Winter 2008 The newsletter of the Spurlock

I n s i d e

3 EDUCATION UPDATE 4 NEW ACQUISITION HIGHLIGHT 5 CLEANING ARTIFACTS 6 ADVOCATE FOR MUSEUM INTERNS 8 THE ROLE OF DOCENTS

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of at Urbana-Champaign A Message From the Museum Director By Wayne Pitard, Acting Director

As I write this, I have just passed the halfway as the Dene W. and Marie C. Zahn Learning point of my acting directorship at the Spurlock Center in appreciation for their support of Museum. The time here has been very busy, but our educational program. It was a delight to also very rewarding and enjoyable. It has been spend time with Marie, Charles, and Barbara my privilege to work with a most amazing staff during that weekend, getting to know them day in and day out, watching them mount two and seeing their extraordinary commitment to temporary exhibitions this fall, : our mission. The Origins and Uncovering Life’s Third Domain: Let me encourage all of you to come see The Discovery of the Archaea, while working our two fall temporary exhibits, which comple- steadily on numerous long-term projects. I ment each other very nicely. The larger exhibit, have witnessed the extraordinary profes- Ancient Egypt: The Origins (running through sionalism of our Education section as they February 24, 2008), provides wonderful insights guide crowds of young people in exploring the into the background of the culture that we Museum on their school field trips and at the think of as classical Egyptian civilization. It Around-the-World Wednesday program. I have features numerous beautiful artifacts from the also had the pleasure of working with both dawn of ancient urban culture over 5,000 years the Museum Board and the ago. In contrast, Uncovering Spurlock Museum Guild as Life’s Third Domain (through they have continued to sup- January 27, 2008) celebrates W i n t e r 2 0 0 8 port the Museum with both a monumental scientific dis- their time and finances. It is covery that took place on the WILLIAM R. AND CLARICE V. a wonderful experience to University of Illinois campus SPURLOCK MUSEUM University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign witness the dedication of just 30 years ago, a discovery 600 S. Gregory St. these valued friends of the that has changed the way Urbana, Il 61801 Phone: (217) 333-2360 Museum. biologists understand the ge- Fax: (217) 244-9419 It was also my good for- netic makeup of life on earth. Director, Douglas J. Brewer tune to take part in some Thus, within a few feet of each

Museum Hours: joyful celebrations here this other, our visitors can move Tuesday: Noon - 5 pm fall. During the Foundation Acting Director Wayne Pitard and Marie from life in very ancient times Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 9 am - 5 pm Zahn at the ribbon cutting. Saturday: 10 am - 4 pm weekend, I officiated over to a contemporary scientific Sunday: Noon - 4 pm the dedication of two parts of the Museum discovery. Monday: closed that were named for two pairs of great sup- All the enthusiasm and support from those www.spurlock.uiuc.edu porters. The Central Core Gallery was named around me have made my stay here a wonder- the Charles M. and Barbara S. Hundley Central ful experience. And, looking at things from the The newsletter for Spurlock Museum is published through the generous support of the Spurlock Museum Guild and Core Gallery in honor of that couple’s endow- inside for the past two-and-a-half months, I the Spurlock Museum Board. Spurlock Museum Board ment of the Spurlock Museum Professorship. can say with some authority that the Spurlock Publication Committee: Dr. Yu (Ian) Wang, Robin Fossum, James Sinclair, Jenny Southlynn, and Brian Cudiamat. The Additionally, Marie Zahn came from California Museum’s best days are coming. We hope that newsletter is produced for the museum by the College of for the dedication of our Learning Center you will share them with us. Liberal Arts and Sciences Office of Communications and Marketing (07.045).

On the cover: 2007.08.0016. Tibet. Tea kettle trimmed with decorative silver medallions. Ca. 17th-18th century. Education Update

The Burning of the Love God, detail showing demon. Gift of Educational Outreach Expands Professor John Garvey, 2002.17.0022. In the online explora- tion Journeying Through Balinese Lives, cloth paintings such as this one illustrate the beliefs and traditional narratives that Online Learning and Access to are the basis for cultural practices featured in the module’s Teaching Collection various images and media clips. By Tandy Lacy

