EUGENE, Ore. - (May 31, 2011) - The University of Oregon's Museum of Natural and Cultural History and Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art will celebrate 2011 commencement by hosting an Art and Culture Weekend from Friday through Sunday, June 10 to 12.
Admission will be free all weekend at both museums, which are open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Both will also be open to celebrate UO commencement on Monday, June 13.
Current exhibits at the UO Museum of Natural and Cultural History include "Oregon - Where Past is Present," "Face to Face With Masks from the Museum Collections," "Making Faces - Community Made Masks" and "Last of the Polar Bear: Facing the Truth of a Warming World."
Gifts from Past and Presents - the Museum of Natural and Cultural History store - will be available during its Art and Culture Weekend Trunk Show Event. A different local artist will be featured each day, and will be on site to discuss their artwork. Visitors on Friday may participate in a macro nature photography workshop by photographer Roka Walsh in the Glenn Starlin Native Plant Courtyard, or learn on Saturday how jewelry artist Kathleen Frazer turns twigs and leaves into sterling silver cast jewelry. On Sunday, Pamela Raynor and Erin Morang of Whimsey Design will demonstrate wire-wrapping native stones.
The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art features the exhibitions "Peter Sarkisian: Video Works 1996-2008," a new media installation that explores the spatial and perceptive possibilities of video, film and sculpture through works that challenge the perceptions of reality and illusion. The museum also offers "Diaspora, Identity and Race: Cuba Today," an exhibition featuring contemporary art from Cuba; and "Ken Kesey's Jail Journals," an installation of collages from the famous writer.
Precious Cargo: The Museum Store is offering 20 percent off during a graduation sale through June 13.
The Museum of Natural and Cultural History is located at 1680 E. 15th Avenue across from Hayward Field. For more information call 541-346-3024 or natural-history.uoregon.edu.
The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art is located at 1430 Johnson Lane, in the heart of campus. For more information, call 541-346-3027 or jsma.uoregon.edu.
About the University of Oregon
The University of Oregon is among the 108 institutions chosen from 4,633 U.S. universities for top-tier designation of "Very High Research Activity" in the 2010 Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The UO also is one of two Pacific Northwest members of the Association of American Universities.
Contact: Judi Pruitt, MNCH visitor services, 541-346-1671, judip@uoregon.edu; Debbie Williamson-Smith, JSMA communications, debbiews@uoregon.edu, 541-346-0942.