• www.careerbuilder.com (This is one of the biggest of the job sites on the internet and allows you to create "saved searches" where you get daily e-mails displaying results from searches you created and in regions that you are searching in).
• www.flipdog.com (flipdog.com is pretty much a streamlined, easy to decipher version of monster.com, they often get good art positions postings for graphic artists).
• www.hotjobs.com (Yahoo's job site, has good postings occasionally).
• www.myspace.com (Believe it or not, myspace has decent job oppurtunities for artists on full-time, part-time, and freelance basis. Just beware of posters that name their own terms, those are best left alone).
• www.craigslist.com (Listings for Opportunities all over the world, however, apply at your own risk).
• www.geebo.com (Similar to craigslist, but a slightly better design, same deal, internet classified listing site).
• www.chicagojobs.com (If you've been in Chicago, you've probably seen the ads. Lots of listings for art opportunities within the Chicago city government).
• www.chicagoartistsresource.org (A great site that has a small listing of postings, but have a wide variety of opportunities offered. Lots of opportunities for fine artists).
• www.illinoisjobs.net (State of IL sponsored job site, find a job, it may send you to different websites, but you may find a job on there).

Educators in Art:
• www.collegeart.org (This site requires a membership to apply to the opportunities they post on their site, membership has benefits. Jobs in art and education all over the U.S.)

Graduate Job Service:
• www.graduatejobs.com (This is a site that recieves notices of job openings in art education, art history, gallery positions, media and writing positions, etc and has newsletters specifically for entry level artists. They post examples of the newsletter they send out so you can see what you're signing up for).

Comic book and sequential artists:
• www.digitalwebbing.com (Most the opportunites are pro-bono, but there are some token paying gigs, a good place to get a start if you're looking to hook up with someone to build a portfolio to get into the comic book industry).

Cartoon and Writer Syndicates:
• Universal Press Syndicate (Home of Ziggy, Garfield and others).
• United Feature Synidicate (Home of Peanuts, Dilbert and others, also have editorial cartoonists syndicates, and editorial writers syndicates).
• Creators (get syndicated for cartoons, edit-toons, and editorials).
• Tribune Media (get syndicated through the Chicago Tribune).
• Mad Magazine

Journalism and media jobs:
• www.snd.org (A great place for page designers, copy editors, and graphic artists too look for jobs within the newspaper world. Check daily for new postings, the early bird gets the worm, so is the case in this site, the faster you get a hold of employers on this site, the more guaranteed you'll at least get a response if not an interview).
• www.mediabistro.com (This site requires that you create an account. Lots of opportunites in publishing, especially books, magazines, some opportunities for designers, also opportunities for writers and copy editors. Jobs from all over the U.S.).
• www.journalismjobs.com (This site has postings for copy editing, design, graphic art, writing, and photography jobs for newspapers all over the U.S.)
• www.poynter.org (Jobs within journalism from all over the U.S.)
• www.adweek.com (Jobs in journalism, media, pretty much everything).

TV, Film, and Motion Picture Jobs:
• www.filmstaff.com (Job postings for the main film industry meccas: LA, Chicago, and New York)
• www.mandy.com (Job postings for all over the U.S. for film production, actors, etc. Requires an account to apply).

Jobs for Video Game Developers
• www.gamasutra.com (create an account, and get access to video game jobs, and a newsletter with video game listings from all over the world.)

Wanna work for MTV? Check their website for careers.

Artinfo redesigned their site, be sure to check that out. Sotheby's sells a Rothko for $73 million, read about that. Hear silhoette artist Kara Walker talk about her work on PBS.com. Like to do it yourself? or (DIY) then Readymademag is for you! Ever wonder who makes the majority of the illustrations for the stocks and bonds of the world? Check out American Bank Note Company.

TODAY, WEDNESDAY, MAY 9th

Open Studio at the pleasant street and art annex studio spaces.

6-7 pleasant street (map)
7-9 art annex (map)

we'll open up studios for visits, put some dogs on the grill, say farewell to mfa graduates, and celebrate another productive year.
bring a treat to pass and something to drink.

