Prairie State Wire

The Illinois State Museum (ISM) is set to open a new exhibition titled "Here, There: New Perspectives on the Collection" on March 15 at its Springfield location. The exhibit will showcase modern and contemporary artworks by Illinois artists in the museum's second-floor galleries.

Currently, the exhibition is on display at ISM's Lockport Gallery until February 22. Admission is free for visitors interested in exploring this collection.

Three guest curators—Mariela Acuña, Sheridan Tucker Anderson, and Allison Lacher—were tasked with bringing fresh perspectives to the museum's nearly century-old collection of Illinois and regional artists. They invited Normal-based artist Jason Reblando to feature his "Home and Away" series, which delves into the lives of overseas and immigrant Filipinos through personal and documentary photographs. Reblando stated, "As a child of Filipino immigrants, I have had a long-abiding and deeply held interest in what makes people move from one place to another."

The exhibit invites visitors to explore the complexities within the museum's collection as interpreted by curators outside of the state museum. It forms part of ISM’s initiatives aimed at uncovering forgotten or untold stories within their collections. Doug Stapleton, curator of art with ISM, explained that their groundwork involved reviewing works by black, Latine, Asian, and LGBTQ+ artists. He said, "The curators selected artworks that speak to themes of nostalgia, home, belonging, and sites of history in American art."

Visitors are welcome to attend the opening event on Saturday, March 15 at 502 S. Spring St., Springfield. The exhibit will remain open until September 1 with free admission.

This exhibition is supported by the Terra Foundation for American Art. The foundation was established in 1978 with headquarters in Chicago and aims to foster cross-cultural dialogues on American art through grants and initiatives.

Established in 1877, ISM aims to inspire exploration into Illinois' past and present while promoting cultural stewardship. With locations in Springfield as well as Lewistown and Lockport branches, it holds accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums.