Five Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Begins May 10 and ends June 14 (no class on May 24)
This course consists of five Saturday field trips to Chicago art museums and cultural institutions, art galleries, artist-run spaces, important architectural sites, and ethnic neighborhoods. Visits to artist's studios, docent tours of collections, and topical discussions with gallery directors are included. Each week begins with a topical discussion of the venues to be visited, complete with maps and handouts. The class meets in an assigned classroom at NIU Naperville for weeks 1 and 2, and at the Corner Café, upstairs at the Ogilvie Transportation Center, for weeks 3, 4, 5. This course offers three credit hours (both undergraduate and graduate level) and will be of interest to students who want to know about contemporary arts in Chicago; and to art students, especially those who are new to the area or are unfamiliar with Chicago.
Field trips and weekly themes:
Week 1: Saturday, May 10. Meet at NIU Naperville
Lecture: The Phoenix: Fire and Culture. The role of the Great Fire in the development of arts and culture in Chicago; history of the Art Institute
Visits to: Art Institute of Chicago; docent tour of special collection (works on paper). Chicago Cultural Center; docent tour of building and galleries. The Newbury Library; docent tour of building and collection.
Recommended reading:
The Devil in the White City, Erik Larson
ARTSpeak, Robert Atkins
Critique Handbook, Sales and Beti
WEEK 2: Saturday, May 17. Meet at NIU Naperville
Lecture : Who Is the Hairy Who and Why Do We Care? Role of the Chicago World's Fair in the development of Hyde Park. Role of the Hyde Park Art Center, the Monster Roster and the Hairy Who in the development of the visual arts in Chicago.
Visits to: Hyde Park Art Center, docent tour. David and Alfred Smart Museum of Art, Renaissance Society, discussion with Director Hamsa Walker. Asia Museum, Seminary Bookstore, Powell's Bookstore, Boat Basin and other relics of the Chicago World's Fair.
Recommended reading:
After the End of Art: Contemporary Art and the Pale of History, Arthur C. Danto
WEEK 3: Saturday, May 31. Meet at Corner Cafe, upstairs, Ogilvie Transportation Center
Lecture : The MCA and River North galleries.
Visits to : The Museum of Contemporary Arts. Docent tour of current exhibitions. River North galleries. Discussion of current exhibitions with Gallery Director at Carl Hammer Gallery, Print Works, Zola Lieberman Gallery, Alfedena Gallery, I-Space. Art supply sources: Pearl Art Supply, Paper Source.
Recommended reading:
On Photography, Susan Sontag
WEEK 4: Saturday, June 7. Meet at Corner Cafe, upstairs, Ogilvie Transportation Center
Lecture: Contemporary Galleries and Artist-Run Spaces. West Loop Gate, River West, West Town
Visits to: West Loop Gate galleries, Fulton Market galleries, River West and West Town galleries. Discussion with Gallery Director at Carrie Seachrist, Flatfile, Rhona Hoffman, Monique Meloche, In West Loop Gate, at Corbett vs Dempsey and Western Exhibitions in West Town. Artist-run spaces: Contemporary Art Workshop, WomanMade Gallery. ARC, Beacon Street , Sky Box Studios, Ravenswood Studios, Studio visit: Deb Sokolow / Geoff Smith.
Recommended reading:
Periodicals: Art in America, ArtNews, Art and Antiques, Juxtapoze
WEEK 5: Saturday, June 14. Meet at Corner Cafe, upstairs, Ogilvie Transportation Center
Lecture: Pilsen, the labor movement in Chicago , the Mexican Art Museum.
Visits to: Mexican Museum of Art, docent tour. Pilsen galleries. Discussion at Polvo. Chinatown. Students travel by car pool, public transportation (Metra and the CTA), and on foot to the destinations. Routes are carefully mapped, CTA and METRA schedules distributed, and contact phone numbers provided. Wear comfortable shoes!
