Laffy Taffy wrappers, superhero costumes and Disney characters all came together in Altgeld Hall Tuesday night.

Altgeld Hall’s Art Museum presented the opening of three art exhibits. “Shot In The Arm” and “POP!” opened alongside a collection of books contributed by Adrian Tio, director of the NIU School of Art.

Artists joined students in viewing the various pieces, which featured a wide variety of fiber media.

“I love openings in school settings,” said Judith Brotman, whose artwork was presented in “POP!” “I think it’s a pleasure to have students [present] and an active art department.”

Some pieces included Brotman’s “Wish You Were Here” which was composed of several postcards with images embroidered into them.

“A lot of my work is about working with found objects and images,” Brotman said. “I like collaborating with something that already exists.”

Bonnie Ward Klehr’s machine embroidered piece “One Thousand Words” asked the question, “What picture is worth a thousand words,” and was embroidered in numerous colors.

“I work first from an idea and I try to figure out how to make it,” Klehr said. “The ideas I had needed to be flexible, and fibers was [the] perfect [medium].”

Karen Riemer created, among other pieces, “Laffy Taffy,” an embroidery which took the appearance of a discarded candy wrapper.

“It’s the tension between [trash and cloth] that I’m after,” Riemer said. “There is no value in trash. Can you transform trash into something valuable by putting work into it, is the question.”

Students had an opportunity to speak with the artists at the same time they admired the pieces.

“You’re able to talk to the artists and find out more than just what you’re seeing,” said Michelle Ramirez, a senior fibers major who helped to present one of the galleries.

The opening provided some art students with a unique experience. The exhibits gave some recognition to fibers as an art medium, a medium she feels doesn’t get enough recognition, said junior fibers major Gail Starke.

“I like seeing the people here, because when you come alone you don’t get other people’s reactions,” Starke said.