Denler Art Gallery

by Owen Schwalm staff reporter

The University of Northwestern recently opened the new Denler Gallery on the second floor of the Totino Fine Arts Center to display students’ work. The gallery shows 24 styles of artwork, including paintings, sculptures, drawings and clay making.

I attended the gallery in late January and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the art. I was expecting simple designs, maybe paintings and some sculptures, but I needed to be corrected. When I first walked in, it was a plain white room filled with nothing but the artwork. The spacious and modern interior sets a perfect tone for the collection. The many visible pieces reflect the gallery’s commitment to showcasing a broad and diverse range of art.

colors represent spring and the trees and flowers blossoming after a bland and colorless winter.

The second piece that stood out was “Breath” by Crystal Yi. Odd and somewhat creepy, it is a ceramic depicting the top of a head with bits of hair surrounding it. It resembles a face halfway submerged in water with only the eye above the surface. This piece has an odd feeling but is exceptionally well-made overall.

In the corner of the room, I saw a canvas that was painted but then cut into. There were multiple cuts and the gallery. It opens every year in January and goes through February. wood chips all over the piece. This was “Hollow Gaze - A Reflection on Self-Harm” by Jacqueline Joseph, which was one of the pieces I most appreciated. The elements in the piece, such as the colors and wood chips, can have different meanings depending on the viewer’s perceptions. I saw the wood chips representing childhood innocence; it reminded me of getting covered in wood chips at the playground when I was young. The slashes through the painting, contrasting with wood chips, symbolize a loss of innocence.

Final Verdict: 4/5

Upon entering, I was immediately drawn to an extensive array of multicolored tissue paper. I came to find this work titled “Spring Fall” by Emily Hayton. After reading the name, I began understanding how the

Overall, I enjoyed the gallery a lot. My only complaint would be that I wish there was more art. However, I understand the limitations of only having so many students to feature. I highly recommend visiting