Despite remote instruction amid global shutdowns, NDMU’s art galleries continued to provide vibrant educational exhibitions and events that inspired and engaged people in meaningful reflections about living through a year of uncertainty. 
Two pieces of art by NDMU students


In the Gormley and Civera galleries, student and professional artists used creative expression to explore the COVID pandemic and social justice movements that defined 2020. Students captured their experiences in the “Art for Unprecedented Times” exhibition, while professional artists tackled similar themes in “Recording History” and “Looking at Leadership.”

Virtual gallery events brought together more people than usual, and Dr. Wester plans to continue offering them. In one virtual discussion, artwork from “Looking at Leadership” sparked students’ examination of the role of leaders in uncertain times.

“The idea is to do a lot of interdisciplinary exhibitions that are interesting to a lot of different populations across campus and in the community to show that art has a place in everyone’s lives and can be part of every conversation,” said Dr. Jennifer Wester, gallery director and assistant professor of art history. “It was a really nice way to have students demonstrate how they can use art to process something that we were all going through.”