2015-01-21

Want to meet other art enthusiasts, see innovative exhibitions or be a part of the art scene? The NIU Art Museum invites you to be part of its Get-on-the-Bus Trips to see art museums, gardens and flea markets:

Friday, Jan. 30: Chicago Conservation Center & Salvage One

Find out if your collection needs conservation or just learn about this fascinating science and art. Lunch at Red Delicious Planet, followed by private tour of one of the premiere art conservation facilities in the nation. Visit Spudnik Press, a cooperative print shop and gallery, and explore the warehouse full of architectural finds at Salvage One while in the area before stopping at an art opening at Western Exhibitions for the group show “The World is Mystical, Dangerous, and Delicious.” Limited to 24 participants.

The bus departs the NIU School of Art parking lot at 9:30 a.m. and returns at 8:45 p.m.

Transportation and tour: members, $40; student and senior nonmembers, $45; others, $50. Lunch on your own.

Registration/Payment deadline: Thursday, Jan. 22

Saturday, Feb. 28: Kane County Flea Market, St. Charles

The season opener of this long-running monthly flea market (more than 47 years old) offers a range of collectibles from antiques to tube socks. Part of the fun is the hunt and the opportunity to add to your own collections.

The bus departs the NIU School of Art parking lot at 11:30 a.m. and returns at 5:45 p.m.

Transportation and flea market entry fee: members: $10; student and senior nonmembers, $12; others, $15.

Meals on your own. Be prepared to walk, browse and haggle.

Wear layers for weather shifts indoors and out.

Registration/Payment deadline: Thursday, Feb. 26

Friday, April 10: Buddhist Art of Kashmir exhibition at the Block Museum of Art after lunch at Himalayan Restaurant, ending with a grocery stop at Patel Brothers Market

“Collecting Paradise: Buddhist Art of Kashmir and Its Legacies”: an original and innovative look at the region of Kashmir and how it has been “collected” over time. You’ll get an opportunity to purchase ingredients to prepare your own Indian/Pakistani feast and sample treats at a Himalayan restaurant. Limited to 24 participants.

The bus departs the NIU School of Art parking lot at 10:30 a.m. and returns at 8:30 p.m.

Transportation: NIU Art Museum members, $18; student and senior nonmembers, $20; others, $25.

The museum is free. Meals and groceries on your own.

Registration/Payment deadline: Wednesday, April 8

Friday, April 17: Japanese prints in the Asian collections of the Art Institute of Chicago, followed by a shopping trip to Mitsuwa Marketplace

Private viewing of highlights of the Japanese prints in the collection with AIC curator Janice Katz. Time to explore world-class galleries featuring works from Asia and a newly installed Middle Eastern gallery. Get an opportunity to discover more about Japanese culture with a shop/stop at the extensive Japanese market Mitsuwa in Arlington Heights. Limited to 20 participants.

The bus departs the NIU School of Art parking lot at 8:45 a.m. and returns at 6:45 p.m.

Transportation: NIU Art Museum members, $12; student and senior nonmembers, $15; others, $18.

Museum entry and meals on own. AIC members have free admission to the Art Institute. General ticket admission: adults, $23; students/seniors, $17.

Registration/payment deadline: Wednesday, April 1

Saturday, May 30: Anderson Japanese Gardens, Rockford

Ranked among the highest quality and most authentic Japanese gardens in North America. Lunch at a Japanese restaurant in Rockford beforehand.

The bus departs the NIU School of Art parking lot at 10 a.m. and returns at 6 p.m.

Transportation and garden entry: NIU Art Museum members, $20; students and senior nonmembers, $22; others, $25.

Lunch costs on own. Please note: Garden paths are uneven.

Registration/payment deadline: Thursday, May 21

Registration and advance payment are required. To reserve your seat on the bus, please contact the NIU Art Museum office at (815) 753-1936 or email Jo Burke at jburke2@niu.edu. Members are welcome to submit ideas and requests for future trips.

Trips depart from the NIU School of Art parking lot on NIU’s DeKalb campus at the northeast corner of Gilbert and College avenues.

Payment may be made with cash, a check made out to NIU or a major credit card. Payment must be made in advance to guarantee a seat on the bus. NIU Art Museum members receive discounts on bus trips and access to members-only excursions. For the most up-to-date information, please visit niu.edu/artmuseum.

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