March 10, 2005

Jeffrey Vallance to present free lecture

by Paula M. Davenport

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Artist and author Jeffrey Vallance will deliver a free public lecture at 7 p.m. Monday, March 21, at Parkinson Hall's Browne Auditorium at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

He will be a guest of the Visiting Artist Program, coordinated by the SIUC School of Art and Design.

Vallance's works reflect unique and genuine experiences that translate into personal mythologies, counterfeit relics and mythological travelogues. His ideas connect paranormal phenomenon to popular culture, often in a balanced mix of deadpan humor and intense intellect.

Some art critics call him part intrepid explorer and part cultural anthropologist.

Vallance is also a curator, explorer and visiting assistant professor in New Genres at the University of California Los Angeles.

He penned " Blinky the Friendly Hen," "The World of Jeffrey Vallance: Collected Writings 1978-1994," "Thomas Kinkade: Heaven on Earth" and "Jeffrey Vallance: Presents the Richard Nixon Museum."

Well versed in the world of strange phenomenon, Vallance also writes a regular column called "Paranormal Roundup" for LA Weekly and frequently contributes to "Fortean Times".

Support for his visit comes from the SIUC Student Fine Arts Activity Fee.

For more information contact Renea Kennedy or Megan Elcock at the Visiting Artist Program office 618/ 453-7792.