“Parasite II” and “Parasite III”

This exhibition is the result of a yearlong collaboration by WIU assistant professor of art Bill Howard and WIU assistant professor of biology Dr. Shawn Meagher. Dr. Meagher is recognized for his research in conservation genetics and wildlife disease. Professor Howard is widely known for his unique approach to portraying the figure, ranging from life-size etchings to very small prints, often organized in multiple series.

An aspect of Dr. Meagher's current research addresses questions concerning the physiological effects of parasites on their hosts. In this body of work, artist Bill Howard explores images from Shawn Meagher's research from an aesthetic point of view. Specifically, microscopic slides of viral bacteria and parasites and photographs showing their effect on hosts become the source material for Howard's intaglio prints. The resulting prints are presented in groupings or "samplings" of the microscopic views and figurative host images, created for their visual appeal and expressive impact.

Howard received his B.S. degree in Landscape Architecture and his B.A. and M.F.A. degrees in printmaking from Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado. His award-winning work has been included in group exhibitions and competitions throughout the United States, and abroad in England, Scotland and Wales, Finland, and Italy.

This exhibition is supported by a WIU University Research Council Award and co-sponsored by the Department of Art and the College of Fine Arts and Communication.