University News
'Generation to Generation: Folk Arts of Illinois' Comes to Macomb
August 29, 2013
MACOMB, IL - University Libraries and the Western Illinois Museum are hosting a traveling panel exhibit, with events scheduled throughout Fall 2013. The events will take place at Leslie F. Malpass Library or the Western Illinois Museum. The exhibit will be on view from Sept. 11-Nov. 21 during the library's and museum's regular hours.
The panel exhibit, "Generation to Generation: Folk Arts of Illinois," is curated by Lisa Rathje and Clark "Bucky" Halker, of the Chicago based non-profit Company of Folk. It integrates the arts and stories of Illinois to create a visually engaging and educational perspective on the state's cultural heritage.
The 10 panels, designed by Lance Tawzer of AngryPop Designs, tell the stories of artists and feature art forms representing a wide variety of traditions, such as duck decoy carving, the Irish fiddle, Mexican murals and African American quilts. Every artist is part of a larger tradition, and their stories prompt the question, "What will I pass along?"
The exhibit advisory council, which provided insight at the outset of the project and continues to inform on-going touring and programming work, includes Company of Folk board members Barry Dolins, Ann Oleinik, Ryan Lewis and Jackie McGrath; Traditional Arts Indiana Executive Director Jon Kay and others from throughout the State of Illinois, including Bill Singerman, Yahvi Pichardo, Jennifer Kirker, Kay Rippelmeyer, Susan Dickson, Susan Twomy and Sue Scott.
The Western Illinois Museum is located at 201 S. Lafayette St., one block south of Macomb's Courthouse Square, and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission to the museum is free, but donations are appreciated. For more information, visit westernillinoismuseum.com, or call (309) 837-2750.
The University Library is located on Western's Macomb campus on Western Avenue.
"From Generation to Generation: Folk Arts of Illinois" was produced by Company of Folk with partial support by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency and the National Endowment for the Arts.
The Fall 2013 schedule is as follows:
September:
• Wednesday, Sept. 11 at noon: Leslie F. Malpass Library, Garden Lounge, "Folk Arts of Illinois" opening and discussion. Speaker Kelley Quinn will talk about Mandalas.
• Wednesday, Sept. 11 at 7 p.m.: Opening reception for the exhibit, Western Illinois Museum, featuring Contra Dance with caller Jamie Lane and live music by the Lane Brothers.
• Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 7 p.m.: Performance by the Tradicion Hispana Dance Troupe, Leslie F. Malpass Library, Garden Lounge. The performance is co-sponsored by Casa Latina and the Tradicion Hispana Dance Troupe.
October:
• Friday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m.: Jam session with Bucky Halker at the Western Illinois Museum.
November:
• Thursday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m.: The Art of Making Turkey Calls with Dee Kruzan at the Western Illinois Museum.
The panels will be divided between the University Library and Western Illinois Museum, and will switch locations on Oct. 14. They can be viewed during regular hours for University Libraries and Western Illinois Museum.
The event is open free to the public. Questions about scheduled events can be directed to Tammy Sayles at (309) 298-3298 or Western Illinois Museum Curator Sue Scott at (309) 837-2750. For more information about the exhibit, visit companyoffolk.org/illinois-folklife/traveling-exhibition/.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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