August 27, 2008

Museum to host Sept. 6 reception for four exhibits

by Andrea Hahn

CARBONDALE, Ill. — If you’ve ever looked at a museum exhibit and wondered, “How did the artist…?” or “What does it mean…?” you might get your questions answered at exhibit receptions regularly held at Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s University Museum.

The exhibit reception set for 4 to 7 p.m. on Sept. 6 includes four exhibits. All four exhibits opened Aug. 19, but each has a different closing date. In all cases, though, an exhibit curator, an artist or a collection donor plan to be on hand during the reception, museum Director Dona R. Bachman said.

Representatives from the Southern Illinois Weavers plan to attend the reception in support of the Woven Dreams exhibit. The exhibit, curated by Sylvia Greenfield, includes pieces by eight Southern Illinois weavers -- Richard Cox, Karen L. Flesvig, Karl Lanier, Renee Mavigliano, Lynn Needham, Melody Shimada, Gloria Smiley and Mary Zang. The exhibit closes Sept. 21.

Mark Wagner, from the SIUC Center for Archaeological Investigations, assembled the exhibit of Kickapoo Artifacts. He is also working on a report detailing the Rhoads site from which the artifacts were taken. The reception may be a good time for some extra insight into the artifact collection. That exhibit concludes Sept. 26.

Bachman curated the Quilts of Bessie Lutes, a collection of more than two dozen handmade quilts. Lutes graduated from Southern Illinois Normal University -- which is what SIUC was before it was SIUC -- in 1910. Her family loaned the quilt collection to the museum. At least one family member plans to attend the reception, Bachman said. The quilt exhibit closes Oct. 19.

The exhibit reception also includes an Oglala Sioux painted buffalo robe, a treasure curated by Lori Huffman in an exhibit designed by Amy Chase. The exhibit includes an interpretation of the images prepared by former student Seth Schindler, who worked with the late Professor Emeritus Philip Dark. The exhibit closes Dec. 12.

The museum galleries are open during the reception. Admission to the museum is free and the receptions are also free and open to the public. Typically, light refreshments are a pleasant addition to the reception.

Museum hours for the fall semester are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The museum is closed during University breaks.