From Social Justice to Spiritual Inquiry: Fall Exhibitions at Oakton’s Koehnline Museum of Art

“Super” by Melanie Deal, Evanston, will be shown at the Feminist Responses in a Tumultuous Time exhibition.
Des Plaines, Ill. (Sept. 22, 2025) — This fall, Oakton College’s Koehnline Museum of Art will present three compelling exhibitions exploring contemporary issues, artistic identity and spiritual inquiry. All exhibitions are free and open to the public.

“Through these exhibitions, the Oakton College Koehnline Museum of Art continues its commitment to presenting work that challenges, inspires and connects our community,” said Nathan Harpaz, Museum manager. “From feminist responses to urgent social issues, to the unique artistic identities of Oakton’s faculty, to the spiritual explorations of Letterio Calapai, each show invites viewers to engage deeply with the power of art."

The museum, located on Oakton’s Des Plaines campus (1600 E. Golf Road), is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. (September-May). Admission to the museum and public receptions is free.

Feminist Responses in a Tumultuous Time, Sept. 30 - Oct. 31
Public Reception: Sept. 30, 5-8 p.m.
This year’s juried Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies program exhibition confronts urgent social and political realities through the lens of feminist thought and creativity. Forty-six artists will present 47 works responding to the current climate of cultural, racial, social, and religious backlash, political scapegoating, deportation and the erosion of hard-fought rights and protections.

ID Show: Oakton Annual Art Faculty Exhibition, Nov. 6-28
Public Reception: Nov. 6, 5-8 p.m.
Oakton’s Art Department faculty members present their distinctive artistic identities in this annual showcase. The exhibition celebrates the innovation and diversity of Oakton’s faculty artists, featuring paintings, photography, ceramics and digital art.

Letterio Calapai: Cosmos, Spheres, and Divinity, Dec. 11 - Jan. 23
Public Reception: Dec. 11, 5-8 p.m.
This exhibition explores the profound spiritual themes in the printmaking of artist and educator Letterio Calapai (1901-1993). Beginning his career as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) artist during the Great Depression, Calapai became a leading figure in American printmaking.

After relocating to Chicago in 1952, Calapai founded the printmaking department at the University of Illinois at Chicago and continued creating and teaching until his passing in 1993. The works on display, selected from a recent gift of over 300 prints generously donated by Joel Dryer, reveal Calapai’s sustained exploration of spiritual and metaphysical themes.

Named for Oakton's founding president, William A. Koehnline, Oakton's Museum is committed to establishing and encouraging an exciting environment for art accessible to everyone. Its programs and exhibits are designed for students, college employees and members of the greater Chicago community. To learn more about the museum, please visit them online.