THURSDAY, May 10th

Linda Warren Gallery presents: Nina Rizzo and Michelle Wasson

Opening Reception and GIANT SPRING CELEBRATION!!!
Thursday May 10 7 - 10 PM

BadDogGallery
808 E. Garden Street, DeKalb, IL

Check out Nik was here's master's thesis show

Opening tomorrow: Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Time: 6:00pm - 10:00pm
Location: P Street Gallery
Street: 1632 Pleasant Strret
City/Town: DeKalb, IL

This is the end. Two years of work, much never before seen. One Gallery. Three rooms. One Artist.

This is going to be a show like you have never seen before. You will not forget it.

Come support me and my work.
There will be refreshments... hopefully C'Old Style and White Castle.

brought to you by Bluedoor Gallery: Bluedoorgallery@gmail.com

Open Thursday May 3

Senior BFA Show
Jack Olson Gallery
Opens: Thursday, May 3, 2007 at 4:30pm
Show: May 3 - 10th, 2007

Exhibiting:
Michelle Baloch
Kristine Chisamore
Ryan Christian
Jen Dougherty
Tim Dwyer
Doris Fillmore
Richard Janes
Leslie Jenner
David Lasley
Lisa Lawrenz
T.J. Lemenski
Tiffany Mason
Jean Meers
Patrick Mulcrone
Mike Payson
Trew Schriefer
Crystal Smoot

Emergence 2007
Show is at the SPOT ATTIC GALLERY
2nd Floor of BCM
449 Normal Rd
DeKalb, IL

Featuring the works of up and coming students...

Jerika Rangel
Joseph Petraitis
Jesica Ward
Karissa Cederholm
Katherine Maly
Christine Kaporis
Dwight Gorbold

Show is from April 30-May 7
Reception Thursday May 3, 5pm
For more info email: edify1another@yahoo.com

Opening Friday May 4th

Show is: May 2-26th.
Opening reception May 4th, 6-9pm

Featuring the work of:

Garrett Brown
Kevin Clapp
Matthew Drogo
Joelouie Genus
Christina Gregor
Yen-Hua-Lee
Hunter Logan
Nicole Szostak
Nick Volkert
Angela Wilson
Edgar Yanez
Luke Young

For more info: click here.

Opening Monday May 7th

160 DRAWINGS
Gallery 214
Monday May 7 from 4 - 6pm OPENING
On display until Wed. May 9

Drawings based on concept and inspiration derived from:
Anshelm Kiefer
Jenny Saville
Francis Bacon

Drawings by:
Cherie Fanning
Ashley Gaeth
Shannon Hart
Liz Nielsen
Meghan Norton
Taylor Richter
Erin Scheiner
Blake Surratt
Keith Vlk
Vanessa Zuniga

-TJ Lemanski presents "That Obscure Object". Prints and drawings in partial fullfillment of the BFA
at Bad Dog from about 7-10pm.
 
FRIDAY 4/27 
-"Leaving A Record" closing reception for Matthew Drogo MFA Show @ VAB Gallery 214 from 6-8pm 
Prints, photographs, and drawings with side burns. 
  
SATURDAY 4/28 
-ARS NOVA is going to Art Chicago! They'll meet at the VAB around 9:30am, carpooling to Elburn and staying in the city all day. Ars Nova will be paying for transportation and admission to the Merch Mart (unless, somehow, more than 20 people sign up). Let them know ASAP if you want to go. they need final confirmations by Thursday evening to plan the carpool, tickets, etc&etc and will send out a plan of attack Friday morning for those who sign-up. for more info contact niuarsnova@hotmail.com 

TODAY!
"Yea Ceramics!"
Leslie Jenner
Reception: VAB 3rd floor from 6-8pm

WEDNESDAY
"Childhood and Grown-Up Creations"
Group show
Opening/Reception: 7-10pm
Bluedoor Gallery (above Cracker Jax downtown DeKalb)

Josef Albers Exhibition
Frameworks for Evaluation: Judging Exhibitions
Lecture by Beverly Serrell
International Museum Consultant at the NIU Art Museum
5pm, Reception to follow

THURSDAY
ARS NOVA Meeting!
Vote on officers for next year, talk about Chicago trip
Bring a snack!
VAB room 415 at 5pm

FRIDAY
+Field trip:
Nina Rizzo and some painting students are going to the MCA and then
to the West Loop gallery district to hear Britton Bertram give a talk. They leave from
Elburn Metra Station at 10:25 am. Pay yer own way. gallery40000.com for info about
the gallery talk. Find Nina if you have other questions.

Opening today:

"Sing all the green willow"
Angela Rose Wilson
MFA Thesis Exhibition
April 16-20, 2007
Opening Reception: April 16, 6-8PM
NIU School of Art, Gallery 214 Dekalb, IL

Opening May 11th:

"Wave of Sorrow: A Hurricane Katrina Memorial"
Dustan Julius Creech
Opening Reception: May 11th, 4 PM - 9 PM
Exhibtion: May 4th - May 27th
Finestra Art Space
410 S. Michigan Ave. Suite 516 Chicago, IL

Gallery 214 has openings practically every week, be sure to keep checking back and viewing the Graduate level works on display.

TODAY Tuesday 4/10 2007

"Josef Albers Formulation:Articulation"
Josef Albers
@ NIU Art Museum
Reception: 5-7pm

Josef Albers (1888 - 1976) is remembered chiefly as an abstract painter, printmaker, teacher, and theorist. His writings, print portfolios and painting series gained him an international reputation for his unending inquiry and meticulous exploration of abstraction and color theory.

Also, "The Uncertainty Principle", another exceptional show, will be open in the South Galleries in Altgeld Hall if you haven't already checked it out.

ALSO TODAY Tuesday April 10, 2007

"Occurences"
Jessica Muller
MA Thesis Exhibition
Pleasant Street Gallery, DeKalb, IL
Reception: 5-7pm

"Transient Conclusions"
Christina Gregor
MFA Thesis Exhibition
229 East Lincoln Hwy. DeKalb, IL
Reception: 7-10pm

THURSDAY April 12, 2007

1st Annual Graduate Juried Show
VAB Jack Olson Gallery
Recption 4:30-6:30pm
Gallery Talk by juror Adelheid Mers

Regain your faith in the "gallery talk" as juror Adelheid Mers discusses the 14 pieces in this show.

One Person Exhibition
Trew Schriefer
BadDog Gallery
7-10pm

Monday April 16, 2007

"Sing all the green willow"
Angela Rose Wilson
MFA Thesis Exhibition
April 16-20, 2007
Opening Reception: April 16, 6-8PM
NIU School of Art, Gallery 214
Dekalb, IL

Monday, April 16
5:00 PM
Northern Illinois University
Visual Arts Building auditorium, Room 100

Professor Jones’s talk will demonstrate that the American art critic
Clement Greenberg developed his theory that modernist art is apprehended
through “eyesight alone” in relation to the rationalized procedures that
gained wide currency in the United States at midcentury, in fields
ranging from the sense-data protocols theorized by scientific philosophy
to the development of cultural forms such as hi-fi, that targeted
specific senses, one by one.

The topic of the lecture is from Caroline Jones’s new book, Eyesight
Alone: Clement Greenberg’s Modernism and the Bureaucratization of the
Senses (University of Chicago Press, 2006).

The Elizabeth Allen Visiting Lecture Series is hosted by the Art History
Division and funded in part by the NIU School of Art Visiting Artists
and Scholars Program. Talks are free and open to the public.
For more info: www.niu.edu/art

Chinese Studies Interest Group Reception, April 5, 2007
International Programs is hosting an informal gathering on Thursday, April 5 at 3:30 in the
Pheasant Room of the Holmes Student Center. A discussion of various interests in International Programs will be discussed. Refereshments will be served. Anyone interested in any aspect of Chinese studies is warmly invited to join.

If you have any questions, please call Deb at 815-753-1989 or Sara at 815-753-9526.

Malaysian Poet, April 5 - 6 2007
Prof. Muhammad Haji Salleh, professor at the School of Humanities of the Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang will be give a lecture Thursday, April 5 at 7:30 in the Lincoln Room of the Holmes Student Center: "A World in Four Lines - the University of Nusantara Poetry: The Pantun".

