Joel Bujnowski
Protogod, 1985
Joel Anthony Bujnowski (b. 1949 - June, 15, 2011)
graduated from Downers Grove North High School in 1968. He received an undergraduate degree in 1972, and an MA in 1974, both from Western Illinois University. He followed these degrees with an MFA in Printmaking from Northern Illinois University in 1978, working with David F. Driesbach in the intaglio/etching process. He moved to Chicago for a period of time, where he exhibited in the “Prints and Multiples: 79th Exhibition by Artists of Chicago and Vicinity,” in 1981, and the 80th installment of the Chicago & Vicinity Exhibition in 1984. The last found record of his exhibition history was a 1986 survey curated by David Bower; the “exhibit features work by eight NIU graduates who have continued to develop their work and have distinguished themselves In the fine arts.” The group was Joel Bujnowski, Neraldo de la Paz, Clark Ellithorpe, Karen Gilg, Joel Klaff, Owen McHugh, Dan Mills, and Frances Whitehead. The invitational was held at NIU’s River North Gallery. He worked at Harper College as Director of the Harper College National Print and Drawing Exhibition from 1988-1997. Western Illinois University lists Bujnowski as deceased in their Fall 2011 newsletter, passing away in Montague, MI. Although, lack of an obituary has made his purported death a topic of skepticism to myself.