Arts & Design

The nyan cat

Why did a rainbow cat GIF just sell for nearly $600,000? A UNI art professor explains

Unique pieces of digital art known as NFTs (nonfungible tokens) have begun taking the art world by storm. A special anniversary version of the famous Nyan Cat gif recently sold for $560,000. And this week Christies became the first major auction house to sell an original NFT work of art. InsideUNI asked art history professor Elizabeth Sutton about this trend and what it says about our digital and real-world lives. 
A new digital fabric printer at UNI in action.

New fabric printer speeding up TAPP clothing production

Fabric printing in UNI’s Textiles and Apparels Program just hit double time. The program recently acquired a Mutoh ValueJet digital fabric printer that will print fabric for student projects at nearly twice the speed of the previous model, giving students more time to design and assemble their fashion projects and gain valuable hands-on experience in a program that has seen graduates go on to leadership roles at clothing-industry giants like Cabelas and Macy’s. 
Student presenting

UNI showcases knowledge, creativity, and innovation

"Without this tool, my work would have gone unseen," said Megan Vogt-Kostner, a former UNI graduate student. Many graduate students dream of publishing their research and seeing it read by other scholars. But did you know that you can do exactly that—for free—through the UNI ScholarWorks service?
The Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center

Mudd gift to support Gallagher Bluedorn Renovation

The renovation of the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center has received a $200,000 gift from Cecelia and Jim Mudd, Sr. The gift from the Mudds will support the estimated $14.5 million renovation of the 20-year old facility. “I never went there without having a wonderful time and enjoying myself immensely, along with Ceceilia. We went there often, and we enjoyed every single minute,” said Jim Mudd, Sr., chairman of Mudd Advertising and chief spiritual advisor for the company.
New UNI Opera Director Richard Gammon

A new voice for UNI's opera

New UNI Opera Director Richard Gammon aims to help students become “whole artists” — “fully fledged human beings co-existing on stage” — as he puts it, and his experience creating and directing modern, dance-accompanied operas offers the perfect vehicle to do just that.
New UNI Director of Orchestral Activities Erik Rohde

Rohde picks up the baton as Director of Orchestral Activities

Orchestral music has been around for centuries, and Erik Rohde is working to be sure it is around for many more. As the next step in a career that has seen him perform in recitals and festivals throughout the United States, Europe and Asia as well as lead several well-renowned performing groups, Rohde became UNI’s new orchestra director earlier this year after hearing glowing reviews about the university.
The University of Northern Iowa Varsity Men’s Glee Club

Despite pandemic, UNI's Glee Club sings on

They stood 10-feet apart, masked, in the parking garage on 23rd Street. And they sang.
UNI art education students work on a piece of art they helped create with students from Holmes Junior High.

Creating a lasting message of inclusivity

A joint art project by students at the University of Northern Iowa and Holmes Junior High School persevered through a global pandemic to convey a message of inclusivity and creativity.