Poetry Reading, Friday, April 6, 2007
Prof. Muhammad Haji Salleh will be speaking at the weekly brown bag series of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies in 110 Campus Life Building: "Rowing Down Two Rivers: A Reading by Muhammad Haji Salleh of his Poems in Malay and English". Professor Muhammad is a graduate of the University of Michigan.

World Music Concert, April 15, 2007
Northern Illinois University cordially invites you to be part of the Annual Spring World Music Concert at NIU on April 15. NIU is hosting a lecture on Indian classical music by the world-renowned Veena artist and musicologist Dr. Jaishree Prasad in the concert hall at 2:00 PM. This concert is supported by the NIU School of Music Convocation Funds, the Division of International Programs, and the DeKalb Public Library.

Starting at 3:00, the Harambee Percussion Ensemble from Littlejohn Elementary School will open the concert by singing and playing several arrangements of South African folk music. The Harambee Percussion Ensemble, currently consisting of 36 fourth and fifth graders, is co-directed by Sherry Jones and Sharon McKee.

Following that will be a traditional Indian Veena performance, again by the distinguished Veena artist Dr. Jaishree Prasad. She and two of her musician friends, Dr. Ravi Iyer, the Mridangam artist, and Mr. Pat Hernly, the Ghatam artist, will present a set of South Indian classical music.

The NIU gamelan ensemble will perform two traditional Javanese gamelan pieces and will accompany the Indonesian puppet theater, the Wayang Kulit, performed by multi-talented NIU computer science major Bryan Barshinger. After studying the Indonesian language for one year, Bryan attended the United Indonesian Society (USNDO) summer study program in 2006 and learned to perform Wayang Kulit from Pak Eddy Pursubaryanto and Pak Kizno at Balai Budaya Minomartanti in Jogjakarta, Indonesia.

A new composition for gamelan instruments with computer music composed by NIU music major Jacob Miguel will have its premiere at the concert. This exciting new gamelan production will be followed by Eric Schroeder*s traditional Flamenco guitar performance. Finally, the program will close with a multimedia project by Byron Wise, Net Label, and Sandra Schramel. This multimedia project demonstrates the fusion of world and folk music traditions with contemporary and electronic music.

Come join our performers to share with them the fun of music-making! Children of all ages are welcome.

For more information please contact Jui-Ching Wang, 815-753-7979.

One more event.

Recent paintings.
Dominic Moore
Bad Dog Gallery, 808 E Garden, DeKalb, IL.
Opening Reception is Thursday April 5th, 2007 from 6-9.

Wednesday April 4th

Visiting Artist Lecture
John Sparagana
NIU Visual Art Building
Room #102 7 PM
Check out the Lecture FIRST, then hit the gallery shows!

Undergrad Sculpture Show
Pleasant St. Gallery 1632 Pleasant St.
Open 7-9 PM

Work by (Mike &) Roxanne McGovern
Blue Door Gallery 120 N. 3rd st
Opening 7-10 PM

Thursday April 5th, 2007

Ars Nova Juried Show Closing Reception
Cam Choy (Juror) Gallery Talk
NIU Visual Art Building Jack Olson Gallery
Happening from 6-7:30 PM

Monday April 9th, 2007

"Multiple Readings"
Hunter Logan MFA Thesis Exhibition
NIU Visual Art Building
Gallery 214
Opening Reception: 4:30-6:30 PM

DON'T FORGET
Submit your work for the
1st Annual Juried Graduate Exhibition
Visual Art Building, Jack Olson Gallery, NIU, from 10 AM - 1 PM
Entries should include a brief statement about the work and hi-res image, both on disk.
NO EXCEPTIONS!

Tuesday April 10th,2007

"Formulation:Articulation"
Josef Albers
NIU Art Museum
North and Rotunda Galleries
Opening Reception: 5-7 PM

"Occurrences"
Jessica E.Muller
M.A. Thesis Exhibition
NIU Visual Art Building
Gallery 214
April 9-13
Opening Reception: April 10, 5-7 PM

"Transient Conclusions"
Christina Gregor
MFA thesis Exhibition
229 E Lincoln Hwy. DeKalb, IL
Opening Reception: 7-10 PM

Try to make it out to one if not all of these great shows, openings, and lectures!

