Reception to celebrate University Museum reopening set for Thursday

CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois University Carbondale will host a Reopening Reception on March 8 at the University Museum’s north gallery in Faner Hall.

Public reception

Join Chancellor Carlo Montemagno and the museum staff for a reception from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday celebrating the reopening of SIU’s University Museum.

Welcome exhibits in the north gallery include works from local artists Aldon Addington and Larry Bernstein. Visitors can also enjoy “Afghan Treasures,” artifacts from Afghanistan that are part of the Museum’s permanent collection.

The reception, which is free and open to the public, will feature remarks by the chancellor and light refreshments.

Exhibits will shine spotlight on local artists

Aldon Addington came to Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 1967 and taught sculpture and 3-D design until his retirement in 2001. While a faculty member, he presented many metal sculpture workshops, including ones at the Glasgow

School of Art in Glasgow, Scotland, and at the University of Lapland in Rovaniemi, Finland.

During the summers in the 1980s, he also presented workshops and demonstrations at Art Park in Lewiston, New York. Today, his art is represented at Cedarhurst Sculpture Park, the Illinois State Museum, the University of Lapland, and other locales, including private collections.

Larry Bernstein came to Southern Illinois University in 1962 to become a professor in the School of Art and Design. While a faculty member, he was a recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts grant in painting and was a winner in The Seasoned Eye, Modern Maturity Magazine National Competitive Exhibition.

His work has been displayed in the Illinois State Museum, NAB Gallery and other locales.

An artistic exploration of Afghanistan

“Afghan Treasures” highlights artifacts from Afghanistan included in the museum’s private collection. Obtained in 1970 by Basil V. Hedrick, former museum director, many of the items on display are hundreds of years old.

Visitors can explore instruments, garments, jewelry, weapons and more from the Asian nation.