Visit to Ball State University

Presentation and Lecture by Chris Nowicki

Presentation and Lecture by Chris Nowicki

Visit to Ball State University – Chris Nowicki and Jacek Szewczyk

During January 16-18, 2012 we were guests of Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. Our main objective was to see the Printmaking and Glass Departments. We stayed at the University Hotel in the Student Building and it was very nice. Everyone was friendly and we had a great stay.

We had a great dinner at the home of Peter Blume who is director of the Ball State University Museum of Art. Peter gave us a complete tour of the Museum complete with the history of the collection and it’s most important acquisitions.

During our stay in Muncie I had the opportunity to give a lecture and demonstration about my favorite technique – mezzotint. The Printmaking Department at Ball State is small compared to our Academy in Poland but it is very well equipped. David and Sarojini Johnson are the professors of printmaking and they were very helpful in showing us around and helping with the demonstration. There were about 20 printmaking students in attendance who were all very attentive and asked a lot of good questions. I was able to take my time and explain about tools, paper, inks, printing presses, technique, and the history of mezzotint. My greatest compliment came at the end when some students decided to try mezzotint.

Jacek's Lecture

Jacek's Lecture

Jacek gave an excellent presentation of our Academy with photos and videos to an audience of about 50 students. We hope to arrange an exchange of students between our schools and Jacek’s talk created much interest among the students.

Ball State University has a beautiful campus with nice architecture. Everything is within walking distance. Our visit was a success and we look forward to future contact with this excellent institution.

Please click here to see more posts by Chris Nowicki at Active Artist Network.

Printing Demonstration

Printing Demonstration

Printmaking Show In Chicago

We arrived in Chicago in blizzard conditions but what can you expect in the middle of January.

As you can see in the photos, the Chicago Cultural Center did a wonderful job setting up our exhibition of the Wroclaw School of Printmaking.  The exhibition was hung in three galleries and was attended by about 250 people.  For anyone going to Chicago the exhibition is in the Michigan Street Galleries of the Chicago Cultural Center and will run until March 25.  It consists of work from the Printmaking Department of the Eugeniusz Geppert Academy of Fine Art and Design in Wroclaw, Poland.

Chris Nowicki Interview

Chris Nowicki Interview

We stayed in the Courtyard Marriot Hotel in the middle of town and were able to enjoy Italian food in Bruna’s Restaurant one of the oldest in Chicago (and the food was great) and a super Cajun restaurant on Michigan street.

Now we are in Muncie, Indiana to see Ball State University.  I will give a lecture today to students on the history and technique of mezzotint.  I don’t believe that anyone here does mezzotint so it should be interesting for the students.

Unfortunately we are only here for one day; Muncie is a beautiful small Midwestern own.  The people are friendly and helpful.

Wall Of Hot Sauce

Wall Of Hot Sauce

Tomorrow we are driving with my friend Mel Arndt to Toledo, Ohio where we will visit the Toledo Museum of Art and I will show my colleague the sights of Toledo.