A few links from the web and abroad to inspire your creativity...

Dana Neibert is a great flash site that showcases a vivid photography gallery.

Zach Schrock's site showcases great landscape works and is definitely worth checking out.

Get published! Send your images to jpgmag and they will be included in their issue! You also win $100 and a year subscription!

The power of painting; Ghada Amer's paintings increased in value when she moved to NY and met up with an American buyer. Read about it here.

The lightning rod for motiongraphics, check out motionographer.com.

Flavorpill is a great blog/mailer that sends Chicago Events right to your mailbox. The also cover NYC, London, San Francisco, and Miami arts. Sign up!

Is the music video dead? Not according to AOL video, with the largest library of videos on the net. VBS.tv also says something about it, offering internet only indie programming and videos.

Metal man project is a bizarre collaborative featuring multiple artists working together to get a 5th grader's comic idea brought to life. Check it out.

Who were the 50 most creative in 2006? Find out here.

Enjoy!

Drawing Symposium

Saturday 24 May, 10 AM - 5 PM
Located at the Northern Illinois University Art Museum, Altgeld Hall, Rm 315. For directions please click here.

In conjunction with:
The Uncertainty Principle: Drawing in the Golden Age of Worry
NIU Art Museum, South Galleries

Symposium artists include:
Charles LaBelle
Shona Macdonald
Judith Burns McCrea
Geoffrey Todd Smith
Deb Sokolov
Chris Uphues

Please attend,
Please encourage your students to attend
and to bring their friends, former friends, famous artists, people they want to meet...

Please invite your former students, colleagues at other institutions,
anyone who might be interested.

This even it free and open everyone
interested in a vigorous and passionate exchange.

This event is sponsored the NIU Department of Art and the Fine Art Studio Division.

TUESDAY-THURSDAY (March 6th - March 8th, 2007)
NAEA Artsy Garage Sale
March 6th - 8th 9am to 4pm on the 2nd floor,Visual Arts Building, NIU
Donation based sale of books, home decor, CD's, accessories, artsy homemade items & more.
Proceeds help to fund the NAEA. Be sure to check it out.

WEDNESDAY (March 7th 2007)
"The 12" X 12" show"
(Nothing is really 12"x12", just small works)
Reception March 7th from 7-10pm @ Blue Door Gallery, located above Cracker Jax on 3rd St. Click here for directions. This show is primarily a drawing show featuring five different artists from the Northern Illinois University School of Art including: Ryan Christian, Tim Dwyer, TJ Lemanski, Michael Payson, and Trew Schriefer
For more info contact the bluedoor gallery: Bluedoorgallery@gmail.com

WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY (March 7th-March 8th 2007)
Ars Nova Juried Show drop-offs at The Jack Olson Gallery on the second floor of the Visual Arts Building, NIU from 10-4. only $5 per submission, up to 5 entries
contact niuarsnova@hotmail.com for further questions

Also...vote on dominic moore's artwork on the Saatchi gallery website. Check his work out here.

SFA is watching you!

No not really. To help in the community we added the "activity" mini page so you can see the latest uploads and changes with the growing userbase on SFA. It's just a temporary thing, we're not big brother, don't freak out. This is just a universal notification system to signal activity, especially, when your images are commented on, when someone has added you as a friend, or when people are talking on your wall, mainly though, so you know when new images are uploaded so they can be commented on. In the future this feature's intention is so you can see the activity of people that your are "friends" with. Now "friends" doesn't necessarily mean in real life, it can mean you dig their work and you want to be notified when they upload new pieces. This is an evolving feature, comments and suggestions are welcome. Feel free to submit them to the "error/suggestion" box on the nav bar or to me: nick@nickvolkert.com

Browse galleries with ease...

You can now browse a users gallery with new "next" and "previous" image buttons below the images when viewed in full view. When you begin browsing or when you reach the end of a gallery, you'll only get one gallery browse link, so you know you've seen all the user's work. You can also go back to the "gallery view" with an additional "back to gallery" button at the bottom of the image as well.

Constructive Criticism...

