February 03, 2009

Museum to host Feb. 6 reception for exhibits

by Andrea Hahn

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- A special exhibit featuring Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Lincoln Collections is on display at the University Museum as part of the ongoing bicentennial Lincoln celebration.

A reception for the exhibit, which is on display through Feb. 23, is from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 6, at the museum. The exhibit is the result of a collaborative effort among the University Museum, Special Collections at Morris Library, and the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute. Dona Bachman, museum director, curated the exhibit.

The reception also honors sculptor John Medwedeff, whose exhibit runs until March 6. Medwedeff’s work appears locally at Carbondale Community High School and the Smysor Plaza in Murphysboro, and nationally, in both public and private collections including the John Deere Collection, the Metal Museum, Illinois State Museum and Minneapolis Institute of Arts.

Medwedeff, an SIUC alum, is a former student of L. Brent Kington, whose “Mythic Metalsmith” exhibit is at University Museum through March 6 on loan from the Illinois State Museum. Having the two exhibits running concurrently offers an opportunity to see the works of two artists who share some common elements in their personal histories.

Also on exhibit now at the museum:

• “Witches.com,” an exhibit of photographs from Ghana curated by anthropology graduate student Joseph Oduro-Frimpong -- through March 6.

• Josef Albers: Formulation/Articulation, a study in color -- through May 9.

• A Warrior’s Story: Oglala Sioux Buffalo Robe, a rare item in the University Museum permanent collection -- through May 9.

There is no charge either to University Museum or to Friday’s reception but donations are always welcome.

The museum is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, 1-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and closed on Monday.

For more information, visit www.museum.siu.edu.