Java 101, 901 Lucinda Avenue, will soon begin to show student and alumni art in its restaurant.

Owner Michael FitzGerald wants to give local artists a venue to share their art in the NIU and DeKalb communities.

“There are not too many art galleries in the DeKalb area,” FitzGerald said. “We’re getting sick of the same pictures.”

In the next few weeks, Java 101 will hold art shows of various local 2-D work, such as paintings, photos and drawings. Local artists are welcome to submit artwork, but students and alumni are first in submission choice.

“We’d like to focus as much as we can on student artists,” said Christopher Rubano, Java 101 art director.

According to FitzGerald and Rubano, censorship is not widely practiced at the shop.

“We don’t have any censorship here,” FitzGerald said. “We usually save the adult material for after hours. Later in the evening when we have the loud music and the bands, I don’t censor [the content].”

The shop will also feature art on its walls year round and be a “continuing revolving door for the artists,” FitzGerald said.

Java 101 has a goal in mind for art work.

“The goal is for the art to have a three to four week period for the artist [to show their art],” Rubano said.

FitzGerald offered insight into the earliest concepts of having art in the restaurant.

“My whole concept here was to have music, art, poetry,” FitzGerald said. “The intellectual conversation you associate with a coffee shop, a creative atmosphere.”

Along with art, Java 101 plans to feature poetry and other writing, as well as add onto its growing musical schedule.

“I think it’s going to be awesome,” said senior English major Robyn Heinking. “It would be really cool to get local artists, local writers.”

Students interested should contact Java 101 at 815-793-1940.