In January and September 2007, the Education living on the island of Bali in Indonesia. Both of items in this learning module were designed section completed three major projects designed presentations were designed and mounted in and constructed by the Collections Management to enhance and broaden the Spurlock Museum’s collaboration with the Museum’s Information section. Like the pages of online Explorations, educational outreach services. Technology section. Visitors to this outreach resource is the result of long-term Each of these projects—en- these rich online environments goals set prior to the opening of the Spurlock abling online learning and can learn about the people and Museum. Before materials like those in Luxurious public access to materi- cultures represented in exhibits Layers could be assembled for public access, the als—represents months, even through text, colorful images, entire Teaching Collection—an ever-increasing years, of work carried out and audio and video clips. From resource—had to be processed, reviewed, and by Museum staff and the the time they were mounted un- thoroughly documented. This work was done in scholars who join them in til early December, their pages concert with the Registration section, which also the creation of interpretive have received more than 20,000 supported the writing of policies and procedures exhibits. These resources hits from visitors. They repre- that would eventually make it possible to access a not only build upon and sent a type of learning resource series of Building Blocks. enrich interpretation of the that was envisioned as early as Museum’s artifact and teaching collections, but 1999 when Partnership Illinois grants (1999 and Luxurious Layers contains a wide variety of materials, includ- also extend the life of exhibits and offer learning 2000) supported the Museum’s efforts to build ing two kimonos with accessories—one kimono for a boy, experiences to increasingly diverse audiences. and sustain community access to the wealth of its one for a girl—each packed with a custom-designed mount In January, two new modules for online collections, even while galleries were closed. that can be assembled for display. (T03417) learning were added to the Explorations section In September, Luxurious Layers was an- of the website, accessed from the Museum’s home nounced in the News section of the Museum’s page. Musical Expressions of the Senufo Tagba and website. This assemblage of Teaching Collection Journeying through Balinese Lives provide glimpses objects and related materials is the first into various aspects of the daily and ceremonial in a series of Building Blocks, life of the Senufo Tagba people of Burkina Faso, materials made available West , as well as the Balinese-Hindu people on loan to educators through the World Heritage Museum Guild Educational Resource Center. Developed to reflect the kimono traditions of , this unique resource for hands- on learning expands the themes and information presented in the Fall 2003 exhibit, Luxurious Lay- ers: Kimonos of the Heian Court. The custom-made storage, carrying, and display cases that house the wide variety

 New Acquisition Highlight Jim Sinclair and His Collection ofn I ternational Arts andA rtifacts By Dr. Yu (Ian) Wang

Dr. James B. Sinclair, professor emeritus of crop served as the president of the Spurlock Museum sity, in Appleton, Wisc., and his PhD in the plant sciences at the University of Illinois at - Board of Trustees and continues to be an active sciences from the University of Wisconsin at bana-Champaign, is a well-known scholar in the member. As a museum of world cultures, the Madison, where he majored in biology and even- agricultural sciences. He joined the U of I faculty Spurlock Museum is fortunate to have been tually in plant pathology. in 1968 and retired in 1996. He was appointed as given more than 100 artifacts After receiving his PhD in the interim director of the National Soybean Re- collected from more than 40 the science of plant disease, Sin- search Laboratory in the College of Agricultural, countries and covering several clair spent 12 years at Louisiana Consumer, and Environmental Sciences (ACES) in hundred years of human his- State University, Baton Rouge, 1994, served in that capacity for four years, and tory—which are only a portion where he was able to continue developed it into a world-renowned institute. of Sinclair’s lifelong collections. his interest in the arts by visiting In 1996, at the fulfillment of his 30-plus years of Sinclair’s interests in the the in New Orleans teaching and research, he was honored with Law- arts began when he was still and the surrounding areas. He rence University’s Lucia R. Briggs Distinguished in high school. He attended began serious collecting of art 2007.08.0075A-G. Brazilian Yamomamy Achievement Award in recognition of his career elementary and high schools Tribe bamboo carrier with 5 arrowheads and artifacts at that time, acquir- accomplishments in plant pathology. located near the University of of different sizes. Mid-20th century. ing his first pieces from local In contrast to Sinclair’s great academic Chicago with its fine museums. artists in Baton Rouge and New achievements, less mentioned but of equal im- He and his friends were frequent visitors to the Orleans. Some artifacts were purchased from portance, is his long-time activism and support of Art Institute of Chicago and the Field Museum. the Neiman Marcus antique shop in Dallas. Many our University museums—especially the World His education in the arts continued through his pieces are from outside of the United States, Heritage Museum and the Spurlock Museum. He studies, receiving his BS from Lawrence Univer- including artifacts from India, Japan, and Thailand.

