North Central College students exhibit their drawings, sculpture, photography

North Central College presents a student art exhibit April 10-May 4, featuring the work of North Central graduate student Christine Badowski-Koenig and juniors Drew French and Ian Hilton.

Titled “Channels of Perception,” their exhibit will showcase drawings, sculpture and photography in a diverse collection of mediums. The free exhibit is open to the public and on display April 10 through May 4 in the College’s Oesterle Library Gallery, 320 E. School St. Meet the artists during a reception from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, April 21. Call 630-637-5375 for gallery hours; visit northcentralcollege.edu/show for details.  

Badowski-Koenig, a resident of Oak Park who’s pursuing an M.A. in liberal studies, is an award-winning journalist whose photographs have appeared online for the Chicago Tribune. She will present a series of photographs of Chicago public art that focus on details, sometimes abstracted beyond recognition, other times vaguely familiar. “The close-up shots … often reveal a melancholy sense of beauty rather than the celebratory or commemorative atmosphere frequently associated with public sculpture,” she says.

French, a resident of Sugar Grove and double major in marketing and studio art, will exhibit drawings and sculpture. His work focuses primarily on the interactions between colors and how they can evoke certain emotions and reactions. The abstraction of subjects and ambiguity of forms often emphasize those relationships. “Juxtaposing different colors to impact moods, feelings and behaviors is my way of conveying how I describe and perceive the world,” says French.  

Hilton, a resident of Naperville who’s majoring in psychology, will present a series of drawings and sculpture. He’s interested in the placement of objects to create insight into our perception of common items. His drawings explore the placement of foreign objects interacting with the human body and “are the result of my venture to bring fresh discernment about the human personality by highlighting our most profound misunderstandings,” he says.

Christine Rabenold, assistant professor of art, is faculty advisor for the exhibit. For more information about the exhibit contact Rabenold at 630-637-5543 or cmrabenold@noctrl.edu.  

Art students at North Central College learn traditional and contemporary media; engage in analytical, critical and abstract thinking; and learn to communicate ideas visually. Students attend gallery and museum openings and exhibits in Naperville and Chicago, meet visiting artists, enter juried exhibitions and gain an academic foundation for graduate study in studio art, art education, art history, art therapy, arts administration, art criticism and visual communications. Visit northcentralcollege.edu/majors/art to learn more about North Central’s art program.