Artistic and Functional: Aprons from the Karen Anderson Collection

Location: Castellani Art Museum

"Artistic and Functional: Aprons from the Karen Anderson Collection" features a diverse selection of 47 aprons collected by Mrs. Karen Anderson of Lynn Center, Illinois. These beautiful pieces of domestic art demonstrate the ingenuity of a century of American women who fashioned aprons from recycled feedsacks, dresses, curtains, handkerchiefs and blue jeans. Visitors will be captivated by the array of styles and awed by the sewing skills of appliqu�, embroidery, smocking and tatting. This exhibition also features "Aprons from a Local Kitchen Drawer," a collection of aprons created by the grandmother of 26 year museum docent Jean Hackenheimer, and "Aprons at Work," a series eight of occupational apron portraits and selected historical photographs.

Exhibition - Tom Holt: Test for Echo

Start: 02:00PM / End: 05:00PM
Location: Castellani Art Museum

The Castellani Art Museum’s TopSpin Series continues with Tom Holt: Test for Echo. An opening reception with artist’s talk will be held Sunday, May 31, 2009 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the museum. A highlight of Test for Echo will be a multi-media graffiti mural that Holt is creating especially for the TopSpin exhibition. The spray painted work that will cover one wall of the gallery is also going to also incorporate projected video images. Test for Echo melds together all of Holt’s artistic interests from painting and illustration to digital video and graffiti. Particular influences are attributed to graffiti artists who “tag” urban locations and derelict spaces. Returning a few weeks later to see who was inspired to “respond.” Often, numerous artists add their “tags” in a spontaneous arrangement that Holt describes as, “…free-form painting akin to the musical format of jazz arrangements. The purest satisfaction in art is taking something small and recreating it on a grand-scale altering the experience and contributing to a greater visual impact.” Holt is motivated by a wide array of today’s visual media including advertising, animation, the Juxtaposed movement and fantasy animation. His work is influenced by mass media, commercial advertising; infomercials, art museums, urban graffiti and early video games. His appreciation for both video art and mural paintings has led him to explore how they can be combined successfully.

Explore Aprons at Work with a demonstration by farrier Paul Grzes, horseshoe craftsman and specialist in equine hoof care

Start: 02:00PM / End: 04:00PM
Location: Castellani Art Museum

Join the Folk Arts Program of the Castellani Art Museum of Niagara University on Sunday June 28, 2009 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm to meet men and women who wear aprons everyday at their jobs throughout Western New York and learn how these aprons protect them and their clothing.

Julie Otsuka Speaking

Start: 07:30PM / End: 09:30PM
Location: ULGC

Julie Otsuka, author of When the Emperor Was Divine, will be speaking to the freshman class in the Gallagher Center, upper level. Her talk will be followed by a book signing. This event is open to the public. More information is at http://www.niagara.edu/care/nractivities.htm .

Meet the Accountants Night

Start: 05:00PM / End: 08:00PM
Location: Castellani Art Museum