The University Museum

Fred Myers: Historic Figures & Common Men and Maude Craig, Painter: Life In A Rural Town

Curated by Lori Huffman

January 15 - July 15

Reception: June 13, 4-7 p.m.

Art Hall

Two local artists Fred Myers and Maude Craig, brought their own unique talents to the federal art programs of the 1930s and early 1940s. Myers, born in Woodlawn, Illinois, in Jefferson County, moved to West Frankfort in 1917 and remained there until his death in 1950 at the age of 39. Though he received no formal art training, he was hired by the WPA to carve prehistoric animals and historic figures for display in the University Museum.

Maude Craig was born Maude Parmley in 1881, near Eddyville, Illinois, which is in Pope County. Little is known about her until she settled in Creal Springs, Illinois in the mid 1930s. She took art classes at Southern Illinois Normal University. In 1939, she was employed by the Federal Art Project to paint scenes of Creal Springs in her naïve style. She died in 1953. She was known by her family and friends as a quilter rather than as a painter. The University Museum holds seven of her paintings and three quilt tops in its collection.

Fred Myers' Dinosaurs & Today's Monsters

Curated by Bob DeHoet

January 15 - August 1,

Reception: June 13, 4-7 p.m.

Fraunfelter Gallery

When Fred Myers was charged with creating sculptures of dinosaurs for the University Museum in the 1930s, he didn't have much to go on. He was only given sketches of the beasts to work from. As science has refined and added greatly to what we know about the dinosaurs, early views are usually discarded. But, the University Museum is proud to display Myers' marvelous walnut re-creations as examples of the power that those ancient beasts still hold over our imaginations today.

ARTiculation

Organized by Bob DeHoet, University Museum

June 13- August 1

Reception: June 13, 4-7 p.m.

South One Gallery

Students from seven area schools have been involved in art workshops throughout the Spring of 2008: ARTiculation involved taking works of art from the University Museum's collection into the schools and having students visit the Museum.  The students and their teachers worked with Museum Education Director Bob DeHoet to choose, analyze, discuss and create an art work of their choice.  This program is supported in part through a grant from Carbondale Community Arts and the Illinois Arts Council a state agency.

2008 ARTiculation Schools
Anna Jr. High
Elkville High School
Harrisburg High School
Vergennes Elementary School
Ziegler-Royalton High School

Timeless Toys

Curated by Alicia Guebert

June 10- August 1

Reception: June 13, 4-7 p.m.

South Two Gallery

Area residents and visitors are invited to bring their children and their inner child to see the University Museum's latest exhibit, "Timeless Toys: Toys from the Toy Hall of Fame." Art history and museum studies student Alicia Guebert curated the exhibit. Visitors to the exhibit will have an opportunity to nominate their candidates for the hall of fame.

Dave Trusdale: MFA Thesis Exhibition

July 15-25

Reception: July 18, 4-7 p.m.

Mitchell Gallery

Permanent Exhibits

W. P. A. Pioneer Dioramas

Southern Illinois Gallery

The Pioneer Dioramas were created by local craftsman employed at the Museum during the Works Progress Administration, 1938-1942.

Life Through Time in Southern Illinois

Fraunfelter Gallery