The Illinois State Museum’s Lockport Gallery will soon reveal a fascinating new exhibit entitled “Here, There: New Perspectives on the Collection,” opening to the public on November 7. The exhibition showcases modern and contemporary artwork by Illinois artists, viewed through an updated lens by three guest curators: Mariela Acuña, Sheridan Tucker Anderson, and Allison Lacher. As they sifted through the museum’s near-centennial collection, they put a spotlight on works by Black, Latine, Asian, and LBGTQ+ creators.
“Our groundwork for this project was to review and identify works by Black, Latine, Asian, and LBGTQ+ artists in our collection. This provided the curators a core inventory from which they could ground their research,” Doug Stapleton, curator of art with the ISM, remarked about the curatorial approach. Stapleton mentioned that the selected artworks give attention to themes such as nostalgia, home, belonging, and sites of history in American art. Visitors to the gallery can expect, an immersive dive into the complexities and nuanced narratives that have both shaped and been shaped by Illinois’ artists over the years.
Interim ISM Director Jenn Edginton spoke about the museum’s extensive collections that span various fields such as anthropology, art, botany, geology, history, and zoology, and she highlighted the institutions’ continued efforts to foster a comprehensive representation of Illinois’ natural science and cultural history. According to a statement by Edginton, “These collections, grown throughout our 147-year history, touch and represent all aspects of life in Illinois.”
The exhibition is being celebrated with an event on the opening day, and the Lockport Gallery invites anyone interested to join in the commencement of this boundary-pushing display. The pieces chosen by the guest curators are poised to spark conversations about the often-forgotten, misrepresented stories that they believe are yearning to be heard. The exhibit is not just a show to be watched, it’s an invitation to engage with the echoes of the past that resonate into the present day and sometimes go unheard.
Generous backing from the Terra Foundation for American Art, known for encouraging expansive understandings of American art through various initiatives, has made “Here, There” possible. The foundation, with roots in Chicago since 1978, champions dialogs on art from a cultivable American perspective, both in the United States and beyond its borders.
“Here, There: New Perspectives from the Collection” will be available for public viewing at the Lockport Gallery until February 22. Entry is free of charge, promising an inclusive experience for all visitors. For additional details or inquiries, the gallery can be reached at 815-838-7400. More information on the exhibit and the Illinois State Museum can also be found by visiting their online portal.
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