In March 2026, The Block Museum Student Associates (BMSAs) had the privilege of visiting the Chicago studio of artist Leonard Suryajaya, a longtime friend and collaborator of The Block Museum. The visit offered students a rare opportunity to engage directly with an artist’s working environment and creative process. Suryajaya welcomed the group into both his […]
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“Wildcats in Water” is a monthly seminar series hosted by NU Water at Northwestern University, showcasing student and faculty research on water technology and policy. It serves as a hub for collaborative research on water security, quality, and sustainability On April 8, the Wildcats in Water student seminar series, which typically hears from scientists and researchers, looked at […]
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Each year, the Art Institute of Chicago hosts University PartnerFest, an open day of programming and networking opportunities for university students interested in museum careers. As part of PartnerFest programming, students are invited to give gallery talks about chosen works of art on view at the Art Institute. On February 21, 2026, Block Student Associates Ethan Bledsoe […]
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Each year, the Art Institute of Chicago hosts University PartnerFest, an open day of programming and networking opportunities for university students interested in museum careers. As part of PartnerFest programming, students are invited to give gallery talks about chosen works of art on view at the Art Institute. On February 21, 2026, Block Student Associates Ethan Bledsoe […]
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Each fall, The Block Museum Student Associates (BMSAs) begin their year by spending time in the galleries, choosing artworks that capture their curiosity, and writing reflections based solely on observation. In Pouring, Spilling, Bleeding: Helen Frankenthaler and Artists’ Experiments on Paper, students found themselves drawn to color, gesture, and emotion, responding to Frankenthaler’s work and […]
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Following a ten-week decision process through the winter and spring quarters and a four-week advance research module in the fall, the Block Museum Student Associates (BMSA) are excited to announce the acquisition of two new works for The Block’s collection as part of its annual Student Acquisition program. The works are: TV Indians (2017) and […]
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On Saturday, February 25, Block Museum Student Associates were invited to take part in the Art Institute’s annual University Partner Fest, a daylong even where students from the museum’s partner institutions are invited to explore the galleries, meet their peers, and learn from faculty and museum professionals across institutions. As part of the Fest student […]
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The Block Museum Student Associates (BMSA) work together to exercise close-looking skills and bring their experience and curiosity to bear on understanding works of art. Before executing research on the works in the exhibition Taking Shape: Abstraction from the Arab World, 1950s–1980s, the group challenged themselves to write down their first impressions, interests, and inquiries […]
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