Registration Information
ART 489/CE1/9020
ARTS 403/CE1/9033
ARTS 520/CE1/9036
ARTS 620/CE1/9041
ARTS 325/421/520/523/620/623, ART 590/690
Humor, Distress, and (Il)Logical Conclusions in Contemporary Practice
Instructor: Kathryn Kahn
May 10 - June 2 (no class on May 24 and 26)
Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Mondays and Wednesdays, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
In this era of ecological degradation, destabilization, disease, war and media misinformation and political betrayal, artists have a special obligation to the culture. Let us ask this question:
If we, as individual artists, are willing to examine our own inner lives – perceptions, impulses, responses, and intellectual formulations - as microcosms of external circumstances…
If we, as artists, are distressed and stressed by the state of our small, green planet, and the ways in which human beings comport themselves in the world…
And if making art is our way of exploring the seemingly untenable and irresolvable circumstances in which we find ourselves…
Then what?
Could there be a seemingly illogical resolution of these issues and experiences?
If we bring joy, intensity, intellectual challenge, generosity of effort into the world through our art and art-making process…
And if, as we make our work, we release ourselves from the obligation of logical self-justification…
Might we encounter/find answers and resolution from an unexpected and deeper source, one employing humor, improvisation, imagination, research….
Traditionally, artists have explored the unmarked territory between the so-called inner and outer worlds. While the process remains much the same, the contingencies of each era have generated different art forms.
In this class students will proceed with an art making practice informed by attention to this overarching inquiry. Class will include critiques, visiting artists, slide lectures and a field trip.
Registration Information
ARTS 325/CE1/9031
ARTS 421/CE1/9034
ARTS 520/CE1/9037
ARTS 523/CE1/9039
ARTS 620/CE1/9042
ARTS 623/CE1/9044
ART 590/CE1/9023
ART 690/CE1/9024
Begins May 12 and ends June 9 (no class May 24 and 26)
Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Mondays and Wednesdays, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Music theory and aural skills are critical components of a well-rounded music education. Explore strategies for incorporating and teaching a wide range of music theory and aural skills topics in the context of instrumental and vocal ensembles, applied individual lessons, and general music courses. Students need not have a comprehensive background in music theory to benefit from the course.
Course activities include:
• reading assignments
• daily seminar-style discussions
• written article and textbook reviews
• syllabus construction
• videotaping and critique of practice teaching sessions
This course satisfies the graduate core music theory requirement for a master's degree in music at NIU. It may also be applied toward the three-year summer master's program in the NIU School of Music.
Registration Information
MUSC 517QE1/9123
Fridays, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., class begins June 13 and ends August 8; no class on July 4
Students work on the disciplines of drawing and painting using the many exhibits at the Field Museum as subjects. All techniques in these areas are open for exploration and development. Class consists of group critiques, analytical discussion of style and structure, and studio experiences. This class was developed for students in a degree program, as well as for the non-traditional student interested in furthering his or her expertise. Students registering for six credit hours will be expected to do twice as much work, to be arranged with the instructor. A letter with information about supplies, parking, and admission to the museum will be sent to registered students in late May/early June.
Registration Information
ARTS 300/BE1/9027
ARTS 301/BE1/9028
ARTS 324/BE1/9029
ARTS 325/BE1/9030
ARTS 400/BE1/9225
ARTS 401/BE1/9032
ARTS 520/BE1/9035
ARTS 523/BE1/9036
ARTS 620/BE1/9040
ARTS 623/BE1/9043
ART 490/BE1/9021
ART 590/BE1/9038
The online art history offerings utilize the latest technologies of multimedia and asynchronous communications to help unravel the mysteries of artistic expressions, their underlying messages and meanings, and reveal their purposes, functions and the techniques used in their creation.
These art history courses were developed as online classes by Isabelle Sabau with the support of Northern Illinois University’s eLearning division of Outreach Services. All these courses require serious and dedicated motivation, relying on regular and frequent student interaction, active participation and collaboration in weekly asynchronous discussions. It is recommended that students allocate at least 8-10 hours a week for class.
Gain a deeper understanding of the visual arts in this online course. Learn how art has proved throughout history to be the most expressive form of communication. Students examine artistic motivation, various art media and techniques, and the historical and cultural backgrounds of various works of art. Students investigate the processes and techniques, the imagination and creativity, and the civilizations and cultures which have enabled artists to produce a myriad of diverse visual expressions.
