Castellani Art Museum opens new student Exhibitions

Castellani Art Museum opens new student exhibitions

By: Lauren Garabedian 

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y.- Castellani Art Museum hosted opening night for two new student exhibitions, on November 21, 2019 from 2:10 – 3:30 p.m. Students from Introduction to Museum Studies class created a showcase titled “Herstory of Art.” The other new exhibit titled “Mathematics of Tessellations Art Exhibit,” was created by students of Mathematics 351 class, with the help of local artist Kristin Brandt. Visitors enjoyed light refreshments, prizes and stimulating conversations. 

The theme “Herstory of Art” is an exhibition created by Niagara students in honor and celebration of the upcoming 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment that allowed women the right to vote. The students chose artwork owned by Castellani Art Museum that they felt represented this theme through a wide range of artistic styles and media by regional, national and international artists. According to the museum, some of the artworks chosen include a Linda Benglis, Mary Cassatt, Sonia Delaunay, Barbara Kruger, Marisol Escobar, Susan Rothenberg and Cindy Sherman. The artworks chosen for the showcase also compliment the surrounding galleries that are displaying women artists such as Joan Mitchell, Grace Hartigan, Helen Frankenthaler, Alison Saar, Niki de Saint Phalle and others. 

The other new exhibit titled “Mathematics of Tessellations Art Exhibit,”  displays student designed artworks as well as information about the artistic elements found within mathematics. Tessellation is an arrangement of shapes created through translations and fitted together in a repeated pattern without gaps or overlapping. This exhibit features a mural created Dr. Joanne Basta’s students in this class that exemplifies an area of study known as transformational geometry. According to the museum, the mural celebrates the creativity inherent in mathematics and aims to broaden viewers’ perspectives of what constitutes mathematics. 

The Castellani Art Museum’s mission at Niagara University is to connect diverse audiences to art by inspiring creativity and learning within the campus community and beyond. The museum is located at 7 Varsity Drive, Niagara University, N.Y. 14109. If unable to attend, the museum is open from Thursday through Saturday 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. or Sunday 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. to the public.