North Central College showcases work by Chicago artist through Feb. 1

North Central College will showcase a collection of couture dresses by Chicago multimedia artist Carrie Ann Schumacher Dec. 12 through Feb. 1.

The exhibit, titled “Build Her a Myth,” is free and open to the public in the College’s Schoenherr Gallery at the Fine Arts Center, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. An artist reception will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12; complimentary refreshments will be served.

“Build Her a Myth” features Schumacher’s sculpture-like, intricate dresses constructed from pages of old romance novels. She started using book pages as a medium after coming across a box of discards at her local library. Romance novels, says Schumacher, “are a loaded material; society has already prescribed meaning and significance to romance novels. I simply get to play with those associations and assumptions that are already embedded in the materials.”

These new structures look to examine the demands that feminine culture places upon women by utilizing the garment as a social signifier. Schumacher incorporates seductive beauty elements into the dresses, all the while using these elements to expose feminine myths that have been created and passed down among generations of women.

Schumacher received her master of fine arts in painting from Northern Illinois University and her bachelor of arts in digital media from Elmhurst College. She is currently a faculty member at Kishwaukee College where she teaches computer art, introduction to visual arts and digital imaging.

For gallery hours or to learn more about the exhibit contact Nickole C. Lanham, North Central’s gallery director, at 630-637-5375 or nclanhammurray@noctrl.edu.  

North Central College’s 2014-2015 Fine and Performing Arts Season is partially sponsored by season supporters, including BMO Harris, Casa by Charleston, The DuPage Community Foundation, Grant Thornton, J.P. Morgan, Main Street Promenade, Marquette Properties, Monarch Landing, Nicor Gas, Ryan Hill Realty, U.S. Bank Private Client Reserve, USG and Water Street Development.