 S p u r l o ck M us e um N e ws l e tt e r From left to right: Jim Sinclair and His Collection 2007.08.0012. Thailand. Bronze figure of Buddha on a platform giving a sermon to the evil ones. 18th century ofn I ternational Arts or earlier. 2007.08.0016. Tibet. Tea kettle trimmed with decorative andA rtifacts silver medallions. Ca. 17th-18th century. 2007.08.0051. Nigeria/Guinea Coast. Handmade leather carrier of cowry shells used for exchange representing a large sum of money. Ca. 18th-19th century.

2007.08.0013. India/Goa. Handmade statuette of Virgin Mary titled “Our Lady of O” with ivory face inlay and hands and metal crown. Ca. 1850. Behind the Scenes: Cleaning Artifacts By Christa Deacy-Quinn and John Holton By Christa Deacy-Quinn and John Holton An active preservation program involves keep- therefore, most of the artifacts in the collection ing artifacts and their storage spaces clean. All must be cleaned through a dry-cleaning process. artifacts are cleaned before being Rather than the dry-cleaning used put into storage. Cleaning an to launder shirts and suits, our artifact is a very specialized and “dry-cleaning” is simply the practice careful process, much different of cleaning without any liquids or than a quick toss into the washing solvents. machine. Strangely enough, the Cleaning methods require a cleaning process starts without even delicate touch. A soft brush lifts touching the artifacts. dust from the surface of the artifact, The majority of the Spurlock and the dust is then removed with a Museum’s artifacts were used by vacuum. other owners before arriving at the Once the artifact is properly Museum, and they usually have cleaned, the staff writes a conserva- some kind of dirt, damage, and tion report, documenting the specific wear. All of these features are pains- cleaning procedures used. In addi- takingly detailed and documented tion, this report may record other in a written condition report, procedures performed on an artifact, which is a snapshot of an artifact’s such as restoration or reshaping. physical condition at the moment Next, the existing condition report is During his 30-year career at the University it enters the Museum. Condition updated to reflect the artifact’s newly- of Illinois as professor of international agriculture reports include an artifact’s mate- cleaned status. in support of the College of ACES international rial components and preservation Finally, the clean artifact is programs, his responsibilities ultimately took him recommendations for that artifact, ready to be placed in storage. In to more than 40 countries. thus enabling the Museum staff to storage, shelving units sealed against “It was then that my studies in art and arti- identify and track later changes in dust house most artifacts. Oversized facts through the years paid off,” recalls Sinclair. condition. artifacts, however, require differ- “While visiting many of these countries, I found Most condition reports ent storage solutions. For example, time to visit museums and special collections. I recommend cleaning the artifact. long, flat artifacts may be hung on visited flea markets, Sunday markets, side-street This recommendation often refers the walls to make the most efficient vendors, stalls, et cetera, buying items related specifically to removing dust from use of space. If the artifact needs to to the culture of the country I was visiting and the surface of the piece. Dust is be stored outside the sealed units, pieces of art. Most of my collecting was in the Far one of the greatest concerns in it is protected from dust with a East and sub-Saharan Africa. I continued to collect the preservation of artifacts, for cover. Dust covers are made from an related works found here in the U.S. markets.” although it may seem innocuous, unbleached cotton fabric, muslin, or Top to bottom: The following illustrations will give Museum at a microscopic level dust is very a flashspun polyethylene fiber fabric abrasive. Additionally, the com- Aurora Erickson writes a con- (called Tyvek™), sewn to fit each friends and readers a small sampling of the collec- dition report. Student Kevin tion. More detailed information about this excit- ponents of dust provide nutrients Joye cleans an artifact. New individual artifact. Once an artifact is staff member Melissa Sotelo ing new acquisition can be found on our Museum for insects and mold, and they can clean and protected, it is available for retain moisture. Dust is ubiquitous; sews a dust cover. Finished study and research for years to come. website: www.spurlock.uiuc.edu. dust covers hang in storage.

