Contrary to popular belief, there is more to do in DeKalb than shopping at Wal-Mart and bar-hopping. A number of art galleries are awaiting discovery.

One goes by the name BadDog Gallery, 801 E. Garden St. It was started by Karen Brown, fine-art studio instructor, and is held in her three-door garage.

After being the gallery coordinator of the Santa Ana College galleries in Orange County, Calif., Brown “missed that action,” she said.

She enjoyed selecting artists, putting up the work and training assistants. Brown even taught a gallery coordinating class.

The next BadDog show will be Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. It is titled “But Ships are Not Reliable I Say.” The artists will draw on the wall, which has to be washed off before the next show.

“The institutional view of the wall is that the wall is more important than the art, but this display is going to show how the art is the important thing,” Brown said.

BadDog Gallery displays a combination of NIU undergraduate and graduate students. Sometimes work of a professor or instructor will be displayed.

Artists from Chicago and Los Angeles have displayed their work in Brown’s garage.

“There was no place for experimental projects [in DeKalb],” Brown said.

The name “BadDog Gallery” came from a sign Brown puts on her lawn so spectators will know which house to go to.

DeKalb residents are not allowed to put business signs on their lawns, so Brown went to the hardware store and settled on a sign that stated, “Warning: Bad Dog.”

Brown does not sell any work and the gallery is used for displaying work. Admission is free.

BadDog Gallery is not the only gallery in town, The DeKalb Area Women’s Center, 1021 State St., hosts a show every month.

Currently, the DAWC is hosting a corn show titled, “Got Corn,” featuring everything corn related from memorabilia to dolls made from corn husks.

The September show will feature the work of a Chicago artist, said Abhi Ganju.

Ganju, who is a physician, does primarily nature photography.

Another gallery in town is DeKalb Gallery, which is run by Dan Grych. Although admission is free, DeKalb Gallery sells work.

Starting Sept. 1, DeKalb Gallery will be open Tuesday through Friday from noon to 9 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 7 p.m. The next exhibit, which will run September through October, will showcase the quilts of Nancy Baker, owner of Copy Service, 1005 W. Lincoln Highway.

Grych admits not many students come to DeKalb Gallery.

“DeKalb has a bad reputation; if it’s in DeKalb it can’t be any good,” he said.

Many quality artists come to DeKalb, Grych said, and students are “erroneous in assuming” nobody good comes to DeKalb.

Students don’t realize free entertainment is available, he said.