Castellani Art Museum celebrates fall season with opening reception for 3 exhibitions

Public invited to experience ‘Sasha Stiles: STANZA,’ ‘finding rest by Joel Mulindwa,’ and ‘From Decay to Display: Conserved Works from the Collection’ on Oct. 8

Castellani Art Museum of Niagara University press release & photo

The Castellani Art Museum of Niagara University (CAM) invites the community to celebrate a new season of art at its fall opening reception on Thursday, Oct. 8. The evening will celebrate three exhibitions: “Sasha Stiles: STANZA,” “finding rest by Joel Mulindwa,” and “From Decay to Display: Conserved Works from the Collection.” Each offers a distinct perspective on language, labor, creativity, and the care required to preserve works of art for future generations.

A CAM members' preview will take place from 4:30-5 p.m., followed by the public reception from 5-7 p.m. The evening is free and open to the public, and will include light refreshments and an opportunity to explore the exhibitions while connecting with artists, museum staff, and fellow visitors. Advance registration is encouraged.

In “Sasha Stiles: STANZA,” artist Stiles invites visitors into an immersive exploration of poetic language. Curated by CAM Head of Marketing & Membership Jessica Minicucci, this exhibition takes its name from the word’s layered meanings: in Italian, stanza means a room, while in English it refers to a grouped set of lines within a poem. Here, those definitions converge as visitors are invited to step inside a stanza and experience poetry not simply as something read on a page, but as a physical and deeply human form of information architecture.

Congolese-born artist, educator and filmmaker Mulindwa turns his attention to the people whose labor often goes unnoticed in “finding rest.” Through richly rendered figurative drawings and still-life studies, Mulindwa explores labor, dignity, and the often-overlooked humanity of workers. The exhibition encourages visitors to consider the emotional and physical realities behind everyday acts of work and service while reflecting on the importance of rest itself.

The museum also pulls back the curtain on one of its most important responsibilities in “From Decay to Display: Conserved Works from the Collection.” Curated by CAM Registrar Mary Helen Miskuly, the exhibition offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the art and science of preservation. Featuring works from CAM’s collection that have undergone professional conservation alongside before-and-after imagery and conservation documentation, the exhibition reveals the expertise, care and technical processes involved in stabilizing, cleaning and restoring artworks for public view and future generations.

Together, the three exhibitions reflect the breadth of experiences visitors can encounter at CAM – from stepping inside an immersive exploration of poetry and considering the humanity behind everyday labor, to discovering the work that happens behind the scenes to preserve the museum’s collection.

More about the Castellani Art Museum: With learning and public access at the heart of its mission, CAM is a premiere resource for the visual arts in Niagara County. The museum’s permanent collection includes over 5,000 pieces of modern and contemporary art, Niagara Falls art, and regional folk arts. CAM is committed to the preservation of these artworks, along with offering exhibitions and programs that serve the campus, local communities, and tourists.

For more information on CAM, visit www.castellaniartmuseum.org, and follow CAM’s Facebook page, X (@CAM_of_NU) and Instagram (@CastellaniArtMuseum).