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New Role For Governor’s Mansion: Art Gallery

The Illinois Governor’s Mansion is recently renovated and has re-opened for tourists, who tend to go for the historical significance. There’s also a new reason for art enthusiasts to check it out.

The Art of Illinois exhibition features works from the 1800s up until 2016. The works include musical instruments, furniture, and many paintings. Justin Blandford is the mansion curator, he says the idea is to have the building serve as a "world class fully functioning museum."

The work is viewable during normal tour hours and takes up two floors. Art historian Wendy Greenhouse was a co-curator. She gathered portraits, landscapes, and representational as well as well as abstract art. Greenhouse said she was intent on being inclusive, "Artists of color and women artists, in particular, was something I was very focused on." The art will be up through January, and Blandford says the goal is to continue to show various art collections at the mansion.  listen to the story

Chris Pappan, heard in this story, is one of the handful of living artists with work in the Art of Illinois exhibit.  In Chicago, where he lives, the Field Museum is showing his workuntil January 2019 in the Native Exhibit hall.

The music room with various artwork. The harp is from Lyon & Healy Harps, Chicago, 1896
Rachel Otwell / NPR Illinois /
The music room with various artwork. The harp is from Lyon & Healy Harps, Chicago, 1896
Mountains of the Blue Moon by Dulah Evans Krehbiel, 1924
Rachel Otwell / NPR Illinois /
Mountains of the Blue Moon by Dulah Evans Krehbiel, 1924
Flatscape #106 by Harold Gregor, 2010
Rachel Otwell / NPR Illinois /
Flatscape #106 by Harold Gregor, 2010
Savoy by Ed Paschke, 1978
Rachel Otwell / NPR Illinois /
Savoy by Ed Paschke, 1978
Drop into Creation by Chris Pappan, 2014
Rachel Otwell / NPR Illinois /
Drop into Creation by Chris Pappan, 2014
Woman and Soldier by John Storrs, 1940-1951
Rachel Otwell / NPR Illinois /
Woman and Soldier by John Storrs, 1940-1951
Psychedelia by Marcos Raya, 2016
Rachel Otwell / NPR Illinois /
Psychedelia by Marcos Raya, 2016
The Lobster by Macena Barton, 1946
Rachel Otwell / NPR Illinois /
The Lobster by Macena Barton, 1946
Maizie Under the Boughs by Frederick Fursman, 1915
Rachel Otwell / NPR Illinois /
Maizie Under the Boughs by Frederick Fursman, 1915
Chicago by Rudolph Weisenborn, 1928
Rachel Otwell / NPR Illinois /
Chicago by Rudolph Weisenborn, 1928
Outskirts of Galena by William S. Schwartz, 1938
Rachel Otwell / NPR Illinois /
Outskirts of Galena by William S. Schwartz, 1938

Copyright 2018 NPR Illinois | 91.9 UIS

Rachel's reports currently focus on education and equity. She's also reported extensively on arts, community & diverse culture.
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