Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Blacksmithing Students at the Museum's Archive

Art & Design Professor Rick Smith brought his blacksmithing students to the University Museum Archive on September 16 to view the Museum's collection of metal objects.  The Museum has an extensive collection of tools related to blacksmithing and agriculture. 

Do you lead or take part in a class (or group) and want to see if the University Museum's holdings might be of interest? Contact the University Museum staff and we'll be happy to show you our collection.

Rick Smith talking about the anvils in the Museum's history collection.

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Donation of a Fred Myers' Sculpture

Jody Cagle, daughter of former University Museum Director Fred Cagle, presented the Museum with Southern Illinois folk artist Fred Myers' Slave this past July.  Fred Myers (1910-1950) carved Slave out of black walnut, the artist's favorite material. 


Jody Cagle, holding Fred Myers' Slave

Though he lived a short life, Fred Myers created 120 sculptures, many for the Works Progress Administration at the University Museum during the Great Depression. During this time, Myers worked under Fred Cagle and satirized his boss’ demanding ways in this sculpture. 

The University Museum owns the bulk of the Myers’ production as a WPA artist.