ILLINOIS STATE MUSEUM ON & OF PAPER Gallery Talk and Paper Cutting Demonstration

ILLINOIS STATE MUSEUM ON & OF PAPER Gallery Talk and Paper Cutting Demonstration

Springfield, IL. – On Saturday, October 22, the Illinois State Museum will present two free public programs associated with the new exhibition, “On & Of Paper: Selections from the Illinois State Museum Collection.” At noon, Jennifer Jaskowiak, Curator of Art from the Museum’s Lockport Gallery and organizer of the exhibition On & Of Paper, will lead a Gallery “Walk and Talk.” At 1:00 p.m., Chicago artist Richard Shipps will demonstrate his extraordinary paper cutting art in the Museum’s Lower Level Gallery.

 “Why Did They Show That Piece?” with Jennifer Jaskowiak will identify and relate how specific objects from the Illinois State Museum collection inspired her vision.  She will also give an overview of the Illinois State Museum’s large, but infrequently exhibited collection of works on paper, as well as discuss making difficult decisions about which objects to include or leave out while still offering a representative slice of the collection.

At 1:00, Richard Shipps will present his intricate paper cutting techniques. His work explores the ambiguity of form, shape, tone and movement through cut paper and examines the dynamic tensions between light and shadow and the interplay of negative and positive form. As part of the Partners on Paper city-wide celebration, Shipps’ exhibition, Life in the Counter-Form: The cut paper art of Richard Shipps, is showcased at the Robert Morris Gallery in downtown Springfield through October 28.

On & Of Paper  will be on display at the Illinois State Museum through April 29, 2012.  The exhibition offers a selection from the Illinois State Museum collection of relief, intaglio, and planographic prints, photographs, drawings, painting, and multi-media constructions which utilize the same material: paper.  Paper has for centuries served as a versatile, readily available, and relatively affordable material for the artist.  Paper is a core element, whether it be folded, molded, painted, torn, glued, or otherwise altered in the creation of a finished piece. 

The Illinois State Museum promotes discovery, learning, and an appreciation of Illinois’ natural, cultural, and artistic heritage. The Museum’s extensive collections and research activities provide the foundation for exhibitions and public programs that tell the story of the land, life, people, and art of Illinois. The Illinois State Museum is located at 502 S. Spring Street (the corner of Spring and Edwards Streets) in Springfield, and is open 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 5:00 p.m. Sunday.  Admission is free.  Parking is available nearby, and the building is ADA accessible.

General Information

Illinois State Museum
Founded 1877
The Illinois State Museum promotes discovery, learning, and an appreciation of Illinois' natural, cultural, and artistic heritage.
General Information: (217)782-7386
Director's Office: (217)782-7011
Interim Museum Director: Michael Wiant
Press Contact: michael.wiant@illinois.gov