 Dottie White: Advocate for Museum Interns By Robin Fossum Dorothy “Dottie” Berkey White has spent a col- Spurlock Museum Guild Update orful lifetime full of family and travel. Dottie was raised in Texas, and as a teen she moved with her family to southern Illinois. Following two years at a local college, she transferred to the University In keeping with its Egyptian theme, the 16th annual Spurlock Museum of Illinois where she met her future husband, Donald White, who was attending the University Guild Auction began with a series of captivating performances by Trikhala, on the G.I. Bill. The couple studied and worked a local belly-dancing troupe. Following the entertainment, guests enjoyed a their way through school, Dottie receiving her arts and sciences and foreign language degree in delicious Mediterranean- and Middle Eastern-style buffet prepared by Illini 1947, and Donald received his general engineer- ing degree. The couple had wonderful memories Union Catering. of their time as students at Illinois. Guild president Paula Watson welcomed guests and introduced Dr. Wayne Pitard, acting director Following graduation, Donald and Dottie married in Beverly, Ill. Donald began his career of the Museum, and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean Sarah Mangelsdorf, who was in construction engineering, while Dottie took honorary host along with her husband, Karl Rosengren. Auction co-chairs Vivian Larson and up homemaking and volunteer work. While raising their two children, the Whites began their Judy Hummel introduced auctioneer Emerita Barbara Peckham, who handed the gavel over to travels to see the world. As their children grew, they too traveled with their parents. Dottie found auctioneer extraordinaire, Don Denny. magic in visiting with other peoples and cultures. The live auction produced spirited Special places for the Whites included: , Southeast , Egypt, and a favorite: Machu bidding by the inimitable Randy Picchu in Peru. Ott, on a number of choice items, In the 1990s, while visiting her sorority on campus, Dottie toured the World Heritage including a Wisconsin woods getaway, Museum and saw many outstanding collections. a Bakhtiari rug, and din- She soon joined the Museum Board and became a supporter. ner at the Cliff Dwell- Donald passed away a few years ago, but Dottie is maintaining their strong ties with the ers’ Club in Chicago. University. The Whites have arranged to leave Dueling bidders also Pictured left to right are a substantial part of their estate to the Spurlock Carl Larson, dancer Dana Museum and the College of Engineering. They competed for the chance Schlake, and Phil Morgan. have already started a scholarship in engineering to provide support and have enthusiastically supported an internship at the Spurlock Museum, among other major for a bus trip from a distant school to the Museum—a direct contribution to the educational gifts. Dottie is proud to sponsor students at the Museum and is thrilled that the Museum will program. Similar wish-list items will be featured at future auctions. The hard work of the mem- soon offer a Museum Studies Program. bers of the various Guild auction committees and the generosity of donors resulted in a total of The Spurlock Museum is delighted to have Dottie and Donald White as their benefactors. $25,000 raised to benefit the Spurlock Museum. We are glad that their travels led them to us. Paula Watson Spurlock Museum Guild president

 S p u r l o ck M us e um N e ws l e tt e r Acting Director Wayne Pitard and the Hundleys at the Central Core Gallery ribbon cutting.

E x hi b it s Through Sunday, January 27, 2008 Uncovering Life’s Third Domain: The Discovery of the Archaea

