Wanted: University students with little art knowledge for a night of food, drinks and music at the Spencer Museum of Art.

Oh yeah, and some Japanese art, too.

The art museum, located south of Strong Hall, is hosting its first student night, “Tradition & Modernity” from 7 to 9 p.m., at the Asian gallery in the museum.

The event is the art museum’s student advisory committee’s first attempt to attract students who don’t regularly attend art events or who are in non-art orientated disciplines.

“I think there’s lots of people on campus that don’t even know we have an art museum — or anything about it at all,” Genevieve Boyle, student advisory committee member and Salina sophomore, said.

Students who study architecture, civil engineering, mathematics, and poetry can benefit from visiting the museum, Kristina Mitchell, education director of the art museum, said.

“Right now we’ve got that Tokyo woodblock show upstairs that’s focused on a time in Japanese history after an earthquake in the ’20s,” Mitchell said. “If you’re an East Asian history student, print making, architecture or even civil engineering, I mean, it would be interesting to see how the city rebuilt itself.”

The museum will also offer a related tour of “Tokyo: The Imperial Capitol,” on Feb. 24.

The exhibit features a series of early 20th century woodblock prints entitled, “One Hundred Pictures of Great Tokyo in the Showa Era,” by Koizumi Kishio.

The art museum’s permanent collection of woodblock prints from the Edo era (1615-1868) will also be shown.

Saralyn Reece Hardy, the new director of the art museum, who is taking over in March, is expected to attend this event. This is the first student event that Hardy will attend.

“I am excited about the energy of students,” Hardy said. “Students can frame compelling questions about what the art museum should be and the role that an art museum should have on a university.”

Visitors will be served Japanese teas and pastries. Some KJHK DJs will play Japanese pop music.

“I like the media mix,” Meredith Vacek, student advisory board member and Lawrence nontraditional student, said. “It will stimulate multiple senses. There’s something for the sight, something for the ears and something for the taste buds.”

The student advisory committee wants to break the stereotype that art museums are boring places where people have to be quiet, and instead create a comfortable place that stimulates conversation, Vacek said.

Some students visit the art museum for class assignments, but not for pleasure. Sarah Malekyar, Overland Park junior, and Cali McIntosh, Dallas, Texas, sophomore, said they studied art there for their Greek and Roman Mythology class.

A second student night is scheduled for May 12. The museum is also preparing a campus-wide survey to get student feedback about the museum, Rula Andriessen, Salina freshman, said.

The advisory committee was formed last fall as a way to get more student influence into the museum, Mitchell said.

“They just really care about the museum,” Mitchell said. “We’re a University art museum and we’re here for them. Students are our mission.”

About 100,000 people visit the art museum annually, Bill Woodard, director of communications for the art museum, said.

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Student Night

WHEN: 7 to 9 p.m.

WHERE: Spencer Museum of Art, located south of Strong Hall.

COST: Free

Source: Spencer Museum of Art

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What would get you to go to the Spencer Museum of Art?

“Events that deal with students majors and interests.”

— Kay Konda, Spearville senior

“Better advertisement. I don’t really know about what exhibits are going on. Free refreshments would be good, too.”

— Nathan Burns-Sprung, Kansas City, Mo., junior

“If they had more exhibits I’m excited about or even if I knew about them. Perhaps some modern art.”

— LeAnna Kemp, Kansas City, Mo., junior

“I like art, every kind of art — especially contemporary art. Something from the 16th century or 20th century art would be great.”

— James Martell, Mexico City graduate student

“If there was an exhibit of a well-known artist. I would go if there was a big name. Maybe Matisse, or Picasso, or Pollock.”

— Cali McIntosh, Dallas sophomore