“The Guardian” (top photo) and “Gatekeeper,” both made of hot, sculpted glass by SIU Carbondale alumnus Tim Spurchise, are part of the “Spooks or Spoofs” exhibition at Sharp Museum. A reception is Friday, Oct. 23, at the museum. (Photos by Russell Bailey)
October 16, 2026
SIU’s Sharp Museum’s ‘Spooks or Spoofs’ exhibition reception is Oct. 23
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Just in time for Halloween, Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Sharp Museum is hosting a reception to celebrate hidden or unknown animals and creatures that might also be a bit spooky.
A Halloween Bash reception for “Spooks or Spoofs,” the museum’s national-juried cryptid-theme exhibition, is from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23. Costumes are encouraged for the free, public event.
The exhibition through Dec. 11 showcases a variety of media and styles and features 58 entries from about 35 artists across nine states. The media includes glass, ceramics, resin, soft sculpture, paper mâché, painting, drawing, digital illustration, printmaking, audio, video and metal works.
Cryptozoology is the study and search for rumored, unproven animals and figures, such as Bigfoot or the Loch Ness monster.
“Bigfoot or some variation of sasquatch is most definitely the most popular cryptid among the 58 accepted art works,” said T. Lance, the museum’s curator of exhibits. “This exhibit has brought together much of the area's art community and there has been a flood of support for each other with many visitors returning to see the exhibit multiple times.”
Loren Coleman and Jeremy Efroymson were jurists. Coleman is an American cryptozoologist, author and the founder and director of the International Cryptozoology Museum in Bangor, Maine. Coleman studied anthropology and zoology at SIU Carbondale in the mid-to-late 1960s and earned his bachelor’s degree a few years later. He also earned a master’s degree in social work from the Simmons School of Social Work in Boston in the late 1970s.
Coleman was introduced to cryptozoology in March 1960 after watching the 1958 film, “Half Human,” and he decided to do deep, academic research and field work on the subject.
“The entries were artistic creative interpretations of their contemporary insights on the topic. It was a beginning,” he said.
Efroymson, from Indianapolis, is an artist, art collector, amateur cryptozoologist, philanthropist, grassroots arts activist, and vice president of the Efroymson Family Fund. He earned a bachelor’s degree in film and video studies from the University of Michigan, a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from Columbia College Chicago, and an MBA from Butler University. He primarily works in photography, installation and found-object sculpture.
He said the entries showed “lots of good work” with each artist approaching the subject from a different angle.
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.
Museum hours
For more information on the exhibitions, contact Lance at 618-453-5388 or t.lance@siu.edu or visit museum.siu.edu. Sharp Museum hours are noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 1-4 p.m. Saturday. The museum is closed Sunday and Monday, and during all SIU breaks and holidays.
