CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — As an art student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, I love how different forms of art weave together. No art form exists in isolation; each one connects and interacts with others in meaningful ways. Painting borrows precision from drawing, dance is deeply connected to music, and photography captures the drama of theatre. Art is not just a collection of separate disciplines, but a continuous exchange of ideas, techniques and influences that shape and enhance one another.
This concept comes to life for me when I visit the opening night of Krannert Art Museum’s latest exhibition, “Making Place for the Arts at Home: Performance and Midcentury Modern Architecture.”
The moment I step into the gallery at KAM, I am surrounded by people of all ages: art professors deep in conversation, children running between them, and community members and university students admiring the works on display. Despite their differences, everyone shares a common thread: a love for art. And, of course, an impeccable sense of style! A group of mothers draped in vibrant yellow and red scarves, a man commanding attention in a leather coat and cowboy hat, and students experimenting with skirts, pants and layers all become part of the visual experience. The gallery isn’t just filled with art on the walls; it is alive with the artistry of self-expression.
As I wander through the gallery, I am immersed in a world of artistry and architecture. The exhibition showcases elements from historic homes, including intricately designed maps and floor plans, elegantly crafted chairs and striking showpieces, all created by three influential Champaign-Urbana architects: Jack Baker, John Replinger and A. Richard Williams. The exhibition features the captivating Erlanger House, created in 1964 and designed by Baker with and for Margaret Erlanger, who was a dance professor at Illinois. More than just a residence, the house is envisioned as a stage — a space created to host music, dance, theater, poetry and conversation within a domestic setting, embodying the avant-garde culture surrounding the arts community of the University of Illinois.
The very essence of the Erlanger House resonates with my belief in art’s intersections. It isn’t just a home; it is a living, breathing canvas where multiple art forms coexist and influence one another. The idea of a space intentionally designed to foster artistic collaboration is deeply inspiring. It reinforces how architecture itself is an art form, one that shapes experiences, facilitates expression and becomes a vessel for creativity in its purest form.
Half an hour into the opening, the curators of the exhibition offer insight into their creative processes and reflections. One phrase that stands out and is repeated throughout their talks is that this project is a “labor of love.” I find that deeply moving because, at its core, all art is just that. Art demands patience, dedication and an emotional investment that goes beyond mere technique. Hearing the curators describe their work in this way captures the idea that art doesn’t just lie in the final product but in the care, struggle and love that shape it.
After the speeches, we are treated to an unexpected interpretive dance performance choreographed by Anna Sapozhnikov, a lecturer in the dance department. The dancers perform in the center of the gallery surrounded by the audience, turning the space into an interactive experience. After the dance, we hear a theremin and piano performance by Joy Yang, a piano instructor, musician and two-time graduate of the School of Music. The unique combination of the theremin’s electronic tones and the piano’s classical depth add another dimension to the event, bridging traditional and experimental sound.
These performances play a crucial role in reinforcing the exhibition’s holistic approach to celebrating art. By integrating movement, music and design, the event goes beyond a traditional museum showcase. As an art student, I feel an undeniable sense of connection to the community this exhibition created. The exhibition is a space where people from all backgrounds and all artistic disciplines come together, proving that art is not just something we create, but something we share. That sense of inclusivity — where every form of art has a place and every artist, no matter their medium, feels seen — is what makes events like this so special. As both a student and an artist, this kind of environment is invaluable to me.
If you’re passionate about art in any form, you need to be at these events. They are more than exhibitions. They are experiences, conversations and collaborations waiting to happen. I can’t wait to see what the College of Fine and Applied Arts brings next, and I encourage every artist, student and enthusiast to step into these events to be inspired and become part of something bigger.
Editor’s notes: More information about “Making Place for the Arts at Home: Performance and Midcentury Modern Architecture” is available online. For information about Krannert Art Museum, contact Evelyn Shapiro at esha@illinois.edu.
