Dr. Shannon Risk and Dr. Stefanie Wichhart with the exhibit curated by faculty in the history department and on display at the Castellani Art Museum through June 21.

The faculty in Niagara University’s history department served as guest curators for an exhibit at the Castellani Art Museum titled "Experiencing Post-War U.S. History through Art," on display Feb. 3–June 21, 2020. This interdisciplinary collaboration continues the tradition of faculty-curated exhibitions from the museum’s permanent collection and provides a unique opportunity for students to use the resources of the Castellani for course work.

Each professor selected works, in partnership with Michael J. Beam, interim director/curator of exhibitions and special projects, that represent a variety of perspectives on the major social, political, and economic themes explored in The United States in the Contemporary World, a general education course offered at NU.

As described in the introductory essay: “These works invite the viewer to consider local, regional, and national histories, as well as Americans’ changing perspectives on their place in the world. Art helps us to see history beyond the grand narrative of politics, presidents, and war, shedding light on the lived experience of everyday people.”

Participating faculty include Dr. Stefanie Wichhart, Dr. Michael Durfee, Dr. Mustafa Gokcek, Dr. Robert Kane, Dr. Marissa C. Rhodes, Dr. Shannon M. Risk, and Dr. John Stranges.

The exhibition is made possible, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.