Hopefully with the addition of the "activity" mini page we as artists can constructively comment on and critique one another's work. One of the intentions of this site is to create another, larger venue for the critique of your work outside of the sometimes limited confines of your studios; now with the "activity" in place you can see who's commented on what.

Last but not least...

User images. If you click on "edit" while viewing your own profile and then "upload user images" you can delete images you don't want anymore, and as always, add new ones.

Over and out.

Nick

There was a bug that didn't allow the deletion of some images, that is now fixed. So any images that you may have uploaded that appear as "?" you can delete and re-upload if you wish.

Be sure you are uploading only jpg's, gifs, tifs, and png's. PDF's and any other file formats haven't been written in for the site and won't upload right. We are working on having the capacity to upload PDF's, so check back in time, hopefully that will make uploading alot easier and save from saving files in extra formats.

Thanks again! Any questions or comments feel free to drop me a line: nick@nickvolkert.com

Thanks,

Nick
Student Fine Arts.com

Please submit art to "Conception: a show addressing woman's issues."

This show is open to all genders of the faculty, staff, and students of Northern Illinois University.

Visual and written representation (poetry) of Women’s issues such as (but not limited to):

-gender issues
-female as object
-life line/lineage
-historical concerns
-women and spirituality
-sexuality

For Artists:
-All formats will be accepted
-Well written statements strongly recommended, as they may be used as an element in the show.
-Performance works also encouraged upon space availability and time constraints; should be submitted as a proposal.

Artists will be contacted via email regarding drop-off times.

For Poetry:
- Must be wall ready (framed), and cannot exceed 24 inches in width
-Please contact for further information regarding display
-Deadline 02/23/07
-There may be opportunities for poetry readings

Dates and Times:

When: Opening reception March 6th, 7-10

Where/Location: Pleasant Street Gallery and Studios, 1632 Pleasant Street, DeKalb

Contacts: Erin Coleman-Cruz, Rachel Quirk.

Email submissions in the following format:
Name
Title
Media
Dimensions
Phone
Email
Any special instructions

Download the entry form here.

Visual: Deadline for emailing submission forms 02/23/07
*Early submissions via email/with photo accepted and encouraged.

Friends with benefits: Add artist that are your friends as well as artists whose work you enjoy. We are working on the functionality to allow you see your friends activity; that is, when they upload work, events they are attending, and work that they comment on, as well as when your work is commented on, and the specific piece that received a comment. So get active! Comment on work, add it to favorites, and write on other users wall.

Design tweaks: The gallery items now have blue borders, on the homepage they are centered within the recently uploaded and favorites boxes. You can sleep better knowing this.

User name: Don't like your user name? Want to change it? Go to your profile and hit "edit." There is now a user name field for those who want to change their username.

Hide your e-mail: We have the e-mail so it is automatically displayed on your user page. We now give you the option to show or hide your e-mail, opt to hide it by going to your profile and clicking "edit." Also, when you send visitors a link to your page, the e-mail is hidden, and only registered users can see your e-mail.

More to come! Keep uploading your works and building your gallery!

This Thursday is the closing reception and ARTIST TALK for Himmelfarb's "Calligraphics" down at the Olson Gallery (on the 2nd floor of the VAB). The reception is from 4:30-6:30pm. Feel free to show up and check out the art before our regular 5pm meeting time! 

Ars Nova Student Art & Craft Sale is happening again this semester at the Holmes Student Center, Glass Gallery & Lounge. (April 11th & 12th from 10am to 4pm). Last semeter was a huge success and Ars Nova does not take any of the profits this is a wonderful opportunity to sell some work! Start setting stuff aside now or begin making it, and reap the benefits of some extra cash in your pocket! Contact niuarsnova@hotmail.com for more info.

It's all about graffiti...

Get a taste of some "bombings" from Barcelona Spain here, and France.

Some people dug the work of Banksy so much, they stole the wall. Check that out here.

In other news...

A big stir about a new Anselm Keifer piece. Read about that at the NYtimes. (you might have to start an account to see it).

Is Ebay wrecking art? Possibly. Read up on that here.

Chicago Artist Resource has a brand new site. Check it out, and sign up for their newsletter.

A new magazine called "Venus" is out, check out their site for great info on new and emerging women artists.

