During the day, you can find me at my other job as a reference librarian at the International Area Studies Library on campus. Imagine my surprise when I took a closer look this morning at the art hanging in IASL and noticed a familiar signature: Hua Nian, an artist whose upcoming exhibit at the Champaign County History Museum was recently highlighted in my Five Things in arts this month list. While I have long admired the paintings, I never realized they were painted by an artist from right here in Champaign-Urbana. Let this be a reminder to defamiliarize yourself with the art around you; you might find a new appreciation for something you see every day.
Stay tuned for an interview with Hua Nian later this summer, as I begin spotlighting Champaign-Urbana artists, actors, and dancers.