Joan Kempf deJong featured in final installment of USI Master Teacher Series

The Evansville Museum's final installment of the USI Master Teacher Series exhibition opens on Sunday, December 20, and runs through January 31, 2016. The final exhibition in the series highlights the work of Joan Kempf deJong, assistant dean of the College of Liberal Arts and associate professor of art, and 11 of her former students. deJong has over 10 years of teaching experience in graphic design, computer graphics, digital illustration and multimedia, and serves as the art editor for the Southern Indiana Review.

To celebrate the University of Southern Indiana's 50th anniversary, the Evansville Museum organized a yearlong Master Teacher Series featuring the work of five distinguished faculty who have led the University of Southern Indiana's Art Department through the decades. Michael Aakhus, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and professor of art; Lenny Dowhie, professor emeritus of art; Katie Waters, professor of art; John McNaughton, professor emeritus of art; and Joan Kempf deJong, assistant dean of the College of Liberal Arts and associate professor of art were asked to invite former students to join them in exhibiting their work.

"My main goals in my courses are to open the minds of the students and to encourage them to explore new ideas and to think critically as well as creatively," said deJong. "I believe that a structured class is necessary to teach the technical objectives of my courses, but I also want to offer an environment that encourages design exploration, experimentation, and innovation. It is truly exciting - and the best part of teaching - to see such talent, creativity, and potential realized as seen in this exhibition."

The museum is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, visit www.emuseum.org. For more events related to USI's 50th anniversary, visit www.usi.edu/50.