Posted - August 25, 2001

Animals Subject of Eureka College Art Exhibit

September 6-26, 2011

Artwork that depicts animals as metaphors for human traits, emotions and personalities will be on display Sept. 6 - 26 in Burgess Hall Art Gallery at Eureka College. The exhibit by Nikki Schwontkowski is titled “Cave Canum,” which is Latin for beware of the dog. A free, public reception for the artist will be from 3 - 6 p.m. Sept. 23.

A print titled "The Sighting" by Nikki Schwontkowski is among artworks depicting animals that will be exhibited at the College.

The artist from Fox River Grove investigates the universal essence of human behavior through a symbolic portrayal of spirit animals based in Eastern thought processes.

“Each animal I work with is symbolic of a different blend of personality traits present in every human being,” Schwontkowski said.

Some of her prints and paintings depict animals in a simple portrait, exposing their most honest form and reflecting their emotions and characteristics in a moment of time.  “From the emotions reflected upon the portrait's face, one can almost always begin to understand the character of the one displayed,” she said.

Other works explore hidden personality traits that surface at the sign of fear. “Confusion, angst, weakness and ego get in the way of everyday activity and have the power to damage the self,” she said.                                                                                                            

Schwontkowski is a 2011 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where she received the Foundation Award for Excellence in 2007, the Sophomore Portfolio Review Scholarship in 2008 and the Pointer Press Award for Printmaking Excellence in 2009 and 2010.  Her work currently is in the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Alumni Exhibition.

Schwontkowski’s work has been displayed in Midwestern galleries, including in Stevens Point, Milwaukee, Manitowoc and Minneapolis. She has been featured in Wisconsin publications, including the Stevens Point Journal and the Wausau City Pages.

The Eureka College art gallery is located on the third floor of Burgess Memorial Hall, 300 E. College Ave. It is open
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment by calling (309) 467-6866.

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Contact:

Michele Lehman

Media Relations Coordinator

mlehman@eureka.edu

(309) 467-6318