Join us for the first installment of Night at the Museum for this academic year—a series of monthly events for students that occur on Thursday nights, when the museum is open late.  

This month, in honor of National Voter Registration Day (September 17), the Stanley is helping students learn about voter registration and civic engagement! Members of UI student org Hawk the Vote will be present to register students to vote and talk about the value of participating in elections at all levels: federal, state, and local.  

Because art has played a significant role in voting history, the Stanley has also prepared some politically inspired block prints for students to use with the assistance of our staff. BYO fabric goods (t-shirts, tote bags, scraps that can be used as fabric patches) to be printed on! We will also have totes, pencil bags, and fabric patches, but our supply is limited. Snacks will be provided.

For more information, visit the event listing.

Join us for the second installment of Night at the Museum for this academic year — a series of monthly events for UI students that occur on Thursday nights, when the museum is open late.  

This month, we are focusing on cyanotypes! Broadly, cyanotype is a photographic printmaking process, most known for its distinctive blue hues. We'll be making the simplest variation of a cyanotype: a photogram. Photograms are made by arranging opaque or translucent items onto sensitized paper, which is then exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light. Whatever items are placed on the paper will block the UV rays; where the light hits, the paper will stay blue, while areas blocked by your materials will remain white.

We will have materials (sensitized cyanotype paper, UV lamps, and objects that can be used to make photograms) for students to use with the assistance of our staff. You are welcomed and encouraged to BYO materials if you have something you think would make a great photogram--lace, leaves, jewelry, or other opaque or translucent materials work best. Snacks will be provided. 

Can't make it Thursday night? Materials will also be provided in take-home bags with instructions for students wishing to make their cyanotype photograms at home (no UV lamp needed — the sun works just as well!). 

For more information, visit the event listing. 

Join us for another installment of Night at the Museum, a series of monthly events for UI students that occurs on Thursday nights, when the museum is open late.

This month we want to give students an opportunity to take a break and relax by making personalized patchwork art! De-stress by making any design you like, while grabbing a warm drink and some seasonal treats.

We will be providing fabric patches and sewing supplies along with tote bags and pencil bags for students to sew their designs on. You are also welcomed to bring your own cloth goods to sew on—tote bags, t-shirts, sweaters, or any other cloth good! Don’t know how to sew? We will also be providing easy sewing instructions!

For more information, visit the event listing.

Stop by the Stanley during our open hours Tuesday - Thursday of finals week to study in our lobby. Free snacks, coffee, study supplies, and stress relief toys are available. Need a break? Pick up a scavenger hunt or put in your earbuds and wander the galleries for a bit to relax. 

For more information, visit the event listing.