Sharp Museum

06/03/2026

https://news.siu.edu/2026/06/060326-siu-sharp-museum-textile-exhibition-highlights-sustainability.php

For Dawn Murtaugh, becoming a textile artist has been a “circular adventure.”

05/26/2026

Image description: Armadillo over a decorative background of various cryptids. with text overlay saying "Spooks or Spoofs, apply at Museum.siu.edu"

The Sharp Museum is seeking submissions for a cryptid-themed exhibition, "Spooked or Spoofed | a celebration of cryptozooology." Cryptozoology is defined as the study of and search for hidden or unknown animals, including legendary creatures like Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster. There are several legends of wild things lurking in the dark woods of the Shawnee Forest and remote regions of Illinois, such as bigfoot, the freaky farmer city monster, a creepy thing called cohomo, the Murphysboro mud monster, the Enfield horror, the man eating Piasa bird, terrifying thunderbirds over Illinois, creatures of the watery deep, kangaroos on the loose, and albino squirrels of Olney. Artwork need not be focused on Illinois cryptids and is open to all cryptids.This will be a national Juried exhibition. The Jurors will be Jeremy Efroymson and Loren Coleman.

Jeremy Efroymson is an artist, art collector, amateur cryptozoologist, philanthropist, grassroots arts activist, and vice chair of the Efroymson Family Fund. He received his BA in Film and Video Studies from the University of Michigan in 1990 and his MFA in Creative Writing from Columbia College Chicago in 1996. He primarily works in photography, installation, and found-object sculpture. He also received his MBA from Butler.

Loren Coleman is an American cryptozoologist, author, and researcher who has written over 40 books on mysterious phenomena. He is most famous for founding and directing the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine, and his decades of fieldwork tracking cryptids like Bigfoot. Coleman received a BA in anthropology with a minor in zoology from SIU-C, MSW from Simon School of Social Work, Boston, and doctoral work from Boston University (social anthropology) and University of New Hampshire (sociology), without final degree. He has been involved in cryptozoology since 1960, and museum directing since 2003.

For details, please visit museum.siu.edu

05/09/2026

The Sharp Museum at Southern Illinois University is heading into intersession break 🌿

From **May 9 – June 9**, our galleries will pause—but the inspiration continues.

Thank you for following along, engaging with our exhibits, and being part of our community. We’ll be back soon with more stories, art, and moments to explore together.

Until then—see you in June ✨

05/08/2026

“I believe in nothing, and I’m open-minded to everything. The evidence that I see: the tracks, the hair samples, the animals that are preyed upon—those are all the physical evidence. I don’t get into the paranormal... Instead, I accept or deny the evidence.” A quote from Loren Coleman in the Maine Magazine.

The Sharp Museum is seeking submissions for a cryptid-themed exhibition, "Spooks or Spoofs." Cryptozoology is defined as the study of and search for hidden or unknown animals, including legendary creatures like Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster. There are several legends of wild things lurking in the dark woods of the Shawnee Forest and remote regions of Illinois, such as bigfoot, the freaky farmer city monster, a creepy thing called cohomo, the Murphysboro mud monster, the Enfield horror, the man eating Piasa bird, terrifying thunderbirds over Illinois, creatures of the watery deep, kangaroos on the loose, and albino squirrels of Olney. Artwork need not be focused on Illinois cryptids and is open to all cryptids.This will be a national Juried exhibition. The Jurors will be Jeremy Efroymson and Loren Coleman

About the Jurors:

Jeremy Efroymson is an artist, art collector, amateur cryptozoologist, philanthropist, grassroots arts activist, and vice chair of the Efroymson Family Fund. He received his BA in Film and Video Studies from the University of Michigan in 1990 and his MFA in Creative Writing from Columbia College Chicago in 1996. He primarily works in photography, installation, and found-object sculpture. He also received his MBA from Butler.

Loren Coleman is an American cryptozoologist, author, and researcher who has written over 40 books on mysterious phenomena. He is most famous for founding and directing the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine, and his decades of fieldwork tracking cryptids like Bigfoot. Coleman received a BA in anthropology with a minor in zoology from SIU-C, MSW from Simon School of Social Work, Boston, and doctoral work from Boston University (social anthropology) and University of New Hampshire (sociology), without final degree. He has been involved in cryptozoology since 1960, and museum directing since 2003.

