University of Illinois Museums: Complementary Themes

Where is the line drawn between art and cultural heritage artifacts? That question came to mind when I visited the Krannert Art Museum and the Spurlock Museum, both on the University of Illinois campus in Champaign-Urbana.

Krannert Art Museum
The Krannert Art Museum, the second largest fine art museum in Illinois, has many pieces in their collection that are obviously categorized as art, like the extensive collection of European paintings, many dating back several centuries…

…and the collection of Lorado Taft sculptures. Lorado Taft, an early 20^th century sculptor and University of Illinois graduate, left the contents of his studio to U of I. The Lorado Taft collection includes small plaques portraying the Lincoln-Douglas debate in Quincy, Illinois, and his sculptural group “The Blind.”

I’d say this elevator grill from the Chicago Stock Exchange fits into the “art” category.

But go down to the lower level, and that’s where the question of art versus cultural heritage comes in. There are some stunning glass pieces.

There are ancient artifacts from Egypt…

…and from Greece.

There are lots of other items, too, dating back centuries.

Spurlock Museum
The Spurlock Museum holds approximately 43,000 artifacts in its collection, many that certainly can be classified as art.

During my visit, a temporary exhibit displayed museum textile artifacts. Alongside were new textile and fiber art pieces created by members of the C-U Spinners and Weavers Guild who drew their inspiration from the originals.

The Workman Gallery of Ancient Mediterranean Cultures is filled with statues of gods and goddesses.

This urn looks a lot like some of the pieces I saw at the Krannert Art Museum.

In other galleries you’ll find items like this costume used in Carnival rituals in the Andes…

…and Barong Ket, the mythical lion said to possess magical powers. The beast is carried in ceremonial processions in Bali.

So where is the line drawn between art and cultural heritage artifacts? It seems the line is so blurred it’s difficult to tell the difference. Perhaps there’s a technical explanation that can be answered by an art expert or an anthropologist. I am neither. I was just visitor who enjoyed both museums equally.

The Krannert Art Museum is located at 500 E Peabody Drive in Champaign. The Spurlock Museum is located at 600 S Gregory in Urbana. Both museums are free but suggest a donation of $3. Check the web sites for hours.

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The Art Party Studio, Champaign IL: Discover Your Inner Artist

Connie Attractions & Events, Illinois March 3, 2014November 22, 2015Champaign, Illinois attractions, The Art Party Studio 0 Comment

Paint? Me? I have trouble drawing a stick figure. They say you don’t need prior experience to create a painting at The Art Party Studio in Champaign. Just bring your own bottle of wine, if you’d like. They take care of ice, glasses, painting supplies and the lesson. So being the adventurer that I am, off I went to The Art Party Studio, bottle of wine in hand, figuring I could use the wine as an excuse if my painting was a disaster.

It turned out most everyone in the class was the same as me, little to no painting experience and just there for the fun of it. The canvases were all set up on easels when we got there, the sample painting up front (I’m really going to paint a lighthouse?), so I settled in with a glass of wine. I was happy to see some of the design already outlined on the canvas.

After our instructor, Chance, shared a few tips about using and rinsing the brushes, we dove into painting, Chance explaining and demonstrating the techniques as we went along. Soon the canvas was almost filled with sky and water. I don’t know whether it was the wine or getting involved in the painting that did it, but I was relaxed. I no longer cared if my painting didn’t turn out well. I was having fun.

On we went to fill in the lighthouse and rocks. My lighthouse wasn’t exactly straight, even having had an outline to follow. Oh, well, must be the wine. Adding in the sun and additional rocks freehand was a bit challenging, but I managed.

A little wash of watered down white across the water, a tad more white in the sky, add my initials, and voila!

Every one of the 25 paintings done that night turned out decent. There may have been no future Rembrandts in the class, but we all had a great time.

The Art Party Studio is located at 111 S Walnut, Champaign, Illinois. Tickets are $35 for one person, $60 for two, art supplies included. You must be 18 or older to attend, 21 to drink alcohol. Visit their web site for the schedule and further details.

Disclosure: My visit to The Art Party Studio was hosted by the Champaign County CVB, but any opinions expressed in this post are my own.

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Shawnee National Forest and Cave-in-Rock State Park: Southern Illinois Natural Beauty

Connie Attractions & Events, Illinois February 18, 2014March 22, 2014Cave-in-Rock State Park, Illinois attractions, Shawnee National Forest 0 Comment

Right now the ground is covered in a blanket of white, but it won’t be long before the first crocus of spring breaks through the Shawnee National Forest floor, the sun coaxing the little purple buds to open their petals into full bloom. Trees will leaf out, shrubs will flower, and birds will sing sweet music as they return to their summer homes. Although hiking the Shawnee National Forest in quiet winter solitude has its advantages, most people prefer to wait until the temperature rises to a comfortable level before leaving the warm comfort of home and come out to play.

I spent a couple of days in the Shawnee National Forest and adjacent Cave-in-Rock State Park last summer. As I sorted through photos of the trip, I was reminded of the natural beauty of the area, the huge rock formations in the Garden of the Gods, the flora and fauna of the woods, the rippling sound of the creeks and river. Enjoy the slideshow.

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Tour the Lincoln Home for a Peek at President’s Private Life, Springfield Illinois

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Abraham Lincoln lived in a log cabin at the start of his life and in the White House at the end of his life. Between the two extremes, he and his family lived in a typical home in Springfield, Illinois, for seventeen years, a home that started out a modest size and was expanded as the family grew and Lincoln’s law business flourished. Today you can tour the home, which includes several of the Lincolns’ possessions.

Peoria Riverfront Museum: Interactive Exhibits, Planetarium and Giant Screen Theater

Connie Attractions & Events, Illinois February 1, 2014February 23, 2017Illinois attractions, museum peoria il, museums in Illinois, museums in peoria il, Peoria IL museum, peoria il points of interest, peoria il theaters, Peoria Illinois, peoria museum, peoria museum theater, Peoria Riverfront, Peoria Riverfront Museum, peoria riverfront museum theater, peoria theaters, riverfront museum, riverfront museum peoria, riverfront museum peoria il, riverfront peoria, riverfront peoria il, theater peoria il, things to do in peoria il 1 Comment

We took our granddaughter to Peoria over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend mainly to see the top-notch East Peoria Festival of Lights. Looking for something to do during the day, we found the Peoria Riverfront Museum. The museum, a Smithsonian Institution affiliate, proved to be a great choice for both our granddaughter and us. With plenty of hands-on activities, the Dome Planetarium, and the Giant Screen Theater, you could spend hours in the museum.

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, Springfield IL: Museum Meets Disney

Connie Attractions & Events, Illinois January 20, 2014April 2, 2018Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, Illinois attractions, Lincoln Museum, Springfield, Springfield IL attractions, Springfield Lincoln attractions, Things to do in Springfield IL 4 Comments

I had heard that the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum was “really awesome,” but I thought, “How awesome can a museum be?” I knew there were some really neat Lincoln artifacts and exhibits, and for years museums have been making exhibits more interactive with use of “please touch” buttons to activate audio, and more recently, touch screen computers. So although I knew the Lincoln museum would be a pleasant experience, my level of anticipation wasn’t set all that high. Was I ever wrong! The first time I visited the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum I was astonished at the awesome use of special effects. It turns out that one of the museum’s designers was a former Disney animatronics engineer.