Sharp Museum’s Rosanna Sharp Gallery this spring will feature contemporary art selections from the museum’s collection. (Photo provided)
February 18, 2025
SIU’s Sharp Museum reception Feb. 21 highlights new exhibits
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Sharp Museum features four new exhibits this spring, including works by local artist and SIU Carbondale alumna DeSande R and “UnEssay” projects by anthropology students.
DeSande R will showcase her paintings and artwork in a Labor of Love art exhibition that runs through April 5 in the museum’s Hall of Art.
The opening reception and artist talk, is from 4-6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, in Sharp Museum, located in Faner Hall. DeSande R’s artist talk is at 4 p.m. in the South Hall Saluki Gallery. The event is free and open to the public.
The exhibition is one of several at Sharp Museum this spring and additional installations are still being planned, said T Lance, who began as the museum’s curator of exhibits in November.
“I want the SIU and greater Carbondale communities to take pride in our institution and see the resources available to them through Sharp Museum,” they said. “We are working diligently to get additional exhibits installed later this semester.”
A Chicago-born artist now living in Carbondale, she earned her master’s degree in painting from SIU in 2002 and has taught at John A. Logan College for 20 years. Her artwork has been influenced by such diverse artists as Laura Wheeler-Waring, Archibald Motley Jr., Rembrandt van Rijn and Odd Nerdrum, as well as SIU faculty members Najjar Abdul-Musawwir and Robert Paulsen (emeritus). Her artwork showcases influential Black community members such as Billie Holiday and Nina Simone.
Students’ creativity highlighted
The work of students in an SIU fall 2024 anthropology class is highlighted in “What is Anthropology — Anth 104 UnEssay Projects,” on display through May 10 in the museum’s Study Gallery.
Chris Stantis, an assistant professor of anthropology, encourages students in her class to look around their world in an anthropological lens and then demonstrate what they have learned creatively. Students can propose any sort of project to demonstrate the knowledge they have gained, including a business proposal, independent research or video for social media.
“These examples showcase both the depth of anthropology as well as the breadth of Saluki creativity,” she said.
Galleries host other exhibits this spring
The Rosanna Sharp Gallery will feature contemporary art selections from the museum’s collection of well-known artists’ work, including Josef Albers, Salvador Dali, Richard Hunt, Stephen Pace, Gabor Peterdi and Andy Warhol.
Asian art, including a number of artifacts and scrolls from the museum’s Cho-Yee To collection, will be on display in the Cho-Yee To International Gallery. Included is an ink block from the Song Dynasty, which dates from 960-1279, as well as three wood block prints from Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai.
Museum hours
For more information, contact T Lance at 618-453-5388 or t.lance@siu.edu or visit museum.siu.edu. Sharp Museum hours are 12:30 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 1-4 p.m. Saturday. The museum is closed Sunday and Monday, and during all SIU breaks and holidays.
As with all exhibitions, the artwork represents the viewpoints of its creators, not SIU. SIU complies with the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act and State Officials and Employees Ethics Act.