Details:
· Open to anyone in the United States to apply
· All media are eligible
· No AI-generated images allowed
· 3 entries per person
· $5-10 donation requested for entry
· Up to 50 pieces will be accepted

Dates:
· Submit by: July 1
· Jury results by: July 14
· Drop off by: August 11
· Exhibit: August 21 – December 11
· Reception: October 23 (unofficial Halloween in Carbondale)

05/08/2026

When the galleries became a classroom:

A creative writing class from Southern Illinois University took their final exam inside the Sharp Museum, surrounded by the powerful work of Preston Jackson in South Hall’s Saluki Gallery.

Instead of desks and blue books, there were sculptures, stories, and space to think. Students read their most creative works from the semester, responding to history, emotion, and imagination sparked by Jackson’s thought-provoking collection.

Seeing that level of engagement, students connecting art to their own voices, was energizing. It’s exactly what museums hope for: not just viewing, but experiencing, questioning, and creating.

05/08/2026

At the Study Gallery in the Sharp Museum, I found myself standing quietly in front of a tensegrity model from the Fuller Futures collection—R. Buckminster Fuller’s geodesic vision suspended in balance.

The structure looks almost improbable: wooden struts floating, held together not by compression alone but by a delicate web of tension. Fuller called this principle *tensegrity*—a system where integrity comes from the balance between pushing and pulling forces. Nothing dominates; everything participates.

As I stood there, I couldn’t help but translate it into something human. The struts became people. The tension lines became the invisible forces between us—responsibility, care, pressure, connection. In this system, no one piece holds the whole up alone, and no one has to crush another to rise. Because everything is positioned in equilibrium, anyone could “stand” at any given moment. Support is shared. Stability is collective.

It made me think about Fuller’s philosophy: doing more with less, and making the world work for 100% of humanity in the shortest possible time through thoughtful, ecological design. This model isn’t just structural—it’s ethical. It quietly asks: what if our systems—social, economic, environmental—worked like this?

There’s also a scientific echo here. Fuller’s geometry later inspired the discovery of the carbon molecule Buckminsterfullerene (C60), a perfectly balanced sphere of 60 atoms—often called the “buckyball.” Like the dome, it distributes stress evenly across its form. No single atom bears the burden; stability emerges from the whole.

05/06/2026

The curator of exhibits at the Sharp Museum, T. Lance, had the pleasure of meeting with Elizabeth Donoghue and Nyhl Henson during their visit to the museum. Nyhl Henson, an SIUC alumnus and co-founder of MTV, Nickelodeon, and several other cable television channels, brought inspiration and excitement to the day.
T said it was wonderful meeting a celebrity who graduated from SIU and has made such an incredible impact in the entertainment industry. T. Lance was very excited and inspired by the visit, making it a memorable moment at the museum.

05/06/2026

Rocking gently in the Fuller Futures exhibit, this iconic Eames molded fiberglass chair by Charles Eames and Ray Eames, produced by Herman Miller, feels like philosophy in motion.

Stamped October 31, 1957, this third-generation chair, once owned by Bill Perk, rests on its signature Eiffel Tower base, a delicate web of steel that mirrors strength through lightness, echoing R. Buckminster Fuller’s vision.

05/05/2026

Another amazing group of fifth graders from Lewis Elementary School visited the Sharp Museum! The students were eager to learn as they explored the galleries and participated in a fun scavenger hunt throughout the museum.

Their excitement, curiosity, and energy filled the building with life. It is always inspiring to watch young minds engage with art, history, and culture while asking thoughtful questions and discovering new things along the way.

Thank you to the students and teachers of Lewis Elementary for spending the day with us. We love seeing the next generation of learners explore the museum with such enthusiasm and imagination!

05/03/2026

Another unforgettable piece from Preston Jackson’s exhibit is *Mantis Shrimp* — a work that truly has to be experienced in person. The textures, movement, and hidden details invite you to slow down and use your imagination. Every angle reveals something different, making the piece both mysterious and mesmerizing.

Preston’s ability to turn thoughts, memories, and emotion into visual storytelling is what makes his work so powerful and thought-provoking. *Mantis Shrimp* is one of those pieces that stays with you long after you leave the gallery.

Be sure to stop by the South Hall Saluki Gallery before the end of June to experience this incredible exhibit for yourself. You will leave inspired, curious, and completely mesmerized by all of Preston Jackson’s amazing creations. 🎨✨