You are cordially invited to participate in the Annual Fundraiser '60115' (formerly known as grad-by-the-foot), hosted by Graduate Arts Association.

The format of the themed show will be postcard style. All participants will be asked to submit no more than three hand crafted postcards in any media of choice, in the 4” x 6” standard dimension. The material (paper, canvas, cardboard, wood, etc.) can be no thicker than 1/4”.

All donated postcards should also include the following information on the reverse side of the submission:
• name
• title
• media
• date
• email address or website optional.

GAA encourages all of the departments to participate and faculty to pass on the invitation to their students. The proceeds from the exhibition will be set aside to aid in the publishing of a Graduate Group Show catalog for the upcoming show in April. We cannot stress enough, the importance of participation on behalf of the entire graduate student body and faculty in this fundraising event.

Drop off dates for submissions will be February 7th and 8th from 10am to 4pm in the Jack Olson Gallery.

“60115” is scheduled to open February 12th and run thru the 16th in Gallery 214. The fundraiser will be a silent auction open to the general public.

GAA is very excited to have a show that spans across all media and with your generous help, we hope to make this our most successful fundraiser yet.

Thank you for your support!
Still have questions? Contact us at gradarts@aol.com

One of the leaders of the Design art movement is Marc Newson, he's here, and he's here to stay. Check out his work and when you're done, you can watch a panoramic view of one of his design intallations (scroll down to watch the show on the page). Still want more? Read the interview on him here.

Speaking of design...

Cue the AC/DC, black is back. View the article and a couple contemporary designs using black (in high gloss form).

The Power of Sculpture...

View the recently opened Olympic Sculpture park here, and read/see all about it.

This newspaper site blows my mind...

Check it out: they have interactive ads and you can have the articles read to you. How F'n cool is that!?

A love affair with type and ornamentation, check out the work of Marian Bantjes, it will blow your mind.

"Looptopia" is being planned for the Chicago's east Loop on May 11-12. "Looptopia" is modeled on all-night White Night events that have turned the downtown districts in Paris, Rome and Toronto, among others, into "de facto" art galleries. For Chicago it was be a festival of art that will last the entire night featuring silent dance parties and plexiglass dodgeball tournaments. Click here for more info. The organizers swear it's not a street fair!

Far from Home: Photography, Travel, and Inspiration is currently showing at the Art Institute displaying photography works of Edward Weston, Walker Evans, and Robert Frank drawn from the Institute's archives. The show opened today (1/20) and closes May 6, 2007.

Emerging Illinois Artists will be installed in the MCAC's Brandt Gallery from May 18 through July 21, 2007.

The juror for the exhibition and awards is Bob Sill, Associate Curator at Illinois State Museum in Springfield.

Please encourage your MFA students to apply. Details and dates are outlined on the attached entry form.

Contact info:

Alison J. Hatcher
Curator
McLean County Arts Center
Bloomington, Illinois
Click here for directions.

The show will be up in the Pleasant Street Gallery, 1632 Pleasant Street, DeKalb, IL (click to view map) in March.

Danielles work was exhibited in the Fall 2006 BFA show in the Olson Gallery.

Reception for: "Beggars and Choosers: Motherhood is Not a Class Privilege in America" a photography show opened tonight and will be up thru February 17. Please visit this show at the South Gallery in Altgeld Hall, Northern Illinois University.

"Mark Arctander: Surveillance" solo retrospective, and "Heart of Africa: Artistry within Ritual Artifacts and Raffia Textiles" is up now and will exhibit thru March 9, in the Hall Case Galleries and North Gallery also in Altgeld Hall.

NIU alumnus Mark Arctander: Surveillance (found object sculpture)
thru March 9 in the Rotunda Gallery, Altgeld Hall.

Free and Open to the Public. Free parking is available this evening (1/18) from 5-7 in the lot northeast of Gilbert and College Drives.

The NIU Art Museum is located on the first floor, west end of Altgeld Hall, the “castle” at the northwest corner of College and Castle Drives on the NIU campus in DeKalb.

Gallery Hours are Tuesday * Friday, 10 a.m. * 5 p.m., Saturday, 12 noon * 4 p.m. and by appointment for group tours.