Through Sunday, February 24, 2008 Ancient Egypt: The Origins

Letter from the Board President Tuesday, March 25, 2008-Sunday, April 20, 2008 Qak’aslem, Qakem: Kaqchikel Maya Weavings Dear board members, Though it is rare, we had a second ribbon-cut- colleagues, and friends of ting celebration the same day, in which the Tuesday, March 25, 2008-Sunday, Spurlock Museum: Museum renamed our Learning Center the August 10, 2008 Dene W. and Marie C. Zahn Learning Center Calypso Music in Postwar America: Our general board in honor of the Zahns for their quarter-mil- Photographs and Illustrations, 1945-1960 meeting was held Friday, lion-dollar gift to the Museum to support the September 28, 2007. Learning Center’s multipurpose space, its pro- My heartfelt thanks go to all of our board grams for indepen- e V e n t s members and Museum staff for their hard dent learning about Saturday, February 9, 2008 work and contributions to the meeting, making other cultures, and Winter Tales it a valuable and memorable event. A special staff-led activities. thank-you goes to our active board members Tuesday, February 19, 2008 Barbara and Charles Hundley for organizing For all of the Campbell Lecture by Emily Teeter and providing the wonderful tent reception exciting develop- after our general board meeting, which gave us ments and activities Friday, March 28, 2008 all an opportunity to socialize and network. It taking place at the Opening Reception: Calypso Music in made us feel valued. Spurlock Museum, I Postwar America and Qak’aslem, Qakem: would like to thank Kaqchikel Maya Weavings The Hundleys, active members of our Museum each of our board A thank-you hug. board, have generously pledged a deferred members for their continuing support and Saturday, April 5, 2008 gift of $1 million to the Museum. In recogni- contributions to our mission. A recommenda- Heirlooms, Artifacts, and Family Treasures: tion and in honor of their continuing support tion for a dues increase to $150 per year was A Preservation Emporium and significant contributions to the Spurlock unanimously approved by the membership Museum, our Museum’s Central Core Gallery at our last general board meeting. Also, to all Saturday, April 12, 2008 was renamed the Charles M. and Barbara S. of our delight, the second annual Spurlock Mayan Weaving Demonstration Hundley Central Core Gallery, and a rib- Museum magazine was published and delivered bon-cutting ceremony was held after our last to our members and friends at the meeting. Friday, April 18, 2008 general board meeting. It is my dream that we find a way to create a Steel Drum Performance quarterly academic journal that will provide a publication platform for our Museum Studies Saturday, April 19, 2008 programs. Mayan Weaving Demonstration

With so much happening at the Museum, I am Saturday, April 19, 2008 sure you are as excited as I am. Mayan Weaving Talk

I wish you all a wonderful new year. Saturday, May 3, 2008 WorldFest Sincerely, Dr. Yu (Ian) Wang For more information on these events and to view our current calendar, please visit www.spurlock.uiuc.edu.

Marie Zahn and Acting Director Wayne Pitard at the ribbon cutting for the Zahn Learning Center.  Docent Sarah Wisseman tells children about being Volunteer Job Spotlight: an archaeologist. The Role of Docents By Tandy Lacy, Director of Education

What do docents do? The simple answer is that covering specific themes, topics, and galleries for they give tours and programs, but the job is visitors of all ages. Docents are invited to present much more than that. Above all, docents are as many of these aspects as they feel comfort- ambassadors of the Museum. They represent the able learning, but everyone starts with the basic staff and collections, and they help create un- general tour in order to learn the Museum and derstanding in the community of the Museum’s participate in the most common types of visitor mission. experiences. If you’ve been on a general tour of the Spur- The Museum will begin docent training in lock Museum, then you know that our docents spring 2008 with opportunities for new docents introduce visitors to the concept of a museum to observe a range of school and other tours and of world cultures and to the themes that unite programs in April and May. A short session of the diverse cultures represented. They travel with classes will follow, with summer and early fall as groups through each feature gallery, sharing their time for research and individual gallery explora- favorite artifacts. Some of our guests refer to this tion. We’d love to have some new docents ready tour as “Around the World in 60 Minutes”—and for the new school year in fall 2008. you don’t even need a passport. Have you ever thought about volunteering Training consists of: as a docent but worried about memorizing pages of text? Spurlock Museum guides are encouraged • Tours with experienced guides (both staff and volunteers) to present the basic themes and introductory information in their own words and to highlight • Hearing the exhibit curators discuss their galleries artifacts or sub-themes that hold special inter- est for them. Everyone’s tour is different. This • Researching artifacts of personal interest to present in tours format also makes it easier for docents to respond to the particular needs of each tour group. • Individual gallery exploration Providing open-ended exploration in each room • Access to gallery texts and related resources allows time and energy for answering individual in the Museum questions and helping groups find artifacts and • Group and one-on-one discussions with information that interest them. This approach education staff about working with visitors, strategies for handling groups, and so forth. also creates an environment in which visitors can share with staff their opinions of exhibits, their cultural experiences, and their own travels For more information or to receive a volunteer around the globe. application, please contact Beth Watkins at In addition to general tours, the Museum (217) 265-5485 or [email protected]. offers a wide range of tours and programs,

S p u r l o ck M us e um Non-ProfitO rganization University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign U.S. Postage 600 South Gregory Street pa i d Urbana, IL 61801 Permit No. 75 Champaign, IL 61820