Registration Information
ARTH 282/YE1/9025
Online course beginning June 16 and ending August 8.
Examine the many artistic expressions and cultures of the past in this online survey course. The course covers the artistic development of humans from prehistory through 1400 CE. Topics covered include the invention of writing, ancient Egypt, classical Greece, the Roman Empire, the beginnings and expansion of Christianity, and the Middle Ages.
Registration Information
ARTH 291/YE1/9026
Online course beginning June 16 and ending August 8.
Drawing and Painting: Studio Critique
ARTS 620/623/720/723, ART 690
Instructor: Charlotte Rollman
Tuesdays, 6 - 9 p.m., Class begins August 26 and ends December 9
This class focuses on the disciplines of drawing and painting. All techniques in these areas are open for exploration and development. Class consists of group critiques and analytical discussion of style and structure; students bring work into class that has been done at home. These courses were developed for students enrolled in a degree program, as well as for the non-traditional student interested in furthering his or her expertise. Students may enroll in any section for 3 or 6 credit hours. Students registering for six credit hours will be expected to do twice as much work, to be arranged with the instructor.
Registration Information
ARTS 620/DE1/12569
ARTS 623/DE1/12570
ARTS 720/DE1/12582
ARTS 723/DE1/12588
ART 690/DE1/12577
Topics in Art: Preventive Conservation Seminar
ART 689
Instructor: Peter Van Ael
Alternate Saturdays, September 6 - December 6
September 6, 9 a.m. - noon
September 20, October 18, November 1 and 15, December 6, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., no class October 4
The objective of the course is to introduce new and current museum professionals to preventive conservation as a holistic doctrine for the 21st century museum environment. Through lecture and discussion, the course focuses on the necessity for the museum to adopt the preventive conservation doctrine; address preventive conservation strategies, and discuss approaches to permanently and positively involve all museum workers in the process. The course includes lectures and discussions on the following topics: buildings and grounds; storage; housekeeping; handling of collections; use of collections; collections documentation; education; environmental monitoring and control; security; emergency planning; ensuring ongoing and full staff participation. In addition, we will hold a practical session on designing and building highly efficient security frames and shipping crates in-house. The final session of class will be held on the DeKalb campus in the Art Building.
Registration Information
ART 689/CE1/13651
The online art history offerings utilize the latest technologies of multimedia and asynchronous communications to help unravel the mysteries of artistic expressions, their underlying messages and meanings, and reveal their purposes, functions and the techniques used in their creation.
These art history courses were developed as online classes by Isabelle Sabau with the support of Northern Illinois University’s eLearning division of Outreach Services. All these courses require serious and dedicated motivation, relying on regular and frequent student interaction, active participation and collaboration in weekly asynchronous discussions. It is recommended that students allocate at least 8-10 hours a week for class.
Gain a deeper understanding of the visual arts in this online course. Learn how art has proved throughout history to be the most expressive form of communication. Students examine artistic motivation, various art media and techniques, and the historical and cultural backgrounds of various works of art. Students investigate the processes and techniques, the imagination and creativity, and the civilizations and cultures which have enabled artists to produce a myriad of diverse visual expressions.
Registration Information
ARTH 282/YE1/12386
Online course beginning August 25 and ending December 12.
Examine the many artistic expressions and cultures of the past in this online survey course. The course covers the artistic development of humans from prehistory through 1400 CE. Topics covered include the invention of writing, ancient Egypt, classical Greece, the Roman Empire, the beginnings and expansion of Christianity, and the Middle Ages.
Registration Information
ARTH 291/YE1/12337
Online course beginning August 25 and ending December 12.
Students examine the artistic expressions of the past five centuries to gain insights into the beliefs, ideas and visions that inspired artists to create daring works of originality and challenge traditional assumptions and practices. Topics covered include the Renaissance, with its emphasis on balance and harmony, the Baroque period, with its dynamism and exuberance, the Enlightenment, with its social struggles for freedom, liberty and justice. Also included are the 19th century, permeated by social reforms and technological advancements which continue on an ever increasing pace in our present day, and finally, the 20th century search for expression.
Registration Information
ARTH 292/YE1/12373
Online course beginning August 25 and ending December 12.
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