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

The deadline for APPLICATION & DRAWING submissions for post mark is Feb 20.

For more information on the DeKalb Mural Program please visit www.renewdekalb.com . If you have questions please contact ReNew DeKalb at 748-7788.

Jennifer L. Groce
ReNew DeKalb, Inc.
Executive Director
111 S. Second St., #201
DeKalb, IL 60115
Phone: 815-748-7788

"Towers" is NIU's annual literary and creative arts magazine featuring original unpublished work by students in four categories: art/photography, fiction, nonfiction and poetry.

All currently enrolled NIU students are eligible to submit work using the guidelines found at http://www.engl.niu.edu/towers/Index.html. NIU student editors will judge the submissions in their respective genres using a blind format. There will be a $100 prize for the top submission in each category.

All submissions must be received in Reavis Hall 215 by Thursday, Feb 2. The magazine will be published in April, and an artists reception/reading will be held at the DeKalb Gallery.

Sponsor/Contact: Towers Arts and Literary Magazine | http://www.engl.niu.edu/towers/Index.html
Contact: Anthony Coman
E-mail: Towers.Magazine@gmail.com

You now have the option to upload multiple websites on your profile page, but why not send me links of artists and art events, or events in general that you think are relevant? I'll post them on this blog for the SFA users to see. Send me your links here: nick@nickvolkert.com.

SFA ALIVE day 4

:: New features ::

Hidden links:

Feel free to send your gallery and profile link to people who aren’t members (just copy and paste the URL of your page), they won’t be able to see comments on your profile page or images!  That way the art can be appreciated without the influence of people’s comments (good or bad).  That way your SFA gallery and profile will be a professional gallery to those who look.  Encourage people who want to comment to start an account, that way they can favorite and comment on your work!

Latest uploads:

You can see the last four images our users uploaded when you click on the “users” link.

The Gallery:

The full image view of an artwork now contains a mini nav bar that allows you to go back to the user’s gallery, profile and “favorite” or “remove favorite” a work all in one spot.  If you own the piece, you can edit and delete the work.

Universal idea/comment/bug report box:

This is pretty self explanatory, but all bugs and comment can be sent to Erik if you notice them. Type ideas/comments/bugs in the box at the top right of the blue nav bar and we’ll get working on them as soon as we can.

We’ve been demoted?:

Kind of, but not really, we’re calling ourselves “beta” until we get more features and the kinks worked out.  The logo now has a little “beta” quote bubble by it for now.

Darker green:

Compared to the old green, this green is better.  Check that out on the login page.

Your profile:

We decided to allow you to post more website links, you age, location and a short artist statement about yourself.  We also added a page ticker that keeps track of your profile page views; artworks also have view tickers that let you and the users know how many views your work has had.

Majors:

Dawid, Hospitality Administration is now added.  Hook it up.

Schools:

So far, we have all NIU people as users; we’re working on expanding our schools.  So if you’re not from NIU, you’ll have to be an honorary Huskie.  Feel free to let us know your school in the idea/comment/bug box in the nav bar.

Uploading images:
To upload, click on "upload" or "My gallery." An upload button appears and you can browse to find images you'd like to put in your gallery. To upload multiple images at one time, simply click upload after each image is chosen. Keep in mind the more images that are added the longer it takes for them to be published to the site, so please be patient. After the image is uploaded, please add a title to the piece, dimensions, media, and a short statement about the work.

Favorites:
To keep a gallery of works that catch your eye, add them as a favorite by clicking the "add as a favorite" button at the bottom of the image. This then adds the work to your "favorites" gallery. To remove an image as a favorite, click on it again to view it in full view and click the "remove as a favorite" button below the image.

Critique:
The purpose of Studentfinearts.com is to provide a venue for critical discussion of art. Post critiques by clicking on "new" on the comments box below the image. From there you can write a critique of the piece for the owner of the piece to look at later.

Sign the guestbook:
The guestbook appears on the profile page of the artist. To add a new entry simply click on "new" and a window will pop up and you can then write the user a short message. This is a good place to send the user "props" or cool external links that you may have found that they might find interesting.

More to come soon, hopefully that's enough to get you started!

Nick