The first fall semester exhibit in the Swen Parson Gallery will begin today with arts and crafts from about 33 artists.

Artists from six midwestern states used their personalized styles to present unique perspectives and create items for art rather than useful purposes, said Swen Parson Gallery Director Lynda Martin.

The theme of the display is “Craft Media I: The Artists Perspective.” A variety of work will be displayed, but mostly crafts, said Swen Parson Gallery Secretary Cheryl Wessels.

“It (the exhibit) shows how traditional craft media can be used to create art objects rather than utilitarian objects,” Martin said.

NIU students can get an “overview of what’s happening in contemporary crafts” by attending the exhibit, said Stanley Madeja, Visual and Performing Arts dean.

Featured items include textiles/fiber, metal sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, glass and wood. “The objects are beautiful,” Martin said.

The first annual regional craft competition was held in August in which artists from Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Missouri submitted three different entries. The items were presented on slides and the best works were chosen for the exhibit, Martin said.

A reception in the gallery for the artists will open the exhibit on Friday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and the public is invited. The exhibition will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The exhibition concludes Nov. 12.

The College of Visual and Performing Arts and NIU are providing the primary support for the exhibit. Additionally, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, are funding the display.

The gallery is operated by the College of Visual and Performing Arts, which budgets four exhibits a year, Madeja said. The gallery is open to the public and is also an instructional program for the college, he said.

Certain artwork will be available for purchase after the exhibit and all profits will be directed to the artist and not the Gallery. For more information call 753-1936.